LIGHT THE FIRE AND FAN THE FLAME

October 13, 2014

LIGHT THE FIRE AND FAN THE FLAME

Revelation 2:1–7

Morgan Blaik

Central Truth

God calls us to remember where we came from and the sin and lies that entangled us, repent from how we have turned from Him, and return to the love and passion He gave us when He first found us.

"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first." (Revelation 2:5a)

To the Church in Ephesus

1 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2 ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

As John begins Revelation 2, he speaks to "the angel" of the church, which actually translates to be "the messenger" to the church. He commends the church in Ephesus for their perseverance and endurance in God's truth. John then goes on to rebuke the "false apostles" -- those claiming to be messengers who actually are not. He follows this by rebuking the Ephesians for claiming to follow and serve Christ, but "abandoning" the love they once had for Him. Paul delivered this same message in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, "If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."

Ouch! It's no secret that God is a jealous God (see also 2 Corinthians 11:2). So how do we fix this abandonment and regain our love for Christ? In Revelation 2:5, John gives us three steps of application:

1. Remember the love we felt when Christ first drew us to Himself.
2. Repent from our sins and flee from them.
3. Return to our "first love" that formerly motivated us and changed our hearts and attitudes in the first place.

John further ignites that rekindled love in verse 7, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." So, brothers and sisters, "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1b-2a)

His love never fails. It never gives up. It never runs out on us.

1. Why do you think "returning to your love for the Lord" is a central theme in the beginning of the book that shows the end of time before Christ comes?

2. How have you stumbled and walked away from your love for Christ?

3. What can you do to rekindle or stir your affections for the Lord?

4. When can you put significant time in your week to do those things?