There is always more that we can learn; if we stop learning, we stop growing. Perhaps, we never put too much stock, in what one of the apostolic writers said. It was about those who should be grown, should be mature adults, ought to have the true fullness of the Spirit, and be teaching others; yet, are still on milk. He made a reverence to how so many of us, need to be taught, all over again. And there is no doubt in this hour, that many of us are.

Just on this medium, over the years, how often have we used this word “amen.” In all the years of our religious history, we have each said it, or heard others say it. Are we also aware, of just how many times it’s used in the writings of the sacred texts. And all of us know, what it means: truly, certainly, may it be so, and to express approval. Perhaps, every time we are in any kind of service, we may hear, “let the church say, amen.” It means, that we all agree.

But in John’s last book, we find a different meaning to this simple word we’ve used so often. And it’s not about us; it’s about Him . I found it somewhat eye-opening, that it’s found in the last of the seven churches, that the Spirit was speaking to. Note this verse number 14: “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” Just when we are sure we know so much and we feel we’re scholars in God’s ways, He reveals something. He was speaking, to the lukewarm church.

The ‘amen’ that we need to hear most of all today, is not from us. It is not from our peers, our small circle of whomever, our particular congregation, denomination or credential approvers. The amen we should all be listening for, is the one that comes from God. I feel l am led to remind all of us, this is not our church. Jesus said in the Gospels, “upon this rock, I will build My church.” We are often so busy with our doctrinal discourse, choosing who we say belongs and who does not, that we have totally forgotten the true question.

Whom, do You say, that I am. What was that answer? It’s a simple truth, that too many have jumped over, to write out all of our rules and regulations and to enforce our commandments of men. Peter replied, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Does the Holy Spirit of God, say amen, to who we are, and what we are doing today? Does ‘He’ approve of the way we do things; how we have church, or the way we love one another? In this verse, Jesus said that He, was the faithful and true witness. Are we yet chasing someone else’s approval; when it’s “His” Amen, we need to hear.

~ Robert Blackburn

Robert Blackburn