First Love | Revelation 2:1-7; 2 Tim 1:7

First Love | Revelation 2:1-7; 2 Tim 1:7

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “First Love”

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7; 2 Tim 1:7 NIV

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Bible Knowledge Commentary

• Be The Church by Seth McBee

• Break the Code by Bruce Metzger

Last week’s title: “Motivated by the Risen Jesus...”

This week’s title: “First Love”

Our series is “The best is yet to come” as we walk through the prophetic apocalypse that is the Revelation of the Risen Christ, a circular letter to the early church—and us today. My prayer is that you’ll be strengthened, comforted and encouraged through this word today.

Now some of you may be thinking right now...things can’t get much worse. Better is good, best, well, I’m listening.

Tension:

What is it that happens to people between...

• Their wedding day and the day they sign divorce papers?

• The day their child is born and the day they see their child as a disappointment and brat?

• The day a loved one is diagnosed with awful condition and the day that loved one, whom we cherish, becomes a burden?

What happens is a loss of first love.

Need:

Maybe this is how some of us feel right now about our faith in the risen Christ. We’re just going through the motions and doing our duty. This is not victorious living!

This week’s main idea: “Rev 2:1-7 teaches us that the great commandment matters to God. Jesus identified our greatest obligation was wholehearted love for God, which declares to us that God is not pleased by dutiful obedience that does not flow from genuine love. Here, Jesus mercifully reveals his glory to the church in Ephesus to summon forth from them the first love that he requires.” (Hamilton, p. 63)

My Bottom line: Remember how far you have fallen! Repent and return doing the things you did at first. (Remember, Repent, and Return)

Story: “First love”

First time I saw my wife. (Share story)

Overview/Preview:

• Revelation probably written to be read aloud in one sitting in the context of a church gathering. We will do this by the end of the series somewhere, somehow. (See promise of 1:3)

• From the risen Jesus Christ to the 7 churches in Asia Minor.

The church at Ephesus:

• Paul wrote letter to them 43 years earlier (AD 53)

• While there (several years) oversaw discipleship of entire region (Acts 19)

• Was most prominent church in the region at the time

• Temple to Artemis (Diana) goddess of love and other stuff; 7th wonder of the ancient world

• Silversmiths rioted when Paul came

• Nothing there since 14th century

Context: (by chapter)

1: Vision of Risen Christ

2-3: Letters to 7 churches from risen Christ

4-5: Vision of throne room of the risen Christ

6-16: Judgment of Risen Christ

17-22: Fall of Babylon and arrival of New Jerusalem

Structure: It’s a chiasm (# corresponds to 7 churches in order)

1 Ephesus - forsaken first love, Jesus

2 Smyrna - no rebukes

3 Pergamum - Several rebukes

4 Thyatira - Several severe rebukes

5 Sardis - Several more severe rebukes

6 Philadelphia - no rebukes

7 Laodicea - Lukewarm love, Jesus

• Bad news is that only 2 of 7 churches are not rebuked even though they are still in the apostolic age.

• Yet, there’s good news in that there is hope for every church because the risen Jesus tells them how to recover. Remember, repent and return.

  • Jesus is still among his church!

  • Jesus loves to reprove and discipline his church.

Outline:

2:1 The Authority of the Risen Christ

2:2-6 The Address to the church at Ephesus

2:7 The Call to hear and heed the promises

2:1

• John writes to the angel of that specific church

• Angel = messenger

• Writing down the words of the risen Christ

• We should read these letters to the churches in light of the glory of the risen Christ

• How would the demeanor of your worship service change if the governor came in and joined you for worship?

• Jesus describes himself using words from 1:12-16. He does this for each church he addresses.

  • Him who holds the 7 stars (angels) - Jesus is in control of his messengers

  • Him who walks among the 7 lamp stands (churches) - Jesus is present and at work

• The early church met in houses; so even though Jesus writes to “the Church” he’s writing to the network of churches that make up the church of Ephesus. (Kind of like if Jesus wrote a letter to the group at Grace, he’d be writing to all the different groups of people who gather under the banner of Grace Christian Fellowship)

2:2-6

• Risen Jesus had a lot to commend them for:

  • pure doctrine

  • Hard working

  • Persevering

  • Condemnation of wicked people

  • Not grown weary of doing good and working hard

  • Opposed practices of the Nicolaitans (probably encouraged idolatry and sexual immorality)

  • We can summarize these into 2 categories: Deeds (hands) and Theology (head):

    • Hands - hard working, persevering, not growing weary of doing good

    • Head - pure doctrine, opposing false teaching, church discipline of wicked people

    • What they are missing is Heart - Love for the risen Christ

• Risen Jesus had one rebuke:

  • You have forsaken/abandoned (not just lost) the love you had at first.

  • At first = when your eyes and ears were opened to the truth that sets you free.

