TOO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS REV. 2: 1-8.
DOES GOD CARE FOR HIS CHURCH?
SOMETIMES WE MAY FEEL THAT GOD IS DISTANT – IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH, THAT GOD IS SOME HOW NO LONGER INTERESTED IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES (IT WAS A WONDERFUL HONEYMOON BUT IN THE MARRIAGE GOD SEEMS TO BE ABSENT). DO WE LONG FOR MUCH MORE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND HIS CHURCH? DOES THE LORD JESUS CONTINUE TO CARE?
I WANT TO SAY THE LORD JESUS CARES IMMENSELY! (EPH 5:25 -27). CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER.......... WE COULD LEAVE IT THERE AND THINK YES I KNOW CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH (PAST TENSE) HIS SACRIFICE DEMONSTRATES IT. BUT IS HE CONCERNED TODAY WITH THE CHURCH AT PRESENT . WELL THE ANSWER IS YES AGAIN ....... TO MAKE HER HOLY CLEANSING BY THE WASHING WITH WATER THROUGH THE WORD AND TO PRESENT TO HIMSELF AS A RADIANT CHURCH , WITHOUT STAIN OR WRINKLE OR ANY OTHER BLEMISH , BUT HOLY AND BLAMELESS. (PRESEMT TENSE)
AND THESE SEVEN LETTERS TO THESE SEVEN CHURCHES ARE A CONTINUATION OF JUST THAT THE LORD JESUS DEMONSTRATING HIS LOVING CARE TOWARDS THE CHURCH - HE IS CLEANSING- WASHING WITH WATER THROUGH THE WORD HIS CHURCH FOR WHAT PURPOSE TO PRESENT TO HIMSELF A RADIANT CHURCH.
SO WE NOT ONLY SEE THE LOVING CARE OF JESUS THROUGH HIS DEATH UPON THE CROSS FOR HIS CHURCH BUT THESE SEVEN LETTERS CONFIRM TO US THAT JESUS CONTINUES TO LOVE AND CARE FOR HIS BRIDE THE CHURCH.
THESE LETTERS ARE NOT JUST APPLICABLE FOR THE 1ST CENTURY CHURCH - BUT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY CHURCH ALSO. AS HE COMMENDS , COUNSELS , ADMONISHES, ENCOURAGES, TEACHES , GUIDES, COMFORTS – THROUGH HIS WORD – ITS A REAL SIGN THAT CHRIST LOVINGLY STILL CARES FOR HIS CHURCH WHICH IS BEING PREPARED TO BE PRESENTED TO HIMSELF AS A RADIANT CHURCH.
JOHN HAS BEEN TOLD THE EXALTED LORD TO WRITE DOWN (REV 1:19) WHAT HE HAS SEEN, WHAT IS NOW AND WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE. JESUS UNPACKS THE MYSTERY OF THE 7 STARS IN HIS RIGHT HAND ARE CALLED ANGELS (MESSENGERS- CHURCH ELDERS OR ANGELS WHOM GUARD THE CHURCH) AND THE 7 LAMP STANDS ARE THE 7 CHURCHES IN THE PROVINCE OF ASIA (REV1:4).
JESUS THEN BEGINS HIS SEVEN MESSAGES TO SEVEN PARTICULAR CHURCHES - HE DICTATES TO JOHN EXACTLY WHAT HE DESIRES TO SAY TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (REV2:1). JOHN LIKE A PRIVATE SECRETARY WRITES DOWN EXACTLY WHAT THE LORD SAYS VERBATIM.......
BACKGROUND
EPHESUS -THE CAPITAL ASIA MINOR - TRADE ROUTE THROUGH SEA AND LAND - TEMPLE OF THE GODDESS ARTEMIS (ANCIENT WONDER OF THE WORLD) (FERTILITY GODDESS) WITH TEMPLE PROSTITUTION. AS A RESULT OF THIS TEMPLE - THE MANUFACTURE OF IMAGES OF HER WAS BIG BUSINESS - IDOLATRY AND OCCULTS PRACTICES RIFE. IT WAS DECADENT AND IMMORAL SOCIETY BUT HERE A CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED - (ACTS 19 -20) THE APOSTLE PAUL MINISTERED HERE FOR THREE YEARS AND CONFRONTED THIS CITY HEAD ON WITH CLAIMS OF THE GOSPEL A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION TOOK PLACE. HE WARNED THE CHURCH ON HIS DEPARTURE THAT FALSE TEACHERS WOULD COME IN (ACTS 20:29) - THIS CAME TO FRUITION BUT JOHN REVEALS TO US HERE THAT THE CHURCH DEALT WITH IT . (REV2:2).
