Rev. 2:1-7 Revival or Removal

 

Intro: The Austrian Composer Joseph Haydn was a man w/ a cheerful disposition, despite the fact that he was married to an exceedingly bitter & Malicious Woman

 

Several times purely out of spite she took the only existing copies of his music from his desk & Destroyed them

 

Haydn spent much of his Career traveling around Europe Partly because his talents were in such demand – but also because it gave him time away from his disagreeable wife .

 

During one of his extended visits to England an acquaintance visited Haydn in his Hotel room – He noticed a large stack of unopened letters / so he asked the great composer – why he didn’t open his mail ?

 

Haydn responded : “All these letters are from my wife we write each other every other week – but I do not open her letters & I am quite sure that she does not open mine”

 

Maybe that is the reason they had a POOR MARRIAGE – lack of Communication / Time & Affection.

 

Well here in Rev. Ch’s 2& 3 we have a stack of Letters 7 in all that Have been largely ignored by the Church

A)   Many Believers like to skip Ch. 2 & 3 to get to the “more Juicy parts.”

      the action packed Blood & thunder sections of Rev

 

B)    To do so is a Big Mistake – These seven letters are Powerful letters

       burning w/ Urgency

1)                           Their Messages are as Timely & Vital today as when they were first  Written / They Reveal our Lord’s Heart for the Church.

 

 

DIVINE OUTLINE  CH. 1 V.19

"Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.        3 SECTIONS

 

A) Section 1 Ch. 1 Presents The Lord’s Person-He whom He has seen –

 

B) Section 2 Ch.’s 2&3 Addresses the things which are –The  Churches –

     THE CHURCH AGE – Focus is  The Lord’s People

 

C)  Section 3 Ch’s 4-22 The details of the things that are yet to come

              There we discover       The Lord’s Program !!!

 

 

As we Come to  Ch. 2 – we come to the Second section the things that are – the Lord’s message to the Churches –

A) Note that the Messages have a 4 fold application

 

1st they are applied HISTORICALLY – 7 original Churches in 7 real cities in Asia /     Given in Order of ancient Roman postal route

 

2nd – They apply PRACTICALLY – They teach us a lot about Church life

A)   Almost Every problem, difficulty & the Challenges facing the Church are addressed in these 7 letters

 

3rd – Apply PERSONALLY -  The Letters apply to us individually as Believers that is why each one ends w/ the same Exhortation

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

 

4th – Apply PROPHETICALLY -  7 is # of COMPLETENESS

What we have is a picture of the complete Church age –

A)   Each church represents a certain stage in Church History starting w/ Ephesus representing the early Church – Apostolic Church

 

B) moving through the different periods of Church History to this present day –

So the seven letters can be seen in each of those 4 applications – but also note that each Letter has a Similar outline

1st there is a Divine Revelation of Jesus –

 

A) Each of these 7 messages begins w/ a personal description or designation

      of Jesus Christ taken from the vision of Christ given in Rev. Ch.1

 

B) In each case - Jesus makes His nature and attributes directly RELEVANT to the unique spiritual need or problem in each fellowship.

 

2nd – Positive AFFIRMATION –  told what they are doing good – the areas that blessed the Lord – some many others few

 

3rd – Corrective EXHORTATION -  told what is wrong & what they need to do to Change

A) In these 7 very special messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor,  the

       Lord gave each assembly an MRI report of its spiritual condition.

 

4th – Eternal Motivation – How they respond is going to have some ETERNAL RAMIFICATIONS

 

BEGIN W/ EPHESUS – READ V.1-7

 

EPHESUS THE PLACE

A) At the time of the book of Acts, Ephesus was a world center for politics, business, and religion.  Pop. 500,000 / Amp. Seated 25,000

 

B) It was so influential in the world that it was called the Star of Asia or the Light of Asia. wealthy and prosperous and magnificent in its day

 

C)Especially dominant in the city of Ephesus was the worship of the

goddess Diana. ( Temple Prostitutes )

1)                           In fact, the temple that was dedicated to her worship was one of the

     7 wonders of the ancient world – 2 football fields long /  Asylum

 

D)It was a Wicked, Immoral & Violent City - But it was a Place where the

       Gospel – flourished – Sin abounds grace abounds all the More –

1)                Certainly true Concerning Ephesus

 

E) Paul started the Church & ministered there 3 yrs / Apollos / Timothy even

      John himself

1) Church w/ Rich Tradition / great Fruit / Powerful Impact –

 

F) But despite it’s rich tradition / great fruit & Powerful Impact – Ephesus had a real Problem – which was the reason for this letter .

