Series: What is the Spirit saying to the church today?
The expression, "what the Spirit says to the churches" occurs in each of the seven letters to the particular churches in the book of Revelation. In these letters, Christ reminds these churches that he sees what is going on in their churches. He highlights spiritual success and addresses their spiritual failings to each community, and then He offers appropriate encouragement or rebuke. These are the last recorded words of Jesus in the Bible and remind us the church of today that we need to be doing what God has called us to do.
Sermon 1: Know the times
The Spirit today is saying to know the signs of the times and this will only happen in your life when you really know God’s Word and study it to recognize and discern His voice over the many false voices ringing out in this day. Jesus said, “My sheep will know my voice” John 10:14-18: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
Sermon 2: Know and use your spiritual gifts
Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 tells us all to know our spiritual gifts and know how to use them for the common good of the church. We also need to know that we all have different gifts but this is God’s plan and it’s a good thing to have diversity. We also need to know that each one of us with our gifts is valuable to the spread of the Gospel in our society.
Sermon 3: Know if you are drifting away from Jesus - “Return to your first love!”
Thesis: The church is being called on by the Holy Spirit to return to its first love! That first love is the Lord Jesus and it requires a change of direction on our part as Christians need to return to Him. Put Him in 1st place in their busy lives.
Scriptures:
Matthew 22:37-38:
37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
38This is the first and greatest commandment.
John 14:15:
15“If you love me, you will obey what I command.
1 John 2:15:
15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Revelation 2:1-7:
To the church in Ephesus
1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Video Illustration from bluefishtv.com “David Nasser: From Islam to Jesus.”
Introduction:
When I found Jesus – I discovered this missing link in my life called love. I felt His love for me that day I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior –it poured over my soul and my life. It was tangible and life changing. So love became a subject that is near and dear to my heart. In my first year after becoming a Christian I studied about that one subject in the Bible and that subject was love. I was fascinated by the subject and drawn to it like a magnet because I felt unloved and clueless to what love looked like or acted like before in my life. Yet the Bible kept telling me that God was love and He loved me so much he sent His son to die for me. This revelation changed my angry heart. I learned that to be a Christian meant to act and be like Christ and the first description of Jesus was - He loved the Father and He loved God’s creation and part of that creation was me. So I did fall head and heels in love with Jesus and I threw my life into His arms. I have done so now for over 30 years. I guess what perplexes me about some people in Christianity is that they don’t stay faithful and true to the Jesus – their 1st love. They let the business of life and other idols to steal away from Jesus the love he deserves. I got saved with about 7 other guys and I watched over half of them turn their back on their first love Jesus. It was heart breaking – the guy who lead me to Jesus did that – I could not even imagine myself ever rejecting “Jesus” the one who showed me what love was and is.
Yet it happens over and over in this world in which we live. This is what happened to the church in Ephesus. It’s happening today in America and in other places of the world with the rise of Chrislam.
The following from Wikipedia:
Chrislam also known as The Will of God Mission, The True Message of God Mission, Was founded by Tela Tella in the 1970’s in Nigeria.
Chrislam uses both the Bible and Qur’an and sees them both as holy texts. During the worship service, verses are read from both the Bible and the Qur’an. According to Ebenezer Edohasim, a man who worshipped with the Chrislamic people, there was no friction between the two religions and both texts were accepted by the congregation as true. The people of the congregation are also free to shout out to Allah or God in worship. The Chrislamic people believe that Muhammad, Moses, and Jesus were all great prophets and we need to love them all. Worship services include singing of Christian and Islamic hymns to praise God and attract his presence.
This new movement is really an old movement designed to blend religious beliefs together to make everyone happy. But it’s not Biblical and the Bible forbids us to do this. This false belief system paints a picture of Christians who are forsaking their first love.
In an Article I read this week called: “Chrislam Starts To Spread In America” from Google search said the following: www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=1366
…Just recently, Rick Warren, founder and pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Orange County California, addressed the convention of the Islamic Society of North America. Warren stated that Muslims and Christians must work together to combat stereotypes, promote peace and freedom, and solve global problems. Christians and Moslems – faith mates, soul mates and now work mates! Chrislam!
Quote of the Day: “Before we “shake your hand” in responding to your letter, we ask forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world.” – Rick Warren in a speech to Muslims.
