Remember Your First Love 8/27/00

Revelation 2:1-5

JESUS CHRIST loves you. Do you love Him more today than at any time in your life? If you have never trusted Him as your Savior, today is a matchless time to turn in trust and thrust yourself dependently upon Him with reliance for His grace in time and for eternity.

If you are a Christian and you cannot honestly say you are closer to Him than ever in your life, you have backslided. Today is a marvelous time to return and renew your devotion.

Remember when the very citizenship of your soul changed kingdoms? Remember the pure, almost sacred, feelings you had when you came to Christ? The paradise of first love is a germ that needs to be cultured and allowed to grow. The emotion may fade but the relationship can and must grow in intimacy.

Our emotions, that is our feelings, change, as they must, but the confident relationship must grow. As we grow spiritually, feelings may change but facts don’t.

Sentiment must be stabilized by study.

Ecstasy must be embraced by experience.

Passion must be by predicated on principles.

Persons don’t take giant steps away from Christ. Their devotion most often deteriorates imperceptibly. A flower dies so slowly that from moment to moment the decaying process is not noticeable. However, after a few days the difference is distinct.

Forgetfulness of our first love usually begins with a few slight indulgences that you formerly would not have tolerated. A casual brief venture into enemy territory may result in alienation from your first love.

Let’s each make this a day of personal spiritual inventory. Be honest to God in answering whether you are closer to Him today than at any time in your life. Are you?

Christ addressed seven churches in the Book of the Revelation. To each He gave an ANALYSIS, AN APPRAISAL, AND AN APPEAL.

Before observing these aspects consider Christ Himself.

“He holds the seven stars in his right hand…” (2:2). What do these stars symbolize? For the answer note Revelation 1:16: “The seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches…”

The word “stars” translates the Greek ASTER and the “star” is a symbol for the “angels of the seven churches.” ANGELOS in the Greek is translated “angel.” MALAKA in the Old Testament is Hebrew for ANGELOS in the New Testament Greek. Both words meant “messenger.”

For example, in Haggai 1:13 we see it used: “Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger [MALAKA]…” When we hear the word “angel” we think of winged heavenly beings. In Scripture angels don’t have wings. That is ancient medieval imagery. An angel was simply a messenger. Sometimes a supernatural one but most often a human messenger.

Here in the Book of the Revelation “the angel” is a reference to God’s messenger to the church, the pastor, the under-shepherd of Jesus Christ, the overseer of the church. Christ is depicted as holding His messenger in His loving hand. He is controlling and protecting him.

The minister is the messenger of God to the church. He is the courier of God’s message to God’s people. The messenger is to take the Word of God and deliver it on behalf of the Lord to His people.

In Revelation 2:2 Christ is seen as the one “who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.” The “lampstands” are identified in Revelation 1:20 as the churches. A lampstand is a fitting depiction of the church. The lampstand doesn’t give light. It merely provided a base for the light itself. Christ is the light of the world. The church is the equivalent of the pedestal from which He is to shine. Christ is depicted as being right in the midst of the churches. He is walking in the midst of the churches. He is fellowshipping with the church.

The first church addressed was the church at Ephesus. To understand the process of spiritual atrophy let’s look at an x-ray of this church. In doing so we will see traits that should serve as an appeal to us.

I. R E M E M B E R (Vs. 7)

An appeal to “remember” implies something has been forgotten. That something was their “first love” for Jesus. This refers to Him as being the one loved INITIALLY in order to be saved and to come into the church.

It is also a reference to the fact their love for Him had previously been the SUPREME love of their life.

What caused this drift in their love? In answering that question perhaps we can discover what might have caused our own spiritual erosion. Perhaps you once had admirable qualities like the members of this church in Ephesus. Note their qualities as recorded in verses 2 and 3. They had the admirable qualities of patience, perseverance, and laborious service without growing weary.

Even a virtue can be a spiritual liability if misapplied or misused. They had the quality of being good people who did good “works” and engaged in diligent “labor.”

These praiseworthy qualities have often caused well-intended people to lose their “first love.” They enter the church and diligently accept any assignment given. They are so in love with Jesus they do a good job regardless of how menial the task. This good work is noted and rewarded with an expanded opportunity of service. Again their faithfulness consequences in additional opportunities to serve. Soon they are so absorbed in service that they suddenly realize they have lost the joy of their salvation and are overburdened by their many roles.

They have served and served well, but their focus has drifted from the Savior to service. Service has become their first love. Though this is a commendable trait it is no substitute for intimacy with Christ — your first love.

Some dear Christians get so enamored with doctrine, their devotion is detached from Christ and attached to orthodoxy. We must ever be vigilant in our defense of the tenets of the faith, but when our absorption is with teachings and not the Teacher, Jesus Christ, we have drifted from our first love. They were so doctrinally right that they “tested” those who made false claims. They were so concerned that they could not “bear those who are evil.”

