11-21-24 part 1: The promise for overcoming and listening to the Holy Spirit
A) Picking it up in Revelation, Chapter Two, with Verse 6, Jesus says this to the church at Ephesus: "You have this in your favor, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." So, let’s just turn most of the biblical misconceptions on their head and make sure everybody understands that when people say Jesus never hates anything, they’ve never read the Bible and don’t know Jesus from a brown paper bag.
B) One of the best studies on the Nicolaitans was presented by Chuck Smith back in the mid 1980s, when he discussed how the Nicolaitans were people who ruled over the laity. The Nicolaitans were known for being abusive, authoritative, dictator-like spiritual leaders. It’s probably no coincidence that Jesus first singles out an outside group to say that he really despises ministers who reign with authority, rule over their sheep, and have no compassion or Christ-likeness.
C) Next, he says something quite fascinating: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church." The word "says" is in the perfect present Greek, which means continual speaking. This means the Holy Spirit still speaks to the church. The problem we have is that, because we are often so diluted in our walk, we muddy up what the Spirit says. This is the reason why we use the Word of God itself as our rule of authority or our plumb line. But make no mistake, the Holy Spirit still speaks today, or Jesus is a liar.
D) The promise that Jesus gives to the Church of Ephesus is that if they get on the right course, he will give them to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God—a reference to Genesis, Chapter Two, Verse 9. In other words, the one fruit that Adam and Eve didn’t eat from, Jesus is offering this church to eat from if they get on track and align with what he wants. Keep in mind that Jesus’ requirement is that they overcome, which is a combative military term, specifically regarding fighting against the evil