This weekend, the Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston along with Christian communities in Atlanta, Seattle, and Detroit will initiate a series of sermons that have been designed to produce an ecumenical reconciliation between Christianity and Islam. In addition to the sermons, the Sunday school lessons will center on the inspired teachings of the Prophet Mohammad. Qurans will be placed in the pews next to the Bibles…
The concept of Chrislam, now embraced by such preachers (as) … Robert Schuller, appears to have emerged from a program on the meaning of “love your neighbor”…
The Chrislam movement has gained impetus by statements from President George W. Bush who said that Christians, Jews, and Muslims all worship the same God and by Rick Warren’s reference to Isa (the Muslim name for Jesus) in his prayer at the inauguration of President Barack Obama…
Jesus in the Quran is neither the only-begotten Son of God nor the Messiah who was divinely appointed to restore the House of David. He is rather viewed as a prophet who was appointed by Allah to prepare mankind for the coming of Mohammad.”
I kept reading on my search and came across another Article titled: Presbyterians Boost New CHRISLAM Religion! www.cc.org/blog/presbyterians_boost_new_chrislam_religion
.... “Some argue that if American “tolerance”—i.e., as in the form of Chrislam—were rejected, then the ongoing conflict between East and West would escalate beyond repair. This slippery-slope fallacy presumes a sort of chain reaction, destined to end with dire consequences that otherwise might have been averted.” It is obvious that Muslim imput into this dialogue with pastors was strong.
Brian McLaren , the leader of the Emerging Church Movement wrote on his five-part blog entry why Christians should join with Muslims in the Ramadan fast. As to be expected, another leader in that Emerging Church movement is Dr. Tony Campolo. Campolo says he is not convinced that Jesus lives only in Christians. In his distorted view, an Islamic “brother” who has fed the hungry and clothed the naked clearly has a personal relationship with Christ, only he doesn’t know it. How’s that again?
What is espcially hurtful to this writer is the Presbyterian Church being a participant in this heresy, having been raised in the Presbyterian church which cannot even be recognized today from what it once was.
These preachers who have jumped on the bandwagon have the misguided notion that the church must adapt to a changing society. THIS IS FALSE. The church was never called to adapt to society but to encourage society to adapt to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
I did come across another Article in defense of Rick Warren::
“Rick Warren Does Not Embrace Chrislam, Say Pastors” By Alex Murashko
Two Christian leaders are attempting to squelch a persistent rumor that Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren “embraces Chrislam.” Pastors Geoff Surratt and Brandon Cox have posted their defense online.
"When I saw Rick issue a tweet about it I felt the liberty to go ahead and address it publicly," Cox told The Christian Post. "It’s as if both of us (Surratt and Cox) had that feeling of having had enough and wanting to stick up for a friend."
Surratt found Warren’s response in the comment section of a blog post perpetuating the Chrislam rumor…
…Warren’s comment:
Several of the above comments are completely incorrect, based on believing 2nd hand false rumors instead of finding out the facts before speaking up. "Only a fool believes all he hears" Proverbs 14:15
The so-called "Chrislam" rumor is 100% false. If the guy who started this libelous myth, or anyone else who passed it on, had obeyed our Lord’s command (Matt. 18:18-20) to come directly to me, and then asked what I actually believed – they would have been embarrassed to learn that I believe the exact opposite. As a 4th generation Christian pastor, my life & ministry is built on the truth that Jesus is the only way, and our inerrant Bible is our only true authority.
As an evangelist, I spend much of my time speaking to non-Christian groups. You cannot win your enemies to Christ; only your friends, so we must build bridges of friendship and love to those who believe differently so Jesus can walk across that bridge into their hearts. Besides, it is not a sin, but rather COMMANDED by Jesus that we love our enemies. In the past 10 years, Saddleback Church has baptized over 22,000 new adult believers – simply because we express love to those who don’t know Christ yet.
It is nonsense to believe that you must compromise your beliefs, or water down your convictions in order to love someone, or even just treat them with dignity.
Jesus was called "the friend of sinners" by the legalistic Pharisees because he hung out with (and clearly loved) unbelievers. I HOPE YOU will 1) Always believe that EVERYONE needs Jesus as their Lord & Savior. 2) Have the courage to associate with nonbelievers in order to love them and bring them to the Savior. 3) Consider being called "a friend of sinners" a Christ-like compliment. 4) Refuse to pass on rumors until you’ve checked for the truth with the person accused. The false statements above should be removed.
