FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN WITH JESUS

Scripture Rev 2:1-7
Background
•Apocalytic…bringing to light…unveiling
•Forth-telling or Fore-telling?
•Revelation…letter or book? (1:11)
•John is in exile, 90-95 AD…Domitian is Caesar (1:9)
•Situation of Jews and Christians under Rome
•The letter for one is also for all
Church at Ephesus
•Ephesus…a famous city (Acts 19)
•Paul, Aquilla, Priscilla, Timothy and John
•A lot the NT writing has connections with this church
•This is the first church closest to Patmos and probably first to receive the writing
Giver of the Message
•God to Jesus to an angel to John
•The person of Christ is risen and reigning…powerful like the Ancient of Days (1:17-18)
•Jesus is in the midst of the lampstands (the church) and each star a representation of an angel or messenger of that church
Commendation (vv. 2-3)
•Jesus is not absent from his church-his body
•Ephesus a church whose works were characterized by hard work and perseverance
•Intolerance towards wicked people
•Sieved those who claimed to be apostles (2 Cor 11:13)
Call to Correction  (vv. 4-5)
•Christ has something against them
•Their initial devotion towards him has been forsaken and they have significantly fallen
•They are given an opportunity to correct themselves
•They are also informed what would happen if they did not repent…their effectualness will be disempowered
Call to Heed and Restoration (vv. 6-7)
•The church is commended for its attitude towards the Nicolaitans
•The echo of Jesus’ own words in the Gospel are heard again  (Matt 11:15; Mk 4:23)
•To the one who overcomes there is a promise of participating in the eternal life…Tree of Life (1 Jn 5:4-5)
Call to the church today
•We can do a lot of things right but we can do it with no love for Christ:
•We do it because we have been taught it…this what a Christian should do
•We do it because of we want to ensure we got all boxes checked…I have kinda done my bit and God is happy with it
•We do it adopting human and worldly frameworks for the church…our dependency is on our own systems, traditions, wealth and people
Take Away:   TAKE TIME AND MAKE OPPORTUNITY FOR JESUS WHO LOVES YOU AND KEEPS YOU FOR ETERNITY