February
7 - Week 2
February 15, 2009
Faded Love
Revelation 2:1 - 7
Take your Bibles and open them up to the book of Revelation, chapter two. Last week we started this series, seven deadly viruses. I’ve had some people asking, “What’s this virus thing all about?” Just like there are viruses that attack your computer or viruses that attack your body, there are viruses that can attack your relationship with God –that can derail your walk with God, can leave you spiritually cold, weak, ineffective and useless. And in this series we are taking a good look at what these spiritual viruses are and how they present themselves today. And we are doing that by looking at seven churches that were all infected with a different virus. Each church eventually died due to the virus they had. So, in a sense, we are doing a church autopsy. We are going to examine each church one by one, and we are going to discover what killed it, and how we can protect ourselves from these same deadly viruses today.
Read Revelation 2.1
Now the book of Revelation begins with Jesus himself dictating a letter to seven churches through the apostle John. John was worshipping on the Island of Patmos, and he had a vision of Jesus – majestic, holy, his eyes were like fire, his face shined like the sun, his feet were like glowing bronze, and in his hands were seven stars and he stood among seven golden lamp-stands. We learned last week that the seven lamp-stands represent seven churches. These were actual, historical churches that existed at the time this letter was written. And Jesus is seen walking among his churches, he knows each one, he is actively involved. And the seven stars are the “seven angels” –literally messengers of each church –this was most likely the pastors or leaders of each church. And the first church Jesus addresses is the church at Ephesus.
Read Revelation 2.2-3, 6
EPHESUS: THE CITY AND THE CHURCH
Before you can really appreciate what Jesus is talking about here, you’ve got to know a bit about this church. Ephesus was the most important city in Asia Minor. When I say Asia, we tend to think of the Middle East, but Asia here referred to what is modern day Turkey! Ephesus the city still exists today and you can take cruise ships and visit modern and ancient Ephesus. It was at its time, the economic center of the region. It was positioned right at on the coast of the Aagean Sea and it had one of the largest sea ports in the region. It also sat along the Cayster River, which allowed trade to travel up steam into the interior of Asia. It also sat on two of the major trade routes. Strabo, a geographer that lived during the time of Christ called Ephesus the “market of Asia”. It was a large city, 250,000 – half a million people. And it had several unique attractions. The city amphitheater is still visible today and held around 25,000 people (it’s not the new Texas Stadium, but for that day, it was quite a sight). But their most notable attraction was the temple to Artemis which was at that time one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Artemis was believed to be the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of the forrest, the hunt and fertility, and she often was depicted carrying a bow and arrow. Her Roman counterpart was Diana, and still today a branch of Wicca is named after her. And it may be interesting to know that during Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, many people converted from witchcraft to Christ. All of this was part of the influence of Artemis. Ephesus was the center of the worship of Artemis. They believed that an idol of her fell from heaven and assigned them to that mission. In fact, the sales of the idols of Artemis were a foundational piece of the local economy. And so they constructed the huge temple in 550 BC , it was a building project that lasted 120 years! Millions traveled to see the temple and to worship Artemis during festivals. And the festivals were rife with drunkenness, temple prostitution and all kinds of sexual perversion. Philospher Heraclitus – “No one could live in Ephesus and not weep over its immorality”. The city was built on two things: money and sex.
The Apostle Paul had lived in Ephesus and started the church there. In fact, he lived there for three years, teaching in the Hall of Tyrannus, building up leaders. And during his time there, God moved in a powerful way in Ephesus: miracles took place, the sick were healed, demons were cast out in the name of Jesus, people turned to follow Christ so much that they were no longer buying up the idol of Artemis which led to a massive riot in the Amphitheatre and threatened Paul’s life. The influence of the church at Ephesus was felt all throughout the region. In fact, many scholars believe that Ephesus is mentioned here first because it was the “mother church” of the other six and that people left Paul’s ministry in Ephesus and planted the other churches in surrounding cities. This church had all the great preachers: Paul, Timothy and even John was a elder there. Once John left Patmos he lived in Ephesus where he wrote 1,2 and 3 John before his death. So this church had tremendous leadership, they saw God move in a powerful way, they had incredible influence. That was there history.
WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT
But now, 30 years later things were changing. Jesus starts off commending them for what they are doing right. He said, (v2) “I know your deeds”. Jesus is saying, “I know what is going on there.”
And he mentions four things:
1) “I know your toil” – I know your sweat labor, I know your all out effort, I see your hard work for the kingdom. The church at Ephesus was not just sitting back wanting to be entertained, they were in observation mode, they weren’t just pew warmers! They were working hard, they had their sleeves rolled up, they were still working hard to lead people to Christ, bring them into the fold, build them up in the faith and send them out. The church at Ephesus would have gotten lots of awards at the denominational meetings, they would have been high on the “most baptized” list, the Baptist Press would have written stories about this church. They worked hard.
2) The “persevered” –they had stuck in out in hard times. Even in the face of a godless city and all the attacks around them they didn’t stop telling people about Christ. Most likely people in that church had lost their jobs or even been imprisonsed because of Christ, but they still persevered.
3) They would not tolerate “wicked men”.
It was common in those days that people would come into the churches and claim to have a new revelation, or claim to be an apostle of some kind, only to gather a following after them. Paul warned the Ephesian elders this was going to happen. The last words he spoke to them he said - “…after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert.” Acts 20.29-31 And that is exactly what happened, but the Ephesian church wouldn’t put up with that. They tested these men, proved them to be false and kicked the out. They had incredible discernment! In fact, Ignatius, one of the early church fathers wrote to the church in Ephesus: “….I have hared that some strangers came your way with a wicked teaching. But you did not let them sow it among you.”
