A letter from Jesus to Ephesus and to Southside. Revelation chapter two, first seven verses. We will look at this together, so let's pray. Father, we bless you and praise you for, oh, what a Savior. Oh, what awesome sin, but no match for the Savior. We bless you, we praise you, we give thanks. Father, it is frightening to know that a church, that a Christian can be doing many good things, but at the core be deeply troubled, blindly unaware of putrefaction, a having walked away from, left, abandoned, love for Christ. Oh, Father, speak to our hearts, direct our steps. We thank you that you will. In Jesus' name, amen. The Revelation, the unveiling of Jesus Christ, and these letters are a portion of that unveiling, were sent to real congregations that actually functioned in the first century. And this book and these letters have been sent to and have spoken to churches and Christians throughout the centuries. around the world. They still speak today and the Spirit of God would use them this morning or use this particular one this morning to speak to us. Our focus is simply this, what is Jesus saying to us? To prepare us for the simple and profound statement that Jesus makes in this brief letter to this church and to us We need to take a quick reminder of the world in which we live, the reality of our world. Someone could come who is very smart and educated and just absolutely, I don't care who you are, absolutely astound you and myself with some of the modern accomplishments and abilities that are everyday life in our world. And yet, at the same time, savage brutality and wickedness keeps coming out, no different than in any other age. You know, sometimes we've looked on television and we've seen the brutality of humans against humans in underprivileged nations. We've seen the bodies scattered, the blood, the unspeakable horror. We've looked at history and we've seen the horror. But here we are in America and everything is pristine except that We brutally murdered about 57 million babies. Are you and I ever horrified at the depravity, the ruthlessness and the wickedness of our world? I know it kind of gets old and it's kind of depressing, but we need to look at it again. Open your Bibles to Romans chapter 1. You can't understand the world in which you live unless you embrace the truth of what is said here. And all over America, in pulpits and pews, there will be people who say, oh, Romans 1, that's the Word of God. But we don't believe it. When behavior that is unfolded in these verses hit the television or hit the newsprint. We have other designations. It's not sin. And it's certainly not in any consequence of God's judgment. And yet, in this incredible passage, we're shown that the wrath of God, verse 18, is breaking forth from heaven is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because that when they may know because that which may be known of God is made plain to them, for God has showed it to them, for the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they, we, are without excuse. There's no possible defense for our conduct. Because, verse 21, that when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God. They would not bring honor to Him as God. They would not submit to Him as God. Neither were they thankful. But became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Their misguided minds plunged into darkness. They've indulged in futile speculation until their stupid minds have become dark. That's a good speech translation. If you don't like it, don't get mad at me. I'm just quoting. But it's pretty accurate. professing themselves to be wise, they became fooled, and changed the glory of God, changed the glory of the incorruptible God into images made like corruptible men to birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things. It's incredible what men worship today. Verse 24, therefore God gave them over. God abandoned them to impurity. God let them go ahead into every sort of sex sin to do what they wanted to do. The Taylor prayer phrase. And of course it gets worse. Two more times he will say God abandoned them. There are those, and I think rightly so, say that this is a divine statement of what took place in Noah's day. There is valid reason to say that when the people of the first century picked up the Book of Romans that they were reading a description of what was happening in that day. There have been ebbs and flows in this kind of behavior, but this has been the devolution of man. over and over again. Certainly the world of our day is manifesting the lifestyle that is set forth in these pages. Every day's headlines shout it. But why do we want to connect that to the letters to the seven churches? Well, Romans chapter 1 verse 18 through 32 unveils before us the darkness of our mission field, the place where we are to be salt and light, the wolves into which He has planted us as His sheep. Now all of that being said, I mean that's the world. Incredible. If this wasn't in Romans 1, you could look around and say, that's the world. That being said, how sad that the Holy Spirit has to warn the New Testament church and now us, not to love the world. