The Church: What's Love Got to Do With It?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Important things for Jamaica...
Important things for a church...
As we get older annual checkups become more important. Among other things, these checkups can provide:
Early detection of health issues
Preventative care
Developing what some call a “health baseline” which help doctors to notice changing trends in one’s health
Rob Morgan suggests the following scenario:
“What if we had an annual appointment with the Great Physician to check the status of our emotional and spiritual health?” (Morgan)
Scripture Introduction
Scripture Introduction
Over the next few weeks we will be privileged to hear a conversation that the Great Physician has with seven different congregations. This spiritual health assessment most likely took place near the end of the 1st century. These were real churches, in what is known as modern day Turkey.
While these were personalized messages from the Great Physician, assessing the spiritual health of real congregations, the principles we find in these Scriptures are timeless. Each and every week we will find applicable principles that can help us as individual believers and the collective body known as Meadowbrook FWB Church.
The first patient on Jesus’ docket is the Church at Ephesus. As you may already know Ephesus was an extremely important city in this part of the ancient world. Several commentators note it was a center of not only a variety of religious beliefs including the temple to the goddess Diana, but also the center of commerce, with a major seaport, and was at one time, the capital of the Roman province of Asia.
The Apostle Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, Timothy, and John had all ministered there in some capacity. As a matter of fact Paul had spent two years there and writes the letter to the Ephesians somewhere around 64 AD.
Sadly the church declined here and eventually disappeared…it seems as if the candlestick was removed, just as is warned about in the passage of Scripture before us.
The church at Ephesus made a lot of noise, they spoke the truth, they believed the right doctrines, they expressed their faith, but they were still out oft he will of God.
That’s still true today: A church can make noise, speak truth, believe the right doctrine, exercise faith, and express generosity and still be out of the will of God.
The question we must ask ourselves today is are WE individually and collectively IN the will of God when it comes to LOVING HIM and LOVING those for whom He died?
That’s why we will seek to answer the question, “What’s Love Got to do with It?”
This was a question Tina Turner popularized in 1984 in her hit that sold over 2 million copies.
In the song love is called “a second-hand emotion” and a “sweet old-fashioned notion.”
That kind of love may not have much to do with the church, and how we are called to love God and love one another, but as far as the church goes, I’d like to answer the question, “What’s love got to do with it?”
We will find out the answer is EVERYTHING!
As we seek to answer these questions let’s look at a reminder from Revelation 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:
As we open this chapter we have...
A Reminder of Who is the Head of the Church (v. 1)
A Reminder of Who is the Head of the Church (v. 1)
Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone has ALL AUTHORITY over His church!
Notice He is described as the One “who holds the seven stars in His right hand.”
Let’s be reminded what the seven stars and the seven lampstands represent:
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.
The seven stars are the “angels” or the “messengers” of the seven churches.
The seven “lampstands” represent the seven churches.
Christ HOLDS these seven stars (angels, messengers) in His right hand and He is walking in the midst of these seven congregations.
This reminds us of Christ’s AUTHORITY in, among, and over His church!
It’s important to never forget this. As the Great Physician He intimately knows how the church is supposed to operate, and what vital signs are of supreme importance to ensure everything is working properly.
So He begins His assessment with...
A Reflection Upon the Things We Often Get Right (vv. 2-3, 6)
A Reflection Upon the Things We Often Get Right (vv. 2-3, 6)
Notice Revelation 2:2-3
“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; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
Continuing with the physical analogy of a checkup, the doctor might commend them for exercising well.
The Lord Jesus commends them for their HARD WORK AND LABOR. They were a very active and busy church. Mounce says about this church:
"The Ephesians had toiled to the point of exhaustion and borne patiently the hostility of a society at odds with their goals and efforts" (Akin, quoting Mounce).
They had also been through a lot. They are commended for their perseverance and patience during trials.
They didn’t put up with those who were “evil.” Akin says that
“Holiness and purity mattered to them. Scripture, not the culture, guided their…behavior.”
They also exposed those who tried to infiltrate the church as apostles, who were actually imposters.
Notice also Revelation 2:6
But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
They hated something God hated—the deeds of the Nicolaitans.
We do not know much about the Nicolaitans, but several commentators suggest they were a group that promoted pagan practices such as immorality and idolatry within the church, but also promoted a church structure that put the control of the church in the hands of a select few.