1. THE COMMENDATION OF JESUS TOWARDS THE CHURCH 2 – 3, 6 .
DO YOU EVER GET THE FEELING THAT YOUR WORK HERE @ YOUR CHURCH GOES UNNOTICED OR IS INSIGNIFICANT?
I GET THAT FEELING OF THAT AT C.B.C ITS HARD WORK, IN THE MINISTRY AND THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN -ITS HARD WORK IN THE CORPORATE LIFE OF THE CHURCH – BECAUSE SO MUCH IS GOING ON AND THERE’S NO EASY ROUTE (TAKE UP YOUR CROSS).
CONSIDER ALL THE HARD WORK YOU’VE PUT INTO THIS COMMUNITY - THE TEACHING OF THE SCRIPTURES - THE OUTREACH PROGRAMMES - THE DISCIPLING - THE PRACTICAL DUTIES OF THE CHURCH - THE PASTORAL CARE - ACTS OF KINDNESS – THE REFUTING OF ERROR - CONFRONTING SIN - CHURCH DISCIPLINE ALL THESE ACTIONS SO OFTEN GO UNNOTICED, LITTLE IMPACT , SEEM INSIGNIFICANT AND ALSO WHEN WE REFUTE ERROR AND CONFRONT SIN IT CAN CAUSE US TO FEEL MORE ISOLATED AND UNNOTICED.
BUT HERE WE SEE THAT OUR HARD WORK IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED.... THE LORD JESUS COMMENDS HIS CHURCH - HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE THIS CHURCH IS AT..... AND WHERE PRAISE IS DUE - JESUS GIVES IT TO HIS CHURCH V2 I KNOW YOUR DEEDS, YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR PERSEVERANCE.
THESE ARE THE SIGNS OF A REAL GOSPEL CHURCH V2 WORKING HARD V2 PERSEVERING V2 CONFRONTING ERROR, TESTING THE TRUTH V3 ENDURING HARDSHIPS FOR THE NAME OF JESUS AND HAVE NOT GROWN WEARY V3.
• V2 CANNOT TOLERATE THE WICKED - THIS MEANT FOR THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS WITH THE CITIES IMMORAL IDOLATRY AND OCCULT BACKGROUND INFILTRATING THE – THE CHURCH IT DIDN’T LOWER ITS STANDARD WHEN IT CAME TO IMMORAL SIN , IT NEVER COMPROMISED – ITS PURITY - THIS IS WHAT JESUS IS COMMENDING IT FOR AND YET INTO THIS CULTURE IT CONTINUED TO BE A TRANSFORMING INFLUENCE RATHER THAN A CONFORMING INFLUENCE.
• BUT IT WAS HARD WORK AND MANY BATTLE SCARES WERE INFLICTED UPON THE SAINTS IN EPHESUS BUT THE NEVER COMPROMISED RATHER IT WAS COUNTER CULTURE AND PRESERVED WITH THE GOSPEL OF GRACE – IMPACTING LIVES. (THIS IS REAL CHURCH AND ITS MESSY AND YOU CAN GET HURT, WHEN YOU LIVE IT OUT BUT THRE GOOD NEWS IS JESUS NOTICES IT!)
• V2 FALSE PROPHETS - ALSO HE COMMENDS THEM FOR REFUTING ERROR OF FALSE TEACHERS – THEY STOOD OPPOSED TO THOSE WHO TAUGHT CONTRARY TO THE APOSTLES TEACHING (1TIM 3:15) THE CHURCH IS THE PILLAR AND FOUNDATION OF TRUTH. V6 THIS IS INTERLINKED WITH THE PREVIOUS POINT OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY BECAUSE THE NICOLAITIANS V6 WERE PROFESSING BELIEVERS WHO URGED A LIFESTYLE OF SEXUAL FREEDOM AND INDULGENCE AT THE SAME TIME OF SAYING IT WOULDN’T EFFECT OUR FAITH. ( BRINGING CULTURE – CHURCH TOGETHER)
• V3 HARDCORE DISCIPLES - FINALLY THE WERE PREPARED TO TAKE UP THERE CROSS FOR HIS NAME - TRUE DISCIPLESHIP V3
NOTICE THAT EPHESUS IS NOT A MEGA CHURCH WHERE HUNDREDS ARE COMING TO KNOW THE LORD EACH WEEK (WHO CAN FAIL TO NOTICE THAT?) NO JESUS ISN’T COMMENDING THIS CHURCH FOR ITS QUANTITY OF PEOPLE BEING SAVED - BUT ITS QUALITY OF CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THE CHURCH AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ITS PLACED IN . IF YOU TOO ARE DOING THESE THINGS THEY SO OFTEN DONT GET NOTICED, BUT JESUS SEES IT AND COMMENDS YOU ........ ITS QUALITY NOT QUANTITY THAT COUNTS.