• Remember (consider) how far you have fallen from that love you had at first

  • Not necessarily at the beginning of your walk with Christ; maybe at a significant spiritual marker

  • I remember having lots of tears at the altar during a service at summer camp—when I was the youth pastor! Then later wondering where that passion to surrender all went

  • Our faith ebbs and flows—where are you today?

  • Perhaps you’ve never experienced a moving, life-changing encounter with the living God. Try this:

    • Think about your sin before a holy, holy, holy God.

    • How do you propose to cleanse yourself from your sins? Good works are like mensural rags in God’s eyes when performed to be cleansed.

    • How to propose to satisfy God’s righteous wrath for your sins?

    • There is only one mediator—Jesus

    • He died to pay the penalty for sin.

    • If you trust him, God will forgive your sin and adopt you.

  • This line of thought—

    • from God’s holiness

    • To our sin

    • To God’s justice against sin

    • To the provision of God made for our salvation in Christ and the mercy he shows to those who trust him

    • —this thinking on the gospel is what will fire anew our first love.

  • Just as thinking on your need for Jesus will fan the flames of your love for him, so also thinking on God’s mercy in giving you a spouse you don’t deserve will refresh your zeal for your spouse...

• Repent turning from duty to delight; from self to others first; to living to please Jesus over pleasing yourself

  • The great commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength

  • And others as yourself

• Return and do the things you did at first

  • When your mind is consumed with devotion for the one you love, you do what pleases them

  • Evidently, this devotion waned in the church of Ephesus

• Warning and Reward

  • If you don’t repent, I’ll unchurch you

  • If you do, see v. 7

2:7

• Whoever has ears quickened by the power of the Holy Spirit listen up and follow

• Reward for those who overcome -

  • Right to eat from the tree of life

  • Be with risen Christ in paradise

Applications:

Remember how far you have fallen! Repent and return doing the things you did at first. How?

1. Remember (consider) how far you’ve fallen, (Admit that you’ve dropped the ball here)

2. Repent of sin, and (Confess and turn from your sin...)

3. Return to Christ by doing the things you did at first. (Turn...to (or back to) the risen Jesus Christ and savior and Lord). How?

   1. Be zealous for the gospel—fall in love with Jesus and his good news again!

   2. Be diligent about sound doctrine—be in the word!

   3. Be faithful in living out the gospel—be like the risen Christ!

Conclusion:

When we remember how far we’ve fallen, and humble ourselves, we repent of our sin and return to the risen Christ and the things we did at first. This is the way;-)...and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through the Son...the risen Christ Jesus.

“Believer or unbeliever, one sure way to grow in your love for God is to think on the gospel—

1. God’s holiness and justice against sin,

2. the peril of your condition,

3. the provision made in Christ, and

4. your need to trust in Jesus.” (Hamilton, p. 70)

Will you remember, repent and return to him today?

Let’s pray.

Other:

Hamilton’s notes on all 7 churches:

Verse: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of...

“Power, love and self-control/sound mind” 2 Tim 1:7

Analogy: Head, heart, hands

Consider combining the two...

Head - Sound mind/self-control

Hands - Power

Heart - Love

If Jesus wrote a letter to GCF, what would it say?

Probably a summary of what he charged all 7 churches to do:

For the sake of Christ,

1. Be zealous for the gospel,

2. Reject false teachings, and

3. Live in a manner consistent with the gospel.

Greatest need of the early church (and today’s church) according to Hamilton:

“to be faithful to Jesus, to hold fast to the gospel, and to live lives that are pleasing to him.”

Good News: “God has given us everything that we need to know to be right with God through Jesus and live in a way that pleases him.” -Hamilton

Main Point (Hamilton): “For the glory of God, Jesus charges the churches to be zealous for the gospel, reject false teaching, and live in a manner that corresponds to the gospel.” (LGLP, xDM)

Generally, for all the churches...for the glory of God, Jesus charges the churches to...

1. Be zealous for the gospel, (pursue steadfast faithfulness to gospel—which 2 & 6 were commended for)

2. Reject false teaching, and (be diligent about sound doctrine)

3. Live in a manner that corresponds to the gospel. (Live in pure devotion to Jesus, avoiding idolatry and immorality that grows from false teaching (and unbelief))

4. Practice church discipline, when necessary.

5. Be faithful unto death (cf. 2:10)

Story: Pastor Greg Wills (Hamilton, p. 61)

Notes from Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) on Rev 2:1-7:

Verse 1: DESTINATION

• Paul had visited Ephesus about 43 years earlier in AD 53.

• Paul was there for several years and preached/disciples so effectively “that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in th province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10).

• Silversmiths started a riot because their business of making shrines of Artemis was threatened.

• Ephesus—long history; most prominent church in region.

