Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Revelation – The Spirit speaks

Revelation 2v7  “These are the words of [Jesus] … he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

These words occur 7 times in Revelation 2 and 3: one time for each of the 7 churches. They are the common element of each message to each church.

The words are attributed to both Jesus and the Spirit. Jesus and the Spirit speak together. What the Spirit says is never incompatible with what Jesus says. This is why we can test what we believe the Spirit is saying against the words of Jesus recorded in the gospels. He is not going to speak out of tune with those words.

We can be tempted to think of God as either super-stern or as super-gracious in what he says. In reading Revelation 2 and 3, we see that Jesus and the Spirit bring both words of praise, rebuke and encouragement to different churches. What are Jesus and the Spirit praising you for today (e.g. 2v2-3)? What are they rebuking in you (e.g. 2v4-5)? What are they encouraging you to do (e.g. 2v10)?

Jesus and the Spirit encourage us to “hear”. This does not mean just an audible hear, but a heart-hearing. A willingness to take on board what the Spirit is saying and to apply it in our lives. This is true discipleship: as Jesus says at the end of the sermon on the mount, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice …” (Matthew 7v24)

Lord, may our spiritual ears be open and our hearts be responsive to you,

With love and blessing,

Roland

Prayer

• Give thanks for the roll out of the vaccine.
• Continue to pray that God would send workers into this harvest field in Telford.
• For all those who are struggling with ill health at the moment.
• For our church family as we persevere in this time.