Revelation 2:1-7

Image 9-14-24 at 1.34 PM

Revelation
The Lamb of God: On His Throne And Among His People
For Those Who Have Lost Their First Love
Revelation 2:1-7

  • Read Revelation 2:1-7 and answer the following questions:
    • Why should we think that the seven letters were intended to be read and followed by all churches until Jesus returns?
    • Would you consider this message to the Ephesians to be harsh or merciful? Why do you think so?
    • Clearly the Ephesians were believers, so why does Jesus call them to repentance? How do you define repentance?
  • Probably the best explanation for the identity of the angels of the seven churches is that they were supernatural beings – angels. Have you ever considered that God has assigned an angel to watch over Grace Community Church? Is this encouraging to you or a bit unnerving. Why?
  • What were the praise-worthy qualities of Ephesus Church? Do you think Grace Community Church would be commended by Jesus for the same qualities?
  • If we “measure up” on the good qualities at Ephesus, how do you think we do with “first love”? When Jesus chided the church for losing its first love, do you think he meant their love for Jesus, their love for one another, or their love for the gospel? If the answer is “Yes,” again, how do you think we fare?
  • From Dennis Johnson in the Core Christianity Bible Study on Revelation: “Speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) is a hard combination to maintain. Ephesus majored in “truth” while Thyatira excelled in “love.” But Jesus rebuked Ephesus for its loss of love, and Thyatira for its failure to sort truth from error. To which pole do you naturally lean? Why does Jesus seek both in his people?
  • Pray for your missionary to not be so busy that the focus on first love (for Jesus, for brothers and sisters, for the gospel) is lost.

 

Extra Notes

Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed he (Jesus) will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.

Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

John 5:39 You (the Pharisees) search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me (Jesus), 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Remember, repent, repeat!

Application from the Sermon

  1. We must continue to stand firm on the Word and refuse to allow the culture to direct our ministry
  2. We should make time to sit at Jesus’ feet and worship him
  3. We need to stay committed to engaging the world with the gospel

GCC might need to mobilize a team on short notice to go to TVR to cook. This need might be the result of volunteers leaving while the work is still ongoing, or it could be that the staff will need a break.

Luke 10:38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” 

Perhaps the best way to describe repentance is to say that it is our confession to God that we are the kind of sinners he says we are, and after so acknowledging to turn from our sins to Jesus. This does not mean that we determine to stop doing bad things and start doing good things because that could easily become a works-oriented approach to God. We must confess that we cannot even be good on our own,much less good enough. Only when we surrender our lives to the Lord and believe that Jesus died to free us from our sins, (Revelation 1:4-5) – only then will we be saved and able to live a life that pleases him.

Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.

1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”