 

DIVINE REVELATION

V. 1 "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:

 

A)   Jesus begins by revealing His Divine Attributes – He is Omnipresent –

Ever Present in the Midst of the Churches –

 

B)   Omniscient – ALL KNOWING -  Sees their Works – but Also their Sin

1)                 Omnipotent – All Powerful – he holds the Churches & its leadership in His right hand – Right hand speaks of Power & Authority

 

A)   The seven stars & the Seven Lampstands revealed in Ch.1:20 – Lampstands = the Churches – Bearers of Light / Stars = Angels

1)                   The word angel  can mean  an angelic being. / Ministering Spirits

Idea that every Church has a Guardian Angel –

 

D)It can also be translated messenger. Or Pastor –

1)                           Now I have been called a lot of things – an Angel is not one

 

E)So Jesus is revealing Himself here as the HEARTBEAT of the Church /

    their Life & their Leadership is in His Hands / Exactly where needs to be Psa 63:8   My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. Isa 41:10   Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

 

 

DIVINE DIAGNOSIS  1ST PRAISE    

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.

 

In v.2,3 - Jesus has some wonderful things to say to this church: Things that on outward appearance might lead us to thing “what a great church”

A)   The Lord affirms this church for 4 things . 1st Serving Church –  "I know your works, your labor

 

B)     No Christian Couch Potatoes in Ephesus . They were an Active energetic Church / 

1)                   Labor = Working to the Point of EXHAUSTION

 

C)  They had all sorts of ministry going on. Other churches might sit and do

    nothing for the Kingdom, but not this fellowship.

1)                Bulletin – always had something going on / some outreach or Ministry to get involved in

              

D)  They took their faith seriously and they put it to work. They witnessed; they labored; they ministered to human needs.

1)             They helped the downcast and ministered to the homeless and outcasts

    of society.   JAIL MINISTRY -

            

E)  Whatever the case - They were busy people, continually working, and our

     Lord commends  them for that.

 

A STEADFAST  CHURCH IN THE MIST OF SUFFERING

 A) Commended for their - patient endurance.

 

A)    PATIENCE = TO BEAR UP UNDER A HEAVY  LOAD – These

        Believers were not Quitters / Hung in there / Persecution & Suffering

 

 

A SEPARATED CHURCH a PURE church.

A) Jesus says I know that you hate those whose deeds were evil.

      We read in Acts where they actually took a stand against witchcraft.

 

A)   Those who were involved in occultic practices before coming to Christ actually went out & publicly burned all of the books they used to use to practice magic.

 

C)  They hated evil. They burnt bridges to their past sinfulness.

      They looked back on their lives and they said,

1)                           “Man, my life was wicked. I was wrapped up in the occult. I’m not going to leave one of those books on the shelf.”

 

D)The footnote to Acts 19:19 in the Open Bible says that the books were

       valued at $364,000.

 

E)Now they could have said, “I’m not going to read those books but they’re worth so much money and they look great on my bookshelf.

1)                 They’re kind of antique looking. And they’ve been handed down I’ll just hang on to them -  THEY DID NO SUCH THING

 

 

Note also in v.6 They were commended for hating the deeds of the Nicolitans –

A) Who were these guys ?  - Nicos = Conquest / Laity = the People of the Church

 

B)The Nicolaitans were those who said we will tell you we will tell you what

     to do & who to date / Marry – Mediators between you & God

 

1 Tim. 2:5   For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

 

 

A SCRIPTURE LOVING CHURCHyou have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

 

A)    They knew the Word. They knew what the truth was and they could

      discern a lie. / Didn’t put up w/ False teaching & Heresy

 

B)    So many of the Heresies circulating around the Church today & the Ministries that are getting rich off them – wouldn’t have survived in Eph

 

C)    Important to Note at this point – that Prophetically speaking – This Church Represents the First Century Church / Apostolic

1)                 Given over to the Apostles teaching/ active in Ministry – Purity – but Like in Eph. It didn’t Last

 

 

Up to this point the Ephesian church would get an A+ grade but it is not the end of the story!    PRESENTS THE PROBLEM

A.) He commends them for A,B,C ,D but in v.4 - says - yet I have this against you!

 

B.) Here is your problem and it is a major problem - Left your 1st love!  Note: left not lost!

