You don't move forward by focusing on a rearview mirror. You move forward by focusing on a windshield. Dr. Tony Evans says if you won't take your eyes off the past, you can't see when you're headed for a crash.
Don't stand too long in your rearview mirror, because if you spend too much time in your rearview mirror, your windshield will do you no good. This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans. Is there a connection between a church's history and its health? Dr. Evans answers that question in today's message as he talks about ways to keep Satan from trivializing your congregation.
Let's listen in. John is on the Isle of Patmos on his final days, and he gets a vision from God, and it is the book of Revelation. Unlike any other book in the New Testament, this book offers a special blessing to those who read it. Verse 3, Blessed is he who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near. It's a hard book to understand, but a powerful book to read, because when you've read it, you come to understand God is not playing games.
He is dead serious. And while it's a book about the prophecy of the future, it's a book written to the church in the present. Verse 11 says God tells John, write a book of what you see, and send it to the seven churches. So what's the point of the message to the seven churches?
It's simply this. Jesus, and only Jesus, is the standard by which the people of God function. Then the church is the church.
First of all, number one, to the church at Ephesus. He says in verse 2, I know your deeds, I know your toil, I know your perseverance, I know you cannot endure evil men, I know you put to the test those who call themselves apostles and are not, and that you have found them to be false, and that you have perseverance, have endured for my name's sake, have not grown weary. I know you're a pretty good looking Bible church. But, verse 4, I have this against you, you have left your first love. Lesson number one is that if we want to see the authority of the risen Christ, Revelation chapter 1, operating in our church, we must never let program replace passion. And it is possible to be a church with every T-cross, every I-dotted, every program conceivable, and be dead of the doorknob, because we lose sight of Christ.
Secondly, to the church at Smyrna. I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are rich. And the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews that are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested and you will have tribulation ten days, be faithful under death, and I will give you the crown of life. It's a lesson of faithfulness. He says to the church at Smyrna, don't throw me away when the going gets tough. Or to put it another way, don't just be a convenient church made up of convenient Christians who only serve me when they're being blessed. These believers were going through a tough time.
They were going through tribulation. Many of them were poor and things were not working out perhaps as they would like due to their standing in Jesus Christ. Our job as a church is not to please everybody else. Our job is to please the Lord and sometimes everybody else won't like it. And we're not here to win friends and influence people. The church is not here to win a popularity contest.
In fact, if we are winning a popularity contest, something is wrong with us. Because if we're winning a popularity contest, we're not standing for the Savior. Because when the Savior took a stand, he wasn't popular in many areas. So if we're going to be a church that Jesus is proud of and that he's going to empower, it means that during tough times, we will not bail out on the Savior. Thirdly, the church at Pergamum, verse 12. To the angel of the church at Pergamum write. This is the third thing.
It's the lesson of compromise. He says in verse 13, I know where you dwell. You dwell where Satan's throne is. So, I mean, this was referring to the throne of Zeus.
The throne of Zeus was on a hill in Pergamum. And remember, behind every idol or false god is a demon. So he calls it, rather than calling it the throne of Zeus, he calls it the throne of the devil. Because behind every idol is the devil or one of his demons. And you hold fast to my name, and you did not deny my faith, even in the days of Annabas, my witness, my faithful one who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
But I have a few things against you because you have their sum. Some of your members hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel to eat things, sacrifice the idol, and to commit acts of immorality. Thus, you also have some who in the same way hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans. This was a cultural church. This was a compromising church. This was a church that would preach right sermons, verse 2, but not expect members to live right lives.
This was a church that says, the preacher can preach it, but we don't have to live it. And one of the things that we must address is compromise. I must address it in my life, you must address it in your life, because God has called us to a higher standard. And if we want to see this Christ of chapter 1, we must deal with the issue of compromise.
Fourthly, Thyatira. To the angel, verse 18, of the church at Thyatira, right? Look at the message he gives in verse 19. I know your deeds, your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance.
The deeds of late are greater than are first. But I have this teaching against you that you tolerate the woman Jezebel. They tolerated this woman, who was, number one, out of her place, because she was dominating the church, something that God does not allow a woman to do, and that is acting as the final authority, so she was acting outside of her role, that's number one. Number two, she was teaching false doctrine. There is no way you can control everything that happens in a growing ministry. However, the condemnation of this church is that this woman went public, because she was teaching everybody else, giving herself a theological giftedness title, calling herself a prophetess, and the problem here is not simply what Jezebel was doing, but that a church was tolerating it.
That's the problem. The church is not to tolerate evil because leaven spreads in the dough of the church, and even though this church had many good things for it, it was under the judgment of Christ. God was going to judge Jezebel. God was going to judge those who were with Jezebel. God was going to judge Jezebel's children, which I take not only to be the physical offspring, but also the members of the church who were following her.
