When The Glow is Gone
The Riches of God’s Grace • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Intro
Open the Word of God, Revelation 2…
I want to tell you that I am very, very excited about what God is doing at NUBC and in other churches around the world.
I read the story of a man who had heart surgery and was told that they would have to put a pacemaker in his heart to keep it working. And the doctor said, "We have several types of pacemakers. We have a very expensive pacemaker that's made in Switzerland that costs $20,000. And then," he said, "we have a very good pacemaker that's made in Japan. and it costs $10,000.” The man looked a little worried and the Dr. said, “Well, we also have a model from Walmart for $195." The man thought for a moment and said, "I think it's better to try the Walmart model."
So they put the Walmart model on him, and he went home... - some time later he had to go back for a check-up. And the doctor asked him, "How's your pacemaker working?" "Ah," he said, "wonderful. It's working very well." He asked, "Do you have any difficulties?" He said, "Not really - except when I get excited, the garage door keeps opening and closing by itself."
That's how I'm feeling, so excited that my garage door keeps going up and down, when I think about what the Lord is doing in our church and in our lives today.
Listen, there are many types of organizations in the world, but there is nothing on Earth like the local church, New Testament church. When the local church is filled with the glory of God there is nothing like it.
Nothing on Earth can equal the fellowship, the joy, the peace, the satisfaction of accomplishment that we have together in this church or any other local church when the glory of God is upon it.
A holy church is a powerful weapon in the hands of a holy God! And God wants our church to be that kind of church.
Now, in the book of Revelation, in chapters 2 and 3, the Lord sends seven messages to seven churches. These churches were literally (local) churches in Asia.
Ephesus was just one of the seven. And these were seven literal churches, but they represent, in the Book of Revelation, all the local churches of all time.
And by studying the messages to these seven churches, we can see that there is no new problem for the local church.
There is no problem that we could face today, in the year 2024 AD, in this city of Silver Spring, MD that was not in some way mentioned or spoken about in these messages to these seven churches in the Book of Revelation.
And to all of them the Lord ends by saying: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”
The question is: Are you listening? "He who has ears, let him hear."
I want you to hear not only what the Lord Jesus Christ is saying to that church in the year 90-91 AD, but what the Lord is saying to this church today; 4/11/2024.
I want you to hear not what He is saying to people in general, or to the masses, but what He is saying to you as an individual, because our church is nothing more than the sum total of the individuals who come together in it and the degree to which they allow their lives to be filled and used by God, through God's Holy Spirit in this place.
So, "He who has ears, let him hear."
Now I want you to notice the characteristics of the church in Ephesus. You will see that it appears to be a wonderful church, but it has a fatal flaw.
Before we go to the Scripture in Revelation, let me show the content of the first letter
The 1st Letter they receive was written by the apostle Paul around 60-61 AD.
Among other things he writes, he says the following: ch.1:15-16..
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Now, in the gospel of Mark 12, verse 28-31, a judge of the law asks Jesus the following: “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
Mark 12:30–31 “30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.””
Paul says: “I praise God for the faith you have in Jesus and for the your love for your brothers.” ...
In other words, there is a revival happening in the church of Ephesus, it is a wonderful church!
Love is the Greatest Virtue a church can have!
Love is the Greatest Testimony a church can give.
Now, what will actually make this city believe that NUBC is truly a church of the Lord Jesus Christ?
The size of our property? Of building? The value of our annual budget? … No.
Listen. John 13:35 “35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
I tell you that the greatest testimony a local church can give, is the greatest and best way to communicate the gospel!
"See how they love one another." Love is the greatest virtue; is the greatest testimony.
The church at Ephesus had this going for them.
Paul wrote:
Ephesians 1:15–16 “15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”
“Fast-forward”, roughly 30-32 years later (cir. 93-95) they receive another letter
But this time the sender is not the apostle Paul, it is the Lord Jesus himself!
Letter to the church in Ephesus
Revelation 2:1 (NIV84)
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:
The Angel: means the priest of the church, preacher, the messenger of the Lord to the church. ( Mal.2:7 )
The seven golden lampstands: means the 7 churches: Local, physical churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. (Re 1:11)
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: Rev.2:2-3
Revelation 2:2–3 (NIV84)
2 I 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. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
A Busy Church
Jesus is speaking to this church, and He says, in verse 2: “I know your deeds, your hard work” (Revelation 2:2). Do you see that? Oh, they were a busy church!
They believed in the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they were very busy about doing good works.
Sometimes we preach so much that we’re saved by grace through faith and that we’re not saved by works, some people almost believe that we don’t believe in doing good works.