1)               didn’t Lose it – it wasn’t misplaced simply to be found again – it was FORSAKEN – Replaced by other things

 

C)Activity replaced Affection / Programs replaced Passion /

     Duty replaced  Devotion - 

 

What does it mean to Leave your First Love – It is when the Lord & the things of the Lord are no longer your first passion .

A)   It is when the  things that once stirred your heart no longer do – that can be an indication that you have left your first love

 

B)    The Lord gave me a Vivid Picture of this Friday night at the outreach – It came to that Point in Mikes Message where Move to the Potters Wheel

1)                 make a Pot – Now I have seem him do this now Probably 40 TIMES NOW -  found myself wondering what is he going to do tonight

 

A)    Round one or the Tall skinny one – or is He going to make the one that looks like a vase that he destroys & turns into a pot

1)                 As I sat there the Lord spoke so clearly to me – said remember how amazed you were the first time you saw him take that 25lbs of clay

 

A)    And in 10 minutes turn it into something beautiful & of Value – Now you taken this for granted – Been there done that

 

That Rob is what happens when people leave their first love – the things that once moved them & amazed them – don’t anymore

A)   Remember how Blown away you felt when you would pick up your Bible to read - & the God of Glory – speak to Your heart

 

B)   Amazed – that although He is holding the World –together in span of Hand – still takes time to meet & Minister to You

1)                 Lord that is exactly what I needed to hear – I love you so much

 

A)    Being Floored at how you could come to a study – and feel like the Pastor was talking especially to you -  How did He know – I Know it is you Lord

 

B)   That feeling that you had when walk into a Building like this & saw so many people in Love w/ Jesus

1)                 There is a Problem when those type of things no longer move you No longer wow you/ Not Blown away that the Living God is interested in U

 

It is when you see someone come forward at an Altar call to make a Decision to follow Christ – tears used to fill your eyes

A)   But Now you find yourself thinking  Cynical thoughts like I wonder how many of them are really Sincere

 

B)   Or How many of them are really going to stick w/ it – Stats say only 25%

 

C)   It is when You find yourself – Being More interested in Knowledge than in Knowing –    (Brain stimulated – instead heart touched )

 

D)   All of those things  can be an indication of this Problem – the fire that once burned bright & strong – has seemed to dwindle

1) The things that used to stir my heart no longer do

 

 

How Does it Happen

A)   For Ephesus – a new Generation- the church was that began in A.D. 53 when Paul came there in Acts 19 was now – 43 yrs old

 

B)   Many of the Original Converts had – died or were very old – those who were leading the way now – were the next Generation

1)                 They didn’t carry w/ them the same – Love affection & Intensity of those who went before them

 

A)   Often the case :  Abe – Known as the friend of God –Built Altars – Known as a WORSHIPPER  dug wells to care for his sheep

1)                 Isaac – Dug wells – no Altars being built –

 

A)   Jacob – none of the Above – didn’t build Altars / didn’t build wells –

     Mr. Program –

 

B)   Didn’t Become an Altar Builder until God Broke Him !!!!

 

So Possibly because this was a New Gen.

 

A)     It happens when we get so caught up in Doing / that we forget Devotion – when we  get Busy

 

B)   Activity replaces Affection – More Concerned w/ what we are  doing – than who we are  doing it for .

1)                 Passion gets replaced by Programs - & I am judging my walk not on How close to Christ I am getting – by how much I am doing

 

A)    Very subtle - gradual - focus shifts from love relationship w/ Jesus to simply being busy for him

 

D.) That Leads to doing things for wrong motives - instead of serving out of response to Jesus love and a love for Him

 

A)    The Motivation is the task & the  fulfillment of a Goal /  experiencing success

1)  joy and Satisfaction comes - from ministry  instead of the Master

 

E.) Or we do it seeking the approval of others -  we become worried about THINGS LIKE position - our status our reputation

1.) instead of our love relationship w/ Jesus

 

F.) W/out even knowing it we have left our first love Replaced by  busyness - religious activity ROUTINE  & THAT  intense love is gone

 

 

It happens when Christians  become hearers of the word instead of doers – They know truth but they don’t apply the truth .

A)   Connoisseurs of good Bible studies – rating them in their minds that was an 8 / that was a 4 – Instead of seeing what God say /

 

B)   Instead of seeking God / Anticipating being spoken to by God !!

