7 Blind Spots in the Church

What Jesus said to the seven churches of Asia (Revelation 2-3).

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Ignoring blind spots while driving can result in an accident.

If we say a person has a blind spot in their life – we’re referring to something they are ignorant about or don’t see as clearly as they should.

Jesus addressed seven spiritual “blind spots” in what He said to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2-3. We will consider these seven blind spots this morning to examine ourselves to see if we have any of these “blind spots” in our lives.

1. Abandoning the Motive for Obeying and Serving God.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (Revelation 2:4)

The church in Ephesus was doing many things right (Revelation 2:2-3, 6).

• Jesus knew their work, labor, and endurance.

• They would not tolerate evil.

• They tested those who claimed to be apostles and discovered they were liars.

• They labored without growing weary for Jesus’ name.

• They hated the deeds of false teachers, just as Jesus did.

But the problem was they had “left” or “abandoned” their “first love” or “the love they had at first.” The problem was not with “what” they were doing – but “why” they were doing it!

They had the same blind spot as the scribes and Pharisees.

But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. (John 5:42)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. (Matthew 23:23)

It is necessary to obey God (Hebrews 5:8-9), but our obedience must be done with the right motive following the Lord’s example. Otherwise, it is worthless (John 14:15; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

2. Compromising Your Faith to Avoid Trouble and Suffering.

“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:9-10)

The church in Smyrna was encouraged by Jesus to remain faithful even though they had faced suffering and would go through more in the future.

In the face of trouble and suffering, sometimes we are tempted to compromise our faith to avoid difficulties.

• In the face of potential death, it appears Paul was deserted by everyone who had been with him (2 Timothy 4:16-17).

• King Saul compromised what he knew to be right to make the people happy (1 Samuel 15).

Jesus reminded the church in Smyrna that a crown awaited them if they remained faithful until the end. What awaits the faithful far outweighs whatever we suffer here.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2 Corinthians 5:1)

3. Tolerating False Teaching in the Church.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (Revelation 2:14-15)

The church in Pergamum had done much in the Lord’s service despite facing challenging circumstances (Revelation 2:13).

But Jesus addressed their big problem – they allowed false teachers to remain and teach in their midst. The things that these false teachers taught were a “stumbling block” to God’s people and were hated by Jesus Himself.

Paul commanded Timothy not to allow false teachers to proclaim their teaching.

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. (1 Timothy 1:3-4)

This is also part of the shepherd’s job – to “stop the mouths” of false teachers in the church (Titus 1:9-11). Jesus warned His church about allowing false teachers to remain among His flock because this destroys people’s faith.

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. (2 Peter 2:1-2)

4. Tolerating Immoral Living in the Church.

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. (Revelation 2:20-21)

While the church in Thyatira was involved in many good works for the Lord, they allowed a woman called “Jezebel” to teach Christians to engage in sexual immorality and worship idols.

This sort of behavior not fitting for Christians – who are must keep themselves pure as the temple of God purchased by the blood of Jesus.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

Christians who go back to sin and keep living in sin must not be allowed to continue on as if everything is ok (1 Corinthians 5).

We are called to be holy as God is holy, not being conformed to this world but transformed and molded to the mind of Christ (1 Peter 1:13-16; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:5-8).

5. Caring More About the Church’s Reputation Than Actually Doing the Work.

I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. (Revelation 3:1-2)

Jesus told the church in Sardis that they had a “reputation” that they were alive, but they were really dead. Some faithfully served Jesus (Revelation 3:4), but the majority did not serve God as they should have (Revelation 3:2).

Sometimes churches – and individual Christians – rest on “the good ole days” of the past and their many years of service, kick up their feet, and expect to coast to the finish line. They rest on their “reputation” as a sound, faithful church or as a hard-working, faithful Christian instead of actually continuing to do the work of the Lord.

Jesus warns the church at Sardis: “That won’t work.”

Even Paul knew the dangers of allowing complacency into his life.

Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:25-27)

Paul did not rest on his reputation as an apostle of Jesus but kept running the race until his race was finished (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

6. Failing to Trust God in Difficult Times.

“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:8-10)

The church in Philadelphia had served Jesus faithfully despite having “a little strength” and facing opposition in their community.    

Jesus told them that He had given them an open door that no one could close and that because of their endurance, He would protect them from the coming trials. This church trusted God through some very difficult days in their life.

In the Old Testament, God often rebuked the Northern and Southern Kingdoms for failing to trust Him and instead trusting in an alliance with a foreign nation.

“The rebellious children are as good as dead,” says the LORD, “those who make plans without consulting me, who form alliances without consulting my Spirit, and thereby compound their sin. They travel down to Egypt without seeking my will, seeking Pharaoh’s protection, and looking for safety in Egypt’s protective shade. But Pharaoh’s protection will bring you nothing but shame, and the safety of Egypt’s protective shade nothing but humiliation. (Isaiah 30:1-3)

However, we also find Daniel and his three companions trusting God during challenging times (Daniel 1-3, 6).

We are reminded that no matter what may happen in this life – we must continue to trust God and walk through the doors that He opens.

7. Failing to Trust God in Prosperous Times.

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (Revelation 3:15-18)

The city of Laodicea had a hot spring to their North and a cold freshwater spring to their East (NET Bible Translator Notes). When this water was “piped in” to Laodicea, it would become lukewarm – neither hot nor cold as it should have been, depending on the water source.

The church in Laodicea is rebuked by Jesus because they failed to trust Him – the One who gives living water and supplies all our needs (John 4:10, 14). Instead, their trust was placed in their riches – and they were blind to the fact that they needed what Jesus offered.

Paul reminded the rich not to trust in their riches but to trust in God.

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

This world’s wealth can cause us to lose sight of the fact that we are not self-sufficient – and our mindset toward wealth can be a trap to us (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

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Here’s the thing about blind spots - we often don’t realize we have them until someone points out our blind spots.

Jesus pointed out seven potential blind spots in Revelation 2-3. Some of these churches may have been unaware of the problem in their blind spot until it was pointed out to them.

What would they do with what had been revealed in their blind spot?

Jesus urged the churches that need to repent to repent before it’s too late. At the end of Revelation, all are invited to come and drink the water of life offered by the Son of God (Revelation 22:17).

Our blind spots don’t have to stay blind spots. God’s Word is like a mirror that shows us areas in our life that we need to change (James 1:22-25).

Don’t ignore your blind spots.