Scripture:
Revelation 2:1-7 NKJV
[1] “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: [2] “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; [3] and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. [4] Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. [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. [6] But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. [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.” ’
Observation:
A lot of know the Book of Revelation is filled with prophecies about end times and events and how they will play out. But it also serves to warn us about our position. In fact, all through the Bible, there are warnings. Most of us tend to glance over them, not paying attention because we believe it doesn’t apply to us. The apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit from the island of Patmos where he was sent to die of natural causes. He called himself the one that Jesus loved. I believe that’s because he had such a love for Jesus that he was the only one of the 12 who was at the foot of the cross during HIS crucifixion. Here in the second chapter of this book, the Holy Spirit goes right to work. Looking at where the church is speaking about the things that have gone on that are good. HE says I know your work, your labor, and your patients. You have tested those who say they are apostles and are not. You can’t bear those who do evil. All these things that are being said are good. Jesus explained that they were heading in the right direction. Notice that he is building them up. First, he wants them to know that they started strong. This church that HE is speaking to was a healthy, thriving church that had it going on. The work they did was for the right reasons, and they didn’t grow weary in their good works. However, there is a turn in verse 4, Jesus took the time to build them up because he knew he was going to have to correct them, and verse 4 is where that correction comes in… you have lost your first love??? But wait, didn’t he just say they were doing things in HIS name and that they had not grown tired of it? How could that happen? How could they love Jesus and do things in HIS name yet be numb to those who they are ministering to? Maybe their motivation was wrong, or maybe they were just going through the motions. Either way, they had forgotten to love, and that was a problem. Verse 5 continues the warning and, in fact, calls for a revival in their spirit. In a sense, what is being said is wake up. You have been lulled to sleep. Return to your first love. The passion and fire that you had in the beginning have kindled down and need to be stoked. So they may not have grown weary of their work, but they forgot why they were doing it and a revival was needed. HE goes on to explain how HE was about to snatch the light that HE had placed in them back. This is truly a warning. After HE warns them, HE builds them back up just a little by saying they hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans just so you have an idea who they are because there is a future SOAP coming about them we are just setting the stage at this point. They were a group of people who had perverted the grace of GOD and made it a license to sin. They taught that sexual immorality was ok because GOD’S grace covered that. The very next letter to the churches in Revelation covers that. This particular church couldn’t stand it, but as time went on and things got watered down, the church age grew older, and the true love for Christ continued to fade. Things became OK that were not at all ok in the beginning.
Application:
It happens so suddenly that you don’t even notice. You look back and see where you are and wonder how you got there. Slowly moving away from the fire you had in the beginning. Your love for people becomes more of an irritation than a passion. You get somewhat selfish with your time, and you may not even be able to remember the names of those you have helped because no real relationship was built. What started as a raging fire had burned down to coles. What started as a charge to hell’s gates got winded along the way. The love of Jesus became a permotion of self or even became a look-at-me show. I want to call our attention to this. Because it’s a problem. We can’t just go through the motions. We have to have the fire and passion. It’s easy to let things fizzle out and kindle down. There’s a warning about it in Deuteronomy as well. It’s in chapter 8 and verse 12. But that’s not the only place it’s all through the Bible. This is something we have to really guard ourselves from. Because it happens so easily. A little leven works its way through the whole loaf. Our love for Jesus has to be the number one thing that we tend to. It has to be the most important thing in our lives. Because it’s something that can fade without us even seeing it. Jesus HIMSELF warned us about it saying stay connected to the vine. Paul says, keep instep with the Holy Spirit. That means paying attention to the fruit, knowing that the first one is love. Because everything stems from that. If we lose that, we have become disconnected from what should be driving our motivation. We will start allowing things that we shouldn’t. We need to stay on guard. I’m going to ask you to do something with me, and I pray that you will. Ask GOD to reveal to you where you have relaxed on what you used to do that you are not doing now. I’m not talking about things you did in your name and for your glory. I’m saying ask HIM where your passion for HIM has become cold. Then, ask HIM to rekindle that flame. If we want to see a spiritual revival, it has to start with us. We have to ask GOD to change us. That’s how these things get going. We can’t focus on changing others. We have to focus on changing ourselves, and then others will see it and want it, and GOD can work on them as well. Ok, so listen, here is my wanring… Jesus is coming back, and we will all stand before HIM. My question for you is… do you want HIM to say to you that your love has grown cold???
Prayer:
Father, you know all and see all, and I know this can be a somewhat dangerous prayer, but we ask you to search us. We want our hearts to be wholeheartedly dedicated to you and your cause. We never want to drift away. The work we do we want it to be because we love you with everything that is in us. We never want that love to grow cold. Show us where we need to be when you come back and help us do what is necessary to get there. Reignite the passion for you, your word, and the calling you have placed on our lives. We want our ears to hear what you are saying. Wake us up. Pour your love into us so that the fire we once had will burn so bright it can be seen from miles around. You are our LORD and our GOD. For you and you alone, we were made. Use us to build your kingdom with love and passion that can not be extinguished. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.