God bless you. Rick Warren
As I said earlier this new movement is not new and it has a name it is called Religious Syncretism. The Roman Catholic Church has been doing this since it’s rise during the Roman Empire. The Bible addresses this sin and it is especially pointed out in the Old Testament. In the history of Israel we have examples of Israel’s Kings doing the same thing, but the response of the Lord is consistent, “I am the Lord thy God worship me alone.” A few of the Ten Commandments addresses this false belief system, “You shall have no other gods before me.” “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything…” (Exodus 20:3, 4).
A personal illustration of witnessing religious syncretism: At a friend’s funeral who was Native American. We went to the funeral and witnessed at a Catholic church the following: A Native American Medicine Man, doing dances and swinging incense, and a Catholic priest doing Mass all at the same time. The two leaders blended the two beliefs together in this funeral.
Religious syncretism is not of God: www.GotQuestions.org
Question: "What is religious syncretism?"
Answer: Syncretism, as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary, is “the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief.” This is most evident in the areas of philosophy and religion, and usually results in a new teaching or belief system. Obviously, this cannot be reconciled to biblical Christianity…
More recently, religious syncretism can be seen in such religious systems as the New Age, Hinduism, Unitarianism, and Christian Science. These religions are a blending of multiple different belief systems, and are continually evolving as the philosophies of mankind rise and fall in popularity.
Therein lies the problem, for syncretism relies on the whim of man, not the standard of Scripture. The Bible makes it very clear what true religion is. Think on just a few things stated in Scripture: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37); "Jesus replied, ’I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’" (John 14:6); "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31-32); and “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Religious syncretism is simply not compatible with true Christianity. In fact, any modification to biblical law and principle for the sake of a “better” religion is heresy (Revelation 22:18-19).
Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries.
T.S. – Let’s understand that Christians are not allowed or permitted by the Bible to blend together any other religion with the foundational teachings of the Bible. I believe the Spirit is saying to those who have done so to “Come back home to your first love – Jesus!”
I. The Spirit is saying, “Come back home to Jesus – commit to Jesus only!”
a. Asking for forgiveness is the key in being able to return back home to Jesus
i. Repenting and changing your direction is a part of coming back home to God.
1. We must put first things first in our life! God wants to be first place in your heart, in your life, in your schedule, in adoration, in your daily life.
2. If He does not have 1st place then you have lost your first love like the Ephesian church had.
b. Revelation 2 gives us an example of a church in Ephesus - the church had lost their first love in the midst of their busy schedule of life and religious ministry.
i. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1. Berkely tell us, "Ephesus was located on the Cayster River on a gulf of the Aegean Sea. The silt carried down by the Cayster eventually filled in the bay and brought an end to Ephesus as a port city, but in New Testament times it was large - more than a quarter of a million people lived there. The cult of emperor worship was evident, but the main attraction was the temple of the goddess Artemis"(164).
2. Carr notes this about the city, " Ephesus, ‘the Vanity Fair of Asia’, ‘The Supreme Metropolis of Asia.’ Famous 3 ways: 1. Religion: The Temple of Diana; 7th wonder of the world. ... 2. Commercially: Port city; military city; industrial city; 3. Politically; A free city, self rule.
3. They were also known for their banking, artists, art galleries and sexual sins.
ii. Biblical background - The church was founded by Paul (Acts 18). He spent three years planting the church and raising up leaders to take over. Apollos also preached there. Acquila and Priscilla ministered in this church. Timothy was one of their pastor’s and helped disciple the church. Even the Apostle John was one of their pastor’s later on. This church had some of God’s all-stars as their leaders and mentors (Carr, page 1).
iii. The message to Ephesus from Jesus Christ is He that knows what is going on in their church and in their heart.
1. He saw their hard work - the idea here is that they feared God and did works of service for Him. He was impressed with their energy to do ministry tasks. But it was becoming a religion not a heart-felt mind set.
2. They ran a church that offered programs for every age.
3. They were modeling and teaching evangelism.
4. They had solid Biblical schools and teachers.
5. They where defenders of the faith and knew their Word.
6. He saw their perseverance in their labors - He was impressed how they slavishly toiled for Him.
a. They were so dedicated to ministry and works that they strived, pushed to doing good works to the point of exhaustion.
b. It was ministry at all costs.
c. He saw their lack of toleration for wicked men claiming to be Christ followers.
d. They confronted sin and false teachers ceaselessly.
e. They exposed the false teachers and their false teachings.
f. They tested them by using God’s Word as the grading scale.
g. They did their best to present themselves to God as workers who were not ashamed of their deeds and they correctly handled the Word of Truth (II Timothy 2:15).
