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“SEVEN” – THINGS FOR CHRISTIANS

The number seven has a symbolic meaning in the book of Revelation, meaning perfect or complete. But for this lesson I want to mention four sets of seven that are extremely important to Christians and cover a wide range of spiritual things: Morals, doctrine, protection and example.

Seven things that God hates

“A proud look” (footnote –haughty eyes). The “I’m better than you” attitude. Over and over again God condemns pride.

a. The way of pride is destruction (Proverbs 16:18).

b. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

c. The prayer of the Pharisee in Luke 18:10-14 goes unheard and unanswered because of his

haughty attitude.

The proper attitude is found in Philippians 2:3; “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than themselves”.

2.“A lying tongue”. There are not many things capable of destroying a person’s character quicker than lying:

a. A liar will be viewed with skeptism.

b. A person who cannot be trusted with the truth will rarely be trusted with anything else.

c. One cannot go to heaven and be a liar (Revelation 21:27; 22:15).

3.“Hands that shed innocent blood”. Surely those who were instrumental in the crucifixion of Christ would be guilty of shedding of innocent blood (Hebrews 4:15). Terrorists who wage war against the innocent would be guilty. Those who take the life of an unborn baby would be guilty of that which God hates as well.

4.“A heart that devises wicked imagination”. It was this very thing in the days of Noah that God saw in the human race. “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). It caused God to be grieved that He made man upon the earth. “And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart” (Genesis 6:6).

5. “Feet that are swift in running to mischief”. God is not talking about those who may find themselves caught up in a bad or sinful situation, but rather those individuals that seek mischief. II Peter 2:14 describes them, “Having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices…”

6. “A false witness that speaketh lies”. To prevent this form of abusing innocent people, God in the Old Testament put two preventive measures in place:

a. Two witnesses were required to establish the matter (Deuteronomy 19:15).

b. Where capital punishment was involved, the witnesses were to cast the first stone

(Deuteronomy 17:6-7).

Yet, false witnesses can always be found (Matthew 26:59-60; Acts 6:13).

7. “He that soweth discord among brethren”. It takes so little from so few to sow the seed of discontentment, to upset the unity and harmony of a congregation. In I Peter 2:16 there is a negative, in other words, do not do this. Do not use Christianity as a cloke of maliciousness. In the next verse there is a positive, in other words do this. “Love the brotherhood” (I Peter 2:17).

The seven ones – the platform for Christian unity

One means more than zero; it means less than two, one means one.

One body –one church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 2:12-16; I Corinthians 12:20). The church of Christ (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47; Romans 16:16; Ephesians 5:23)

One Spirit – one Lord – One God and fatherEach verse speaks to one member of the Godhead (Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23; Colossians 2:9)

  1. The order of the God head when listed in a single verse (Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7).
  2. Each is referred to in the scriptures as God:
  3. God the Father (Ephesians 5:20)
  4. God the Son (John 1:1; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1;30
  5. God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4)

One hope – this is the Christian hope (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; I John 5:11-12).

We are saved by hope (Romans 8:24-25)

Hope is the anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19)

One faith - is one body of teaching, the gospel of Christ

A great company of priest was obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7)

The faith once and for all delivered unto the saints (Jude 3)

Paul preached the faith he once tried to destroy (Galatians 1:23).

One baptism – that one baptism is water baptism (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-27; I Peter 3:21).

Seven pieces that make up the Christian armour

Imagine a Romans soldier and the way he would have looked as a soldier prepared for war, protected from the enemies attack by the armour he wore. Now, take that look and think of a Christian prepared for a spiritual war, the armour needed to face the enemy (I Peter 5:8). Each item necessary to survive the battle:

  1. Loins - protected by truth – we can do nothing against it (II Corinthians 13:8)
  2. Walk in truth (III John 4)
  3. Speak the truth (Ephesians 4:15)
  4. Made free by truth (John 8:32)
  5. Heart - protected by righteousness (Romans 6:16-18)
  6. The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16-17)
  7. We are made the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 5:21).
  8. We get into Jesus by being baptism into Him (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-27)
  9. Feet - protected (covered) by preparation of the gospel of peace:
  10. Requires study of the word (II Timothy 2:15)
  11. The desire to answer those who ask about our faith (I Peter 3:15)
  12. The attitude of those who which to teach the lost (II Timothy 2:24-26)
  13. Shield- fend off the darts thrown our way is faith
  14. Our faith will be put to the test (I Peter 1:7)
  15. Do you know whom you believe (II Timothy 1:12)?
  16. Helmet – is salvation, in I Thessalonians 5:8-9 the helmet is the hope salvation, for God hath not appointed us to wrath.
  17. The assurance that heaven is our home (I John 5:13)
  18. The Christian graces the keys to victory (II Peter 1:5-11)
  19. Walking in the light is the path to follow (I Thessalonians 5:4-11; Psalms 119:105; I John 1:7)
  20. Swordof the Spirit which is the word of Godour only weapon (II Corinthians 10:3-5).
  21. Every Christian a soldier (II Timothy 2:3-4)
  22. No middle ground (Matthew 12:30; Obadiah 11)
  23. Every Christian is to war a good warfare (I Timothy 1:18)
  24. Prayer the strength to endure (I Thessalonians 5:17).
  25. Anytime of day or night (Psalms 55:17)
  26. Pray to Him about anything (Philippians 4:6)

The Seven Last Sayings of Christ

So much about the cross of Christ that is so compelling:

  1. The love of God is manifested (Romans 5:6; 8; 10; I John 4:9-10)
  2. The willing sacrifice of Christ (John 12:32; Hebrews 2:9; John 10:18)
  3. It was God on Calvary that day (John 1:1; Philippians 2:5; Hebrews 1:3)!!

