We're looking at Revelation chapter
2. I mean, simply, in following
the message, what's said there in verse 1. Revelation 2 verse
1. Unto the angel, who we know is
a messenger, or the pastor, or the minister of the church at
Ephesus. Remember, Paul called those elders
at Ephesus and told them to feed the church of God which he purchased
with his own blood. Unto the messenger, the minister
of the church at Ephesus write, here's what the spirit of God,
the Lord Jesus Christ writes unto us. These things saith he
that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand who walketh
in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks." Now, we know who
that's talking about. Remember, turn back one page
to Revelation chapter 1, when John turns to see the voice,
verse 12. When I turned to see the voice
that spake with me, being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks,
and in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one likened to
the Son of Man. clothed with a garment down to
the foot and girded about his chest with a golden girdle. So the Lord Jesus Christ is the
one who holds his ministers in his right hand, and then he dwells
among his people. Our Lord said, remember where
two or three are gathered together in my name, I dwell among my
people. He still dwells among those seven
golden candlesticks, and we know that that means the churches
of the Lord Jesus Christ. In chapter 2 and chapter 3, the
Lord gives us these vital, necessary instructions to these seven churches,
but also as he writes to these seven churches, he's writing
to us. Those seven churches represent
all the elect of God who have been called out of darkness into
his marvelous light, and he established those churches, he established
those churches in that day through the preaching of the gospel,
and he uses the same means, the same method, the same message
today to call out his people from darkness into God's marvelous
light. John, writing by the Spirit of
God, and these words are given to him to instruct us in the
way of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. And notice this
statement is given, if you read chapter 2 and chapter 3, this
statement is given to each of the seven churches. Look at verse
7. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the seven churches. Do you have
an ear to hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches? In verse
11, when he writes to the church there at Smyrna, he says, he
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches. He that overcometh shall not
be heard of the second death, of the second death. Another
example down at verse 17, when he writes to the church of Pergamos,
he repeats this again. He that hath an ear, let him
hear. Now I know we have natural ears
and we hear natural word, but he's talking about a spiritual
hearing. A spiritual hearing, a special
hearing, a special understanding. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith to the seven churches. Now what
does the Spirit say? to those who have ears to hear
and eyes to see, salvation of the Lord, salvation by His grace
and His grace alone. Our Lord, when He gave that parable
of a sower, His disciples asked Him, why do you speak unto the
people in parables? And here's what He said. Here's
what he said, he answered and said to them, because it's given
to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to
them it's not given. And then he said this, blessed
are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. He's talking about a sovereign
revelation, those who have been given understanding to believe
the gospel, to receive his word, and to believe the truth. Now
we are most familiar with the church at Ephesus because we
have Paul's letter to those in Ephesus. We studied it many times,
Ephesians chapter 1, chapter 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. And there
Paul instructs the church at Ephesus in the way of salvation.
And then when Paul winds up his ministry, his last missionary
journey, headed back to Jerusalem where he's going to be persecuted
and tried and sent to Rome and eventually he's going to give
his life, he calls the elders at Ephesus together and gives
them his last word of instruction. to feed the church of God which
He purchased with His own blood. We know Paul lived with these
people for three years and faithfully preached the gospel unto them. Now, when John gets this revelation
on the Isle of Patmos, it's 40 years later. Paul has already
been, had given his life as a martyr for the gospel. John is the old
man now. He's 90 some years old. And he's
on this island, and God the Holy Spirit gives these words of instruction
unto the church at Ephesus, and when He instructs them, He instructs
us. Now I want you to take this personal.
This is God's word to you. This is God's instruction to
me and to you. These things saith he that hold
the seven stars in his right hand. Our God is the sovereign
God who holds all things in his right hand of power and authority. And He walks and lives among
His people. Christ in you is the hope of
glory. Now I pray, this ministry here
in Zebulun was established 37 years ago. 37 years ago. I've
been here 28 years almost, going on starting our 29th year. I wonder where this ministry
will be in 40 years from now, or 37 more years from now. Most of us will all be gone.