Our Lord takes record of all of the good works that we do, but works are not the root of salvation; they are the fruit of salvation.
Works are not the cause of salvation; works are the consequence of salvation. Works don’t get us to Heaven; works follow us to Heaven. We need to understand that.
And, while we are on this subject of works, let me just quote to you three verses that many of you know by heart—Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 through 10:
Ephesians 2:8–10 “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Now, that’s a very wonderful passage. And, there are three prepositions that I want you to get down in Ephesians chapter 2:8 through 10. And, if you’ll learn these three prepositions, you’ll keep your salvation theology clear.
I will show you the three prepositions that I am talking about. They are by, through, and to/unto. //
“For by grace are you saved through faith … to do good works” (Ephesians 2:8–10).
“For by grace are you saved through faith … to do good works” (Ephesians 2:8–10).
Now, get that. You’re saved by grace; you’re not saved by faith.
Faith doesn’t save; faith just brings you to grace. “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith …
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV84)
10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Just keep those three prepositions in your mind, and you’ll not get confused about salvation.
It’s not that we don’t believe in good works, but we are saved to do good works—we’re saved to do good works—not saved by doing good works. “By grace … through faith … to do good works.”
Now, do you have that? Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 through 10.
And so, our Lord looked at this church, and the first thing He said:
“I know your deeds, your hard work” (Revelation 2:2).
“I know your deeds, your hard work” (Revelation 2:2).
They were a working church. look the sequence…
Revelation 2:2–3 (NIV84)
2 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. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Well, as you look at this, and you’d say, “Well, my goodness, what a wonderful, wonderful church!
What could possibly be wrong with this church?”
Well, I want you to notice not only their faithful works, but I want you to notice their fatal weakness—their fatal weakness. Now, over against all of this, he says in verse 4:
Revelation 2:4 (NIV84)
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
What was wrong with this church?
What was the fatal weakness that caused this church ultimately to disintegrate and to be destroyed?
They lost their first love. The let the honeymoon end.
Brothers, I confess that when I read this, my heart sank.
A wonderful church, but with a fatal flaw.
Unfortunately, they were no longer what they were 30 some years ago!
They didn't love each other like they used to.
Jesus said they "forsook their first love."
That is, they allowed their love for Jesus and others to become cold and lifeless.
They were still active in their service to the Lord, but they were no longer involved out of love, they were involved out of habit (routine).
The Lord Jesus warned them that there would be severe consequences if they did not repent, verse 5 says:
Rev.2:5
Revelation 2:5 (NIV84)
…Repent … If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
the lampstand is the church.
They did not heed this warning, and today there is no Christian church where that local church used to be, just ruins.
What happened to them is a warning to us all.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Re 2:7)
The Lord said:
Rev.2:5
Revelation 2:5 (NIV84)
5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first…
Oh, we are still active in the service, but what happened to the joy and love of serving the Lord?
We get into a rhythm of:
“Activism without relationships”
We need titles to come to the house of the Lord.
What happened with the joy and love that should accompany our tithes and offerings!
Why have tithes and offerings fallen so much in our churches?…
What happened to the joy of opening our homes to welcome our brothers and sisters to worship the Lord together, pray for each other, share bread and the word of the Lord in our homes? …
This is what the Lord says: “Return to doing the works you did at the beginning.”
“do the things you did at first”
What happened to one-on-one evangelism and discipleship?
“We have become indifferent in the house of God”
We are no longer in love with God's passion!
What is the greatest motivation in serving the Lord?
What should be the greatest motivation in we bring our contributions sacrificially, to give beyond tithing?
What makes us want to open our home to share the bread and the word with our brothers and friends?
What must happen for us to be faithful to our Sunday School class? …
What makes us want to be here on Sunday morning and Wednesday nights?
What makes us want to spend and be spent?
What motivates our heart?
2 Corinthians 5:14 “For the love of Christ compels us.”
Nothing, nothing will motivate us more than a heart full of love for Jesus and, above all, His love for you!
Oh! Church: Thus says the Lord:
Revelation 2:5 (NIV84)
5 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 lampstand from its place.
1 Corinthians 11:31 “31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.”
Examine your own heart and see if your love for the Lord and for others is what it should be.
“If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
The price of our disobedience is too high!
Either the church “changes or it dies”…
The worst of all is that some churches die and don't even know they died!
What can and should we do?
From time to time God’s people backslid and
got sick and they need healing. So does the church.
