Two of the seven churches had no rebuke from the Lord. Both were faithful in their perseverance. However it was a different story with the other five. We can learn lessons from their areas of neglect, so that we don’t fall into the same traps.

In Ephesus they lost their fervency for the Lord. We fall prey to the enemy’s schemes when we allow other things to take the Lord’s place as first in our hearts. In Pergamos they fell prey to immorality, idols in their hearts, and false doctrines. 

In Thyatira they fell prey to cults and immorality. Sardis was a dead church. They had no passion or response to God’s word. They were stagnant and fruitless. In Laodicea they were indifferent. They had no care one way or the other. Nothing moved them from their complacency. 

1 Peter 5:9 says, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith…” We need barnacle faith to hold fast to the Lord.