August 28, 2022
The Declining Church #
Revelation 2:1-7
Introduction
These start out with the words, “Unto the angel of the church…” An angel is a messenger, and so while it is not spelled out for us, it is often believed these messages are given to the pastor of the church.
Ephesus was a very prominent city in Asia of great wealth, and commercialism. The great temple of Diana sat outside of the city, and was a spectacular site to behold. It was very large, and built out of shiny marble. You can read about it in Acts 19, where the idol makers were very upset that their trade was suffering economic loss.
Acts 19:28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
It is very apparent that Ephesus was a wicked city! Full of idolatry. The worship of Diana was full of sexual perversity. It almost seems in America we fall into the same perverse form of worship, without the idol.
I. Their Commendation (2, 3, 6) #
- God knows our works!
- Many things you do in your christian life, are not going to be seen by everyone…. We are NOT working to be seen of others!
- Work, because God sees!
Eph. 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
A. Labour (2, 3 expounded) #
1. Labor with long-suffering “borne, and hast patience” #
- Borne – carry, support
- Much of ministry, requires long-suffering! That you would suffer long, continuing in the work!
2. Labor of Love “for my name’s sake” #
- It is a labor, done with a heart of Love, for the LORD!
- What drives a man to the ends of Africa??? His love for Africa??? NO, his LOVE for the LORD
3. Labored at length “hast not fainted” #
- Don’t Quit!
B. Long-suffering (2) “patience” #
- Patience – power of suffering with fortitude; 2. Constancy in labor or application
1. Constant in Bible reading, Constant in witnessing, prayer, church attendance, giving, CONSTANT! #
C. Loathing of evil (2, 6) #
1. Low tolerance for wickedness! “canst not bear” #
- Sadly, most christians have a HIGH tolerance of sin
- Nicolaitans – possible brought pagan ideas into ch
2. Loathing of false apostles! “hast found them liars” #
II. Their Correction (4) #
- While it is not implicitly stated, it is obvious, God knows our errors too!
Prov. 15:3 ¶ The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
- There are far more verses talking about the eyes of the Lord seeing our GOOD works!
- Do right when no one is around, when no one is watching, the LORD is!
A. Left #
- Relationships are funny things. It is a two sided coin in which both sides must work at it.
- In the case of God and us, I can PROMISE you he has never failed!
- The clear truth of this passage, is the church had walked away from God!
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
B. Left love #
- Their love was not what it once was. It started to fade
- Reading the Word, was a passion, listening to preaching, was a passion, witnessing was a passion.
III. The Command (5) #
A. Remember #
1. Remember your passion for the Lord #
- If you can ever remember a time that you were closer to the Lord than you are now, you are backslidden!
2. Remember why you Love the LORD! #
1John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
- He loved us when we were unlovable.
- He loved us when we were lost!
Rom. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
- Commendeth – to make acceptable,
B. Repent #
-
Repent – to sorrow or be pained for sin
- In Peru, they would take their animals to the market, it was quite a sight! They would wash those animals, and walk them to the market.
- One day, I was at the animal market, they were walking in the animals, there was a pig… it had been cleaned up, they had a rope around it’s neck, walking it like a dog. Except it had rained that night, and there was a mud puddle on the side of the road… a battle started, they were pulling that pig away from the mud, it was pulling toward the mud!
C. Return to God! #
- The Father is always waiting!
IV. The Caution (5) #
A. Quickly #
- While the Lord delays, keep things right! - This is to a church!
B. Remove thy candlestick (church) #
- The church will be judged, and closed!
1Sam. 4:21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken,…