I pray the Lord will continue to have a gospel witness here
if this world even exists in 37, 40 more years. Who knows? We read in the Revelation where
it says, Behold, He cometh. He cometh. He come quickly. Even
so, Lord Jesus come. He may come tonight or tomorrow.
I don't know when He's coming. But I do know this. He's coming
back. He's coming back to receive us
unto Himself. He said, if I go away, I'll come
again. And when I come again, I'll receive you to Myself that
where I am, there you may be also. Did you notice down in
the last part of verse 7? To him that overcometh will I
give to eat of a tree of life. That tree of life is Christ,
which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Remember what
our Lord said to that dying thief? Today you'll be with Me in paradise. Glory and eternal glory is to
being with the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's paradise. That is
paradise. Now, let's go back to verse 2.
And we'll work our way down through these verses. In verse 2, verse
3, and verse 6, the Lord commends these believers in their effort
for standing for the gospel. And He mentions at least five
different things that He mentions here in verse 2, verse 3, and
verse 6. And then in verse 4 and 5, He gives them a rebuke. A word of rebuke. Now let's look
at verse 2. He says, I know. Now this is the Word of our God
who knows the hearts and thoughts of all men. He knows. He knows us. He knows His people. He knows His people by name and
He calls them out. But He says here, I know your
work. I know your labor. I know your patience. And I know
that you cannot bear them. He's talking here about evil
preachers, or those who do not preach the gospel of God's grace.
Those who are false preachers. And thou hast tried them which
say they are apostles, and they're not. You have found them to be
liars. Now, how do you know if I'm telling
you the truth? How do you know that I have not
come here deceiving you? The only way you can know that
I am not a deceiver and have not told you a lie is by this
Word right here, the Word of Truth. We read earlier today
in our Bible study about those in Berea. when Paul went and
preached to those Jews in that synagogue there in Berea, that
they were more noble than those in Thessalonica, and that they
received the Word of God with all readiness of mind, and searched
the Scriptures whether these things be so. John says this,
turn back a few pages to 1 John chapter 4. 1 John chapter 4. Beloved, believe not every spirit,
Believe not every preacher, but try the spirits, whether they
are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into this
world. Now, I'm going to shock you here,
but there are preachers all over this county, this country. Turn
back to 2 Corinthians chapter 11. There are many who call themselves
preachers and are not, who call themselves apostles and are not,
2 Corinthians chapter 11. I want you to turn there and
look at verse 13. Paul warns the church here at
Corinth. He says, "...for such are false
apostles..." He got it at verse 13. "...deceitful workers, transforming
themselves into the apostles of Christ, and no marvel, for
Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." Therefore,
it's no great thing if those ministers also be transformed
as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according
to their deeds, according to their works. So the Apostle Paul,
writing to those elders at Ephesus, And John here, receiving these
words of instruction from the Spirit of God, he said, I know
you, I know your works, I know your diligence, I know your faithfulness,
your labor, your patience, how you cannot bear them who are
false preachers. You've tried them by the Word
of God which say they are apostles, and they're not. He said, they
are nothing but, nothing but, Liars. Liars. Now, look at verse
3. He says, You have borne and hath
patience, and for my name's sake you have labored, you've labored
and ministered in the gospel, and you have not quit. They remained
steadfast in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ. These
believers in Christ had borne the heat of persecution for the
gospel and had continued to preach Christ and Him crucified as everything
in salvation. That's why Paul said, I'm determined
not to know anything among you but Jesus Christ and Him crucified."