Just so, the last words spoken by Christ give us an insight into the thoughts of Jesus as he was dying for us.

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus prayed for the very people who were executing him. To love your enemies is commanded (Matthew 5:44), and Jesus practiced what he preached. In his death Jesus is teaching us the meaning of forgiveness, and we need to follow his example. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

“Woman, behold thy son, behold thy mother” (John 19:26-27). The word of God contains instructions regarding parents, to be sure (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-2). Jesus loves his mother and is concerned for her well-being. He charges John with her care. Necessary observations:

  1. Mary was not, and is not God. Had that been the case Jesus would not worry about her being cared for. Further, if Mary was Deity she would have known some things that she obviously did not (Luke 2:41-51).
  2. Now, I raise that point for a purpose. When we pray, we are to pray to God, more specifically, God the Father (Luke 11:2; Ephesians 5:20). To pray to someone or something other than God is blaspheme. Yet, there are people who pray to Mary. Mary is not God, therefore, it is blaspheme.
  3. I do not say that to be unkind, God in no way casually selected the woman who would give birth to his Son. But Mary is not Deity and that needs to be said!

“My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) That is the fulfillment of Psalms 22:1, but more than that, listen to Habakkuk 1:13. “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity (sin)”. Jesus took our sins upon him and God cannot look upon sin (II Corinthians 5:21; I John 2:2; I Peter 2:24).

“I thirst” (John 19:28). Thirst is a common occurrence in death, the throat becomes dry, Jesus suffered every discomfort that you and I will in death, plus the torture of crucifixion.

“Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus is talking about the Hadean realm (Psalms 16:10; Acts 2:27; 31; John 20:17), the unseen realm of the dead (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus wants us to know that death does not mean that we cease to exist (John 11:25-27). What about the thief, was he baptized or not?

  1. No one could answer that will any degree of certainty (Matthew 3:5-6)
  2. The thief lived under the Old Covenant, we do not (Hebrews 9:16-17)

“It is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus finished all that God sent him to do (John 6:38; 8:29; 4:34).

  1. The Old Testament fulfilled and removed (Matthew 5:17-18; Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 2:15)
  2. Under the New Testament salvation is available to all, no matter the gender, station in life, or nationality, the invitation is offered to all (Matthew 11:28-30; Galatians 3:26-29).
  3. There is a principle here that we do not want to miss, namely, we need to be faithful until it is finished (Revelation 2:10)

“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). One day each of us will experience this, knowingly or unknowingly in this life, our spirit will return unto the Father who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Hebrews 12:9). On that day we need the relationship with God that will enable us to say; “Into thy hands (without reservation) commend I my spirit”. Could we honestly do that today?

Seven churches examples to measure ourselves by

Note, as we begin this section of our study that each congregation is autonomous – self governing, each congregation is to follow the same directions from the head of the church (Ephesians 5:23); as a result each congregation is either praised or condemned individually. “I know” is a statement directed to each congregation (Revelation 2:2; 2:9; 2:13; 2:19; 3:1; 3:8; 3:15).

  1. Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)
  2. Great workers (Revelation 2:2; Matthew 20:1-16; I Corinthians 3:9).
  3. Militant, they hated false teaching (Revelation 2:2; Psalms 119:104).
  4. They stood up for Christ (Revelation 2:3; Mark 8:38)

Some where along the line they lost their love for Christ

When the heart is not right nothing is right (Matthew 10:34-38)

Remember – Repent - Return

  1. Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)
  2. In poverty regarding material things (Revelation 2:9; Proverbs 13:7)
  3. They lived in Satan’s stronghold – those who claimed to be God’s people and they were not (Revelation 2:9; Matthew 7:21-23)
  4. They faced persecution (Revelation 2:10; II Timothy 3:12)

Be faithful unto death and thou shall receive the crown of life

  1. Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17)
  2. They stood their ground against those who denied Christ (Revelation 2:13)
  3. Even when one of their own died a martyrs death (Revelation 2:13)
  4. They stood firm against the enemy without, but they failed to protect those within (Revelation 2:14-15)
  5. The sin of Balaam (Numbers 22-24; II Peter 2:15; Jude 11)
  6. The false teaching of the Nicolaitans – faith only (James 2:24)
  7. The seriousness of opening the door to error (Revelation 2:16)
  1. Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29).
  2. Sin in the camp (Revelation 2:20)
  3. Jezebel was able to infect the congregation with her pernicious ways
  4. Idolatry and fornication were practiced within the congregation
  5. Some were able to resist her influence (Revelation 2:24)
  1. Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6).
  2. More dead than alive (Revelation 3:1) Tombstone territory here.
  3. Even in this mostly dead congregation some where able to work out their own salvation (Revelation 3:4; Philippians 2:12)
  4. The saved can be lost (Revelation 3:5; II Peter 2:20-22; Luke 8:11-15; I Timothy 4:1-3)
  1. Philadelphia(Revelation 3:7-13)
  2. A small congregation but devoted to their Lord (Revelation 3:8).
  3. They knew and kept the faith (Revelation 3:8)
  4. They were not ashamed of Christ or His teaching (Mark 8:38).
  5. There is no shortage of those who pervert the truth (Revelation 3:9; II Corinthians 2:17; II Peter 2:1)
  6. Hold fast to what you have – let no man take thy crown

An open door that no man could shut

  1. Laodiceans (Revelation 3:14-22)
  2. Christians can make Jesus sick of their attitude (Revelation 3:15-16)
  3. They were material rich, but spiritual in poverty (Revelation 3:17)
  4. They said we have need of nothing (Revelation 3:17)
  5. Jesus viewed them vastly different (Revelation 3:17)
  6. Wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.
  7. A congregation that had closed their heart. Would they hear the knock to open the door? (Revelation 3:20)