1. THE CONCERN OF JESUS TOWARDS THIS PARTICULAR CHURCH. V4
BUT IT APPEARS JESUS HAS A CONCERN BECAUSE WE CAN DO ALL OF THESE THINGS AND YET DO IT WITH E WRONG ATTITUDE OF HEART THAT IS ALL IMPORTANT AS IT APPEARS THERE ARE CAUSE FOR CONCERN IN THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS.
V4 YOU HAVE FORSAKEN YOUR FIRST LOVE.
PAUL HAD COMMENDED THIS CHURCH EARLIER (EPH 1:15) FOR ITS LOVE FOR GOD AND OTHERS. BUT THIS WAS A NEW GENERATION AND WERE CONTINUING GOOD WORKS, PERSEVERING IN THE FAITH, RESISTING SIN AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER , ENDURING HARDSHIPS AND TESTING THE TRUTH BUT IN THEIR FERVOUR HAD FORGOTTEN THE SPIRIT IN WHICH THEY ARE TO DO SUCH THINGS (JOHN 13:34, 1JHN 3:18-19) LOVE GOD AND FOR ONE ANOTHER.
THE MOTIVE FOR THE CHURCHES ACTIONS IS IMPORTANT, (SO OFTEN IT CAN BE ABOUT NUMBERS BUT IT PEOPLE THAT COUNT) , COULD WE AS CHRISTIANS HAVE FORGOTTEN THE CALL OF CHRIST FOR US TO LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS (JHN 13:34, 1JHN 3:18,19. ) ITS BY THIS THAT ALL PEOPLE SHALL NO WE ARE HIS DISCIPLES.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE DAY YOU WERE SAVED? WEREN’T YOU FILLED WITH THE LOVE OF GOD YOU WILL FILLED WITH GRATITUDE TOWARDS GOD FOR SAVING YOU - AND YOU DESIRED WITH ALL YOUR HEART TO SHARE THIS LOVE MESSAGE WITH OTHERS?
• IS THAT FLAME STILL BURNING OR IS IT FLICKERING? THERE IS TENDENCY AS WE GO ON IN OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH TO FORGET OUR FIRST LOVE TO FAIL TO EXPRESS IT AS WE OUGHT - YOU’VE NOW MAYBE GOT MORE HEAD KNOWLEDGE THAN HEART ENTHUSIASM ABOUT CHRIST- THE CHURCH - MISSION - THEOLOGY - DOCTRINE AND SO ON IT ALL UP HERE (HEAD) YET WE’VE LOST SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY . (HEART)
• 1COR 13: 1-13 CALLED TO PURSUE LOVE. READ LOVES CONTENT SECTION 4- 8
IM NOT SAYING WE IGNORE SIN – CERTAINLY NOT JESUS COMMENDS THIS CHURCH FOR DEALING WITH IT YET IT THE MANNER IN WHICH WE GO ABOUT IT - THESE ARE BROKEN PEOPLE - WE NEED MUCH GRACE AND AN ATTITUDE T OF LOVE FOR GOD AND TOWARDS THE SINNER FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED!
A YOUNG COUPLE HAD GOT MARRIED AND WERE VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR MANY YEARS BUT AFTER 15 YEARS BEGAN HAVING MORE THAN USUAL DISAGREEMENTS. THEY WANTED TO MAKE THEIR MARRIAGE WORK AND AGREED ON AN IDEA THE WIFE HAD. FOR ONE MONTH THEY PLANNED TO DROP A SLIP IN A “FAULT” BOX. THE BOXES WOULD PROVIDE A PLACE TO LET THE OTHER KNOW ABOUT DAILY IRRITATIONS. THE WIFE WAS DILIGENT IN HER EFFORTS AND APPROACH: “LEAVING THE JELLY TOP OFF THE JAR,” “WET TOWELS ON THE SHOWER FLOOR,” “DIRTY SOCKS NOT IN HAMPER,” ON AND ON UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH. AFTER DINNER, AT THE END OF THE MONTH, THEY EXCHANGED BOXES.