I pray that the Lord would cause us to continue in the grace of
God, to continue preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,
to continue to contend for the faith once delivered unto the
saints, to refuse to remove the offense of the cross, to smooth
out words that might not offend, God help us if we remove the
offense of the cross. We need to boldly and plainly
and clearly declare the gospel. We are sinners, God is holy,
and the only way of salvation is through the Lord Jesus Christ,
his blood and his righteousness, and by the grace of God alone
for all of salvation. God help us to continue in the
ministry and to go and preach the gospel everywhere. As he
says here, I know, I know you. I know your labor. I know your
patience. You cannot bear and will not
put up with false preachers, false preaching. You're born
and have patience for my name's sake. for the gospel sake. You see, everything we do and
everything we say and everything we stand for is for Christ's
sake. Not for my sake or your sake,
for His glory. God forbid I should glory save
in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, down in verse 6,
He says, This you have also, that you hate the deeds of the
Nicolaitans which I also hate." Now, if you try to look this
up and try to search out this, what it says here, the deeds
or the doctrines of the Nicolaitans, which God says that he hates,
he says this again, he repeats it again in chapter 2 verse 15,
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,
which thing I hate. Now, what is the doctrine of
the Nicolaitans and what are the deeds of the Nicolaitans?
Now, it doesn't say here that he hated them. He said he hated
their doctrine and he hated their deeds. And here's what it boiled
down to, hypocrisy. Hypocrisy, saying one thing,
Saying one thing and being something totally different. Remember,
our Lord said this. Hold your place there and turn
back to the book of Luke. Our Lord had such kind compassion
for those who were truly sinners, who were seeking salvation by
the grace of God alone. Turn back to the book of Luke,
chapter 16. Luke 16, 15. He said unto those Pharisees,
verse 14 says, and this is Luke 16, 14. He said to those Pharisees
who were covetous and heard these things, and they derided him,
he said unto them, you are they which justify yourselves before
men, but God knows your heart. For that which is highly esteemed
among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The doctrine
and the deeds of the Nicolaitans is simply this, it's hypocrisy
before God. God demands honesty and an honest
heart before him. He knows our heart. Why would
we play games with God? He knows all about us. He knows
our thoughts are far off. And this is Him with whom we
have to do. And that's what He says, you
hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans and the doctrines of the Nicolaitans
and I hate those deeds too. Sincerity and honesty. And that's
what saving faith is all about. Sincerity. Not pretension, not
pretending. We are sinners. Saved by the
grace of God. and by His grace and His grace
only. His grace only and always. Now, I want you to look at verse
4, 5, and 7. He says, nevertheless, He commends
them for the things that they have done, for their works, their
labors, their patience, for hating that which is contrary to the
gospel of the grace of God, for hating hypocrisy before God. He commends the church for those
things. And then in verses 4 and 5, He
says, nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love. Remember, therefore, from
whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else
I come unto thee quickly, and will remove the light that you
have, the candlestick, out of this place, except thou repent."
Remember what our Lord said of repentance, except you repent,
you shall perish. What do we read in Acts 20? Repentance toward God and faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, I have somewhat
against you. Now, in these seven different
epistles, that we have here in chapter 2 and chapter 3, he uses
that same phrase against five of those churches. Two of them
he didn't say anything contrary to them, but five of them he
does, and this is one of them, the church at Ephesus. The church
at Ephesus, verse 4, nevertheless, I have something against you,
because you have left your first love. first love. The Lord said that he had something
against them, now not in a judicial way of condemnation. If any man
be in Christ, he's a new creature. There is therefore now no condemnation
to those who are in the Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall lay anything
to the charge of God the elect? It is God that justifies. Who
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died. A brother
is risen again who is even at the right hand of God. Now, he's
instructing his children. This is not the way of judicial
condemnation, but the way of fatherly instruction. Whom the
Lord loveth, he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. He says, you've left your first
love or you've left your sweetheart love for the Lord Jesus Christ. They had not altogether abandoned
or lost their love for Christ, but they had grown cold and indifferent
to the precious things of the Gospel, and left their sweet
heart love for Him. Now, we all need to be aware
of this in our own life. What he calls over here, if you
would look over here in chapter 3, verse 15, I know thy works, that
thou art neither cold nor hot, He said, I would, that you were
cold or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm,
neither cold nor hot, I'll spew you out of my mouth. So there's
something that we need to be aware of, that's lukewarmness,
not a fervent love to the Lord Jesus Christ, a fervent zeal
to the Lord Jesus Christ. Now evidently, because the Lord
knows all things, He says, I know, I know, He knows us. You've left
your first love. You've left your first love.