They were her children. They were followers of false teaching, and Jesus says, I'm going to judge it because you won't. Chapter 3 verse 1, to the angel of the church in Sardis writes, he says in verse 2, wake up, strengthen the things that remain which were about to die, for I have not found your deeds completed in my sight. Remember therefore what you have received and heard and keep it and repent, if therefore you will not wake up.
I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I have come to you, but you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments— they used to make wool in Sardis, that's why he uses this garment analogy— and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He is talking about a sleeping church. Here he speaks of the lesson of progress, because far too many Christians and far too many churches live on what God did yesterday. Yesterday. Watch out for a Christian who always talks about yesterday.
This church was making no progress, and they were not completing the things that remained, because they were stuck. What you have done yesterday is wonderful for yesterday. Let me tell you something about yesterday.
You can't fix it. Whatever happened yesterday, good, bad, ugly, is yesterday. So Paul says, forgetting those things that are behind, I press on, because I can't change yesterday.
Now don't misunderstand me. Yesterday has a place. Hopefully the mistakes we made yesterday we learn from so we don't make them tomorrow.
Hopefully the successes from yesterday we build on them so that we're more successful tomorrow. But yesterday is like a rear-view mirror in a car, okay? You don't move forward by focusing on a rear-view mirror. You move forward by focusing on a windshield. And if you will compare the size of a windshield to a rear-view mirror, you will discover that a windshield covers a lot more territory than a rear-view mirror. While you are driving forward in your Christian life, while we as a church are driving forward in our Christian life, every now and then look in your rear-view mirror. Take a peek up there to look at what's behind you so that you don't make a wrong turn while you're moving forward.
But do me a favor. Don't stare too long in your rear-view mirror, because if you spend too much time in your rear-view mirror, your windshield will do you no good. Satan wants to keep you in the rear-view mirror so that you don't use the windshield of Jesus that he might get you to crash for where you're going. Dr. Evans will explain how you and your church can press forward securely into the future when he continues our study in just a moment. First, though, I wanted to let you know that today's teaching is from the final message in Tony's 12-lesson series on spiritual warfare, a collection that will give you insight into the battle going on behind the scenes of our lives and spell out ways you can avoid becoming a casualty, helping equip you to use God's power instead of your own in fighting the devil's efforts to destroy your life. You can get this important two-volume series on CD or downloadable MP3s as our gift when you make a donation to help keep the alternative broadcast on this station. And as a special thank you, we'll include a copy of Tony's classic book that goes hand in hand with this series.
It's called Victory in Spiritual Warfare. Just visit tonyevans.org to make your donation and let us know where we can send this powerful collection. That's tonyevans.org or call our resource request line at 1-800-800-3222. Once again, that's 1-800-800-3222.
We'll get back to Dr. Evans with more right after this. Join today to learn more at tonyevanstraining.org. tonyevanstraining.org. Explore the kingdom anytime, anywhere. Okay, church at Philadelphia, made up of two Greek words that means brotherly love. Verse 7, and to the angel of the church in Philadelphia right. Now this is a highly commended church.
He says, I know your deeds. Verse 8, behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut because you have a little power and have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will cause those who are of the synagogue of Satan.
See, Satan is trying to put a stronghold around them who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing that hour which is about to come upon the whole earth to test those who dwell in the earth. Here we have the lesson of obedience.
When Christ puts a period, don't you make it a question mark. You have kept my word. Testimony for Christ in the midst of a satanic environment. When you take a stand for Jesus, when we take a stand for Jesus, he says, I will take care of Satan. But if you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father who is in heaven.
Now guess what's happened? One of the reasons a lot of our prayers are not being answered is because we deny him all week long, but then we want to hear from him when we're in trouble. And God says, and to put it in the contemporary language, don't play me for a fool.
Don't play me for a fool. You deny me. Nobody knows you're a Christian but me. You're a Secret Service saint at work. You have no backbone when it comes to me.
But all of a sudden, I'm good enough now. He says, uh-uh. I will take care of you, but you have to hold to my word.
You have to say, thus saith the Lord. Finally, here's one of the most interesting ones, number seven, and our final one. Laodicea.
This is a lesson of commitment. Laodicea was a wealthy Roman town. People had money, honey. And this is a rich church. He says in verse 15, I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and I have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor. You think you're dressing nice, but you're naked. And I advise you to buy from me gold, refined by fire, that you may become rich in garments white, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may be revealed, and the eye salve to anoint your eyes that you may see.
And this is a deep one. Because as I look out over this audience, I see some successful people. Nothing wrong with that.
There's no condemnation. If you've worked hard, and built that business, or gone to school, and got training, and you've climbed up the ladder, that's OK. You become too successful when the blessings by God on your life have replaced God. You're making too much money when God has blessed you so much so that you've expanded your sphere of living that you have nothing to give back to Him. And some of us, God took us out of an apartment, gave us a three-car garage and a house.