One group of these is identified. The Nicolatians were followers of a man named Nicholas. He was a fellow who thought he must be missing out on something. Some of the non-Christians seemed to be having a better time in their false religion than he. In the name of religion, pagan cults were engaging in drunken brawls and sexual debauchery. He didn’t jump right in. He rationalized his way in with the help of the equivalent of liberal theologians. Plato taught the spirit of man was good but the flesh was evil. A group known as the gnostics, that name really means a bunch of know-it- alls, taught the spirit, therefore, needed to be liberated from the body and the only way to do that was through sexual fornication and drunkenness.

Nicholas knew his eternal destiny was secure, so with nothing to lose, he sought this spiritual experience. He convinced some believers this was all right, so they joined him.

There are persons who lose their first love for Jesus because of sexual or other immoral activities. This still happens to persons today. Has it happened to you?

For whatever reason, Christians often get out of fellowship with the Lord. One of two courses of action are available. One is to take a course in “shorter hypocrisy.” The other is to repent and be

enewed.

SYMPTOMS OF LOST FIRST LOVE ARE OBVIOUS.

1. Symptoms of the loss of first love usually begin at the closet. Scripture urges us to enter into our closet and pray. The closet is simply a reference to getting alone with the Lord, and prayer is talking with Him. A first symptom is that the person comes out of this closet and enters another. The other closet is a reference to secret conduct unbecoming of a believer.

2. Persons stop giving to the cause of Christ. Where a person’s heart is, there is his treasure also.

3. They attend church and hear Biblical messages that address spiritual needs in their lives and are insensitive to them. A message, which if they were spiritually sensitive would call them to repentance, leaves them nodding. Externally, many may be deceived by appearances. However, departure from our first love is like what happens when the roots of a tree die. The leaves keep green for a while, but soon they also wither and fall. Love for Christ is the root of all devotion – once it begins to wither, it is only a matter of time until the life is left spiritually barren.

4. Their prayer life and Bible study time declines or stops.

5. They become irregular in attendance or stop all together.

6. They become negative and critical. Persons who have left their first love become defensive by becoming critics of the church and fellow believers. When you observe a brother or sister who has become critical, rather than listen to the criticism, be observant of the spiritual decay in the life of the critic who is talking. When a person leaves their first love, Jesus, they themselves become less loving and lovable.

When such wanderlust occurs in our lives, what we need to hear is a compassionate appeal, a sharp prophetic command, to repent. Often a person in such a state is offended by such an appeal. That is all the more indication repentance is needed.

Perhaps you, like the people at Ephesus, have let Jesus Christ become one line of the menu of life, whereas He must be the total menu. Actually, our daily bread.

Perhaps you, as they, are having a THEOLOGICAL problem. They left their “first love” and He is central to all theology. If you get your opinion of Him wrong, all other doctrine is jeopardized. If He loses first place in our lives everything else is out of order.

Perhaps you, as they, are having a PSYCHOLOGICAL problem. If you manifest a misunderstanding of who Christ is, you lose the proper perspective of who you are. You can only have a healthy understanding of yourself in connection with who Jesus is to you. You can only celebrate the wonder of who you are in connection with who you are to Christ.

Perhaps you, as they, are having an ETHICAL problem. Christian ethics are Christ-centered. Our ethical outlook begins with Christ and His view of life, and controls our ethical outlook.

It is not based on the fact we are commanded to love, but on a love that commands. When we hold Christ as our first love, that love commands, that is controls, our world view.

The “Ephesus syndrome” results gradually and subtly.

“Remember” is an appeal to give their heads over to Christ.

“Repent” is an appeal to give their hearts over to Him.

II. R E P E N T

The word “repent” used here in the Greek is in the aorist tense meaning to have a complete change of mental attitude and has no emotional reference at all. The statements Christ made in the Book of the Revelation to the seven churches are His last words to His church. One’s last words are considered to be important. One who is leaving wants to leave a farewell message of importance. Those who love the one leaving want to hear and comply with any request of the departing one.

Christ’s last words were “REPENT.” The Biblical appeal to repent is as often applied to saints out of fellowship as to sinners out of grace.

The Greek word translated “first” is PROTOS. It is a word that suggests they still love, but with a quality and intensity unlike that of their initial love. Is that you? Then now is the expedient time to repent and return to your first love. These imperatives are all part of a single command based on an appeal to remember their first love and how much their enthusiasm for Christ has waned; how much their devotion has diminished.

Might your spiritual life be pictured as ashes on a rusty altar? Such indicates there once was warmth, light, and flame, but which reveals it has been a long time since there was an act of devotion performed there.

