We have considered ‘understanding the times’ and ‘eschatology’. In the book of Revelation, the Lord Jesus addressed seven churches; although the seven churches were actual churches during the time of Apostle John, the messages apply to all churches for all time.

The repeated expression of the Lord Jesus in the letters to the churches is very striking – “I know your works”.
To one church, He says, ‘I know your labour and patience’, to another, ‘your tribulation and poverty’, to a third, ‘your love and service and faith’. But to almost all of them, He uses the words, ‘I know your works’.
Notice that the words are not ‘I know your desires, your wishes, your resolutions (often made in the beginning of each year) but ‘your works’.

The works of a Christian are of great significance. The works cannot save our soul; they cannot justify us; they cannot wipe out our sins; they cannot deliver us from the wrath of God but it does not follow because they cannot save us, that they are of no importance.
Know for sure that a man’s works are the evidence of a man’s faith. If we call ourselves a Christian we must show it in our daily ways and daily behaviour. Whatever the works of a professing Christian may be, Jesus says, ‘I know them!’ His eyes are in every place, beholding the evil and the good (Prov. 15:3). We never did an action, however private, that Jesus does not see. We never spoke a word, no, not even in a whisper, but Jesus heard it. We never wrote a letter, even to our dearest friend, but Jesus read it. We never thought a thought, however secret, but Jesus was familiar with it. His eyes are a flaming fire (Revelation). The darkness is not darkness with Him. All things are open and manifest before Him. He says to everyone, ‘I know your works’.

The Lord Jesus knows the works of all His own people, and will one day reward them. He never overlooks a kind word, or a kind deed done in His name. If we love the Lord Jesus, and follow Him, we may be sure our work and labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. The works of those who die in the Lord ‘shall follow them’ (Rev.14:13); they shall follow them, and be owned in the day of Christ’s appearing.

The world knows you not, for it knows not your Master, but Jesus sees and knows all – ‘He knows your works’.

Seven times over, in the letters to the churches, the Lord Jesus makes a promise to the one who overcomes and seven times over, He gives to the churches exceeding great and precious promises. Each is different, each full of strong consolation and assurance, but each is addressed to the overcoming Christian. It is always, ‘he who overcomes’ or ‘to him who overcomes’.
Every professing Christian is the soldier of Christ. He is bound by his faith to fight Christ’s battle against sin, the world and the devil. The man who does not do this breaks his commitment; he is practically renouncing his Christianity.

The true believer is not only a soldier, but a victorious soldier. He does not only professes to fight on Christ’s side against sin, the world and the devil, but he does actually fight and overcome. This is one grand distinguishing mark of true Christians.

Victory is the only satisfactory evidence that we have a saving faith. Perhaps we like good sermons. We respect the Bible and read it occasionally. We say our prayers regularly. We give conscientiously. All these are good, but how goes the battle? Are we overcoming the love of the world and fear of man? Are we overcoming the passions, tempers and lusts of our own heart? Are we resisting the devil and making him flee from us?

We must either rule or serve sin and the devil and the world. There is no middle course or ground -we must either conquer or be lost. It is a hard battle we have to fight but we must fight the good fight of faith and endure hardshlps if we would lay hold of eternal life. There may be shortcuts to God and salvation propogated by some, but the way of true Christianity is the way of the cross, the way of conflict and suffering.

The believers of the past were men of like passions with ourselves, and yet they overcame.They had as many trials as we can possibly have, and yet they overcame. They fought. They struggled. We must do the same.

What was the secret of their victory? Their faith. They believed in Jesus, and believing, were made strong. They believed in Jesus and believing, they were held up. In all their battles, they kept their eyes on Jesus and He never left them or forsake them. “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” and so may we (Rev. 12:11).

Dear brothers and sisters, take comfort, be encouraged to fight on. The time is short (understand the times). The Lord is at hand and the night is far spent. Millions as weak as us have fought the same fight. The enemy is formidable but the Captain of our salvation (the Lord Jesus) is mightier. Though we may lose a battle or two, but we shall not lose all.

As we look at the letters to the churches in Revelation, let us beware of losing our first love like Ephesus, of becoming lukewarm like Laodicea, of tolerating false practices like Pergamum, of tampering with false doctrine like Thyatira, of becoming half dead, ready to die, like Sardis.

In almost every letter, the Lord ended with the call, “To the one who conquers or overcomes…” followed by a promise of ‘reward’ and salvation. There is no doubt that despite suffering, imprisonment and death, the churches are called to conquer and overcome in Christ’s name. The consequences are eternally serious and Christians and the churches cannot afford to ignore the call of the Lord Jesus Himself!