THE HUSBAND REFLECTED ON WHAT HE HAD DONE WRONG. THEN THE WIFE OPENED HER BOX AND BEGAN READING. THEY WERE ALL THE SAME, THE MESSAGE ON EACH SLIP WAS, “I LOVE YOU!”
FRIENDS ISN’T THAT WHAT CHRIST SAYS TO HIS CHURCH? DESPITE OUR FAULTS – I LOVE YOU - BECAUSE WE ARE SPECIAL TO HIM WE ARE HIS BRIDE – HE HAS SET US APART AND HE SEES NOT WHAT WE ARE BUT WHAT WE WILL BECOME HIS PERFECT BRIDE.
YET WE ARE SO OFTEN LIKE THE BRIDE IN THE STORY WE FORGET HOW MUCH WE WERE FIRST IN LOVE . CHRIST CALLS HIS CHURCH TO REMEMBER OUR FIRST LOVE. SO THAT IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH WHETHER ITS FELLOWSHIP - PASTORING – SERVING -TEACHING - EVANGELISM – WORSHIP - PRAYER - GIVING - THE CHURCH MEETINGS ALL SHOULD SPRING NOT JUST FROM A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH OR A MERE DUTY OR EVEN A SELF EGO BUT FROM THE VITAL ROOT OF LOVE IN CHRIST.
DOESNT THE CHURCH TODAY FAIL LIKE THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS ? ABOUNDING IN THE WORKS OF THE LORD, PERSEVERING – RESISTING SIN - DEFENDING THE TRUTH – ENDURING HARDSHIPS – DETEST PRACTICES OF THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS . YET ARE WE MERELY DOING THESE THINGS OUR OF A MERE HEAD KNOWLEDGE – OUT OF DUTY OR SELF EGO - EXPRESSING THE TRUTH WITHOUT LOVE FOR CHRIST, MAYBE ACTED OUT IN THE SPIRIT OF SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WITHOUT LOVE AND GRACE TOWARDS OTHERS - SEEKING THEIR LONG TERM BENEFIT.
. JESUS IS CALLING THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS TO FALL IN LOVE AGAIN.
BUT HOW DO WE DO THAT – HOW CAN AN INDIVIDUAL OR IN THIS CASE THE CHURCH CORPORATELY FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS AGAIN - WELL JESUS OFFERS US DIVINE COUNSEL TO THAT QUESTION AND INVOLVES THREE IMPERATIVE Rs.
2. THE COUNSEL OF JESUS TOWARDS THIS PARTICULAR CHURCH .
A. WE NEED TO REMEMBER V5. THE HEIGHT FROM WHICH YOU’VE FALLEN!
WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER LOOK BACK AND CONTRAST TO WHEN WE WERE IN LOVE WITH CHRIST, REMEMBER WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM AND WHERE WE ARE REMEMBER WHEN ALL THAT WE DID STEMMED FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN YOUR HEART.
THESE PEOPLE LIVING IN EPHESUS WERE SEXUALLY IMMORAL – A CITY FULL OF IDOLATRY – PURSUIT OF PLEASURE , WEALTH THEY HAD SELF ABSORBED LIVES WITH EVER INCREASING DEPRAVITIES AND YET GOD HAD BROKEN INTO THEIR LIVES WITH THE GOSPEL AND THEY WERE RADICALLY CHANGED.
IN THE EARLY DAYS AT EPHESUS EVERYTHING THEY DID STEMMED FROM THIS LOVE BUT NOW IT HAD BEEN LOST ........EPH 2:1- 4. A CHURCH THAT IN THE BEGINNING NEW THE DEPTHS OF THEIR DEPRAVITY AND WONDER OF THEIR CONVERSION V1, V3. IN THE PAST EVERYTHING THEY DID EMANATED OUT OF THIS LOVE FOR GOD AND FOR ONE ANOTHER AND OTHERS........ THEY WERE DOING EVERYTHING THEY WERE DOING BEFORE BUT THE DIFFERENCE WAS THEY HAD LOST LOVE FOR CHRIST WHO THEY ARE - WHAT THEY DO – WHY THEY DO IT . (THE RIGHT ATTITUDE OF HEART HAD BEEN LOST)
THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THE MOTION IT WAS UP HERE BUT NOT IN THE HEART ANY LONGER - THIS CHURCH HAD FORGOTTEN THE DEPTH OF GODS LOVE .