Now, what does this mean for us? The believer's love for the
Lord Jesus Christ is a precious gift given to us that can never
be totally lost or totally destroyed. Nothing can separate us from
the love of God which is in the Lord Jesus Christ. We'll only
love Him because He first loved us. But what's he talking about
here? True love for Christ can never
be quenched Those who love Christ now will love Him forever. Anyone
who ceases to love Him totally and finally never did really
love the Lord Jesus Christ. But here's a real danger for
every believer, every one of us. When our love and our passion
and our zeal for the Lord, for His word, for His gospel starts
growing cold, or we become indifferent. When the exercise of the passion
of our love towards Him is lacking, absent, or missing. Nevertheless, I have somewhat
against you because you've left your first love. Our Lord said
this in Matthew 24 as a warning. Many, there are many false prophets
shall arise and deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound,
the love of many shall grow cold. Now I think I can give you a
good example of what John here is writing about when love starts
to wane away from the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn over here to John
chapter 21. Here we find the apostles. The Lord had given
His life for the sins of His people. He had been raised up
the third day, and had been taken, raised up, and still 40 days
He lived among men, and in John chapter 21, Look at verse 1. After these things, Jesus showed
himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and on
this wise showed he himself. They were together, Simon Peter,
Thomas called Didymus, Nathaniel of Canaan in Galilee, and the
sons of Zebedee, Here's Peter, John, and James, and two other
disciples. And here's what happens. Here
we see their love starting to grow cold and diminish. Peter
says unto them, I go fishing. And they say unto him, well,
Peter, we'll go with you. And they went forth, entered
into a ship, and that night they caught nothing. Well, guess who
shows up? The Lord Jesus Christ showed
up, and he said to them, in verse 12, he said to them, come and
dine, after he told them where to catch a bunch of fish, and
none of the disciples does ask him who art thou, knowing that
it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh and taketh
bread and giveth them, and fish likewise, Jesus then cometh,
taketh bread, and giveth them likewise. Now this is the third
time that he showed himself to his disciples after he was risen
from the dead. So what's he going to say? Look
what he says. So when he had died, Jesus said
to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than
these? More than these ships, more than
these fish, more than your trade. He was a fisherman by trade.
He said unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.
He said unto him, Feed my lambs. He said unto him the second time,
Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me? Now the Lord knew. But he wanted to hear the confession
of Peter. He said unto him, yea, Lord,
thou knowest that I love thee. He said to me, feed my sheep.
And he said to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest
thou me? Peter was grieved because he
said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? And he said unto
him, Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love thee.
And the Lord said to him, feed my sheep. Do you love me? Peter, what are you doing out
here fishing for fish? I told you I was going to make
you a fisher of men. I told you to go into all the
world and preach the gospel to every creature. Nevertheless,
I have somewhat against thee, Peter, because you've left your
first love. You've left your first love.