We're looking good. We can open up our collars and let people see whose designer name is on our shirts, our ties, our suits. And God has less prayer from you, less commitment from you, less loyalty from you, less love from you, less devotion from you. And then you want to show up and say, praise the Lord, He blessed me. God says that's neither hot nor cold. There is no commitment there. Listen to me. No matter how successful you are, money can buy you a bed, but it can't buy you sleep. No matter how successful you are, money can buy you books, but it can't give you brains. No matter how successful you are, money can buy you food, but it can't keep you having an appetite. No matter how successful you are, money can buy you a house, but it can't give you a home. No matter how successful you are, money can buy you medicine but it can't buy you health. No matter how successful you are, money can buy you amusement but it can't buy you happiness. No matter how successful you are, money can buy you finery but it can't buy you beauty. No matter how successful you are, money can buy you a crucifix but it can't give you a savior. And the great challenge is to not let your success reduce you to mediocrity. God has given us a beautiful building, but if we don't use it to serve more and to make a bigger impact and a greater have a ministry, we've wasted our time with the investment. Let me close.
Those are the seven things that if we want the Jesus of chapter 1 to work here and to work in you, we've got to have. Look, a young man got married one day, and he was on his way home from his honeymoon. A tractor trailer rig pulled out in front of him and hit him, and the cars started flipping on the highway. He came out okay, but his new bride was bleeding profusely, and he knew if he didn't get this woman to a doctor, she was gonna die. He got out of the car and saw a little sign just a little ways away. The office of Dr. Rufus Jones.
Internal medicine. He said, yes! So he picked up his beloved and straggled up the hill till he got to the doctor's house. He began knocking on the door, and this old man came to the door, and he said, Dr. Jones?
The man said, well, yes. He said, my wife is bleeding. She's dying.
Please save her. Much to this young man's surprise, Dr. Jones says, I'm sorry, son. I can't help you. You see, son, I stopped practicing medicine many years ago. I don't have any utensils here.
I don't have anything. I stopped practicing medicine many years ago. I just never bothered to take down the sign. Brothers and sisters, we got a world out there bleeding to death, and we're saying, people, come to the church, the Church of the Living God, where we have Dr. Jesus, the medicine of the Holy Spirit, the healing power of the Word of God, come to the hospital. But brothers and sisters, if we're not gonna be the hospital, then let's take down the sign. Let's either be the real hospital or take down the sign, but let's don't make everybody think we're a hospital and think we're practicing physicians when they show up and they die at our doorstep, because we stopped being a church a long time ago. Let's be the church, the authentic representation of that which Christ gave his life for. Dr. Tony Evans, talking today about tearing down Satan's strongholds in our churches.
Getting that job done won't be easy, but as we've heard, we aren't in the fight alone. Dr. Evans will come back in a moment with a personal message for our listeners. But first, I'd like to encourage you to get a copy of his classic book, Victory in Spiritual Warfare, as well as the 12-part teaching series we're finishing up today, simply titled Spiritual Warfare.
These resources will help you come to grips with the invisible battle facing you in this world. As I mentioned earlier, this package offer ends today, but it can be yours with our thanks when you make a donation toward the Alternative Broadcast Ministry. Just visit tonyevans.org for details, or call us at 1-800-800-3222. Again, that's 1-800-800-3222, or online at tonyevans.org. And one final reminder that the latest episode and stories from The Storyteller is now here. This family-friendly animated show follows the Evans family as their everyday experiences are turned into opportunities to learn important truths from the Bible.
Let your kids watch the newest episode now, or catch up on any shows you may have missed from season 1 or 2. Find out more at tonyevanstv.com. That's tonyevanstv.com. In a world that celebrates fame and greatness, even believers can find themselves idolizing things that inevitably fade. Tomorrow we'll be reminded there's only one whose majesty remains unchanged, and who's deserving of our continued praise.
Here's Dr. Evans right now to talk about the best reason we have to celebrate. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you have that opportunity right now, and don't put it off. He died on the cross for you. He rose from the dead for you, but you must personally receive Him into your life for the forgiveness of your sins and to be given the gift of eternal life, which He gladly gives away to anyone who comes to Him for it. So why don't you now, right now, bow your head before the living God and simply tell Him this, Lord Jesus, I'm a sinner and I know I need a Savior, and I choose You to be my Savior, because I believe You died on the cross for me, You rose from the dead for me, so I receive You now for my forgiveness and for the gift of eternal life. And if you just ask God to save you by believing in His Son Jesus, your sins are forgiven and you've just been granted the gift of eternal life. Welcome to the family. If you just prayed that with Dr. Evans, visit tonyevans.org and click on the link that says Jesus. You'll find some videos and other free resources there that will help you begin a fulfilling new life in Christ.
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