7. He saw their perseverance (vs. 3) through hardships for Christ’s name. They were patient and determined to win the race.
a. This thought reflects an endurance that never backs down to compromise.
b. They were a church that crossed every T and doted every i.
c. Thomas states, " They had persevered, ‘because of My name’ Says Christ. ... They persevered for the sake of the purity of the message they preached" (page 139).
8. Right in the midst of their commendation Jesus changes his tone and says "YET"
a. There was a problem that he saw in this church. "You have forsaken your first love." (Verse 4)
b. In other words you have become so busy doing stuff you have neglected to have a relationship with me.
c. Jesus saw that they were forming into Christian Pharisee’s.
d. In reality they were so busy debating others and doing ministry they were neglecting the one they claimed to be serving.
e. Their works superseded a relationship with Jesus Christ.
f. They were so busy crossing their T’s and dotting their I’s that they were drifting away from Christ in their hearts.
g. The church in its zeal for Christianity had become a loveless church and had forsaken the one they were to be loving.
h. They had forgotten about LOVING GOD. And when Christ is forsaken love is forsaken. A church without love is not a church but a legalistic prison. This church had become out of balance. The Church was only 40 years old.
i. Carr states, "The fatal weakness of the church -- The vitality of their passion was gone - They were a saved and a serving people, but their motives for service were wrong. (ILL. Prestige, position, reputation, duty, fear) Love is the only worthwhile motive!"
ii. They had lost their first love (II Cor. 11:2) and Christ would not tolerate it. Like Martha they were so busy that time with Christ was shelved to do the busy things.
iv. Please note: When love is gone in a church these things will appear:
1. Lack of enthusiasm to spend time with Christ in quiet time.
2. Lack of attendance at worship services to honor Christ.
3. Lack of Joy in serving Christ.
4. Lack of being witnesses in our daily life for Christ.
5. Lack of praise for Christ in the struggles of life.
6. Lack of study of God’s Word to learn more of Christ.
7. Lack of prayer to and with Christ.
a. Problem was not outward sin but it was the condition of their hearts.
b. Wilkerson makes this observation: It quickly becomes evident in this passage that the Ephesians. Are not just a bunch of novices or lukewarm saints. No, Jesus is examining the hearts of a people who are well-grounded in the truth of the gospel - and who work to prove it in their lives, by sacrificing, laboring and standing up for truth (3).
c. But they were missing the most important part of the Christian walk – Jesus and His love!
T.S. – We need to return to the Lord and change the direction we may have wandered off into, we need to come home and embrace His sweet love again!
II. The Spirit is saying, “Embrace His love again!”
a. Repentance is always the first step toward revival of a soul or life. It always opens the door for renewal and refreshment.
b. Why is love called the most excellent way? (1 Cor. 12:31)
i. John 3:16 will help answer this question: 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1. This passage is the most famous and the most familiar passage of the Bible. It is quoted the most and it’s reference numbers are seen at football games, parades, graffiti, and the like.
ii. I add at the core of this verse is that wonderful word Love!
1. Max Lucado states in 3:16, “We’ve all but worn out this word. This morning I used love to describe my feelings toward my wife and toward peanut butter. Far from identical emotions. I never proposed to a jar of peanut butter (though I have let one sit on my lap during a television show). Overuse had defused the word, leaving it with the punch of a butterfly wing (page 34).
2. Max also adds why this is the most excellent way on page 39 of his book;
a. Love explains why he came. Love explains how he endured…’Observe how Christ loved us…he didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us’ (Eph. 5:2 MSG).
b. This is why Paul calls love the most excellent way – God is it and Jesus showed it to us with his life and death and therefore we too need to embrace it as a way of life.
c. Let’s return to our text in Revelation to the Ephesians - 2:5-7.
i. Jesus now exhorts them to change back to where they had come from.
1. ‘Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place" (verse 5).
2. They need to do three simple things to be forgiven, restored and renewed:
a. Remember where they had once been. The day of salvation and its excitement.
b. Repent: Get right with God - I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will purify us from all unrighteousness.’
c. Return to the beginning: Fall back in love with Jesus Christ - re-experience his love and tenderness. Become love driven and love motivated again. Be revived!
ii. Warning -- DANGER! DANGER! If you do not I will remove your lamp stand - this is a promise!