Peter, do you love me? Yes, Lord, you know. You know. Well, we
know the rest of the story, how the Lord caused Peter to preach
that great message there on the day of Pentecost. Now look back
at the text again, Revelation chapter 2 verse 5. Now here's the remedy. When we
find ourselves growing cold or indifferent to the gospel, when
our heart is just not warmed and our zeal is just not like
the enthusiasm we had when we first believed the gospel. Look
at verse 5. Remember therefore for whence
you are fallen and repent. Change your mind, change your
course. Repent and do the first works. That is that first love, that
first faith, that first sweetheart love or else, or else, I come unto thee quickly and
will remove the light that you have out of the place from which
you are, except you repent. Except you repent. What then
is our first love for Christ? First love caused us to publicly
confess the Lord Jesus Christ in believer's baptism. First
love caused our hearts to praise the Lord at all times. First love made his word our
dearest treasure. First love made worship and fellowship
with the saints most delightful. As David said, I was glad when
they said to me, let's go to the house of the Lord. Let us
go into the house of the Lord. Now, he gives the remedy for
our problem. Remember. Remember. Remember where the Lord found
us. In a pit of sin, in unbelief, in darkness. Remember from whence
you are fallen. Remember what the Lord has done
for us in saving grace. And then he says, remember and
repent. Remember where the Lord found
you and what the Lord did for you, and remember what you owe
unto the Lord. We owe everything. We are a debtor
to the mercy and grace of God. And then he says, repent. Repent
of your neglect. Repent of your hypocrisy. Repent
and ask God to give you a broken heart. over our sin against Him. You see, it's His goodness that
causes us and leads us to repentance. And then He says, return. Do your first works. That is,
return to the foundation of faith, looking unto Christ, and love
for the Lord Jesus Christ. Or else, I'll remove the light
that you have. The believer who goes on unconcerned,
indifferent, will be put on a shelf like a broken tool. Salvation
is not lost, but the decline could be permanent. The Lord
hedges us about with warnings lest we presume and promises
lest we despair. Now, look at verse 7 in closing. He that hath an ear, has God
given you ears to hear this message? He that hath an ear, let him
hear the word of instruction of our God. What the Spirit saith
to you, to you. He that hath eyes to see, let
him see. Now, watch this. To him that overcometh will I
give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the
paradise of God. Now, how do we overcome this
indifference? How do we overcome our sin, our
fallen state? Let's turn over here to Revelation
chapter 12, look at verse 11. Revelation 12, verse 11. How does any overcome? They overcame Him by the blood
of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony, and they loved not
their lives unto death. We love Him only because He first
loved us. How do we overcome? By the blood
of Christ. How do we overcome this indifference,
lack of zeal? Turn back to 1 John chapter 5.
1 John chapter 5, look at verse 3. 1 John chapter 5. For this
is the love of God. 1 John chapter 5, verse 3. This is the love of God that
we keep His commandments, believe His gospel, His word, and His
word is not grievous. Whosoever is born of God overcometh
the world. This is the victory that overcometh
the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the
world? But he that believeth that Jesus is the Christ. Now, what's the promise? Warnings,
lest we presume. Promises, lest we despair. Look
back at Revelation 2, verse 7. Saving faith is always looking
to the crucified, risen Lord. To Him that overcometh, through
the blood sacrifice of Christ, through God-given faith, will
I give to eat of the tree of life. Now, who is the tree of
life? Christ is our life. He's the bread of life, which
is in the midst of the paradise of God. One more scripture. Turn to Revelation
22. Revelation 22, look at verse
1. What is this paradise of God?
What is this tree of life? Well, it's eternal salvation
in Christ. Revelation 22, verse 1. He showed
me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal. proceeding
out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of
the street of it, on either side of the river, was the tree of
life, which bared twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit
every month. And the leaves of the trees were
the healing of the nation. The Lord is that true vine, that
true life. Read on, verse 3, Revelation
22, And there shall be no more curse, This is describing paradise. and His name shall be in their
foreheads. And there shall be no night there,
and they need no candle, neither light of the sun. For the Lord
God giveth them light, and they shall reign forever and ever."
And he said to me, verse 6, these sayings are faithful and true.
And the Lord God and of the holy prophets sent His angels to show
unto His servant the things which must shortly be done. Behold,
I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the
sayings of the prophecy of this book." Blessed is that man. Now, remember how we started
this study? Turn to Revelation 1. Blessed is he that readeth, Revelation
1 verse 3, blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the
words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written
therein. Verse 19, Revelation 1, Write the things which thou hast
seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be
hereafter. Words of instruction unto us
right now in this day, relative to us right now.