week 1: The Loveless Church
The Seven Churches of Revelation • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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I want to begin a series this morning on...
THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION
NOW I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ....
FOR THE FIRST HALF TO 2/3 OF MY MESSAGE....
I WILL BE LAYING THE FOUNDATION
THE REASON I’M TELLING YOU THIS IS...
WHEN I GET 2/3 THROUGH AND GIVE YOU MY FIRST POINT
I DON’T WANT YOU TO PASS OUT
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT…I AM ABOUT 2/3 DONE WITH MY SERMON
MOST OF MY TIME WILL BE SPENT
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE REST OF THE SERIES
OK....ARE YOU READY???
FIRST THING YOU NEED TO KNOW IS...
REVELATION IS A LETTER
IT’S A LETTER TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR
WHICH IS ACTUALLY TURKEY NOW
THE WHOLE BOOK OF REVELATION IS A LETTER
IN FACT MOST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT ARE LETTERS...
LETTER TO EPHESUS…CALLED EPHESIANS
YOU’VE READ TWO LETTERS TO THE CHURCH OF CORINTH....1, 2 CORINTHIANS
THESSALONICA…THESSALONIANS
COLLASIA....COLLISIANS
GALLATIA....GALATIANS
REVELATION IS ALSO A LETTER...
WRITTEN ABOUT 95 A.D.
ALMOST 65 YEARS AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
AS WE READ A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
JESUS APPEARS TO JOHN ON THE ISLAND OF PATMOS
IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE RED LETTERS IN THE BIBLE
THE RED LETTERS (IF YOU HAVE ONE)
ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS
IN CHAPTER 2 AND 3 OF REVELATION (LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES)
EVERY WORD IS WRITTEN IN RED
IT’S ALL JESUS SPEAKING TO JOHN
OK…SO...
JOHN IS ON THE ISLAND OF PATMOS
WHY?
BECAUSE HE WAS EXILED TO THE ISLAND OF PATMOS
WHY WAS HE EXILED?
LISTEN TO THIS......
BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT DIE
EVERY DISCIPLE OTHER THAN JUDAS AND JOHN...
WERE MARTYRED
JOHN WASN’T MARTYRED BUT THEY TRIED TO MARTYR HIM
WE LEARN THIS FROM TERTULLIAN..
WHO WAS A HISTORIAN OF THAT DAY
HE SAID "HE WAS PLUNGED INTO BOILING OIL AND WAS UNSCATHED”
HE CONTINUED TO PREACH AND SUFFERED NO HARM
SO....THEY PULL HIM OUT OF THIS BOILING OIL
THE ROMAN EMPEROR WAS TIRED OF HEARING HIM PREACH
EXILES HIM TO THE ISLAND OF PATMOS
AND THIS IS WHERE JOHN WROTE REVELATION
EPHESUS WAS THE CHURCH THAT JOHN ATTENDED
THE FIRST LETTER WE WILL TALK ABOUT IS TO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS
TIMOTHY IS THE PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH
IF YOU REMEMBER 1 AND 2 TIMOTHY
PAUL IS WRITING TO TIMOTHY…HIS SPIRITUAL SON
SO....TIMOTHY IS THE PASTOR
JOHN WAS ALSO THE DISCIPLE THAT TOOK CARE OF JESUS’ MOTHER UNTIL SHE PASSED AWAY
OK…YOU STILL WITH ME?
MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE ARE CALLED
SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
SYNOPTIC MEANS…SIMILAR
SO YOU WILL FIND MANY OF THE SAME MIRACLES IN MATTHEW, MARK AND LUKE
BUT YOU WON’T FIND THEM IN JOHN
THE REASON FOR THIS IS....
THAT THEY ONLY WROTE FROM ABOUT THE 3RD YEAR OF JESUS MINISTRY
MARK 1, MATTHEW 4, AND LUKE 3.
ALL SAY “AFTER JOHN WAS IMPRISONED”
AND JOHN WAS IMPRISONED 2 YEARS INTO JESUS’ MINISTRY
SO ALL OF THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS ALL COVER THE LAST YEAR OF JESUS’ MINISTRY
JOHN DECIDES TO WRITE HIS GOSPEL..