• Uninhabited since 14th century. (Immediate area)

• Mostly 2nd+ generation Christians

• Note how Paul draws from the description of the risen Christ in ch. 1 to re-describe himself to the 7 churches:

  • ““To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.”

  • ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Verse 2-3: COMMENDATION

• Commended for their faithful service for 40 years! Specifically,

  • hard work

  • perseverance

  • condemnation of wicked people

  • identification of false apostles (false teachers in each of first 4 churches)

  • enduring hardships

  • not growing weary in serving God

Verse 4: REBUKE

• Despite many commendations, soundly rebuked for forsaking the love they had at first.

• Word order is emphatic: Literally, “Your first love (agape) you have left.”

• Agape - deep love God has for people (cf. Eph 1:15-16 (35 years earlier))

Therefore,

• Pure doctrine (HEAD)

• High level of service (HANDS)

• Devotion to Christ (HEART) ——LACKING!! HENCE REBUKE

• Risen Christ wants all three!!

Verse 5-6: EXHORTATIONS

1. “Remember the height from which you have fallen!”

2. “Repent”—Our love for risen Jesus should be greater than...

   • Spouse

   • Kids

   • Parents

   • Best friends

   • Boy/girl friend

   • Self

   • Idol

   • Hero

   • Cause, manifesto, dream

   • god

3. (Return) and “Do the things you did at first.”

Verse 7: WARNING & PROMISE

WARNING: “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Lampstand = light or presence of Christ in the church = church will die)

PROMISE: “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is the paradise of God.”

• When you eat this fruit, you live abundant life forever.

• Tree that was in the garden of Eden is now in the New Jerusalem.

Illustration: (Cf. With Isaiah’s reaction in Isaiah 6:1-8) Isaiah went from “Woe is me” to “Here I am” in a very short time. How long would it take for you to surrender all to Jesus and let him send you wherever to do whatever? How long would it take for you to give Jesus a blank check? Not long if you see him as he is today.

The Best is Yet to Come | Revelation 1:1-8

The Best is Yet to Come | Revelation 1:1-8

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: The Best is Yet to Come

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-8 NIV

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

Last week’s title: As We Wait in Uncertain Times, Put Your Hope in Him for All Time (Psalm 146)

This week’s title: “The Best is Yet to Come”

Main idea: “Those who hear and obey God‘s word concerning who Jesus is and what he does will be blessed by the Lord.”

Bottom line: No matter how bad things get, the best is yet to come. And his name is Jesus.

Opening story/illustration

The Matrix

In the sci-fi movie The Matrix, Neo is told that the truth of their world is that they are shielded from reality by an illusion created by machines that control everything. Then Neo is given a choice. He can take the blue pill and forget what he just heard and live on in ignorance asleep to the truth. Or, he can take the red pill and become empowered to live in that true world that true reality.

We have a choice too. Revelation and God’s word tell us that we’re asleep and unable to see the reality of our spiritual condition unless someone opens our eyes with truth. God opens our eyes to see the truth through his word. But we have a choice to believe or not believe. We can remain skeptical and ignore the truth putting our heads back into the sand or we can “swallow the pill” of truth and live in reality fully aware of the dangers that surround us.

Other illustrations:

Persecuted Pastors

Dr. Danny Akin (professor at SEBTS.edu) asked a pastor in a persecuted country what his favorite books of the Bible were. He said Daniel and Revelation. (See story at bottom)

9/11 vs 9/10

What would you do if you knew with complete and total certainty what would happen on Sep. 11, 2001 on Sep. 10, 2001? What would you do? Something? Nothing? We would start telling people, of course.

There’s something coming that makes 9/11 and COVD-19 and WW II look like birthday parties. It’s described in Revelation.

And you and I know that it’s God’s word and therefore will come to pass.

It’s like 9/10/01. We know what’s coming. What will we do about it? Will we dare to share?

Prologue with doxology to introduce this circular letter to the churches.

“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.1.niv

• Revelation = unveiling, revealing

• Apocalypse = unveiling how it all ends

• From God—>to Jesus—>to the angel—>to John—>to the 7 churches—>to the rest of the churches in that day—>to the universal church—>to us and our churches—>His servants = us

• “Soon take place” means this could happen at any time.

  • We’re lulled to sleep because it hasn’t come in 2,000+ years so we think what’s one more day.

  • But whenever it does happen, we’ll feel that way. Is that the mindset you want? Really?

“who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.2.niv

• Word of God= truth; do you believe?

• Testifies to what he saw (and heard) in his visions on the island of Patmos around AD 90 (60 years after the resurrection)

• It’s all about Jesus Christ

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.3.niv

To obey this because you want to. Glad obedience from the inside.

Not like when you’re asked to take out the trash. You do it, but your heart isn’t into it. That’s not what “take it to heart” means.

What will Revelation call us to do?

