0637. In the Midst Observing

In the Midst Observing

"And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of Man."

"These things saith He * * Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know" (Rev_1:12-13; Rev_2:1).

The seven golden candle sticks are the "seven Churches" Christ is seen walking in their midst, observing and saying, "I know."

1. Does Christ have a right to walk in the midst of His Churches? He has, because He bought the Church with His own precious Blood; He is the Head of the Church.

2. If Christ is walking in the midst of the Churches, let us examine His appearance, as He walks. This is given us in Rev_1:13-17. It may be read or briefly summarized. Christ is described in Rev_1:13, as robed, ready to serve. This is His purpose–to serve His saints. In Rev_1:14, is seen His eternity, and the searching power of His eyes, which are as a flame of fire. Nothing in the Church will be left unseen by Him. The whole description shows that Christ is judging His Churches with righteous judgment.

3. No marvel when the Church of Ephesus is addressed in chapter 2, Christ says, "I know thy works," etc.

There is no more solemn scene than this in the whole Bible. The Church of Christ Jesus stands or falls, not as it appeals to the world, but as it appeals to Christ its Head.

Each of the seven Churches, in turn, comes under the closest scrutiny of the Lord. He commends their good, and condemns their evil. He knows. The one Church, the Laodicean, which pleases the world more than any of the others, stands the most obnoxious to the Lord. In fact Christ takes quite the opposite view from the Church’s own conclusion. In its own eyes the Church was rich, and increased in goods, and in need of nothing; with Christ the Church was poor and blind and naked and miserable. Christ is about to spew Laodicea out of His mouth.

If Christ is walking in the midst of our church, what does He think of our work? How does He like the way we sing, and pray, and give? What does He think of the absentees? What does He think of our doctrine, of our discipline, of our discipleship? Is Christ pleased with the way we greet the poor and the stranger within our gates? etc., etc.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR