Reboot Your Faith
Reboot • Sermon • Submitted
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· 106 viewsJust like a computer or smart phone needs to be rebooted so does our spiritual life. In this message we will investigate the Lord's rebuke and challenge to the church in Ephesus and how it applies to our lives.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
When a computer begins to slow down, become sluggish, maybe has a virus or it’s in need of an update, one has to “reboot” or “restart” their computer.
There are two different types of restarts, soft and hard. A soft reboot slows you down a little but reboots some of the same programs and problems you had before but a hard reset is a little more painful. It sometimes deletes old programs, removes viruses and restores essential programs.
This Angel may be the pastor of the church or an angel responsible for looking over the church. The letter wasn’t written to just the representative but the whole church.
The stars emphasizes the authority of Jesus.
The lampstands his immediate presence.
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. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, 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. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far 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. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Background on Text:
Ephesus was a major seaport city. West coast of Asia minor (Turkey)
The Great temple Artemis also known as the temple Diana. The fertility goddess. (1 of the 7 wonders of the ancient world) 127 pillars 60 feet tall.
Established by Paul. Also joined by Aquila & Priscilla / Apollos served there as well. Acts 19 records spending 2-3 years preaching and teaching.
These were the believers who hadn’t yet heard of the Holy Spirit. Some opposed Paul but God did extraordinary miracles. (Hanker-chiefs and aprons). Seven son’s of Sceva (Chief priest) “Jesus and Paul we know”.
The burning of the magical / spell books = The equivalent of the yearly salaries of 150 men.
“Surely it was a place of great privilege and of great preaching.” (Guzik’s commentary quoting Robertson)
Demetrius the silversmith stirred up the whole city and starts a riot.
It was also a stronghold of Satan. (satanic practices, sorcery practiced and taught)
Timothy was a part of Paul’s struggle with false teachers and the work in Ephesus.
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer
Today I want to learn some valuable lesson’s from the Lord’s word to the Ephesian church … Know to some as the Careless Church.
Reboot Our Faith
Paul reminds us of his life philosophy:
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
*Pastor Allen’s phrase to Tegan
During this pandemic - great time to Reboot all systems.
Jesus Knows
Jesus Knows
2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
Dreams, desires, ambitions, goals - struggles, sin, difficulties, doubts, worries.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jesus knew what the church did right and commended them.
They worked hard for the Lord.
“There are some working Christians, who’s work wouldn’t even exhaust a butterfly.” Spurgeon
“Perseverance” or “patience” - Greek “Steadfast endurance.”
“You cannot tolerate wicked men”
Paul warned them of this:
29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
The Ephesian church continued to do these things without becoming weary.
By all outward appearances, this is a solid church that worked hard, great outreach, and protected the integrity of the Gospel. (To visitors this was a happening church)
“Yet I hold this against you” or “Nevertheless” (NKJV)
Jesus used a sobering word “Yet” or “Nevertheless” - “Despite all that”
“LEFT your first love”
They once had a love that they didn’t have anymore.
(Left not lost)
The distinction between leaving and losing is important. Something can be lost by accident, but leaving is a deliberate act!
Most times it doesn’t happen suddenly, but over time.
When you lose something we don’t know where to find it, but when we leave something, we know where to find it.
“Left … your first love” What was their first love”
Jesus and John stressed this love …
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:
I’ve heard some say over the years:
“I love Jesus, it’s His church I don’t like!”
“A church has no reason for being a church a church when she has no love within her heart, or when that love grows cold. Lose love, lose all.” Spurgeon
“A church has no reason for being a church a church when she has no love within her heart, or when that love grows cold. Lose love, lose all.” Spurgeon
Maybe you’ve been hurt by a church or someone in leadership, don’t let that cause you to “leave your first love.”
Perhaps this had something to do with the Nicolaitans. Who?
The word Nicolaitan means “to conquer the people.”
Basically, these were leaders who lorded their authority over those they led.
“They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence.”
Warren Wiersbe suggests three steps:
Remember (keep on remembering)
Repent (change our mind - This isn’t a command to feel sorry, or to feel anything - Change your direction) It is an urgent appeal for instant change of attitude and conduct before it is too late.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Repeat - repeat the first-works (Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, worship, evangelism)
1. Rekindle Your Love for Christ
1. Rekindle Your Love for Christ
Personal illustration: When I was first saved - water baptism, inviting friends to you group, etc…
It’s that fervent, uninhibited, excited love which often characterizes the new believer.
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the Lord says: “ ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Christ and the Churches, Part 1 (Revelation 2)
While it is true that mature married love deepens and grows richer, it is also true that it should never lose 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.
2. Recapture Your Spiritual Disciplines
2. Recapture Your Spiritual Disciplines
5 Consider how far 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.
Basic SD’s: Bible reading, prayer, fasting, giving, serving
16 When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Meditate - Ponder it, roll it over, ask questions, chew on it
Some people like to read so many chapters every day. I would not dissuade them from the practice, but I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up into your very soul, till it saturates your heart! Set your heart upon God’s Word! Let your whole nature be plunged into it as cloth into a dye! Charles Spurgeon
Illustration: Aimee shared on Tuesday about posting scripture (memory verse cards)
3. Reclaim Your Personal Calling
3. Reclaim Your Personal Calling
What’s your personal calling? A child of God, a friend of Jesus
What a great time for families to refocus.
(Illustration - Isaac asking me to come outside and play basketball)
What you do for the Lord is important, but so is why we do it. When Paul first wrote the Ephesian church he couldn’t stop thanking them for their love.
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Closing illustration:
Closing illustration:
Jen’s iPhone sometimes runs slow - too many programs running in the background … slows down the performance.
Take time to rest and focus on what’s important.
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Keep the main thing the main thing!
Keep the main thing the main thing!