The Ephesian church didn’t put up with this. They are said to HATE the philosophy of the Nicolaitans.
The Ephesian church got many thing RIGHT! We need to get these things RIGHT as well! Every church needs to be:
Active for the cause of Christ
Dedicated to the cause of Christ
Discerning about the cause of Christ
Committed to Biblical Principles
With everything the Ephesian Church had going for it, they were MISSING a key ingredient. All the outward signs were pointing to a VERY HEALTHY CHURCH, but when the Great Physician put His ear to their heart, He shared their was something missing...
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
As Crawford Lorritts says, often we get BEHAVIOR and BELIEFS right, but there can still be something missing.
Just like I can have EVERYTHING ready for our mission trip, but if I don’t have that PASSPORT I’m not getting on the plane.
If the CHURCH doesn’t have its LOVE right we aren’t going to be the LIGHT and the SALT Christ has called us to be...
The Reality of What Too Many Churches are Missing (vv. 4)
The Reality of What Too Many Churches are Missing (vv. 4)
We may be tempted to ask, “What’s love got to do with it?”
The TRUTH of the matter is LOVE HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH IT!
As a matter of fact a church can have everything: facilities, parking, foyers, coffee bars, robed choirs, padded pews, the latest and greatest technology, sopranos that can hit the highest notes, a greeting team that meets people in the parking lot, the busiest youth program in the county...
BUT IT IF DOESN’T HAVE LOVE IT DOESN’T HAVE ANYTHING. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME ASK THE APOSTLE PAUL WHO SAID:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Oh may God drive this truth home deep within our hearts!
The RIGHT actions are not always built upon the RIGHT motivations. We need to invite the Holy Spirit to examine our thoughts, our hearts, our motivations, rather than assuming that just because our actions are “right” our heart is “right.”
Isaiah the prophet and Jesus dealt with this issue. Isaiah said in Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said:
“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
Jesus QUOTED Isaiah in Matthew 15:8
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
You see the Church at Ephesus had the right outward actions, BUT THEIR INNER MOTIVATION WAS NO LONGER FOUNDED UPON LOVE FOR GOD AND SOULS.
There are churches everywhere that are “BUSY.” They are doing “good” things. They give money to missions. They participate in the community. They have children’s programs and activities. They go on trips. The participate in a variety of service projects. They go on mission trips.
Yet they can do all these “things” and still not have a red-hot, glowing, passionate, fervent LOVE for God and for souls! Listen to PRIORITY God places upon LOVE...
Jesus said in John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Listen what Paul told the church in Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
and the church in Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Listen to what John said in 1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Listen to what Peter said in 1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
There may be congregations that have more money than us.
There may be churches that have nicer facilities than us.
There may be churches that take more trips than we do.
There may be churches that have more talented musicians than we have.
There may be churches that have the greatest and latest technology to aid in their ministry.
BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO SETTLE ALLOWING ANYONE ELSE OR ANY OTHER CONGREGATION HAVING MORE LOVE FOR GOD THAN WE DO OR LOVING SOULS MORE THAN WE DO.
D. L. Moody tells the following story:
One Sunday a lady was inviting children to come to Sunday school when she met a boy and asked him why he went so far, past so many Sunday schools to get to his own. “There are plenty of others,” said she, “just as good.”
He said, “They may be so good, but they are not so good for me.”
“Why not?” she asked.
“Because they love a fellow over there,” he answered.
If Paul was writing to us today, He might be led to say something like:
Though we give out bottled water, and food, and clothing, and diapers, for eight weeks after a hurricane,
and though we participate in Awana or Good News Club,
and though we use my talents to serve in a ministry,
and though we remodel my basement to make it more modern,
and though we give out groceries and gift cards;
If we don’t don’t have LOVE we are just making noise and wasting our time as far as God is concerned.
So what do we need to do? We need to...
Remember, Repent and Return or be Removed (vv. 5, 7)
Remember, Repent and Return or be Removed (vv. 5, 7)
Notice Revelation 2:5
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.
“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.” ’
The Lord Jesus Christ gives the Church at Ephesus, and I believe all local congregations, an ultimatum.
Either REMEMBER, REPENT and RETURN to the first works or be REMOVED.
Remember
Remember
The way this is worded in the Greek language you could interpret it to say: “Be remembering how it used to be.”
