– – Revelation –Revelation –The Living One Walks Among UsThe Living One Walks Among Us

2. The Letters to the 7 Churches2. The Letters to the 7 Churches

Revelation 2: 1-7p. 1138

Letters to the Seven ChurchesLetters to the Seven Churches

Letdown – the conditions in the 7 churchesLetdown – the conditions in the 7 churches

Need to maintain historical perspectiveNeed to maintain historical perspective In their 5In their 5thth or 6 or 6thth decadedecade Second generation believersSecond generation believers Have become something of a mixed bagHave become something of a mixed bag

Ephesus – Ephesus – City the Crown Jewel of AsiaCity the Crown Jewel of Asia Censure (v 4) “forsaken the love you had at first”Censure (v 4) “forsaken the love you had at first” Commended far more than they are censuredCommended far more than they are censured

1. Commendations 1. Commendations (v2-3, 6)(v2-3, 6)

Nicolaitians (v. 6) – Don’t have a clue who they are

The 3 commendations (v 2-3) I know your deeds – hard work and perseverance You cannot tolerate wicked people You have persevered and endured hardship

Focus this morning on the first and third of these

1. Commendations …1. Commendations …

God knows our deeds – intended as God knows our deeds – intended as Good NewsGood News

Good deeds are for the sake of othersGood deeds are for the sake of others Not to be lauded by othersNot to be lauded by others Not to earn points with GodNot to earn points with God

Looking after the needs of othersLooking after the needs of others Love of NeighbourLove of Neighbour

1. Commendations …1. Commendations …

They have persevered and endured hardships …They have persevered and endured hardships …… and not grown weary!… and not grown weary!

To not grow weary seems impossibleTo not grow weary seems impossible The kind of fatigue that thinks – “what’s the use?”The kind of fatigue that thinks – “what’s the use?” They had kept at itThey had kept at it

2. Their only Censure 2. Their only Censure (v 4)(v 4)

““Forsaken the love you had at first”Forsaken the love you had at first” What would this mean if Christ said it to us personally?What would this mean if Christ said it to us personally?

The Lord takes a slacking off of love very seriouslyThe Lord takes a slacking off of love very seriously

Love is a Love is a toughtough word here word here Goes in 2 directions at onceGoes in 2 directions at once

Feelings of emotional tendernessFeelings of emotional tenderness Selfless action towards othersSelfless action towards others

Each of us needs to ask – is it Each of us needs to ask – is it lovelove that moves us to action? that moves us to action?

Christ own response to them – Christ own response to them – They have fallen a long ways and need to repentThey have fallen a long ways and need to repent

Not addressed to Individuals: Applies to the church as a wholeNot addressed to Individuals: Applies to the church as a whole Urge us to listen to what the Spirit might say to usUrge us to listen to what the Spirit might say to us

3. Promise 3. Promise (v 7)(v 7)

Not to the Church – but to individuals

REPENT by returning to the Love we had at first How should I hear what Christ says to University Chapel? “Churches” is plural – a word for all churches

The Promise to those who are victorious Takes us back to the garden of Eden (Gen 2:3)

The Tree of Life

All who have been faithful – given the right to eat of the Tree Not because we deserve it – because of God’s Grace & mercy