The First Church
The Apocaliptic Church: Studies on the 7 Churches in Revelation • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsA loveless church needs more of a loving God
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saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Introduction:
Introduction:
For the following 7 sermons here at High Desert Bilingual English Group, we are going to spend time in Bible study and reflection on the 7 churches found in the book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3. Today we are going to begin with the first church. If in case this will be new to you, we pray that it will be a blessings, because there is a blessing in studying the book of Revelation: Revelation 1:3
“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: “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; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 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. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
Revelation 2:1-
First thing: Jesus is sending a message to the churches. And each is a specific message based on the situations of the church, the challenges and strengths of the church.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
But if this is not new to you, I pray that with a humble heart, you hear once again the message of the 7 churches, and allow the spirit to work a transforming work in you. I believe now, more than ever
“You cannot bear those who are evil. You have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars: and you have persevered and have patience, have labored, not become weary...”
The Letter of Revelation:
The Letter of Revelation:
When you look over the panorama of the New Testament, you will quickly notice that the majority of the New Testament is actually a collection of inspired letters written to individuals,, churches and entire groups of people living in the time of the early Christian Church. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are all gospels. Acts of the Apostles is a collection of events that happened to the apostles after Jesus ascended. But as soon as we get to the book of Romans, we begin to read these letters written by different individuals to different Christians throughout the world.
Work
labor
Every single book that comes after the book “Acts of the Apostles” is realistically a letter.
Including the book of Revelation.
patience
persevered
Now, the book of Revelation is a unique letter, a little bit different to the rest of the epistles we see in the New Testament. In the other letters of the New Testament, we often know who wrote it and who they were writing too:
patience
For example, 1 and 2 Timothy was Paul’s letter to a young leader named Timothy. 1 Peter was a letter written by Peter to Christians in “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.” Or take for example James, who you would think is not written to anyone, is actually a letter written to the “twelve tribes which are scattered abroad”
Like the other Epistles, the book of Revelation is also a letter, but it is unique because of who is sending the message, and who the message is being written to:
labored
not weary
The Author of Revelation is found in
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,
And who it was written to:
John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
In fact, John is told specifically who this message should be sent to: Revelation 1:9-11
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Yes, the book of Revelation is important to us. But the book of Revelation was extra-important to these 7 churches, because Jesus himself commanded that this should be sent specifically to them.
But the book of Revelation was extra-important to these 7 churches, because Jesus himself commanded that this should be sent specifically to them.
There is one other thing that should be mentioned about the churches. Because it was originally sent to these 7 churches does not mean that it does not apply to other Christians in other churches throughout time. In fact, the messages that are found in chapters 2-3 of Revelation are messages that apply to all of us.
Book was never sealed.
Historical part of the book.
And it represents symbolically the history of the Christian church
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 57—The Revelation
The names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian Era. The number 7 indicates completeness, and is symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, while the symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the history of the world.
So there is a lot to take in when it comes to these messages. So let us jump into our very first Church, the Church of Ephesus (about 60 miles from Patmos),
(A little Geographical Context)
Turn to Revelation 2:1-7
The very first thing that stands out in this message of Jesus to this church is how good this church is:
This is a church that labors.
This is a patient church.
This is a patient church.
This is a church that cannot stand for evil.
This is a church that cannot stand for evil.
This is also a church that
Is very careful with who claims to be an apostle. A church who is perseverant. And a church who does not give up.
Is very careful with who claims to be an apostle.
A church who is perseverant.
And a church who does not give up.
All these are qualities of a very good church. In fact, one could say that this is more than an excellent church, an outstanding church, a church that we ourselves would like to be.
But the message to the church of Ephesus sets the tone for what Jesus is really trying to do. When Jesus analyzes a person or a group of people, he does not do an external evaluation. He doesnt pass judgement based on what he sees from the outside.
If you remember in the case of the Pharisees:
So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
(This is why ultimately we cannot hide anything from God - Jonah tried, doesn't work).