Do you remember a time when your walk with God was closer than it is now? Do you remember a time when your love for Jesus was more passionate than it is now? Do you remember when your prayer time and time in His Word took full priority, not because you felt it was an obligation, but because you couldn’t wait to be ALONE with YOUR Lord and Savior?
Daniel Akin challenges us when he says:
“Go back and note when and where the flame of love grew faint.”
Repent
Repent
It’s not enough to “remember.” A change of mind must take place. Something must be done. Jesus says to “REPENT.” Before they can RETURN they must REALIZE where they are, and REPENT—they must change their minds about their INDIFFERENCE and FORMALISM!
I again quote Akin who said:
"To repent is to undergo a change of mind resulting in a change of attitude and action."
It’s not enough just to reflect on when and where things went wrong…we’ve got to admit it and do something about it!
Return
Return
As they remember, and then repent, the change of action leads them to RETURN to the “first works.” They need to REENGAGE in those activities that FLOWED OUT OF THAT FIRST LOVE THEY HAD! They are to go back to the original fellowship!
A man once confided in his friend that he was planning to leave his wife. Not only did he want to end the marriage, but he wanted to hurt her in the process. His friend, a wise and thoughtful man, listened carefully. Rather than confronting him directly, the friend offered an intriguing suggestion.
"If you really want to hurt her," the friend said, "here’s what you should do. Plan an incredible anniversary trip to her favorite destination. But don’t stop there. In the weeks leading up to the trip, go back to how you treated her when you were dating. Open doors for her. Buy her flowers or her favorite candy. Take her out on spontaneous dates. Do little things around the house without being asked. Pay for her to get a massage, her nails done—whatever makes her feel cherished. Pamper her every single week leading up to the trip. Then take her on the trip of a lifetime, make it magical, and once you’re back home...leave her. Just walk away."
The man’s face lit up with a sly grin. He thought about how cruelly devastating it would be for his wife to believe he had fallen in love with her again, only for him to leave her after rekindling her hopes. Excited by the plan, he got to work.
Over the next several weeks, he began doing everything his friend had suggested. He opened doors, brought her gifts, and made her feel like the most important person in his world. He spared no expense in making their anniversary trip unforgettable.
A few weeks later, the friend saw him again and asked, "So, did you leave her?"
The man looked at him, shocked. "Leave her? You’ve got to be kidding! As I started doing all those things, I began to see her differently. I fell in love with her all over again. We’re closer now than we’ve ever been—probably since our honeymoon! I could never think of leaving her."
This story beautifully illustrates the call of Jesus in Revelation 2:5: "Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first." When the church loses its "first love," the remedy is to remember the passion and joy of that early relationship with Christ, repent of the ways we’ve drifted, and return to those first works—to pray, serve, and worship with the enthusiasm we once had. Just like the man who rediscovered his love for his wife by doing the things he used to do, we, too, can reignite our love for Jesus by going back to the basics of our faith.
If we don’t remember, repent, and return, Jesus gives a stark warning…then candlestick will be REMOVED.
This could refer to the church losing its INFLUENCE and it’s “light” going out…or it could refer to the local church CEASING TO EXIST.”
The sad truth is, THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS” is no longer in existence. Their candlestick was REMOVED.
Warren Wiersbe says this about that stark warning:
"The church that loses its love will soon lose its light, no matter how doctrinally sound it may be...Labor is no substitute for love; neither is purity a substitute for passion." (Wiersbe)
As we close today let’s be reminded of the promise that the Lord gives in Revelation 2:7
“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.” ’
Why is Christ giving this stern warning? He does so because He wants them to HEAR and OVERCOME.
Today we have an opportunity to RESPOND to the message that Jesus gave to the church at Ephesus.
No doubt there are those among us this morning that are BACKSLIDDEN. There was a time in your life when you loved Jesus more than you do today.
The question is what are you going to do about it?
Are you going to REMEMBER
Are you going to REPENT
Are you going to go back and REPEAT the first works
or
Is your godly, Christian influence going to be REMOVED from your family and friends who so DESPERATELY need the LIGHT that should be shining from your life?
You can OVERCOME and there is a great promise for those who do.
If Meadowbrook Church is going to continue to exist, and going to spiritually thrive, one of the reasons is going to be because its people are MADLY in love with Jesus and the SOULS He has called us to reach!
THE GREATEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR MEADOWBROOK CHURCH IS TO LOVE OUR SAVIOR WELL!
SALVATION
REDEDICATION
BAPTISM
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
