Guard Your First Love
Pastor Bob Ashcraft June 2, 2002
(RealAudio)
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INTRODUCTION:
· In the first three chapters of Revelation, Jesus addresses the churches:
· He has come to judge these churches in righteousness
· 1 Peter 4:17 "...judgment must begin at the house of God..."
· Jesus appears among the seven churches, he begins to judge them according to both the good and bad he sees
· God’s voice speaking not only to these particular churches, but to the church universal
· The judgments are given in this order:
· Lists the good things that bless Him
· Compliments each church on these things
· Lists several things that grieve Him deeply
· Issues a warning to each church
His first message is to the Christians at Ephesus
MAIN TEXT:
Rev 2:1-7
2:1 "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." ’
· Vs 4 we see the term "first love"
· This is not an immature love rather exclusive love
· It is significant that of all the sins Jesus points out in these seven the first sin he names is the one that grieves him most: a loss of affection for him.
· Our God is a jealous lover
Of all the Seven Churches, the Christians at Ephesus Wounded Christ The Most!
· Ps 41:9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me
· People who are closest to our heart can wound us the most
· Vs 2"I know your works
· In other words: "I know all the good things going on in your lives
These are not novice Christians
· Jesus is examining the hearts of a people who are well-grounded in the truth of the gospel.
· Yet Jesus points out something else in the hearts of these Ephesians
· Vs 4 "I have something against you!"
· But when I see Jesus among such well-taught believers as the Ephesians and telling them, "I have something against you"
· My question is "Jesus, do you have something against me? Have I grieved you?
Christ’s Warning Isn’t Just For Christians in 1st Century Ephesus – It is for Us Today!
· These warning are for us and every Believer.
· So, what is God saying to us living in these last days?
· Simply put, the Lord is telling us, "It’s not enough;
· To be caring, giving, a diligent servant, to be grievous over sin, a preacher truth…
· If our affection for me is no longer a matter of great concern to you, then I have something against you!
Ps 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
· David is saying, "There is no one I love exclusively in my heart as I love my Lord. I desire him above all others!"
David also writes;
Ps 63:1 O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
Ps 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
· Likewise, Jesus is telling the Ephesian Christians, "You no longer seek me as the deer does.
· I’m no longer the chief object of your desire.
· You may be willing to do things for me - but I’m not at the center of your heart anymore!"
Many Christians Do Not Take This Rebuke Seriously.
Jesus takes any lack of affection very seriously. Indeed, he says such a lack constitutes a fall:
· Vs 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen…
· Can losing our intense love for Christ really be a fall?
· "... repent, and do the first works..."
· "Think back to when I first saved you.”
· "But now you’ve fallen away from all that.
· “I get so little of your time and attention now.”
Jesus attaches a serious warning to this verse:
· vs. 5 or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.
· It means exactly what it says. Jesus is saying to us:
· "If you claim to have the fire of God, and yet I am no longer the delight of your heart - I will take away every bit of light you have!
THREE SIGNS AND EVIDENCES OF A DYING LOVE FOR CHRIST.
1. Your love for Christ is dying if you spend more time on the things of this world and less time in His presence!
· What holds your heart right now?
Luke 14:15-24
16 Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ’Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ’I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ’I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ 20 Still another said, ’I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ’Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ 22 And the servant said, ’Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ 23 Then the master said to the servant, ’Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ "
· Jesus is making a very clear point in this parable: Each of these good, legitimate things becomes sinful when it takes priority over the Lord!
· Even Christian activities can be wrong if they pull us away from spending time with Him
· Any "good" or "legitimate" thing becomes sinful when it takes priority over the Lord!
2. You can measure your love for Christ by how deeply you’re affected by anything that robs you of quality time alone with Him.
· If you can go about your daily life facing all kinds of interruptions and demands, and yet not spend ten minutes in God’s presence - your love is dying!
· If you love someone exclusively above all others, you’ll let that person know He’s the most important being on earth
· Yet many Christians today go for weeks, even months, without spending quality time with Jesus.
· SS 5 "She went out into the streets looking for Him…"
3. Your love for Christ is dying if you have given in to a besetting sin!
· Not Christians who still wage warfare with their sin - who are not yet free from it and continue to hate it.
· Instead to those who think they can continue being a witness for Christ while giving in to their carnal lusts.
· They will not let go of their sin – they like it.
· God is looking for the repentant heart who hates sin.
CONCLUSION:
· Is your love for Jesus exclusive?
· Do you regularly take quality time to be with him?
· Jesus is asking you right now to repent and start all over again.
· We can ask Jesus grace and strength to begin again, to guard our first love!
