OUR PAST FAILURES AND MISTAKES

As I was studying the history of Nehemiah rebuilding the temple (70 years) and walls (52 days) the opportunity of compromise (see Nehemiah 6:1-8) was front and center in Nehemiah's life to make excuses for his failures and mistakes. As we look at our lives (hopefully in honesty) our thoughts sometimes go to our victories and triumphs, but most often when we think of the past, we think of our failures and mistakes. I wonder why that is? Now failures and mistakes in God are not a big deal as long as we do not get stuck in them. Failures and mistakes in God are to be an opportunity on which we can learn and ever be learning, but that is not what happens in many lives. It is very important that the failures and mistakes of our past are not repeated during our present life and in the things God has prepared for us in the future. How can we move into what God has for us if we struggle with our past? We are to learn from our failures and mistakes so we will have a future in God. Now I am sure this is easier said than done. We all struggle with our past failures, mistakes, and just wish God would wipe them all away as He will wipe away all tears in heaven, but He does not. Why? Because they are tools He uses for our learning. You know we sing songs, "no tears in heaven" well, I guess the author missed these verses, "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4) I think the tears we will be shedding will be from the failures and mistakes we made in our past that we never allowed God to deal with in our lives and now in heaven God has to judge them. The Word of the LORD to the seven Churches (Revelation 2:1-3:22) were opportunities to learn, but as we see some did and some did not, but at the same time prefigured the progression of events that span the entire Church Age. This also gives us indications as to why God's past dealings and judgments (even His visitations) did not come into the fullness of all that He intended or why they did not last can be found within the Word of the LORD to each of these seven Churches. These Churches (and not the Body of Christ) mentioned in the Book of Revelation can tell us much about our past and present world. Did you know only Paul uses the term "Body of Christ" to describe that mystical body of Believers, the Bride of Christ? The "Church" today (like then) is a collection of religious and traditional man centered organizations that practices the tenants and laws of man (humanism, seeker sensitive, hyper-spiritualism, word of faith, etc.) more than they do of God. Shamefully man focused and man run. Let us look at the seven Churches (pastors) of the Book of Revelation to see what we can learn today that will prevent us from making the same failures and mistakes in OUR lives. The first of these the Church at Ephesus was told that they had departed from their “first love” (Revelation 2:4). This was the Church that witnessed the faith and power of the early Apostles who had personally experienced the presence of the resurrected Jesus. The LORD expected those within the Church at Ephesus to maintain this experience of His personal presence of the resurrected Christ, but they had already begun to fall away. The Church of Ephesus was commended, however, because they “hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (Revelation 2:6). There is no explanation given in Scripture as to who these Nicolaitans were however we can come to an understanding of their identity through the meaning of the word “Nicolaitan” itself. “Nikao” means to conquer or consume the “Laos” or laity, the people. Those who became identified as being Nicolaitans advocated a compromise with the world system so Christians would be able to take part, without embarrassment or loss of status, in the social and religious activities of the society in which they lived. In the time of the Church at Ephesus the Nicolaitan teaching allowed Christians to participate in the Roman civil religion. Sound familiar? This resulted in the withdrawal of the manifested presence of the LORD (sound familiar) from their meetings which caused the loss of the spontaneous, quickening power, and stirrings of the Spirit that came to the members of this Church. The Nicolaitans represent a clergy that departed from the presence and power (sound familiar) of the supernatural and substituted form and ritual in its place. The compromise that they advocated caused the dulling of the spirits of the LORD's people as they became conversant with the society and practices of their time. Also the clergy gained control over the functions of ministry and did away with the spontaneity of worship that resulted in the manifest power of God being present. The people then became spectators (sound familiar) to the functioning of the clergy. In His message to the Church at Ephesus the LORD clearly said that He hated the deeds of a clergy that causes His people to depart from experiencing His manifest presence and the operation of the supernatural. In Ephesus these Nicolaitans were present, but hated. In the third Church, Pergamos, they are again mentioned by the Lord, “So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (Revelation 2:15). Here, they were firmly entrenched. Then in the fourth Church, Thyatira, the LORD said, “But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine.” (Revelation 2:24). By now the Nicolaitans were in control and only a remnant remained (like today). Sound familiar? This teaching of compromise by the clergy led to a progressive spiritual declension that culminated in the Dark Ages. During this time of intense spiritual apostasy and darkness a spark of revelation concerning justification by faith came to Martin Luther. Yet today the Catholic Church is trying to rewrite history and call the Protestants (or protestors) back home with lies. But with Luther this began a progressive restoration that developed within the fifth Church, Sardis, and found its full outworking in the last two Churches, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Concerning the fifth Church, Sardis, the Lord said, “I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead” (Revelation 3:1). This Church had returned to right doctrine, but failed to experience the restoration of the fervent “first love” that had been lost at Ephesus. Apparently the Nicolaitans still exercised considerable control and hindered the LORD’s people to the extent that they were not able to experience the quickening of the manifest presence of the LORD nor the power of the Holy Spirit moving in their meetings. The sixth Church, Philadelphia, speaks of an overcoming Church that experienced an open heaven. Of this Church, the LORD