4) Jesus said you “hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate”. Who were the Nicolaitans? Now for those of you who have kids, this is not to be confused with Nickelodeon! The Nicolaitans were the followers of Nicolas who promoted sexual immorality and promiscuity in the name of Christian liberty! They pushed the bounds of GoClement of Alexandria said they “abandon themselves to pleasure like goats…leading a life of self-indulgence.” They preached a message that said, “All our sin is covered in Christ, so live it up!” But the Ephesian church didn’t buy into it. They exposed that as false teaching, the hated the practices of the Nicolaitans.
They were working hard, persevering under pressure, testing false teachers and standing against them. All that is good – really good! But there was one thing wrong.
FORSAKEN LOVE
· (v4) “you have forsaken your first love” “left your first love” “you don’t love me or each other like you used to” “walked away from your first love” “you have abandoned the love you had at first” “you have deserted me your first love” “you don’t have as much love as you used to”
· What is he talking about “first love”? Love for God or love for people? Yes! Two are tied together – you can’t love God and not love people, and you will never love people apart for loving God.
· Love is the primary motivation in the Christian life – love for God, love for people. Mk 12.28-33, LK 9.57-62
· Scot Mc Knight “Jesus Creed”
· They used to love God and each other – Ephesians (written while Paul in Romans prison, 64 AD) reputation for loving other people Eph 1.15, Paul challenged them to understand the depths of God’s love for them Eph 3.17-19
· Paul’s final words to them “Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love” Eph 6.24
· Somewhere along the way, the stopping loving God deeply, and they stopped loving people.
· I Corinthians 13 – without love, it’s worthless
It didn’t matter how hard they worked – if they didn’t have love it was wasted time.
It didn’t matter how much they endured or suffered – it was for nothing.
It didn’t matter how they stood up against false teachers, how right they were in their doctrine, how many arguments they could win – if they didn’t have love they didn’t accomplish anything.
Work, suffering, doctrine- these things are good, but without love as the motivation you missed the heart of God! And maybe you are very engaged, you are working hard, you are standing firm, you are right down the line theologically – but in your heart you don’t love God, or you don’t love your family, or you find grace in your life toward other people –especially those that are hard to love in your life – then all you are doing is just playing church.
· Great picture in Jesus’ day were the Pharisees – they claimed they loved God, but what they really loved was their position, power, reputations, traditions.
· What does this look like today in the church?
1. More concerned with rules than relationship
2. Quick to judge, Critical spirit that has to be right, or things done your way
3. Loss of joy, the excitement, thrill of walking with Jesus
4. Manipulate people for you own gain and prominence
5. Indifferent to suffering of others
6. Prideful, self-focused
7. Little interest in pleasing God, being used by God, worship, being with God’s people
8. Jesus becomes an accessory to your life instead of the center of your life
9. Too busy doing church to get involved in people’s lives
10. Things matter more than people
11. More concerned with ourselves that others
12. Calloused or indifferent to the things of God
13. Church activities done out of obligation and duty
14. More devoted to rituals, traditions more than the move of God
15. There is a form of godliness but no real desire for God
16. When God is replace by other temporary things
Now apply this list to yourself.
Loosing your love is like a sink hole – on the outside everything looks find, but underneath things are eroding, then one day it all caves in!
Do you love Jesus? [question Jesus asked Peter on the shore of Galilee – do you love me?] It’s the same question he is asking you today. Do you love me? Really?
Loving God with all our heart, loving people both inside and outside of God’s family is Christianity 101. Those are the fundamentals. And if we loose that, then we have stopped following Jesus.
Jesus said – if you don’t get this fixed “I will come to you and remove your lamp stand.”
You want to know why churches die? They have lost their love, and ultimately they closed their doors. Their light goes out. They loose their influence in the community. Forfeit their opportunity to be used for God. Consultant - “what if a girl can only come to a 11:00am service, would you move to another hour? No!” I keep a picture in my office of a church that died, to remind me what happens when a church looses it’s love! Jesus shuts the doors!
What does that look like for us as individuals – when we loose our love, we loose our light, our effectiveness. In fact, we can do more harm than good. We shut the doors of heaven in the faces of others. “Woe, to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, no will you let those enter who are trying to.” MT 23.13-14
What to do about it (v5)
Remember – remember what it was like at first, when you were first walking with Jesus. Look back and see how far you have drifted. Take inventory. Stop long enough to remember what it was like at first. Literally “keep on remembering” – keep it in the front of your mind.
Repent – he didn’t say “make a recommitment” or “rededication” – he said “repent”, change your mind. It’s a deliberate choice. People say, “well, I just don’t feel like it” – it’s a deliberate choice to say, “I’m not going to keep living like this! God, I’m sorry for neglecting you. I’m sorry that my life is not about loving you and loving people – I’ve gotten off track. Forgive me, I’m doing something about it.”
Do the first things – Do what you were doing when you were excited about Christ. Were you reading the Bible every morning and meeting with God? Then do it. Were you apart of a small group? Then do it. Were you serving the Lord? Then do it. Were you sharing your faith? Then do it. Don’t just feel bad about it, do something about it!
Jesus’ promise (v7)
“To him who overcomes, I’ll give you the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in paradise with me.”
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