But gave us the prescription for healing:
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
There are great principles of restoration in this text. First principle:
I. Only God Can Bring a Revival of Love into Our Lives
I. Only God Can Bring a Revival of Love into Our Lives
(repeat that!)
We need a Revival of love in our lives
children, Young people, of men, women… Only God!
“If my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves…
Only God can bring a revival of love in our lives!
Only god! Only god ! Only god !
then:…
II. We Need to Fast & Pray
II. We Need to Fast & Pray
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV84)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves…
Fasting is a way of humbling ourselves in the presence of God.
I want to call on the ENTIRE CHURCH for a week of consecration -
Starting tomorrow, March 11th, we will be fasting for 7 days to seek help from God.
How to Fast:
The Bible talks about three main types of fasting from food:
Total fasting, total fasting should only be practiced for short periods of time (12 hours) If your health allows it, do this fast.
Fasting with Water, you don't eat anything but drink water. Jesus likely practiced this fast during his 40 days in the desert before beginning his ministry (Matthew 4:1-2). Water fasting can be practiced for longer periods of time than total fasting.
Partial fasting.
Partial fasting is when you eliminate just a few foods from your diet, eating more simply. Daniel fasted for three weeks before receiving a vision about the future (Daniel 10:2-3). Partial fasting can last a few weeks without harm to your health.
In partial fasting, you choose what type of food you will not eat for a while. Normally, it is delicious or special food, to have a diet just for survival, not for the pleasure of eating. If you have a health problem, partial fasting is much safer than total fasting or water fasting.
Other types of fasting.
The Bible also talks about fasting from other types of things, which are not food. In his partial fast, Daniel also did not use perfume and 1 Corinthians 7:5 talks about the possibility of a couple abstaining from sexual relations to dedicate themselves more to prayer for a short period of time.
There are no strict rules. When you decide to fast, choose the type of fast that works best for your situation and adapt it to make the most of your time with God.
The important thing is that you realize the need to humble yourself before the Lord and pray during this period.
How to Pray:
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV84)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,..….
Now, what is the prayer that God hears?
Beloved, God does not hear all prayers.
Understand one thing well please:
Isaiah 59:1–2 “1 Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
Prayer alone is not enough!
In fact, sometimes we think we can use prayer as an excuse for repentance.
We think we can use prayer as a smokescreen to hide our sin.
Did you know that prayer without repentance is dangerous?
Did you know that this enrages God?
Did you know that God literally resists this kind of prayer, that God hates this prayer?
It makes God angry. Let me show you this:
Psalm 80:4 (NIV84)
4 O Lord God Almighty,
how long will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?
It would be better not to pray than to pray and make God angry right?
I mean, prayer that doesn't seek the face of God and turn away from evil ways is not only ineffective; She is dangerous!
It provokes. It is an affront to a holy God.
Most of us are praying seeking the hand of God, not the face of God.
Do you know what revival is?
That's when God turns His face toward us.
Revival is the smile of God.
Revival is the joy of God in our midst.
But we often say, "Oh God, do something; Oh God, change the situation in my family; my children, my finances.
O God, rebuke the enemy;
O God,…our young people,… schools, etc.
We are always asking God, do something."
What we want is the hand of God, but what we need is the face of God!
We don't want, and we don't even think, that we need to turn from our evil ways.
“God is a Father, We don't need to get right with the Lord, because the Lord is a loving God. He blesses us anyway."
God is consuming fire!
God sent me here to tell you that He will not bless us anyway.
Fasting and prayer is not a smokescreen in which we can hide our sin.
When Israel faced a small city called Ai, after having conquered the mighty Jericho, it was ignominiously defeated.
Joshua went to a prayer meeting, like the one we will have here on Wednesday, prostrated himself before God and prayed. And..(Joshua 7:10–11 “10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying there? 11 Israel has sinned. He has violated the covenant I commanded him. He has taken possession of sacred things, he has stolen them, hid them and placed them among his possessions.”
What God was saying was, "Look, Joshua, don't just lie there crying with your face in the dust, with your face in the ground, crying out to Me when there's a sin that needs to be corrected in the camp.
Israel has sinned." And until Joshua corrected the situation, until sin was purged, the face of God turned away from His people. And when the face of God turned away from His people, there was a defeat.
[ To help you we have prepared a program
(talk about the Fasting and Prayer program of the week)
A theme for each day
A Verse to Memorize for Each Day
Scripture to Read
Daily Prayer Theme
(This program is available in Print or Digital) QR CODE ON SCREEN
God promised in 2 Chronicles 7:14 “14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Get ready because God keeps his promises!
