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. 4:1-3; 2Thess. 2:3; 2Pe. 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:” 3 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]. 4 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:
5 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.
“6 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