Series: For the Love of the Church
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Intro and tension
Intro and tension
Some News
Letter from Royal Family | Wanna see it? Addressed to us.
Some prob dissapointed.
This is from king of Kings | Break in sermon series | Convicted to share
Title: For the love of the Church
Diving into bit of revelation | Rev series coming later | Highlights - Specifically what Jesus said to churches | How it applies today.
1st thing to understand = We serve Risen Jesus | Finished with this last week.
Risen Jesus = Not man from Galilee - Sits on throne of God.
John - Writer of Rev | In patmos - 85-90 - Still faithfulll - Couldn’t kill him.
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
Lampstands = Represents Churches.
First point today; Jesus is in the midst of His Church.
Colossians 1:18 (ESV)
And he is the head of the body, the church.
Jesus is Head of THIS Church - and THE CHURCH.
The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Risen Christ | What does John do? fall down dead
K o K & L oL - This is the King we serve.
Almighty | Holy | On throne
Asking something of His church today | Want to see what King is asking of His church today?
Jesus writes 7 letters to 7 Churches.
Some things to know;
Jesus introduces himself differently to every church
each church is doing something good
most churches have something to repent from
Each church is promised eternal reward - described differently.
Side bar - If you need more evidence to power of Local Church.
So Yes - There is UNIVERSAL body of Christ - but also localised BODY with specific mission for area - see that today.
Also Yes - These letters trascend time | Not going there today - Important for them and us now.
*Map of Churches*
Written 63ish years after Jesus’ death | Fairly Young.
Starts at Church of Ephesus | Paul planted | Timothy - then John + Jesus’ Mary | Imagine = Anyone got jesus stoty?
Same church Ephesians letter was to.
Let’s go;
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
“ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.
Always starts with “I know” - Jeus knows all things - repay all things.
Good stuff - what is it?
Works, toil - Tick
Patient endurance - Tick
Can’t bear with those that are evil - Tick
Tested those that call THEMSELVES apostles - not - Tick. Bit more next week.
Not grown weary - Tick.
Lot’s of good stuff in this church.
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
Your translation; First Love - “Love you had at first” = much better.
First = referring to when first saved - do you remember?
I remember
Story - Got saved - Came setup chairs - Car blew up, tv blew up - didn’t matter - and I just wanted to dive into God’s Word.
Risen Jesus saying - Remember? Everything was about Me - Come back to that.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Jesus saying to this Church | Don’t forget;
How much you love me
How to love each other
Love is your fuel to love others.
So Jesus comes in and says; Abandoned the love you first had…
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
not do list of works | The works - that come with Love |
First saved = Loved me and loved each other = Before biterness came in, before church hurt etc.
In Ephesians - Paul says; Saved by Grace - Remember - Not result of works | Then - Remember where aliens to God
not anymore;
For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
This is who you are | Yes earthly fam BUT also Heavenly Fam.
in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
This is what you’re a part of | So don’t hurt my holy temple | Church not a building - it’s you - When we come together - being built into something that glorifies God.
Goes onto say - you’ve been saved - free gift - no longer aliens- Put together.
Why?
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
We reflect Jesus right here. Because we have been loved - We love - Filled with Love - To know God is to know love, and to LOVE.
You’ve been loved to love others in His Church.
So what do we do?
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
Walk in new way - not old way. They where called “People of the way” | World loves differently.
how?
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Bearing with one another? With their Weakness, faults, issues.
Means = Love the annoying people.
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Earnestly - Takes effort.
When we love = We have grace, overlook. When love is lacking - Every action is liable to misunderstanding or suspicious
Grumbling - greek = -gongysmos
murmering - Repeated word of Gossip for sake of stirring up rebellion.
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
Root of bitterness can spring up - Don’t let it. Earnestly, with effort, love.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Why?
**Lego**
We are vehicle for God’s Glory | Jesus said - Gates of hell will not prevail.
Main Point: We lay down our lives for Jesus and those in His Church, because Jesus laid down his life FOR you and His Church.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
One more church quickly.
Close and Inspo
Close and Inspo
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Neighbour town - Hierapolis - Hot Springs - Healing
Other Neighbour town - Colosay - Cold Refreshing water.
Leadocia - Dirty, lukewarm water - making Jesus vomit.
What is Jesus saying?
You’ve forgotton Source and what it’s for - now your deeds are nothing - not healing or refreshing.
*Grab Lego car*
Church is meant to be a place for healing | Helping | Giving God Glory
So we have to; Bear with one another in love | Grace | Mercy -
Loving each other EARNESTLY.
but we need the source;
Good news;
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Jesus ready to invade life.
He is in Midst of His Church | 7 stars in hand & holes in wrists - proclaiming Grace.
Been saved | Shown NEW WAY | NEW FAMILY | TREMENDOUS PURPOSE
BUILD HOLY TEMPLE OF GOD
Let’s show selflss love to each other | same way Jesus showed Sefles love to us & Reflect JESUS to WORLD.