AFTER ALL JESUS DOES SAY........ REMEMBER V5. THE HEIGHT FROM WHICH YOU’VE FALLEN! LOOK WHERE YOU’VE COME FROM, THIS THEN WOULD PROBABLY CAUSE THEM TO LOOK UPON OTHERS - AS THOSE WHOM GOD COULD SAVE OUT OF THEIR OWN DEPRAVITY – RATHER THEY HAD BECOME DOCTRINALLY SUPERIOR AND HAD A SPIRIT OF SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL WAS DONE CORRECTLY BUT OUT OF DUTY WITHOUT THE LOVE THAT DELIGHTS IN THE TRUTH. (HEART OR KNOWLEDGE)
• REMEMBER THE WORDS OF JESUS TO THE PHARISEES, I DESIRE MERCY NOT SACRIFICE.
EPH 1:15. THE CHURCH @ EPHESUS ONCE EXCELLED IN FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AND LOVE FOR ALL THE SAINTS....... WE ALSO SEE FROM PAULS PRAYER REQUEST EPH 3: 16 -19 THAT THESE EARLY BELIEVERS NEW WHAT IT WAS FOR CHRIST TO DWELL IN THEIR HEARTS , WERE ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED IN LOVE A WISDOM TO KNOW THE ALL SURPASSING LOVE OF CHRIST IN THEM FILLED TO THE MEASURE OF GOD. REMEMBER AND CONTRAST.
• THEY’VE LOST THEIR FIRST LOVE!
HOW ARE THINGS WITHIN OUR FELLOWSHIP LETS REMEMBER THE HIEGHT FROM WHICH WE HAVE FALLLEN! IS THERE A REAL LOVE IN YOUR HEART FOR CHRIST AND FOR ALL THE SAINTS? ARE WE ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED IN HIS LOVE AND IS THAT LOVE FOR ALL THE SAINTS. HAVE WE A HYPOCRITICAL ATITTUDE SELF RIGHTEOUS – JUDGEMENTAL OF OTHERS - AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT - HAVE WE BITTERNESS IN OUR HEART - IS OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE BECOME A FACADE? ARE WE COLD WHEN IT COMES TO OUR LOVE FOR GODS CHURCH – HIS BRIDE?
WE TOO MUST REMEMBER AND CONTRAST - THERE IS A TENDENCY TO LOOK BACK TO REMINISCE ABOUT THE PAST – AND BECOME CYNICAL OF THE PRESENT RATHER WE MUST REMEMBER WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM A RECAPTURE OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST – TO FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS ALL OVER AGAIN.
B. WE NEED TO REPENT V5
THE 2ND R IS TO REPENT V5: ITS THE ONLY OPTION FOR THE CHURCH IF WE ARE GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE WITNESS TO THE WORLD AROUND US IF WE ARE TO REMAIN AS A WITNESS IN THIS COMMUNITY.... OTHERWISE THE LAMP STAND THAT IS THE CHURCH (REV 1:20) WILL BE REMOVED IT WOULD CEASE TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE WORLD CHRIST’S PRESENCE WOULD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM IT. A LAMP STAND PRODUCES LIGHT JESUS IS THE LIGHT AND CALLS US TO BE A LIGHT TO THE WORLD IF THE CHURCH IS NOT BEING THAT LIGHT WITH ITS FIRST LOVE BEING CHRIST THEN ULTIMATELY IT WILL BE SNUFFED OUT!
SADLY THERE IS SO LITTLE ATTENTION UPON REPENTANCE IN THE CHURCH TODAY PERSONALLY AND ESPECIALLY CORPORATELY AS CHURCHES WHEN WE PAY MERE LIP SERVICE TO IT IT WILL BE TO OUR DETERMENT -
CONSIDER THE OT NATIONS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH TAKEN INTO CAPTIVITY.