AFTER ALL 3 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN WRITTEN
BECAUSE NO ONE HAD COVERED THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF JESUS’ MINISTRY
SO YOU WILL FIND THINGS IN JOHN THAT YOU WON’T FIND IN MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE
JOHN 1 BEGINS WITH....”IN THE BEGINNING”
IT’S THE ONLY OTHER BOOK IN THE BIBLE BESIDES GENESIS THAT BEGINS THIS WAY
JOHN 2 IS THE FIRST MIRACLE JESUS EVER DID
HE TURNED WATER INTO WINE
CHAPTER 3…THE CONVERSATION WITH NICODEMOUS
CHAPTER 4…CONVERSATION WITH THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
CHAPTER 5…THE HEALING OF THE BLIND MAN AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA
CHAPTER 6…HE DESCRIBES
“I’M THE TRUE BREAD THAT CAME FROM HEAVEN”
CHAPTER 7…HE DESCRIBES THAT HE IS THE MESSIAH AND HAS EQUAL AUTHORITY WITH THE FATHER
CHAPTER 8…THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY
CHAPTER 9....HEALING OF THE BLIND MAN
CHAPTER 10…HE IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD
CHAPTER 11…RAISING LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD
CHAPTER 12…THE ANNOINING OF JESUS’ BODY FOR BURIAL
CHAPTER 13....THE WASHING OF THE DISCIPLES FEET
ALL OF THIS IS NOT IN MATTHEW, MARK, OR LUKE
CHAPTER 14… LAST WORDS AT THE LAST SUPPER
CHAPTER 15 AND 16....ON THE WAY TO THE GARDEN
CHAPTER 17…THE PRAYER HE ACTUALLY PRAYS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMENE
CHAPTER 18....CRUCIFIXION AND STARTS TO COINCIDE WITH THE OTHERS
ARE Y'ALL FOLLOWING ME STILL????
OR ARE YOU BOARD
HANG WITH ME…THIS IS IMPORTANT
SO....JOHN WHO WRITES THIS
AND WHEN HE WRITES IT
NOW....ONE THING ABOUT JOHN YOU NEED TO KNOW IS...
THE AVERAGE AGE FOR DEATH WAS IN THE 50’S BACK THEN
SOME SAY 40’S
SOME SAY 60’S
WE’RE GONNA SAY 50’S
HOWEVER....JOHN LIVED TO BE OVER 100
AT THE END OF HIS LIFE…
IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT HE COULD ONLY SAY 3 WORDS
THERE IS A STORY IN HISTORY
IT’S NOT IN THE BIBLE SO WE CAN’T VERIFY IT’S AUTHENTICITY
BUT THE STORY GOES....
THAT JOHN WAS ATTENDING THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS
AND THEY SAID “HEY JOHN IS HERE”
AND BEING THE LAST LIVING DISCIPLE OF JESUS
PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA AND AN HONOR TO HAVE HIM SAY SOMETHING
IT SAYS…HE WALKED TO THE FRONT AND THERE WERE ONLY 3 WORDS HE COULD SAY....
“LOVE ONE ANOTHER”
THEY SAID THAT AT THE END OF HIS LIFE...
IT WAS THE ONLY THREE WORDS HE COULD SAY
IF YOU REMEMBER...
JOHN 14. IS THE ONLY ONE WHO RECORDED JESUS SAYING....
AT THE LAST SUPPER...
A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE YOU…LOVE ONE ANOTHER
OK BACK TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES....
THESE SEVEN CHURCHES ARE IN ASIA MINOR (MODERN DAY TURKEY)
WHY DID HE WRITE LETTER TO THESE CHURCHES?
HE DID IT BECAUSE THEY WERE ON THE MOST POPULOUS ROUTE OF THE DAY
LET ME SHOW YOU A MAP TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THESE CHURCHES ARE IN RELATION TO THE ISLAND OF PATMOS
IF YOU START AT EPHESUS AND GO CLOCKWISE
THIS IS THE ORDER OF THE LETTERS WE SEE IN REVELATION
EPHESUS, SMYRNA, PERGAMOS, THYATIRA, SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA, LAODICEA
THIS WAS SEVEN MAJOR CHURCHES IN THIS TIME
JOHN KNEW THAT ONCE IT BECAME SCRIPTURE
ONCE IT WAS THE BOOK OF REVELATION IF YOU WILL
THAT THE WHOLE LETTER OF REVELATION WOULD BE SHARED AND TRANSCEND THAT TIME
ALL OF THE LETTERS SEEM TO HAVE 3 PARTS
5 OF THE SEVEN YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY
2 OF THE SEVEN IT’S DIFFICULT TO SEE
BUT IT’S THERE
3 PARTS.....
COMMENDATION
CORRECTION
COUNSEL
COMMENDATION - THIS IS WHAT YOUR DOING WELL
CORRECTION - THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO CHANGE
COUNSEL - THIS IS HOW YOU NEED TO CHANGE IT
I BELIEVE THAT THESE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
WERE NOT ONLY FOR THE CHURCHES OF THAT TIME
BUT ALSO ARE FOR US TODAY
HERE ARE TWO REASON WHY I BELIEVE THAT....