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. For if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father. but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lusts are off, but he that does the will of God abides forever. Little children, it is the last time. As you have heard, Antichrist shall come, even now. There are many Antichrists whereby we know it is the last time. That was written about 2,000 years ago and that was true then. It's been true ever since. It's true now. The world is not for us to love, to embrace, to be at home in. It's our mission field. We're aliens. Ambassadors for Christ. Citizens of another country. So in the world of the first century, ruled over by the Roman Empire, that world in which these seven literal churches were planted, what was taking place? Well, the churches met and decided in order to reach the world, they had to love the world. No, I don't find that strategy in the New Testament. But we are told today if we are going to relate to the world we need to find out what they love and give them a portion of it. But what did take place? Well the pastors and the evangelists and the rank and file members especially after persecution they preached and lived the Gospel. Paul and Barnabas Silas and others went on missionary journeys, preaching. Paul and others were arrested in prison. He's in prison when he wrote Romans. He says, I'm not ashamed of the gospel, for it's the power of God and the salvation. The churches there functioned as caring bodies. They had no home in the world. Where would you go to have fellowship? Where would you go to have fun? You can't tell the Christian from the non-Christian today. We've integrated ourselves with the world and we do church on Sunday if nothing else gets in the way. We want God to take us to heaven. We want God to answer our prayers. But we're not too keen on being aliens on being salt and light, on recognizing the darkness and letting the light shine. We don't feel isolated from the world. We can find all kinds of entertainment and things to do out in the world. We have no time to function as a body of believers. There are 50-something one-anothers in the New Testament. The New Testament church They had no place else to go. And so they gathered, and they worshipped, and they discipled, and they raised up elders and pastors and started churches. They were on mission in a dark world, in a God-hating world. They had blinders on. They were on mission. They were in the world, but not of it. Well, how were they received? Well, there were people who got saved. There were churches planted. There was leadership developed. In the midst of the darkness, the light was shining. Also, opposition came quick. Martyrdom came quick. Earlier, the world had already nailed Christ to the cross. including the religious world, of course. And his apostles, they were martyred. And 2,000 years later, we live in a very scientific, modern world with incredible advances, but we are more oppressive, more hateful, more wicked as a culture than we've ever been, or at least We're on level with those of the past. It's that setting into which the First New Testament churches receive these last words of Jesus. It's that setting into which you and I this morning receive this unveiling of Jesus and the unveiling of personal letters to the churches that Jesus is building. It's in that setting, a setting in which we live in. We could spend a lot of time and it would be profitable. We could spend a lot of time and we could tell you all the stuff that was going on by in detail in Ephesus and what life was like in Ephesus and all this stuff. But we don't live in Ephesus. We live in Gallatin, Tennessee, Sumner County, parts nearby. And so we need to think about our culture and the world we're facing and the dark world of Sumner County, Charlottesville County, Macon County, whatever. And so we ask the question, what possible good or benefit could it be to have pastors and churches in Sumner County? You ever thought about that? I mean, the rank and file person out there says, well, not much. They get tax breaks and that. They're leeches. They get in the way of what we want sometimes. What possible good or benefit can it be to have pastors and churches in the dark world of Sumner County? little or none if the churches and pastors are bent on being like the world, loving the world, and being accepted by the world. However, whenever a pastor or a church or a Christian or a congregation lives and preaches the truth of the Son of God, there will be opposition. but the gospel still is the power of God unto salvation. There will be families that are walking miracles manifesting love and grace and purity and holiness and forgiveness, congregations the same, the light and life of Jesus shining through You know, if you go into a dark room and you turn the light on, the cockroaches run. But on the spiritual plane, even though there are many who run away from the light of genuine Christian living, there are those in our world who, just like in the mystery of God, Sometime in your past you were drawn to the light. You were tired of the darkness. And when you saw the light, the light of Jesus in and through a believer, the light of Jesus in and through his word, when you saw the light and the mystery and the wonder of the amazing grace of God, you were drawn to it and God is still doing that. And we can be a part of that, or He will close the doors. All over the world, thousands of churches are closing the doors. These churches, the churches at Ephesus, the doors were closed a long time ago. A long time ago. In a world of deepening darkness, the light shines. Yes, there are tears. but there's also the wheat that God is planting. There is Christ and antichrist side by side. Work going on. Good and evil. Light and dark. It's going to be that way until