"I Know Your Works"

 Dear Saints:

 “I know Your Works.”

l thank God for the cameras. It’s now everywhere for good and for bad. There are the body cameras required for the police to wear; home surveillance cameras, cameras on every phone and etc. We don’t normally think and believe that we are being watched. Even the thieves believe and think that nobody is watching.

But there have been cameras from day one of the world’s creation. We are continually under the watchful eyes of the Lord. Have you thought about that?

We are continuing our study of the book of Revelation (please read entire chapters 2 and 3). Jesus now speaks to the seven churches - Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

There are statements that are the same that Jesus gave to the seven churches. These are: "I know your works"; Commendations, Rebukes, "Repent"; "He who overcomes"; and "Hear what the Spirit says to the Churches". Keep in mind that these are not separate letters but one book and all the churches read and heard the same things.

Let’s start with the church at Ephesus. Jesus speaks as follows:

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ² “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 

⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. ⁶ But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

⁷ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:1-7.

From different Bible translations, “I know your works.” “I know your deeds.” “I know all the things you do.” I may add and it’s implied I know all the things you don’t do. Sin and good have two sides. The things we do and don’t do. God says do not commit murder. If I do, it’s sin and If I don’t it’s good. I can also feed the neighbor who is hungry or ignore him and do nothing.

“I know your works” and I will add your thoughts and spoken words should shake us to our booths (see Psalm 139). One of the biggest lies is that we can do stuff in secret. There is no secret places before God. It is the war of the mind and the devil unfortunately has been winning on this over humans.

Can we get this truth through to our heads? It feels good to come clean. People die in secret living. “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.” Psalm 32:3. Do you have to speak to someone about your struggles? Please consider!

How will the words of Jesus transform and change you and me going forward? “I know your works”. Can we now stop and reflect on our words before we speak and wound/kill someone with our words? You will notice that Jesus is calling for repentance; a U-turn from whatever we are convicted of by the Holy Spirit.

 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; ²⁴ And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting”. Psalm 139:23-24. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you? May we never ignore Him!

Lord, please show me my heart today. Thank you for your commendations for any good works and thank you for your convictions of wrong/sin. Amen.

God’s grace comes to us when He sees our willingness and commitment to doing things differently. This is the reason for repentance to receive more of God's grace for the follower of Christ.

The words, “I know your works” can be overwhelming. Jesus doesn’t want us to drown in condemnation but to bask in His grace and forgiveness. He wants us to overcome. Guess who has overcome? Only Jesus. We must trust Him and His finished work on the cross where he shed his blood and cleansed our sins now and forever. That’s the great news; but we must never take His grace for granted or abuse it. "I know Your Works." Jesus also knows our needs. Be at peace today.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”. Romans 8:1.

Now you see why we must “hear what the Spirit says to the Churches”; so that we can “walk according to the Spirit”.  Lord, please help me to hear, repent and obey your words. Thank you for your abundant grace. Amen. Here is our confidence:

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen". Jude 1:24-25.