Revelation 2:4-5 “ Getting back where you used to be “

Revelation 2:1–7 ESV

1 “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. 2 “ ‘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. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 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. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 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.’

“ Getting back where you used to Be “

Jesus wants this church

At Ephesus

To get back to their “ First Love “

Which is Him

When they first met Him

In reality

It’s Jesus

That’s missing the intimacy with them

Because when they first fail in love with Jesus

Everything was about Jesus

But now

Everything has become about them

And making ti about them

Jesus had their

HEAD

HAND

But He did not have their HEART

Mark 12:30 ESV

30 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.’

[ Heart in the GK ] - " Kardia " -- is where we get the word " cardiac " but in the Bible the word heart always speaks of the inward part of man. 

The heart — it is the deepest and most sacred part of man it is the house of the will and it is the center of all thoughts,. 

This is how

Jesus wants the church

At Ephesus

And the church TODAY

To love Him — with the HEART

Note: In other words EVERYTHING that we DO or SAY comes from a heart that loves Jesus

Example: A daddy paying child support but don’t spend time with his child/children

Note: Jesus desires that INTIMACY with you

Question: Do you remember how things used to be when you first fail in love with your Husband/Wife ?

Note: You had ALL of them when you first fail in love

They would pay attention to every conversation after work / But now

They used to give you all of the check / But now

You didn’t want to go nowhere without them / But now

Y’all used to eat at the table together / But now

Y’all used to hold hands in public / But now

Y’all used to buy little gifts throughout the year / But now

Question: Do you remember how things used to be between you and the Lord when you first got SAVED ?

Excited about your conversion / But Now

Didn’t want to drink anymore / But Now

Didn’t wanna go out anymore / But Now

Wanted to cut all your friends that wasn’t going to church out of your life / But Now

Couldn’t wait for Sunday morning / But Now

Started going to Bible study / But Now

Didn’t mind paying tithes / But Now

Wanted to support your Pastor / But Now

Used to get to church on time / But Now

Wanted to help wherever you could even sing in the choir and you couldn’t sing / But Now

Didn’t wanna work Sunday’s no more when you first got converted / But Now

And this is what Jesus is saying in the text

To the church at Ephesus

Things used to be so intimate and great

I had ALL of you at one time

Yes, you stayed faithful to the work

Yes, you stayed faithful to the doctrine

Yes, you hate what I hate

But the intimacy between you and I is not like it used to be

Bible Passage: Revelation 2:4–5

Note:

When we look at the churches in Asia Minor

In two churches

Smyrna and Philadelphia

The Lord finds matter for praise only

In two

Sardis and Laodicea

with a very slight exception in the former

for rebuke only

In Ephesus, Pergamum, and Thyatira

the condition is a mixed one

calling for mingled praise and rebuke.

Summary:

The church at Ephesus

receives a stern warning from Christ

While they are acknowledged

for their labor and perseverance

they have neglected the passionate love

that once fueled their faith and missions

This passage

emphasizes the importance of

prioritizing relational intimacy

with God

over merely performing religious duties

This passage is

urging believers

to assess their heart's condition

toward Christ and reignite their love for Him

There are four such affirmations

the church is commended

for its labor

its patience

its inability to bear those that were evil

and for the fact

that it had put to a test

certain ones who claimed to be apostles

and had found them to be liars

Greek word for Labour in verse 2— “Kopos”, translated as “hard work,” refers to strenuous labor that induces weariness.

The Ephesian church, in Jesus’ name, had “endured hardships” (kopiaō, derived from kopos) but had not “grown weary” (kamnō). “Patience” in verse 2 translates “hupomenō “, which by way of origin comes from hupo meaning “under” and menō meaning “remain” or “abide.”

Note: The picture, therefore, is of one who, not wishing to shirk responsibility, bears the burden of it with determined zeal.

Someone may ask

HOW

could a church as perfect

as that of Ephesus

possibly fail to love Christ or God appropriately?

But to ask the question

is almost to answer it

What is in view in the church of Ephesus

is a question of motivation and priority

One can do all the right things

and yet do them for an inadequate reason

One can even do the right things

for some of the right reasons

but fail in the service of the Lord

in terms of the noblest reasoning

Ephesus had succeeded well in many areas

but the maintenance

of that success

had become more important

than the motivation for service—

namely, the love for Christ.