• Act justly

• Love mercy

• Walk humbly with our God

• Glorify and worship God for his justice and his mercy

• Walk in hope believing that the best is yet to come no matter what we’re going through now

When?

The “time is near” reminds us of the urgency and posture in which we are to live. Like in the time of the Passover, we live with our shoes on, our bags packed, ready to roll. It’s living in this world holding everything loosely except his word.

“John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.4.niv

• Grace and peace - the order matters; Know Grace, know peace. No grace, no peace.

• Peace = complete wholeness and holiness

• Number 7 is used a lot by John; complete or all; comprehensive

• Describes Jesus here as timeless One and king/Lord

“and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.5.niv

Who is God...who is Jesus and what has he done/is he doing?

• Jesus called “the faithful witness”

• “The firstborn from the dead” - who is second, third...us!

• “Ruler of the kings of the earth” - sovereign

• Love - “loves us”

• “Freed us from our sins by his blood” - the lamb of God who was our substitutionary atonement on the cross

• Many reasons to worship/revere/fear him already

“and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.6.niv

Who are we and what do we get to do?

• He anoints us as kingdom priests. What do priests do?

  • Represent God before people

  • Represent people before God

• The makes him worthy of all praise forever!

““Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.7.niv

• Greg Stier likes to say, “Keep your eyes on the clouds ️ and on the crowds.”

  • Clouds - watching and ready for Jesus’ imminent return

  • Crowds - to be a witness in the meantime; a sacrificial lamb among wolves

• Everyone will see him - even those who know and reject

• Everyone will mourn him

  • For their sin

  • For their loss

• “So shall it be! Amen.” It is certain.

““I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.””

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.8.niv

• Beginning and the end (outside of time)

• Timeless One

• End of prologue

Conclusion

Think about some of our several sermon series titles from last year. And I am not this good:

• Joy No Matter (what)

• As We Wait (for his return)

• The Best is Yet to Come (His name is Jesus)

• Undeserved Grace

• Better Together

• Jesus Manifesto

As we wait for his return, we walk better together in joy and undeserved grace no matter what our circumstances because the best is yet to come and his name is Jesus.

Am I ready?

Do I believe this yet?

Am I prepared to take to heart what is written here today?

Will I worship God for his justice and mercy in our world?

Will I love God and love people by mercifully and gently giving people the reason for the hope that I have? (1 Peter 3:15)?

9/11 vs 9/10: What would you do if you knew with complete and total certainty what would happen on Sep. 11, 2001 on Sep. 10, 2001? What would you do? Something? Nothing?

There’s something coming that makes 9/11 and COVD-19 and WW II look like birthday parties. It’s described in Revelation.

And you and I know that it’s God’s word and therefore will come to pass.

It’s like 9/10/01. We know what’s coming. What will we do about it? Will we dare to share?

What is God saying to you right now?

What are you going to do about it?

These are not rhetorical questions. Take some time to stop and pray right now.

Let’s pray. Amen.

Basic outline of the book

The Christ of...

1. Communication - he is the God who reveals his will to his people.

2. The Churches (vision)

3. The Cosmos (vision)

4. Conquest (vision)

5. Consummation (vision)

6. Challenge

Theme:

“The majesty and glory of the warrior lamb, King Jesus, who is coming again to rule and reign forever!”

Notes:

Intro/Prologue (1:1-3)

Doxology (1:4-6)

”The revelation” or unveiling of the mystery of who God is and what he’s up to. (Hint: Kingdom of God in our world)

We’re called “servants” which is someone who gladly serves his master no matter what the task or cost.

Seems like v. 1 is the purpose: (1-2)

• To reveal, unveil the word/testimony of God

• From God the Father

• To and through Jesus Christ

• Through an angel

• To John

• To the Churches in that day

• To us, the universal Church

• What must soon take place/happen in our world

• To servants of Jesus Christ i.e. the Church

v. 3 The beatitudes

• the person...

• who reads/listens to this prophecy aloud (to hear, believe and take to heart)

• w/ urgency (time is near)

”Unveiled/revealed will of God to bless

“revelation: God’s will is to bless his people”

Revelation: Encouraged by victory

“He is the God who communicates his will to his people.”

Title as truth: God reveals his will to his people.

vv. 4-6 Writing to (audience) the 7 churches (representing all the churches forever) of Asia Minor.

Grace + Peace

Who is God?

1. God, the Father, Timeless One

2. Jesus Christ, Messiah/King, Faithful son, firstborn from the dead, resurrected one

3. Holy Spirit, 7 spirits

Jesus also...

• freed us from our sins, by his blood

• loves us

• made us a kingdom of priests to serve

• worthy of all our praise

• eternal one

Who is coming again

from the heavens...in the clouds...every eye...

conviction and repentance

beginning and end

Almighty God

Who he is and what he does...who we are and what we get to do (make list)