So when Jesus does this x-ray analysis of the church he finds that the church has fundamentally serious problem. Quoting from the text: Revelation 2:4
“that you have left your first love…”
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Now this phrase in and of itself seems a bit odd. If there is such a thing as first love, wouldn’t that mean that there is a second love and a third love. But that is not what is meant here. Here, Jesus is explaining that they have left behind what they first loved, that is, what characterized them at the beginning.
Now we know they were characterized as a loving church at the beginning because of what the Bible says. When Paul writes to the church of Ephesus, in the book of Ephesians, notice what he says:
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
And when Paul was about to leave the church of Ephesus, notice what they did: Acts 20:37-38
Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
These texts point to this loving quality that the church of Ephesus had. But Jesus is telling the church of Ephesus that even though they do many things, the one thing they are not doing is what they were known for in the past.
They are now a loveless church.
And because they are now a loveless church, look at what the consequences are:
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.
“I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from it’s place…” (In other words, your ability to give light, to witness).
In other words, if they continue being a loveless church, Jesus will quickly turn them into a church that cannot witness.
And this makes perfect sense!!
If there is one message that Christians are to preach it is in fact the love of God. Among the most powerful verse in the Bible, so many of them focus on a loving God and a love filled faith.
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Jesus gives a New Commandment, and the commandment is pretty straight forward:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
He repeats it again in
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
And then one more time it is repeated:
These things I command you, that you love one another.
But there is still more:
(repeated one more time) (and a third time) - It is through loving that people know we are disciples - Love is the fulfillment of the Law - Fulness of God is love.
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
God is Love. - New commandment - That you love one another. (repeated one more time) (and a third time) - It is through loving that people know we are disciples - Love is the fulfillment of the Law - Fulness of God is love.
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- It is through loving that people know we are disciples - Love is the fulfillment of the Law - Fulness of God is love.
God is Love. - New commandment - That you love one another. (repeated one more time) (and a third time) - It is through loving that people know we are disciples - Love is the fulfillment of the Law - Fulness of God is love.
All these verses point to an un-ignorable reality. Love is a the center of the Christian message. It is the point, it is the objective, it is where God is trying to lead us.
Notice how EGW puts it: AA Chapter 54
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 54—A Faithful Witness
“A new commandment I give unto you,” Christ said, “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” John 13:34. What a wonderful statement; but, oh, how poorly practiced! In the church of God today brotherly love is sadly lacking. Many who profess to love the Saviour do not love one another.
A little bit later she writes:
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 54—A Faithful Witness
Divine love makes its most touching appeals to the heart when it calls upon us to manifest the same tender compassion that Christ manifested. That man only who has unselfish love for his brother has true love for God.
And then she states:
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 54—A Faithful Witness
“Let us not love in word,” the apostle writes, “but in deed and in truth.” The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within. It is the atmosphere of this love surrounding the soul of the believer that makes him a savor of life unto life and enables God to bless his work.
Brothers and sisters, let me clear in what we are saying:
It is impossible to say you are a Christian and not love.
It is impossible to say you are a Christian and not love.
A loveless Christian is no Christian at all.
A loveless church is no church at all.
A Loveless people have no message to preach.
Because how can a loveless people preach about a God who is love?
So Jesus is telling this church, if you are loveless, then you cannot witness for me, because you would be sending the wrong message, and ultimately, you would make the gospel of none effect.
And so how do we prevent this from happening to our church? Revelation 2:5
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.
It’s funny what Jesus tells the church. It is not simply about repenting for what they have not been doing. Jesus tells the church to repent and to remember. You see, many of us have forgotten what it feels like to be forgiven. Many of us have forgotten what it’s like to encounter the love of God.
Love is lost when we lose sight of how much we were loved.
We must remember that we are sinners as well. That we also needed forgiveness. That we needed to feel mercy and grace in our lives. We must remember that we were loved, that we are loved, and that we will be loved.
And that others do as well..
Conclusion:
Should we heed the warnings of Jesus to the church of Ephesus. If we were to use their message and apply it to our lives, perhaps we do not get our lampstand taken away.
Remember the promise… Revelation 2:7
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
“hear what the churches say…”