FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN
REVELATION 2:1-7
INTRODUCTION
Today I would like for us to open our Bibles to Revelation to study the letters of Christ to the seven churches in Asia Minor. As a way of introduction, note the following:
SOURCE: Revelation is of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. (1.1)
PROMISE: Blessed is the one who will read and take it to heart the message of this letter. (1.3)
WRITER: John wrote this letter to the seven churches in the province of Asia. (1.4)
READERS: Seven churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. (1.11)
PURPOSE: To encourage these churches during a difficult time of persecution and to what they can put their faith on as they wait for the Second Coming of Christ.
ILLUSTRATION Whenever I have a chance to visit a different city, I always see to it that I attend a different church than ours to learn from them. In deciding which one to visit I consider the following criteria: Building, Denomination, and Location.
I have learned that building and location are deceiving in terms of the vibrancy of the church. Conservative denomination is not always a guarantee of the soundness of theology. In short, it is not easy to examine and evaluate the ministry of the church.
Only the Head of the church, Jesus Christ, can accurately inspect each church and know its true condition, because He sees both the internals and externals of a church.
In our study of these letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor (Turkey), the Lord gave us an “X ray” of its condition. Conditions that are not just true of their situation but also illustrate the spiritual conditions of the churches today.
It is my prayer that we will benefit from these churches as we examine these letters sent by the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us read the first letter to Ephesus, Revelation 2:1-7.
BIG IDEA: Christians should always be motivated by love in everything they do in the name of Christ.
EXPLANATION
CITY OF EPHESUS
1. Ephesus was the largest and most important city in the Roman province of Asia with a population of approximately 250,000. About ¼ the population of Jacksonville today.
2. The city was devoted to the cult of Artemis and had a temple to the goddess that was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. (Acts 19:24, 27-28, 34-35)
3. It also had geographical priority since it was the best port of entry into that part of Asia Minor (e.g., Roman governors going to other regions in the area would embark there).
CHURCH OF EPHESUS
1. Paul had visited Ephesus about A.D. 53. He remained in Ephesus for several years and preached the gospel so effectively “that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10).
2. This large city was thoroughly stirred by Paul’s message (Acts 19:11-41), with the result that the silversmiths created a riot because their business of making shrines of Artemis was threatened.
3. The Ephesians had enjoyed known leadership like Paul, Timothy, and the Apostle John himself. The church in Ephesus had been established by Paul, who continued to minister there three years after its founding (Acts 20:31).
Revelation 2:1
Angel of the church – can also be translated messenger. Some view this as the angel that represent the church in the heavenlies or the leader or pastor the church.
The one who holds the 7 stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands – refers to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ (see 1.12-18) The letter contains three main parts:
A. COMPLIMENTS (Revelation 2:2-3, 6)
Christ said “I know” which means he is aware or it has come to His attention.
a. YOUR DEEDS – refers the manner of life, the behavior of these people: Jesus was actually saying, “I know the life that you have lived”
b. HARD WORK/TOIL (NASB) – it refers to their persistent and painful struggles to maintain their Christian profession. “I know that you have had a difficult time in following Christ as you should.” It does not refer to their profession or job.
c. PERSEVERANCE – refers to the endurance of suffering and persecution that Christians were experiencing, and were to experience in the future.
d. INTOLERANT OF EVIL – they did not tolerate wicked men in the fellowship and carefully examined the visiting ministers to see if they were genuine. (2 John 7-11) They listened to Paul’s warning in Acts 20:28-31.
e. HAVE NOT GROWN WEARY – meaning they had not given up; they had not renounced their faith. Their hearts have always remained strong as they followed the Lord.
f. THEY HATED THE NICOLAITANS – means follower of Nicolaus; Nicolaus means “to conquer the people.” Some Bible students believe this was a sect who controlled and dominated the church and robbed the people of their liberty in Christ.
The believers at Ephesus were a suffering people who patiently bore their burdens and toiled without fainting. No matter how you examine this congregation, you conclude that it is just about perfect. However, the One among the lamp stands saw into their hearts, and He had a different diagnosis from ours.