When the Holy Spirit is allowed to grip us with a true spirit of repentance we are willing to admit having let other lords besides Him have command over us. We will admit to having left our first love and appeal to Christ to recover us.

III. R E T U R N

Once we repent then we will “do the first works” (Vs. 5). In verse 7 reference is made “to him who overcomes.” This is a summary expression for those who repent.

In 1632, the favorite wife of Shah Jahan of India died. Her title was Mumtaz-i-mahal, which means “pride of the palace.” He loved her so much he set 20,000 workmen to work building a tomb for her in the northern city of Agra. They labored for 21 years on the palace tomb. As work was begun on the Taj Mahal, the coffin containing the body of his beloved was placed on the spot where the temple tomb was to be constructed. Time after time it had to be moved to allow construction. Soon it got shoved aside and ignored. Shortly thereafter, building materials were scattered around it. Lost in the clutter and pushed aside, it was at some time removed with other items considered trash. When the temple tomb was completed, the body of the one in whose name it was constructed could not be found.

Spiritually, the same thing happens in the lives of some Christians. Gradually Christ gets moved aside until at last he is lost. Then we who are the temple of the Spirit are as devoid of Him as the Taj Mahal was of the pride of the palace. When it happens we must repent and return to our first love, Jesus.

Occasionally this happens collectively in a church. Christ gets pushed aside and is lost in the life of the fellowship.

The first step away is the great sin of which to repent. However cold or carnal you might have become, it could never have happened without the first small step leading away from your first love. It may have been a small beginning which you can’t even recall that has led to a great departure. That departure may be so great you aren’t even sensitive to it. That makes it all the greater. That departure may even be hard for others to detect because you still wear the uniform, you still have the external performance, the right vocabulary with the right people, but inside you know and you know Jesus knows.

Therefore, begin at the beginning again.

Go back to the fountainhead of your love — Jesus.

Go back to the fountain of thought about your Savior’s love for you as a condemned hell bound sinner and fill your cup so full it runs over into your saucer.

Today, remember and return to the embers of your first love and reignite the torch of your zealous love for Jesus. Warm your heart by the light of that flame and learn to love again as you did when you first came to Jesus.

Christ’s appeal is found in verse 5: “DO the first works.” Now is the time to begin again at the beginning. As your new life began with repentance, so your renewed life must begin with repentance. The call is to DO the first works.

Some church members need the cold water of a gospel message thrown in their face calling them to repent and return to their first love.

As you quibble and waiver in renewing your allegiance to our Lord, may you become as resolute in expressing your devotion as Samuel Rutherford, the Scotch Covenanter who was imprisoned in Aberdeen for his faithfulness to his Lord. He expressed his devotion in this manner: “O my Lord, if there were a broad hell betwixt me and Thee, if I could not get at Thee except by wading through it, I would not think twice, but I would plunge through it all, if I might embrace Thee and call Thee mine.”

That is love such as He deserves.

Fundamentals of Family Life 3/26/00

Colossians 3:18-21

JESUS CHRIST was a living embodiment of love. His message was one of love.

As an example of a loving child, He grew up in Nazareth in a well-structured, Jewish family. He is described as growing in “wisdom and statue and in favor with God and man.” He was a responsible, functioning-member of a family unit. His relationship with Joseph, His earthly father, must have been rewarding in that He chose the term “Father” to teach of God the Father.

His love for His mother was manifested in respect and deep regard as seen by His efforts to provide for her even from the cross.

He loved little children and exhorted the disciples to go to all extremes to let them come to Him.

The family was the basic unit of the society in which He grew up. Today the family is still a basic unit of society. Because this basic unit is deteriorating so rapidly, our society is beginning to evidence it is coming unraveled around the edges.

The American family today is in a perilous state. For that reason I want to share practical insights regarding the ABC’s of Family Living with the prayer each member of every family will recognize their role and resolve to fulfill their responsibilities.

An indication of what is going on in homes today was revealed by an extensive study recently published entitled “Young Adolescents and Their Parents.” This nation-wide study involved 8,000 fifth to ninth graders. 97% of these were church families.

* Only 22% of the children said there was lots of love in their family. Affection from the father, verbal and physical, dropped 50% from the fifth to ninth grade.

* Over half of the children said they would like to talk with their parents more.

* 46% of ninth graders said God and the Bible were never discussed at home.

* Attitudes toward church became less favorable the higher the grade in school.

* Peer pressure was shown to grow with age, but it never exceeds parental influence.

America has marveled to see the precision of weapons in warfare known as “smart bombs.” Many of them are manufactured by Raytheon Corporation. Their company slogan is “Excellence begins with fundamentals.”

There are certain fundamentals that work in marriage family life.

Now consider these Fundamentals of Family Life.

