Leaving Our First Love

Text: Revelation 2:1-7Revelation 2:1-7
2 ¹ Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; ² I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: ³ And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. ⁴ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. ⁶ But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Topic: Believers must constantly look for the Lord’s appearing

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Revelation 2:4Revelation 2:4
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
records the scathing rebuke of the Lord for the church at Ephesus, but they were not all words of rebuke.

The church at Ephesus was standing up to the task – Verse 1
- “I know thy works, thy labor, and thy patience”
- They were busy and active for the Lord
The church at Ephesus was standing up for the truth – Verse 2
- “I know how that canst not bear them which are evil”
- They tested those who claimed to be apostles, but were not
  - They claimed to be teachers of importance
  - They claimed to have authority
  - They were liars
  - I John 4:1John 4:1
    4 ¹ When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
    – “…believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God
The church at Ephesus was standing in the test – Verse 3
- “Thou hast not fainted”
  - It was not easy going in Ephesus
  - Believers were criticized by the world
  - There was opposition
  - In spite of it all, they remained faithful

Were it not for what is recorded in verses 4 and 5, one would think that the Church at Ephesus was the model church!

Thou hast left thy first love – Verse 4
Thou art fallen – Verse 5
All that the Lord had commended them for in the first three verses meant nothing

The church at Ephesus was doing all the right things

It is possible to serve the Lord for a variety of motives
- To gain the praise of men
- For prestige
- For position
- For the sake of reputation
- Out of a sense of duty
All service which is not born out of love and devotion to the Lord is worthless

This passage can easily be applied to the return of the Lord, and will kick off our theme for this year, Coming again in 2010?

2 Timothy 4:1-82 Timothy 4:1-8
4 ¹ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ⁵ But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. make...; or, fulfil ⁶ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
- His appearing will be a time of judgment
  - All people will be judged
  - The living and the dead
- Based upon the imminent return of Christ, Paul charges Timothy to Faithfulness
  - “I solemnly order you”
  - It is a mandate to us all
- Judgment could be only moments away
2 Timothy 4:82 Timothy 4:8
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
- His appearing is a time of reward
  - Crown of Righteousness
  - For those who habitually loved and desired the Lord’s Appearing
  - “Do we merely give assent to the doctrinal truth of His imminent return, or do we show by our daily life that we love, yearn for, and await His appearing?”

Acts 1:8-11Acts 1:8-11
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. power...: or, the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you ⁹ And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; ¹¹ Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
- “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
- Have you left your first love?
- Do you love his appearing?