said, “I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength." (Revelation 3:8) Here the Nicolaitans were totally defeated and lost all of their influence and control. This Church had cultivated the presence of, “He that has the key of David, He that opens, and no man shuts: and shuts, and no man opens” (Revelation 3:7). The LORD’s manifest presence burned within them and all bondage melted away as the Holy Spirit had His way in their lives and fellowships. Once again the LORD’s people possessed this same fervent “first love” for the LORD that had been lost at Ephesus. There are those now who are also experiencing the manifest presence and power of the LORD what I call the church within the church, the remnant that will make up the Bride of Christ who Jesus is coming back for in the resurrection. These have contended for and gained an open door into the operation of the LORD in their meetings. Much will be accomplished through a present-day Philadelphia Church that will allow an open display of the LORD’s presence and power. Now the seventh and last is the Church of the Laodiceans. The Word of the LORD to this Church is, “Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17) The present-day Laodicean Church has been blessed with more prosperity, gifts, and ministry than any previous Church. Though it is quick to testify about these blessings this Church is exposed by the LORD as being spiritually immature "blind and naked." This prosperity, both spiritual and natural, is not the primary cause of their spiritual blindness and nakedness. Their problem rests in the fact that they do not recognize their spiritual need, “and have need of nothing.” They were satisfied with the things that they possess and were not seeking after the One who gave all this. So then the LORD is revealed as standing outside of this prosperous Laodicean Church, knocking upon its door, seeking to attract their attention, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20) (Please see Thoughts for Consideration in our newsletter "The Call of God" for more on this thought) Because this Church had lost its sensitivity to His voice the call of the LORD changed to seeking out individuals; those who would respond to His knocking on the “door” of their heart by the Spirit. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans has caused this Church to become dull of spirit. Let us take heed to this in us. The acceptance of and adjustment to material prosperity has effectively hindered the visitation of the LORD within this end-time Church and age. This is one of the primary causes of the failure of the Charismatic and word of faith crowd, their emphasis being on prosperity rather than on God and His work in our lives. The Nicolaitan spirit that sought to bring about compromise with the world system in the early Church is still present within the Church of our day. Jesus clearly said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) James told us, “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4) Notice the contrast between these two present-day Churches. In Philadelphia the LORD has set before them an "open door" into the revelation of His manifest presence and the operation of the supernatural in their midst. In Laodicea, He is outside of the Church knocking upon a closed door seeking out any individual who are able to hear His voice and inviting them to commune with Him. The LORD counsels those who willingly open the door of their spirit to Him to, “buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich.” (Revelation 3:18) This “gold” speaks of the divine nature as being of far greater value than all of these external riches that they possess and rejoice in. A glorious promise is given to those who choose to turn away from this materialistic spirit within the Laodicean Church, “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” (Revelation 3:21) This is the greatest of the promises that were given to these seven Churches yet the most difficult to attain even more so today, because of the many subtle deceptions and distraction that must be discerned and especially because of the intensity of the temptations that must be resisted. The LORD is looking for those who are willing to pay the price in order to be a part of the Church at Philadelphia and gain the spiritual life and strength that is available therein. Few will pay the price because the Church at Laodicea is very popular, just look at all of the many denominations that dot the land. The Baptist's alone have 8 different denominations that I know of and all different because of the spirit of the Nicolaitans. They know and use the techniques that will bring about Church growth and material prosperity, but not the power of God that truly changes a man's heart and gives a hope and purpose. Today April 2020 we ask where did the COVID 19 virus come from? The answer is from the pastors and leaders of the Nicolaitan churches of the past and present. They have refused to learn the lessons of their failures and mistakes moving further and further away from the Spirit of God, but God will let man go only so far before He reins man in. God is drawing man unto Himself and desires to correct the years of foolish Nicolaitan attitudes and heart condition in the "Church" and if they do not learn this lesson quite well then the "Church" will stay closed (meeting in cars and on-line) as many politicians have vowed. Funny how the people the denominations want to be like have closed them down. My friend we stand at a cross road in America and the world. Will the "Church" once again embrace the finished work of Christ on the cross or continue on in her arrogance and manipulation? I am sick of hearing "Christian" leaders remind their people of their duty and obligation to continue to give them their tithes and offerings money (when some do not have a job) during the COVID 19 pandemic. They have failed to give them enough of God so they must resort to manipulation and compromise to the word of God to maintain (for some) their lavish life style and apostate ministry. If their ministry is of God He will provide what is needed to continue or if He desires to do some pruning so be it. Make no mistake my friend the LORD is making the following passages of Scripture very real to those seeking a higher level of personal communion with Him. “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me. 21 that I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasure.” (Proverbs 8:17, 21) Those that learn the lessons God has for us will inherit not earthly treasures as much as the heavenly. Your choice my friend will it be the earthly you go after or will it be the heavenly? To gain the heavenly we must learn from our failures and mistakes. Written by David Stahl