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The True Church

Words of Faith Final

The True Church

Words of Faith 11-5-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

www.faithfellowshipweb.com

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Revelation 1

 [12]  I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, [13]  and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.

 

         John saw seven golden lampstands. This was not something “like” lampstands. The key to understanding these is found in verse 20. The seven golden lampstands represent the seven churches. The stars are the angels of those seven churches. These churches were real historical churches. The word ekklesia means “called out ones” or those gathering out from the world.

         The church is the means by which light comes into the world. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 - “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

          The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). This symbol of the church is the first thing that John saw.

         Next, he saw one like a son of man amid the lampstands. Jesus most often referred to himself as the son of man. John had heard Jesus describe Himself this way many times. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’” (Matthew 16:13).

         “Son of Man” is also a messianic reference to Daniel 7:13 – “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.  “Son of Man” describes the humanity of Jesus, fully human, born of a virgin to live a perfect life and die a sacrificial death.

           The very opening of Revelation shows us that Jesus is at the center the Church.  The church is the first thing that John saw, then Jesus at the center. The church is the first thing the world will see, then Jesus at the center. By church, we are not talking about buildings or institutions, but the people and fellowship of the Spirit.

          The true church is comprised of all who have been justified by God's grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches.

          We don't want to miss these defining images of what God created His church to be. We are the way that the Light of Christ will come into the world around us. He stands in the midst of us. We need Him and His Light to shine.

 

          Father, I pray for Your church, Your work, and Body of believers in the world. May the world see the light of Christ in me. May the world see the truth of Jesus in the church. In Jesus' Name. 

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.