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Thursday, November 30, 2017

Walking in Fervent Love until the End {Revelation 2}



John was told to write what he saw in a book and send that book to the 7 churches in Asia. (Rev. 1:11). The entire Book of Revelation which includes the special messages to those 7 churches, was sent to those churches and a blessing was pronounced upon all who would read, hear and keep the words contained in this prophecy. Jesus wanted believers to know that He knew exactly where they were. He saw their good works, faithfulness and patience in the face of persecution. He also saw the bad which included their compromise, apostasy, indifference and lack of love.

Jesus talked about these events while still being with the disciples:
10 At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will appear and mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved. (Matt. 24:10-14 AMP)




Apostasy:  in the Greek original, to express abandonment of the faith = a falling away, a withdrawal, a defection. ( Tim. 4:1-32Thess. 2:32Pe. 3:17, 2Tim. 4:4). (International SB Encyclopedia)

Jesus wanted them to know that despite persecution and their corruption, He’d stand in their midst as a mighty conqueror and that through Him they too could overcome!

John writes to the Church of Ephesus:”and [I know that] you [who believe] are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and that you have not grown weary [of being faithful to the truth]. But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]. (emphasis mine)

Here are seven warning signs that show that a church or individual has left their first love.
(1)   Christ is no longer the central focus in your life; (2:4)
(2)   You neglect your relationship with the Lord and spend less time in prayer, worship and the Word;
(3)   You allow family, friends, job and your own desires to come between you and your relationship with God;
(4)   There is a loss of intimacy in your relationship with God;
(5)   You are caught in a cycle of dead works;
(6)   You are more tolerant of sin; (idolatry and sexual immorality- 2: 14-15, 20)
(7)   You will no longer have a burning passion for the lost.

Many of us know people who were once walking close with Christ and now because of compromise and worldliness lose out with God. If this is the condition of you or your church, Jesus is calling us to REPENT:
 So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]”.(AMP)




 Jesus, then praises them as we see in the next verses.
Yet you have this [to your credit], that you hate the works and corrupt teachings of the [c]Nicolaitans [that mislead and delude the people], which I also hate.  He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who [d]overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant [the privilege] to eat [the fruit] from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’ (2:6-7)

There are precious promises for those who remain faithful to the very end (2:10-11, 17, 26-28)!

There is much labor ahead of us:  Revelation 2:26 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:" You see here that Jesus specifies His works are what is to be done. It also means that we should not just do a little and get self-satisfied, but stay with the Lord's work to the very end. Just as Jesus told the parable of the good servant (Luke 19), we must be a good servant and bring the fruits of our labor to Jesus.. He also promises that His faithful will rule. Remember, the power is Jesus'. He gives us His power. This power is to do His will as we walk in His Truth.  We are working under Jesus' direction. He is our leader!

Revelation 2:28 "And I will give him the morning star."
Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star. He promises to give Himself to those who will follow Him. Although the morning star has already dawned in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19), someday we will have Him in His fullness!

Revelation 2:29 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
Notice again this message is not just given to this one church of Thyatira, but to “unto the churches”.

Before closing today’s study, let me ask you: do you remember the day you received Jesus as your personal Savior? Compare your love for the Lord today with what it was then. Has your love grown deeper or has it lost its fervency? Are your works motivated by a passionate love for God or are you doing them as part of a Christian duty? Ask the Lord to forgive you for leaving your first love! Begin to do your first works again! Make a new commitment to the basics of prayer, worship, and the study of His Word. Let me remind you to: …” [a]fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment]…” of your first love through a renewed communion with the Lord (2 Tim 1:6). This fervent love is required of all those who belong to the Lord.!!  (Matt. 22:37-38)
We must take heed to the warnings. Let us open the ears of our heart and receive Jesus in His fullness.
"The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" (Ex. 34:6-7).

Thank you Father for your abounding Love and Faithfulness, may we found faithful servants walking in fervent love until the very end!

Blessings,


Mari