Mike Mac. At conference. Name on Paper

 

And it Happens when we  allow someone or something else to take the Place of their passion for the Lord – He is No longer #1

A)  other things that have your affection so that you find yourself just going through the Motions in your walk w/ the Lord

 

C)Morning devotions – Have to instead of a want to / like breakfast – I know

     I need it / When that happens walk becomes ROUTINE

 

 

Same thing can happen in a marriage - lose you passion and insensitivity of your love - replaced by routine

A)   Ever see young couples – can’t take their eyes off each other – always touching – rubbing hair / back – little kisses

 

B)   A few weeks ago after one of the services someone came up to me & was telling me about this young couple sitting in front of them

1)                 he was in the service & must have just come back – they were all over each other / nothing else mattered glad to be together

 

A)   Now – I am not condoning that behavior in Church – but I  like that attitude - / Nothing else matters – as long as we are w/ the Lord

 

 

DIVINE REMEDY THE PERSCRIPTION  – 3 R’S

A)   1st Remember -  think back to that time when you were most in Love w/ the Lord

 

B)   Remember how you longed for the Word & Made time every day

1)                 Remember when you were eager to share what Jesus had done & was doing in your Life w/ others

 

A)   Remember the wonder you felt in worship that you made sure that you made it to church early enough / not miss any of it

1)                 Remember the eagerness & Anticipation w/ which you approached the things of the Lord -  What is He going to do today

D) Remember when you prayed about everything -  even parking place

 

E)Remember how you could hardly bear to miss a service because you

    were learning so much of the truth about life.

1)                 Remember that- Jesus says /   Look back. Think back. Our Lord says, "Remember the height from which you have fallen."

 

 

 

2nd Repent = Change of mind - Change your mind about the place that you are at now

A)   Instead of rationalizing your condition & your complacency – by saying things like  I have matured - 

 

B)   Admit it / confess it – admit the wrong motives / admit things have become routine /ADMIT HOW YOU HAVE taken Him for granted

1)               and where you have  become self centered & Self focused

 

 

REPEAT – Do your First works / IST THINGS

A) What are those things?

 

A) Read your Bible with eager eyes. Start believing again that God is going to speak

1)                 Put everything else aside & make the only thing that matters knowing Him / worshipping Him

 

A)  Don’t Play Church – don’t make this a ROUTINE –come expecting to meet w/ God – get here early – take in the Worship

 

B) Start praying about everything again – believing that God is interested –

1)               Make that special time to spend w/ Him

 

 

Now our tendency is to say My life is so different now – I was single then now I am married w/ 3 kids

A)   Now I have less time & More responsibility – Then I only had to worry about getting myself ready – Now it’s the whole family

 

B)   I relate to those struggles – very real / very Legitimate – but note this Jesus is interested in our HEARTS

1)               Not the quantity of time / but the QUALITY OF TIME

 

A)   Do what you do – w/ the same intensity of Heart – take note of those things that fostered that fervency in the heart

 

 

In marriage same is true – REMEMBER -  When he made your heart stop / Remember when you felt so lucky to be married to her

A)   Remember when call in the middle of the day / send flowers / buy a card / fix favorite meal / wear favorite outfit /perfume

 

B)   REPENT of the Selfishness / hard heartedness / Rottenness /

       Repeat   Do first works –

 

C)   Flowers / phone call – I love you / lunch once a week – whatever it was get back

 

 

Divine Ultimatum – v. 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.

 

A)    This doesn’t mean that individual members of the Church are going to lose their Salvation or lose the grace of God

1)                 it means that the Church will lose its ability to Shed the Light of the Truth / No longer a Lighthouse

 

QUESTION: How did the believers in Ephesus respond to their DIAGNOSIS,&  the prescribed REMEDY

A)    A trip to Asia Minor tells the answer. Ephesus does not even exist as a CITY today.

 

B)    The light of that fellowship no longer burns as a witness for Jesus./ The same story is true for 1000’s of other fellowships through History 

1)                 London Westminster Chapel – 20 people / Metropolitan

-                                 CCCM -  CCV

 

C) See it starts w/ us as individuals – where are we ?

 

DIVINE EXHORTATION

7  "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

 

A)    Ask yourself today if there is distance between you and Christ.  If so  Have You left your first love ?

 

B) You and I have an opportunity TODAY to respond to this love letter of Jesus by:

 

REMEMBERING

Exercising your mind by thinking back on when closets to the Lord

 

REPENTING

This begins when you CONFESS your sin (agree with God concerning His diagnosis). And it is completed when you TURN from sin to Jesus.

 

Remove anything that stands between you and Jesus. Rearrange priorities that work against growing closer to Him.

 

REPEATING

Incorporate back into your life those things that fostered and deepened your first love for Jesus.