1. Jesus now commends them again for their hatred of the practices of the Nicolatians (verse 6).
a. A cult that taught that you could eat meat sacrificed to idols and participate in sexual immorality openly. They believed that your physical sin did not affect your spiritual condition.
b. They were also gnostics who believed that their "Gnosis" could supersede Biblical teaching.
c. After being rebuked it’s nice to hear another word of praise from Jesus Christ.
d. The call to respond and receive another blessing from Jesus Christ (verse 7)
iii. The promise is the right to eat from the tree of LIFE.
iv. What is the message to this church and also to us? We need to stay awake and guard ourselves from anything (including ministry) that allows us to forsake our love for Christ personally. It screams at us that we need to keep our focus on Jesus Christ and His love, so that we will not leave love behind.
1. Hear this message Christian Hills - Is your love for Jesus exclusive? Do you regularly take quality time to be with him? Or have other things crept into your heart, taking up your thoughts and affection?
2. Jesus is asking you right now to repent and start over again if you answer is yes to any of the preceding questions. He wants you to stop and realize, ‘Wait a minute - I see how this lack of love has crept into your life. It’s robbing me of time with you says Jesus!’ Today is the day to go back to you first love. Ask him.
T.S. – Many in the church need to return to their first love Jesus and they need to come back to Him and then embrace His forgiveness then go tell the world about this amazing love.
III. The Spirit is saying, “Go tell the world about His love!”
a. The Lord wants us to be communicative about His unfailing love.
i. This world is searching for love and they can only find unconditional love in the arms and in a relationship with Jesus.
b. The reality check is how can they know true love unless you tell them about it?
i. Maybe that is why my first sermon was on love – I had to know about it –to understand it-to be able to tell others about it?
c. Here is my first sermon ever and it was on the subject of love:
i. Love must be sincere
1. Thesis: Challenge one another to love each other.
a. What is the definition of a Christian?
i. A believer in Jesus Christ
ii. One who professes the religion of Jesus Christ
iii. Having the qualities as taught and modeled by Jesus Christ.
1. Such as love and kindness
b. Love defined?
i. It is a deep tender feeling of fondness and devotion.
ii. A strong liking
iii. God is love 1 John 4:8
1. Without God you can never find real love because love is a part of His nature.
iv. Love is God’s adhesive power which binds us together.
v. Love is God in action because love is only present with God’s presence.
vi. Love is the reason for life and when love is absent life has lost its reason.
vii. Love is the leading affection of the soul connected to God.
viii. Loving someone is caring, sharing, bearing, working and changing together.
ix. Love is the bond of perfectness Col. 3:14
x. Love is the chief step in Christian discipleship.
1. True love: Love delights in giving attention rather than in attracting it. Love finds the elements of good and builds on them. Love does not magnify defects. Love is a flame that warms but never burns. Love knows how to disagree without becoming disagreeable. Love rejoices at the success of others instead of being envious.
c. What love can do
i. Love casts out fear, “there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18)
ii. Love cannot fail.
iii. Love has you love your enemies
1. Matthew 5:38, 39
2. Matthew 5:44
3. An example of this type of love, to love your enemies bless them that curse you is when Jesus said at Calvary in Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
iv. Love gives the right to use the name of Jesus if you don’t walk in love you can’t use the name of Jesus.
v. Love will cast out anger when the fire of love is kept in the flames of wrath will not easily kindle, not long keep burning where love reigns it is hard to be angry with those we love.
d. What happens without love?
i. Without the love of God in the heart of the believer trials can cause us to become bitter and critical and lose the “crown of life’ (James 1:12).
ii. When you do not have love in life, life has no meaning, no hope and no purpose.
Conclusion:
Simply put, the Lord is telling us, ‘It’s not enough for you to be caring, giving, and a diligent servant who grieves over sin and preaches truth. It’s not enough for you to uphold moral standards, endure suffering for my sake, or even be burned at the stake for your faith. This is all part of taking up the cross. You can do all these things in my name. But if in the process of doing them your affection for me does not increase - if I am not becoming more and more the one great delight of your heart - then you have left your first love! If your affection for me is no longer a matter of great concern to you, then I have something against you!"
Matthew 7: 21-23:
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Do you need to renew your passion for Him?
Do you need to place Him in the number 1 spot in your life again?
Let me ask another way:
Do you Love the Lord with your whole heart?
Have you really given your life to the Lord?
Are you were you need to be spiritually – are you more in love with Jesus today than when you first believed?
Is He your first love?
Do you pledge your allegiance to Jesus?