B. CRITICISM (Revelation 2:4)
a. YOU HAVE FORSAKEN YOUR FIRST LOVE OR THE LOVE YOU HAVE AT FIRST. They have deeds, hard work, and perseverance, intolerant of wickedness and have not grown weary but they have forsaken their first love.
b. "At first": this means “when you became Christians,” “at the beginning of your Christian life,” or even “when you first believed in Christ.”
c. FIRST LOVE – it is the devotion to Christ that so often characterizes the new believer: fervent, personal, uninhibited, excited, and openly displayed. It is the “honeymoon period” of the husband and wife (Jer. 2:1–2).
d. In other words, their works, labor, and perseverance were not motivated by a love for Christ (See 1 Thessalonians 1:3) or the enthusiasm they had shown when they first became Christians.
APPLICATIONS
What we do for the Lord is important, but why we do it is also essential. In the case of the Ephesians, they were not doing it out of love. We should not forget that Christianity is a relationship than a ritual and set of activities.
Read Matthew 22:37-40.
Just think of it: it is possible for a Christian to serve, sacrifice, and suffer “for Christ’s name’s sake” and yet not really love the Lord Jesus Christ! But no amount of religious orthodoxy, labor, or loyalty can make up for a deficit in Christian love.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Love is essential.
ILLUSTRATION What happened to the Ephesians is the image of some couples today. They persevere in the relationship, they make sacrifices for the family and in children specifically but they have lost the flame of love and the excitement and wonder of those “honeymoon days.”
When a husband and wife begin to take each other for granted, and life becomes routine, then the marriage is in danger.
Similarly, when our Christian existence is no longer motivated by love, our Christianity is in trouble. No wonder the Lord compare our relationship with Him to that of marriage.
Read Ephesians 5:22-33 – Being married to Christ
What are the signs that a Church had forsaken her first love or love for the Lord?
A. When the church is contented with an activity without regard for quality. When you love somebody, you don’t just give but give the best you can. In the church, if we love the Lord;
It is not enough just to be present in the service but also focus on God
To be in the church facilities but you are in the sanctuary worshiping God.
To be teaching and leading but you make sure that you give your best and help other to learn.
To render special music but really make it special as you can.
To give time for the ministry but give the best time you have.
B. When the church becomes custodians (building & properties) rather than being caregivers – both physical and spiritually. When our love for the Lord is growing then we will keep on winning souls instead of maintaining the ones we have. Multiplying instead of just stocking or hoarding.
C. When the church become satisfied with its presence but lacks the influence. Some marriages simply exist and but heading nowhere. Couples still lives together but no plans for the future. Churches have lost their first love when:
When we simply exist but no influence in our community.
Indifferent instead of making a difference.
We see what is happening but never make things happen.
When we are reactive instead of being proactive.
D. When the church perceives ministry as more of a duty instead of opportunity to serve the Lord. Duties are burden but opportunities are privileges and is always a joy to serve God. When we love the Lord, we volunteer and do not need to be forced.
E. When the church becomes container instead of channel of blessings. A person who is in love thinks of ways to show that love. Biblical love is intentional and practical in nature. It is something that you do for others. The moment we become satisfied in just becoming a receiver but never think becoming a giver then love is absent.
When disobeying God does not bother us anymore. When the Church persists in this condition, we are in trouble like the Ephesians because the Lord knows the condition of our hearts.
C. COMMANDS (Revelation 2.5-7)
a. REMEMBER – keep on remembering what we have lost and cultivate a desire to regain that close communion once again.
b. REPENT – means that change our mindset and confess our sins to the Lord (1 John 1:9). Labor is no substitute for love. Purity is no substitute for passion
c. DO THE THINGS YOU DID AT FIRST – restoring the original fellowship that was broken by our sin and neglect. For the believer, this means enthusiasm in prayer, Bible reading and meditation. Creative service and worship. Growing desire to make a difference in this world.
d. REMOVE YOUR LAMP STAND FROM ITS PLACE - In spite of the privileges it had enjoyed, the church of Ephesus was in danger of losing its light! The church that loses its love will soon lose its light, no matter how doctrinally sound it may be. The glorious city of Ephesus is today but a heap of stones and no light is shining there.
e. Indeed, today there is no city or church in the Turkish location that was once Ephesus. Islam has been established in this region which Paul had once thoroughly evangelized (Acts 19:10). How different might the history of that region have been had the church continued to practice its first love (Eph. 1:15)?
Read Matthew 24:12-14. – Love grows cold.