Now

It’s important to understand

That the church

Jesus addressed

no longer consisted of first-generation believers

But of second-and third-generation Christians

These people lacked the enthusiasm

their parents and grandparents had demonstrated

They functioned not as carriers or representatives

Of the faith

But as caretakers and custodians

There was an obvious deficiency

In evangelistic outreach

as a result of a status-quo mode of thought

They loved the Lord but no longer with heart, soul, and mind

As their Parents and Grandparents did

Application: The application is this : for individuals to evaluate their spiritual lives and identify how they can reignite a passionate relationship with God.

The believer need to reflect on your spiritual journey, identify distractions, and take the Necessary steps to deepen your relationship with Christ, which will allow you to encounter God's love and presence in a transformative way.

Footnote: Genuine faith is rooted in passionate love for God

rather than mere adherence to religious practices

You need to pursue emotional and relational connection with Christ

framing your faith not as an obligation but as a joyful engagement that deepens over time.

How this passage could point to Christ:

This passage connects to the overarching narrative of the Bible,

where love is the ultimate commandment given by Jesus.

Christ embodies this love,

serving as the bridge that restores

the passion and intimacy

between humanity and God.

His life, death, and resurrection

Big Idea: Reconnecting with God requires a heartfelt return to the love that drives our faith, reminding us that our spiritual journey is as much about relationship as it is about doctrine or duty.

Recommended Study: In your study for this sermon, consider examining the intended audience of Revelation, specifically focusing on the context of Ephesus as a thriving city filled with distractions. Use Logos to research commentaries that analyze the cultural challenges faced by the church and how those may parallel current struggles in contemporary faith communities. Additionally, explore theological discussions on what it means to 'love' in the context of scripture, which can illuminate deeper meaning in traditional expressions of worship.

“ Getting back where you used to Be “

1. Remember Your First Love

Revelation 2:4

You could begin by exploring how easy it is to fall into a pattern of routine in our faith, where doing becomes more important than loving. This verse challenges believers to remember the passionate love they initially had for God. Highlight how Christ values the heart over mere religious activity, echoing the central message of loving God with all one's heart in both Old and New Testaments. Encourage the audience to rediscover this first love and prioritize relationship over routine.

2. Reflect and Repent

Revelation 2:5a

Perhaps delve into the necessity of self-reflection and repentance as a means for spiritual rejuvenation. This verse suggests examining the state of one's heart and returning to the height of devotion once experienced. Emphasize how repentance is a vital step in reconnecting with God, aligning with the biblical call to turn back to Him with sincerity. Urge the congregation to identify areas where their love has dwindled and commit to cultivating a renewed fervor for God.

Revelation 1. To Ephesus (2:1–7)

One finds difficulty in repenting of something for which he feels no guilt.

3. REBUKE (2:4) 2:4. In spite of the many areas of commendation, the church in Ephesus was soundly rebuked: Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love. The order of words in the Greek is emphatic; the clause could be translated, “Your first love you have left.” Christ used the word agapēn, speaking of the deep kind of love that God has for people. This rebuke contrasts with what Paul wrote the Ephesians 35 years earlier, that he never stopped giving thanks for them because of their faith in Christ and their love (agapēn) for the saints (Eph. 1:15–16). Most of the Ephesian Christians were now second-generation believers, and though they had retained purity of doctrine and life and had maintained a high level of service, they were lacking in deep devotion to Christ. How the church today needs to heed this same warning, that orthodoxy and service are not enough. Christ wants believers’ hearts as well as their hands and heads.

3. Revive Your Works

Revelation 2:5b

You have to

Make Christ

The center of all your work

That’s what the first generation Believer’s done

Maybe discuss the actions that stem from a rekindled love for God, highlighting how the church is called to 'do the works you did at first.' This calls for action based on passionate love rather than obligation. Point out that a renewed relationship with Christ leads to transformed lives and communities, accomplished only when passion fuels purpose. Inspire listeners to engage in their faith practices with genuine love and enthusiasm, focusing on how Christ-centered love transforms lives.

Jesus will remove the lampstand from its place, which means that as a congregation they will experience a complete spiritual blackout. A church ceases to be a church when it no longer serves its Master with genuine love and dedication. There is hard evidence that nominal Christianity dies a natural death within a generation or two and consequently disappears completely from the scene.