IT’S IN THE BIBLE
JUST LIKE THE LETTER OF EPHESIANS WAS FOR THEM
YET, GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH EPHESIANS
IN THE SAME WAY I BELIEVE GOD IS SPEAKING TO US AS THE CHURCH THROUGH THESE LETTER AS WELL
2. ALL OF THE LETTER END WITH...
HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE....CHURCHES
PLURAL....ANYONE WHO HAS AN EAR…LET HIM HEAR
Revelation 1:4 (NIV)
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
THE WHOLE BOOK IS WRITTEN TO THESE 7 CHURCHES....
VERSE 11 HE SHOWS UP AND SAYS...
11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
THEN REV 1:20
20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
SO…WHEN JOHN SEES JESUS
HE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF SEVEN GOLDEN LAMP STANDS
AND HE HAS SEVEN STARS IN HIS RIGHT HAND
SO.... THE SEVEN CHURCHES ARE THE SEVEN GOLDEN LAMP STANDS
WHAT DOES THIS TELL US????
THAT WE ARE NOT THE LIGHT
BUT WE HOLD THE LIGHT
JESUS SAID,
“ YOU DON’T LIGHT A LIGHT AND PUT IT UNDER A BASKET”
YOU PUT IT ON A LAMP STAND
LISTEN TO THIS...
THE HIGHER A CHURCH HOLDS THE LIGHT
THE MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME TO CHRIST
THE STARS ARE ANGELS WHICH ARE MESSENGERS
THE GREEK WORD FOR ANGELS HERE IS...
ANGELOS = MESSENGERS
I BELIEVE THAT HIS IS THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCHES
NOT AN ANGELIC BEING AND HERE’S WHY....
MATTHEW, MARK AND LUKE TALK ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIST
AND CALL HIM A MESSENGER
IT’S THE SAME GREEK WORD FOR ANGEL BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A MAN (JOHN THE BAPTIST)
IN REVELATION..
JOHN HAS AN ANGEL THAT IS SHOWING HIM AROUND
AND JOHN FALLS DOWN AND BEGINS TO WORSHIP HIM
AND THE ANGEL SAYS…DON’T WORSHIP ME
NOW…LISTEN TO WHY HE SAYS THIS..
9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
SOUNDS TO ME LIKE MAYBE A PROPHET OR A PASTOR
HE SAYS....
I’M ONE OF YOUR FELLOW SERVANTS
I’M ONE OF YOUR BROTHERS
SO I BELIEVE....
WHEN IT TALKS HERE ABOUT ANGELS
IT’S TALKING ABOUT THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCHES
BECAUSE THE PASTOR ARE THE ONE WHO GET UP AND READ THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH
OK…NOW FOR THE FIRST LETTER
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:
VERSE 2 STARTS THE COMMENDATION...
Revelation 2:2–3 (NKJV)
2 (COMMENDATION) “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.
NOW THE CORRECTION STARTS IN VERSE 4
Revelation 2:4 (NKJV)
(CORRECTION) 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Revelation 2:5 (NKJV)
(COUNSEL) 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.
IN OTHER WORDS....
NO LONGER WILL YOU AS A CHURCH HOLD THE LIGHT
BECAUSE I DON’T WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THE TYPE OF LIGHT YOUR HOLDING
6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE DEEDS OF THE NICOLAITANS IN THE THIRD LETTER
NOTICE THIS THOUGH…WRITE THIS DOWN
YOU CAN SHARE IN GODS ANGER AGAINST WICKEDNESS
AS LONG AS YOU SHARE IN HIS COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE
HE DOES NOT SAY....
HE HATES THE NICOLAITANS
HE SAYS HE HATES THEIR DEEDS
HE LOVES THE PEOPLE BUT HATES THE DEEDS
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.” ’
VERSE 4 SAYS....
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
I WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING TODAY???
HAVE YOU EVER FELT THIS WAY?
IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER THEN YOU HAVE
UNLESS YOU GOT SAVED 30 MINUTES AGO
THERE WILL BE A SEASON WHEN...
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON’T LOVE JESUS
AS MUCH AS WHEN YOU FIRST GOT SAVED
WE HAVE ALL GONE THROUGH THAT
WE HAVE ALL BEEN TO THAT PLACE WHERE
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SERVE THE LORD
WHERE WE JUST CAN’T WAIT TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIM
UNDERSTAND THIS...
IF YOU FEEL THIS WAY....
IT’S REALLY EASY TO GET IT BACK
HIS COUNCIL TELLS US HOW TO DO IT IN VERSE 5
Revelation 2:5 (NKJV)
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works,
REPENT = TO CHANGE YOUR MIND
DO THE FIRST WORKS...
DO WHAT YOU DID
WHEN YOU FIRST GOT SAVED
FOR ME IT WAS 3 THINGS AND GUESS WHAT?
