When Technique Eclipses Relationship-3 Series

WHEN TECHNIQUE ECLIPSES RELATIONSHIP-III—Revelation 2:1-7

Firstless Love

Attention:

Well, it is not a pretty story.

About 200 dead crows were found near the city of Regina & there was concern for Avian Flu.

They had a Bird Pathologist examine the remains of all the crows, & he confirmed the problem was definitely NOT Avian Flu, to everyone’s relief.

However, he determined that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with . trucks, & only 2 % were killed by cars.

The Province of Saskatchewan then hired a Ornithological Behaviorist to determine the disproportionate percentages for trucK versus car kill.

The Ornithological Behaviorist determined the cause in short order.

When crows eat road kill, they always post a "look-out Crow" in a nearby tree, to warn of impending danger.

His conclusion was that the lookout crow could say"Cah", but he could not say "Truck."

The way in which we approach anything can make those choices & actions Liableous.

Jesus reprimanded the Ephesian church because their first love for Jesus had taken second place & lapsed into technique/maintenance.

The local church must prevent her relationship with Jesus from lapsing into a technique.

What occurs when technique overshadows relationship?

9 liabilities of a relationship that is eclipsed by technique.

We have found that...

When technique eclipses relationship our...

1. LEADERSHIP is Liable(:1)

2. WORK is Liable(:2a & 3)

3. STANDARD is Liable(:2b)

4—When technique eclipses relationship

Our DRIVE is Liable(:4)

Explanation:(:4) Newness/Enamor-ment/Love/Joy

“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

Though the above things are accomplished, there is something which contrasts this glowing activity & which colors/taints their commendable acts.

The Ephesian’s deeds, toil, perseverance, testings, & bearing up for Jesus’ name, lacked the key ingredient of—not just love(which had to be present)—but “first love”.

?What comprises First Love?

—It has to do with doing the deeds which were done at first(:5)—when we were partakers of salvation.

—This was a time of honesty about sin’s power over our flesh, joy, widened understanding, settled security...

—Zeal—Regardless of circumstances.

“Against”—kata—About/Down/According to /TowardAgainst/After/—‘Frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity’.

alla ecw kata sou—‘But I hold against you’

“Left”—afihmi—‘To send away’—Intense form of ‘to go.’

“First”—prwtov—First in time place or rank.

“Love”—agaph—Beyond emotional/sentimental attachment but includes a deliberate assent of the will as a matter of priciple, duty & propriety.

Argumentation:

Ps. 51:12-13—“Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners will be converted to Thee.”

Jer. 2:2—“Go & proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.”

Lam. 3:22-23—“The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.”

Ps. 40:2-3—“He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see & fear, And will trust in the LORD.”

Without constant recognition of God’s goodness, His “song” is stolen from our heart...& none will be able to “see,” “fear,” or “trust” in Him.

Ps. 42:1-8—“<> 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 & appear before God? My tears have been my food day & night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy & praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar. Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves & billows have gone over me. The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me-- A prayer to the God of my life.”

Illustration:

A young family’s visits during Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years/Stress over who to visit when to visit & how long to visit/Try to make everybody happy/Attempts to see family(Technique) rob us of enjoying the visits/Our DRIVE is Liable