Jesus comes back. Don't you worry trying to figure out which one is wheat and which one is tares. I'll do that. you just be light and give the light and so to the angel to the messenger to the pastors of the church at Ephesus write these things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks he holds in a very unique fashion his pastors and he walks in the midst of his churches Think about it. The last words from heaven in the Bible are above all else an unveiling, a majestic unveiling on every page of Jesus Christ as he is today and what he's doing. And Jesus in his last words gives instructions and commendations and exhortations to his church. You don't find how to succeed in business, how to be entertained, how to get to heaven without leaving the world. But he sends personal words to his pastors and his congregations. Now I don't know if we believe this or not. I'm going to give you a statement. He sends personal words to his pastors and to his congregations because nothing is more important in this earthly life than our relationship with God and our effectiveness on being His light in the darkness. Whether you are at the workplace, whether you are at home with the family, whether you are enjoying some recreation or whatever, We are never to be out of sync. This is not to be far away from our mind. We're not to forget that the most important thing about you as a Christian, the most important thing about us as a church, is our relationship, our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. our effectiveness in being His light in the darkness, His sheep in the midst of the wolves where He has sent us. Now, let's be honest. It's very easy to give lip service and say, oh yes, I believe that. That's the Word of God. And then to go out and live otherwise. So He says, I know your works. your labor, your patience. You cannot bear those that are evil. You have tested those who say they're apostles and you found them to be liars and you persevered and you have patience and you've labored for my namesake and you've not become weary." Boy, what a great church. Sound indoctrined, wouldn't quit, worked hard, didn't grow weary, applied the Word, carried out church discipline, owned guard against those who would try to sneak in. Jude had to warn because people were sneaking in pretending to be Christians when they were not. You may remember in Acts chapter 20 that Paul had right before he left he warned the elders and the leadership of the church at Ephesus that after his departure wolves would come in among them not sparing the flock from among themselves the people he was speaking to they would rise up and draw disciples after themselves so he says watch and remember that I cease not to warn everyone day and night with tears the Apostle Paul was like a broken record as he warned the Christians at Ephesus and to a degree they heeded Jesus says so Check off, look at all these good things they're doing. Verse four, nevertheless I have this against you, you have left your first love. Not lost, don't know what happened to it. No, left. A definite and sad departure. I have somewhat against thee They could have thought their biggest problems were the Roman government, persecution, and a lot of other things. No, Jesus is walking among, he was walking in the midst of that church. He says, I know. He's walking in the midst of us today, and he says, I know. And it may well be that many of us, he has to say, I have this against you. You've left your first love. You've forsaken it. You've abandoned it. You've disregarded it. Leaving first love? How are we to understand that? What does that mean? Most often I have heard, and I'm sure I probably have used this myself, but I don't think it's good enough. I don't think it's accurate enough. We try to illustrate it by saying, well, don't you remember when you first got married and you just were so in love with each other? Well, if you had that, I'm glad, and that's wonderful, and that should be common. But the reality is, even in the best scenarios, that love was mixed with selfishness, lust, may have been emotions, primarily. If you were very young, you probably knew very little about agape, the love that lays down the life. So first love speaks of God's love. We love Him because He first loved us. He's talking about you have forsaken this foundational reality of any and all true Christianity, the love of God for you that was extended to you when you were without God, without hope, when you were dead in your sin, when you were His enemy. God loved you. God sent His Son for you, for you personally. First love has to do with His love for us. And we love Him, 1 John 4, 10, because He first loved us. He was not having an emotional fit over us. He had not found us attractive. His love was sacrificial, unconditional, forgiving. And these Christians, and have we today, allowed the wonder of that to dry up? We pick up a gospel track or someone gives a gospel message and we say, oh yeah, yeah, I remember 20 years ago, 50 years ago, or last week, yeah, I remember, I got saved, yeah, that's the gospel. I'm in a dangerous position if I don't get freshly astounded at least a little bit. at the gospel. It has often been said in the last 20 years or so by some outstanding people that one of the most important things you can do as a Christian is to preach the gospel to yourself. It is not without wonderment that Jesus, of all the things he has said, said the backdrop behind his statement is this. Your tendency is