THEY ALL START WITH THE SAME LETTER....LOL
WORSHIP
WORD
WITNESS
WORSHIP
WHEN I FIRST GOT SAVED
I JUST WANTED TO SPEND TIME IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD (EXPLAIN)
MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO SPEND TIME IN HIS PRESENCE
2. WORD
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE
PUT YOURSELF ON A READING PLAN
MARIA HAS SOME GREAT IDEAS
AND IS WAY BETTER AT THIS THAN I AM
THE BIBLE HAS 1189 CHAPTERS
WE’LL ROUND UP TO 1200 FOR EASY MATH
10 CHAPTERS A DAY....YOU CAN GET THROUGH THE BIBLE IN 4 MONTHS
120 DAYS
GET IN HIS WORD
HAVE YOU EVER GONE TO READ YOUR DAILY BIBLE READING
AND THOUGHT....OH I’VE READ THIS BEFORE???
THEN THE NEXT THOUGH (FROM THE ENEMY)
“YOU KNOW YOUR RUNNING A LITTLE LATE, YOU CAN SKIP BIBLE READING TODAY”
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION..
DO YOU HAVE LIKE A FAVORITE NUTRITIOUS MEAL
THINK ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE MEAL (THAT IS NUTRITIOUS)
HAVE YOU EVER HAD IT SAT DOWN IN FRONT OF YOU AND THOUGHT..
“OH, I’VE HAD THIS BEFORE”
“SO I DON’T NEED TO EAT TODAY”
NO!!!
YOU EAT IT ANYWAYS EVEN IF YOU’VE EATEN IT BEFORE....WHY?
BECAUSE YOU BODY NEEDS NUTRITION
OH COME ON…RIGHT???
SO WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO A PASSAGE YOU’VE READ BEFORE
READ IT ANYWAY
BECAUSE YOUR SOUL NEEDS NUTRITION
3. WITNESS
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT TELLING 20 PEOPLE A DAY THE ROMAN ROAD
I’M TALKING ABOUT JUST WORKING JESUS INTO THE CONVERSATION
WITH SENCERITY
(EXPOUND)
.............WORSHIP TEAM COME............
GOD DID NOT DESIGN US TO BE RESERVOIRS
HE CREATED US TO BE RIVERS
FOR A RESERVOIR TO NOT BECOME STAGNANT IS MUST HAVE 2 THINGS....
WATER FLOWING IN
AND WATER FLOWING OUT
WORSHIP AND THE WORD (WATER IN)
WITNESSING (WATER OUT)
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY YOUR GONNA RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE
GUYS.....
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A FRIEND WHO JUST WAS A BLAST TO HANG OUT WITH
AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN GEORGE SLOWLY STOPS SHOWING UP
HE DOESN’T COME TO BOWLING NIGHT
HE STOPS COMING TO POKER NIGHT
EVENTUALLY EVERYTHING STOPS FOR GEORGE
AND YOU ASK...”MAN I WONDER WHAT HAPPEN TO GEORGE”
WHAT DO THEY SAY????
HE MET A GIRL
RIGHT????
AND PRETTY SOON YOU SEE GEORGE AT A MALL...
STANDING OUTSIDE OF A STORE
HOLDING A PURSE
WHEN YOU GO TALK TO GEORGE..
WHAT DOES HE DO
HE TALKS ABOUT HER (EXPOUND)
GEORGE WANTS TO DO 2 THINGS...
SPEND TIME WITH HER
TALK ABOUT HER
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY???
BECAUSE HE JUST FELL IN LOVE
THIS IS HOW YOU RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE....
SPEND TIME WITH HIM
AND TALK ABOUT HIM
....STAND TO YOUR FEET......
EVERY HEAD BOWED AND EYE CLOSED....
I WANT YOU TO ASK THIS QUESTION TODAY...
HOLY SPIRIT, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING TO ME THROUGH THIS MESSAGE
JUST ASK HIM
CHURCH, HE IS NOT MAD AT YOU
HE KNOW AND SEES ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT YOU DO
HE SEES YOUR EFFORT
THE ONLY REASON HE WANTS YOU TO RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE
IS FOR YOU
IT BENEFITS YOU
IT MAKES THIS LIFE SO MUCH MORE JOYFUL AND EXCITING
LISTEN TO ME....
GOD NEVER GIVES CORRECTION WITHOUT COUNCIL
WHEN WE ARE CORRECTED
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO TURN IT AROUND
HE SAID, YOUR DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS
BUT THE PROBLEM IS YOU’VE LOST SIGHT OF YOUR FIRST LOVE
LIKE I SAID FOR ME…THE LOVE I HAD AT FIRST WAS
WORSHIP
WORD
WITNESS
YOU MAY NOT SAY IT THE SAME WAY AS ME
BUT WHAT IS IT
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU FEEL YOU’VE LOST
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU STRUGGLE TO FEEL ANYMORE
YOU KNOW WHAT SCARES ME AS A PASTOR???
VERSE 5
Revelation 2:5 (NKJV)
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.
(EXPOUND)