Together we will see many miracles!
3rd Thing that will help us to be restored is:
III. We Need to Return
III. We Need to Return
Revelation 2:5 (NIV84)
5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first…
“do the things you did at first”…
What were the good works that Christians did in the beginning?
The works that Christians did in the beginning were:
Faith in the Lord Jesus and Love towards other brothers. (Ephes.1:15-16)
In Acts 2:42-47 we have the “Blue Print” of how they did it and how we should do it:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
They expressed their faith in God and love for their brothers by meeting in the temple and in their homes.
Psalm 133:1 “1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” …
Psalm 133:3 …There the Lord grants the blessing of life forever.”
God blesses us when we live in union with Him and our brothers!
We need to open our homes to Jesus!
We need to fulfill the great commission and the great commandment!
Matthew 28:19–20 “19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will always be with you, until the end of time.”
EVERY CHRISTIAN NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE GREAT COMMISSION AND OBEYING THE GREAT COMMANDMENT!
It's not optional!
We need to open our homes for Jesus to do this through us!
That's why I'm inviting you all to participate in the
Acts 246 Project - Jesus in Each Home
Acts 246 Project - Jesus in Each Home
On March 21st at 7:30 pm, right here, we will be starting a training course for leaders and hosts of small groups in homes and then we will open our homes to Jesus!
Register TODAY!
Point your phone's camera
in the QR-Code above (screen) to make the
your registration or send the following
Text: “acts246” to the number (301) 388-8797
Text: “acts246” to the number (301) 388-8797
(talk about Haggai Institute research)
“A survey by the Haggai International Institute asked how people converted to the gospel of Christ. the result:
1% Through TV program
1.1% Through films
2.1% Through other means
2.4% Through the sermon
2.9% Through radio program
2.9% Through pastoral work
3% Through literature and Bibles
4.4% Through evangelistic crusades
29.9% Through friends
49.7% Through relatives
Conclusion: Evangelismo is Relationship
Conclusion:
My brothers, the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Being in love with God's passion brings great joy to the Lord.
God's passion is in the great commandment and the great commission.
The most effective way to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment is through relationships!
Jesus in every home is a powerful tool in the hands of God!
Together we will be stronger and unbeatable! The gates of hell will not prevail!
Conclusion:
I want to finish by saying the following: our prayers will not be heard until we truly seek the face of God.
I have a reason to be talking to you today.
I want us to have a revival for the sake of our families,
I want us to have a revival for the sake of our youth and children.
I want us to have a revival for the good of our church, so that we don't be uprooted like the church in Ephesus was.
But the main reason I'm calling you to seek revival is so that we can be consumed by the glory of God, passionate about the passion of God, for the sake of Jesus. If we do this we will have our prayers answered and revival will come.
I already know what I'm going to do:
I will fast and pray, humble myself and confess
I'm going to dive head first into the project Acts 2:46 Jesus in every Home and you?
Bow your heads in prayer. Heads are bowed; the eyes are closed. And can you reflect on what I talked to you this morning and personalize it?
Don't think about anyone else. …
Think about yourself.
Beloved, do you want to get your heart right with God today?
So leave your seat and come to the altar and rededicate your life to the Lord. …
Do you want to give your life to the Lord Jesus so He can be your Lord and Savior? …
Do you feel tired and overwhelmed by the burdens of life? Jesus said come to me…
Come to the altar…
God sent me here to tell you that He loves you. He wants to save you. He wants to give you a new heart, a new hope, and a new home if you will trust Him.
Come and say: Lord, I want to be a new vessel…
Now, the devil is going to start arguing against that decision right now. The devil will say that you are not good enough, that you do not understand enough, that the crowd is too big, that you will make a fool of yourself or that you will not be able to live it. He will give you all these excuses. Hear me: they are lies - they are lies. Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Come to Jesus. Believe that He died on the cross for your sins. Believe that He rose to prove that He is Lord, Savior, the Son of God. Believe that He can save you, that He wants to save you, and that He will save you if you trust Him.
Pray: "O God, if there is any unconfessed and unrepented sin in my heart and life, reveal it so that I may know. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts. And lead me in the way of righteousness for your name's sake."
Now, Heavenly Father, early afternoon we want to say, "Lord, we want to be clean," help us to set our hearts to seek Your face not just for a few moments on Sunday morning, but, God, let it be our style of life, that, Lord, we live by repentance and faith. O God, have mercy on your church and our families and turn your face upon us and bless us with your holy and glorious presence God. In the name of Jesus. Amen.