to forget me. I want you to do this to remember me. Do this to remember me. You don't ever need to forget the cross. You don't ever need to forget the price I paid. First things that's already come out of the mouth of Jesus, the ministry of the Holy Spirit there in Revelation chapter 1. these people who are being persecuted and troubled and He said unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins and is on blood. And we pointed out before that I think it's some 24 times in the book of Revelation Jesus who is now ascended and seated at the right hand of the Father and majestic in the descriptions we read last week of all of that but all throughout the Revelation He is set forth and for all eternity will be set forth as the Lamb. You can forget a lot of things, but don't forget Calvary. Don't forget the Lamb. Behold the Lamb. First love also is obviously related to what Jesus says in John chapter 14. If you love me, keep my commandments. 14 verse 21, he that hath my commandments and keepeth them, it is he that loves me. 23 and 24, if a man love me, he will keep my words and my father will love him and we will make our abode with him and he that loveth me, he that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings. And in 15, chapter 15, verse 10, if you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love. And so then Jesus, this is a very simple letter. It's not hard to understand. It's not mysterious, but it is oh so deep. Right here is where the rubber hits the road. Remember, therefore, from where you are fallen. There's no more needful action to take than to preach the gospel to myself and to come to the Lord's table. Because I need to remember Jesus. and what he did at Calvary. Remember, repent, and do the first works or else I will come suddenly, quickly, and remove your lampstand. He's not talking about a person losing their salvation. He's talking about, and this is written to a church, he's talking about a church being closed down, judgmentally, sovereignly closed down. by Jesus. You do not rightly represent me before this dark world because you're focused on being like the world. I don't see any light. I don't see the love of God flowing in and amongst you. I'm closing you down. You don't love me. You love religion. This is no small problem. Matthew 7, Lord, Lord, we did works in your name. We cast out demons in your name. We preached in your name. I never knew you, the word of intimacy, the word of love. I was never in relationship with you. That's one reason it always frightens me when someone first, they introduce themselves by not saying, well, I was a sinner and Jesus saved me or something like that. They say, well, I'm a Baptist. or something else. There won't be any Baptists in heaven or any other tags like that. Just people washed in the blood of the Lamb. Now they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. It's easy to hate the the vulgar and the immoral, and that's what they were. But again, I've got something against you. You've left your first love. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, not just to Ephesus, but to the churches, which means that we're included this morning. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Saving faith is an overcoming faith. God is calling us to the table this morning to remember, to repent, to do the first works, or else. The Lord didn't come in the next day and close the doors to the church at Ephesus. It just happened over time. And historically, I don't have that information before me. But it happened. This is a wonderful letter letting us know that Jesus is who he says he is. He is a wonderful Savior. And he is the one who has the seven stars in his hand and walks in the midst of the churches. And he knows. I can fool you and you can fool me. He knows. And he's the one with whom we have to do. He didn't say any of this to put us down. He says all of this because he wants us to represent him well. Because there's darkness out there and people are one heartbeat away from eternity and they need to see the light. They need to hear the gospel. They need to see the gospel. We need to be unashamed of the gospel. We need to tell the gospel. We have a reason for being here. We're in foreign territory. In that dark world that you live, the Lord has dropped you as one of his sheep and all around you are wolves. Praise the Lord. What a wonderful place to be a sheep. Because He didn't leave you there by Himself. He's your shepherd. And you're invincible till He calls you home. Don't be afraid to manifest the Spirit of Christ in a fallen world. You can't lose. Let's bow our heads and hearts before the Lord in prayer. I'd like for us to sing that hymn, Behold the Lamb, in preparation for coming to the Lord's table. So, Bradley, you can find that. Father, we bless you and praise you for this gracious letter that you've sent us. It's quite probing. It exposes us. It encourages us. And it doesn't condemn us, but it does convict us. And it's very solution-oriented on how to get out of the maze and the mess that we may have made, how to be restored and revived and encouraged and useful in your kingdom. Father, once again, you've not called us to curse the darkness, but to be light. And the great need of our hearts this morning is to remember you, Lord Jesus. As we come to this table, May that be upon our hearts to praise you, to worship you, to give thanks to you, Lord Jesus, to behold the Lamb. And for this we pray in Jesus' precious name, amen.