A REMNANT HAD RETURNED AND WERE RETURNING THAT HAD THE RIGHT ATTITUDE OF HEART AS INDIVIDUALS (NEH 1:4- 9) AND CORPORATELY (NEH 8:1 9:1 – 3.) HERE WITH THE THIRD RETURN OF EXILES FROM BABYLON TO JERUSALEM WHO HAD REBUILT THE WALLS 445BC. IN CORPORATE CONFESSION OF SIN AND WORSHIP UNDER THE LAW OF GOD. AS A PEOPLE IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE BEING AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS TO THE WORLD – WE MUST REPENT OF OUR SIN – WE MUST FALL IN LOVE WITH CHRIST ALL OVER AGAIN!
THE GREAT CHURCH IN EPHESUS ESTABLISHED BY PAUL AND OTHERS - WAS EVENTUALLY SNUFFED OUT - IT DIDNT CONTINUE AND THE TRUTH IS THE SAME TODAY THERE ARE MANY CHURCHES WHICH HAVE BEEN GREAT IN THE PAST - BUT THERE ARE UNDERLYING SINS WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE FELLOWSHIP AND AS A RESULT ARE FLICKERING TODAY AND WITHOUT REPENTANCE WILL BE SNUFFED OUT. ... BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST THEIR FIRST LOVE ...
• ITS A SOLEMN WARNING WE ALL MUST EXAMINE OURSELVES. ARE YOU JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS – WEARING A MASK MAYBE – YOUR LIFE IS A FACADE.
• IF SO THE COUNSEL OF JESUS IS FOR YOU...... WE ARE TO REPENT! WE MUST REPENT IT OUR ONLY VIABLE OPTION (METAN NOIA) TURN AROUND GO BACK THE OTHER WAY IT INVOLVES 1. STOPPING 2. ABOUT TURNING 3. MOVING IN A NEW DIRECTION.
2cor 7: 10 -11. TWO KINDS OF REPENTANCE ARE POSSIBLE IN OUR HUMAN EXPERIENCE. ONE IS ‘THE SORROW OF THE WORLD,” A FEELING INDUCED BY THE FEAR OF GETTING CAUGHT. MANY PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THE UNPLEASANT CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SIN AND ARE PERSUADED THAT THEY ARE GUILTY. THIS RESULTS IN A SUPERFICIAL SORROW THAT MAY LEAD TO A TEMPORARY REFORMATION BUT NOT TO A GENUINE TURNING TO CHRIST FOR FORGIVENESS.
GODLY SORROW, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS ACCOMPANIED BY CONVICTION OF SIN, THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (SEE ACTS 2:37). THIS STEMS FROM THE REALIZATION OF OFFENDING A HOLY GOD. IT LEADS TO GENUINE REPENTANCE.
IT THE CALL OF CHRIST TO HERE TO HIS CHURCH TO REMEMBER -REPENT - AND RECOMMIT THEMSELVES TO THEIR FIRST LOVE ....
C. WE NEED RECOMMIT V5 AND DO THE THINGS YOU DID AT FIRST.
SO THE COUNSEL OF JESUS IS POINTING US TOWARDS REMEMBERING - REPENTING IN ORDER TO RECOMMITTING OURSELVES TO OUR FIRST LOVE CHRIST IN ORDER TO DOING ALL THAT WE DO ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST, SO THAT WE CAN BE USED TO HIS GLORY AND AS A BLESSING TO ONE ANOTHER AND OTHERS.
• A MARRIED COUPLE WHO DESIRE TO RENEW THERE VOWS. THE CHURCH DOES TOO
TO RECOMMIT TO THOSE THINGS WE EXCELLED IN AT FIRST TO KNOW THE POWER OF THE RISEN LIFE OF CHRIST AFRESH IN OUR MINISTRIES AS HIS CHURCH . THAT ALL OUR WORSHIP – SERVICE – TEACHING – MISSION – FELLOWSHIP – DISCIPLING – ALL OUR ACTS WILL BE ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED ONCE AGAIN IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST .
