The Lampstand

Opening Framework:

Prayer

Series Intro: Revelation

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Message Title: The Lampstand

Intro into Revelation

Revelation 1:1-3 -

The revelation is directly from Jesus Christ himself (V1)

John receives the revelation while exiled on Patmos(V1)

Blessed are all of those who read this

It was then copied and sent to 7 exact churches

7 Churches we’re 7 real churches in what we now refer to as modern day Turkey.

When they got the letters, they were told specifically what was for them, what was for others, and they read the entire rest of the book.

Most scholars believe 7 churches spiritually represent future churches and believers… and so do I.

We can learn from every church and we can often see ourselves in a church at some point or another.

ME: We’re going to talk about the first church mentioned but first… there’s something so attractive about first love…

Wedding yesterday

But then comes life for every couple… work, bills, etc And If we’re not careful, we can fall into a trap where our love starts to diminish.

Stages of a marriage losing love explained with the common cold 1- Sniffles? Let me call 911 2 - Sniffles? Let me get you some medicine right now 3 - Sniffles? There’s medicine downstairs. Go get some 4. Sick? Lets get some sleep and in the morning make sure to take some medicine for yourself. 5. Gosh I need to sleep. If you’re sick the least you can do is go sleep downstairs.

We: We all know what that’s like…

In those early days of loving Jesus He changes our life, fills us with joy, gives us purpose… nothing can stop us from being in awe at Jesus in our life. You just want to serve, to worship, to do anything available because you love Jesus.

BUT THEN LIFE START’S HAPPENING… And the fire starts to fade.

Reading the prescription.

And that’s exactly what Jesus is calling out at Ephesus: Not a lack of action but a lack of affection.

God: This is what was happening in the church in Ephesus

Context on Ephesus… Mega Church - Did alot of things right - The best teachers - A hub for Christianity - Wealth - A history of seeing God give them success

Yet they had all the right actions but the wrong affection.

Revelation 2:2-3 - They had hard work, they had perseverance through hardships, they tested bad teaching and made sure to say when false things were being mentioned.

Revelation 2:4 - Yet Jesus found something critically wrong.

Just like the husband reading the prescription. Having all the right works yet missing the key ingredient, the main ingredient!

Revelation 2:5 - The recipe for correction but the warning of what could happen - Repent and do those first things - The Lampstand (The witness)- It’s removal (powerless)

John 21 - Peter experienced something similar face to face with Jesus

John 21:15 - Peter do you love me more than these?

John 21:16 - Peter do you love me?

John 21:17 - 3rd time… Do you love me? and he explains it to him.

Jesus essentially is saying “theres going to come a time when all you will have is me and I’m all you’ll be able to have in that moment, so.. do you love me because you’ll have nothing but me in that moment?

The only way to persevere truly is to remember your first love.

You: We’ve all been there like the married couple…

AT FIRST… every prayer feels so alive, it’s almost so easy to share with others because you’re passionate, you have a sense of overwhelming excitement…

BUT THEN… Responsibilities pile up Faith starts to look repetitive and familiar You’re still showing up, still here, you still believe in Jesus but… that passion and excitement has dwindled a bit.

This isn’t a horrible rebuke if you think about it… it’s an invitation to be close to God again, to remember your history with God again, to experience God again.

I don’t necessarily want people to say “Oh wow he is so crafty with his sermons / Oh wow he really knows how to fall out every false teacher / Oh wow he really serves alot… I’D MUCH RATHER HERE… OH WOW HE REALLY LOVES GOD.

Jesus makes it really clear that You can lose your first love and still look like a perfect believer.

The same way the husband wanted so hard to check all of the ingredients for his sick spouse but he was missing what she truly wanted… him to love her.

I think some of us today feel this… you show up, you do the things… but you know your love with the savior could improve.

We: There’s something attractive about a church that looks like young love…

Young couple in a restaurant vs couple of many years bored

I believe we can have a lamp that is so bright… if we remember our first love and get back to that place where Jesus was more than enough!

Alter Call: A simple alter call

“God… Jesus Christ… Bring me back to my first love. I need to remember what it was like to walk with you when I first met you.”

I think theres husbands today that need to grab their wifes hand and come to this alter with their wife. Because it’s your job to lead your home spiritually.

But theres also others who have that cry in their heart, you know who you are… “Lord Jesus… I need a refreshing. I need that first love spark again. I need to remember that you’re enough for me.”