A PASTOR TELLS THE STORY OF HOW REPENTING AN RECOMITTING YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST CAN NOT ONLY HAVE A GREAT IMPACT UPON AN INDIVIDUAL BUT A CHURCH AND BEYOND IT WAS A Jersey Village Baptist Church in Houston, Texas THE DATE WAS FEBRUARY 26, 1995. THE CONGREGATION BEGAN THEIR EVENING SERVICE AT 6:30 P.M. EXPECTING A ROUTINE WORSHIP SERVICE. HOWEVER, DURING THE INVITATION, A YOUNG GIRL WALKED THE AISLE, CONFESSED HER SINS TO THE LORD, AND SOUGHT ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE CHURCH. AFTER HER RESPONSE TO GOD, OTHER MEMBERS STARTED COMING FORWARD AND CONFESSING THEIR SINS. AROUND 9:00 P.M., SOME OF THE MEMBERS RELIEVED A COUPLE WHO HAD BEEN WORKING IN THE NURSERY SO THEY COULD COME EXPERIENCE WHAT GOD WAS DOING IN THEIR MIDST. THAT COUPLE WENT DIRECTLY TO THE ALTAR AND ASKED FOR PRAYER. THEIR SON HAD RAN AWAY FOUR MONTHS AGO BECAUSE HE WANTED THE FREEDOM TO LIVE HIS LIFE THE WAY HE WANTED, WITHOUT HAVING TO ANSWER TO ANYONE. WHILE THE CHURCH WAS PRAYING FOR HIM, HE WAS AT MARDI GRAS IN GALVESTON. BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN HE FELT GOD WAS TELLING HIM TO GO HOME. SO, HE MADE THE NINETY-MINUTE DRIVE FROM GALVESTON, TO HOUSTON, ONLY TO DISCOVER A DARK HOUSE WHEN HE GOT HOME. HE COULDN’T BELIEVE HIS PARENTS WOULD STILL BE AT CHURCH, BUT HE DROVE TO THE CHURCH ANYWAY. A DEACON RECOGNIZED HIM AT THE BACK DOOR AND POINTED HIM TO HIS PARENTS, WHO WERE STILL KNEELING AT THE ALTAR. HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE AUDITORIUM, TAPPED HIS PARENTS ON THE SHOULDER, EMBRACED THEM, AND TOLD THEM OF HIS DESIRE TO COME HOME AND RECOMMIT HIS LIFE TO CHRIST. BUT IT ALL STARTED WITH ONE GIRL WHO REPENTED OF HER SINS. IF SHE HADN’T DONE THAT THE WORSHIP SERVICE MAY HAVE JUST LASTED THE USUAL HOUR, RATHER THAN GOING UNTIL 11:00 P.M., AND ONE FAMILY MIGHT STILL BE SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER AND FROM THE LORD.”
THERE A WONDERFUL PROMISE HERE TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS AND ITS TO HIS CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS ALSO V7 HE WHO HAS AN EAR , LET HIM EAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES. TO HIN WHO OVERCOMES, I WILL GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO EAT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE, WHICH IS IN PARADISE OF GOD.
FRIENDS I NOW THIS IS UNCONVENTIONAL ... BUT AS A CHURCH I BELEIVE WE ARE IN THAT POSITION WE NEED TO REMMEBER WE NEED TO REPENT AND WE NEED TO RECOMMIT OURSELVES CORPORATLY AS A CHURCH - ITS THE ONLY WAY WE ARE GOING TO GO FORWARD..... WE ALL NEED TO FALL LIN LOVE WITH JESUS ALL OVER AGAIN. WE NEED TO MAKE IT A PUBLIC ACT. THEN COME JUST AS YOU ARE TO CHRIST.
AFTERWARDS I WILL LEAD US IN PRAYER TOGETHER.
CLOSING PRAYER: 14FOR THIS REASON I KNEEL BEFORE THE FATHER, 15FROM WHOM HIS WHOLE FAMILY[A] IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH DERIVES ITS NAME. 16I PRAY THAT OUT OF HIS GLORIOUS RICHES HE MAY STRENGTHEN YOU WITH POWER THROUGH HIS SPIRIT IN YOUR INNER BEING, 17SO THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS THROUGH FAITH. AND I PRAY THAT YOU, BEING ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED IN LOVE, 18MAY HAVE POWER, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS, TO GRASP HOW WIDE AND LONG AND HIGH AND DEEP IS THE LOVE OF CHRIST, 19AND TO KNOW THIS LOVE THAT SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE—THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED TO THE MEASURE OF ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD. 20NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE, ACCORDING TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US, 21TO HIM BE GLORY IN THE CHURCH AND IN CHRIST JESUS THROUGHOUT ALL GENERATIONS, FOR EVER AND EVER! AMEN.