I. STANDARD OF AUTHORITY

God intends that in everything there should be order. The only option to order is anarchy. That is the lifestyle for many families. There has been a complete breakdown in order within the family.

The emergence of the Christian ethic in the First Century brought a new concept of relationships which we seem to have forgotten. Under Greek, Roman, and Jewish law all OBLIGATIONS belonged to women and children. All PRIVILEGES belonged to the man. The Christian concept changed this to one of SHARED

RECIPROCAL OBLIGATIONS.

A. THE ADULT MALE, that is, the husband and/or father is to love his wife. The Greek word used is AGAPATE. It does not suggest romantic affection. It means caring love which deliberately concerns itself with the well-being of the wife.

This positive encouragement is followed with a negative warning, “Do not be bitter toward them.” This means don’t be harsh, irritable, surly, or cross with them. The ancient word “husband” actually meant “house-band.” He is God’s agent to help hold the family together.

He is also to avoid provoking his children and discouraging them. Literally, this means don’t embitter the child. It means don’t challenge the child to resist by unreasonable exercise of authority.

Firm discipline may sometimes be necessary, but it should always be administered with the right spirit. Don’t rouse them to resentment by constantly finding fault and nagging. Don’t cause them to become listless, moody, and sullen because they feel they can never please. Don’t cause them to lose heart.

This can be done by:

* Too many restrictions (Children need liberties as well as limitations.

* Being impossible to please.

* Being unforgiving.

* Making hasty or false accusations.

* Making unfeeling requirements.

Husbands, here are secrets regarding your wife. This is for men only. Women, please don’t listen. …..That’s a sure way to get their attention. Men, here are four things your wife wants, needs, and deserves.

TIME: Time is the currency of relationships. When a man neglects spending time with his wife or children it sends a message that they aren’t important. Providing time to be together says “You are important.”

TALK: This goes beyond shallow talk and involves expressing inner feelings.

TENDERNESS: Nothing feeds the soul of a woman like knowing she is cherished. Tender affection communicates that nourishment.

TOUCH: Nonsexual affectionate hugs, kisses, hand-holding is crucial.

B. THE ADULT FEMALE, that is, wife and or mother is addressed. The wife is to be “submissive.” This means when there is a decision or circumstance where one has to forego their authority it is the wife. Note these things:

1. Her submission is prompted and earned by the husband’s unselfish love.

2. The verb used is middle voice meaning her submission should be voluntary. Thus, it is clear the husband should not demand but earn it.

3. This is “well pleasing to the Lord.” OK, ladies it is your turn to listen and fellows you tune out. Hopefully most didn’t when the topic of what a wife wants was noted. Here are things that can help a husband have a sense of significance.

BE HIS CHEERLEADER Husbands want the approval of their wives. Complaints and criticism strike at the core of who he is. They are at times necessary but should be shared privately whereas praise is well given publically. It builds him up.

BE HIS CHAMPION Men thrive on the respect given them.

BE HIS COMPANION A man wants his wife to be his friend. If she refuses to share in the things that are important to him he soon gives up sharing with her.

BE HIS COMPLEMENT This includes helping him become the man God intends him to be. That does not mean she is to be his personal in-home preacher, however.

Husbands and wives hear this. Studies by the University of Washington psychologist, Dr. John Gottman, reveal the four major marriage destroyers. They are: CRITICISM, CONTEMPT, DEFENSIVENESS, STONEWALLING.

C. THE CHILD is to “obey” the parents. The Greek word implies a willingness to hear and carry out instruction. The verb is present tense meaning this should be done consistently. The expression “in all things” must be understood in the context that this is a Christian family and what is required is “pleasing to the Lord” (Vs. 20). Therefore, children if you have Christian parents who are fulfilling their responsibilities toward you, you are pleasing the Lord when you obey them. Consequently think of yourself as pleasing the Lord when obeying your parents.

II. A SENSE OF ADVENTURE

A family should be an adventurous group of explorers. Parents are in an ideal position to help their young develop an understanding and appreciation for their world and all that is in it. This sense of adventure should not only relate to the physical world but the world of values also.

When a parent holds a new born child they can look into that little face and realize, “I am holding a candidate for a personality.” You have the challenge of molding that personality. That child is a candidate for heaven and the parent has the blessed joy of helping the child grow in grace and knowledge. Studies show that children who are led to the Lord by their parents later have less doubt about their salvation than other children.

A child asked his parent two questions, “Dad, what is a Christian?” After a lengthy explanation, the child posed the second question, “Dad, have I ever seen a Christian?” Show the way. Be a pattern.

Do things together. Often dad comes in to leave his golf clubs and pick up his bowling ball. This leaves a child wondering, “Mom, who is that man that comes in here and kisses you and spanks me?”

A sense of belonging to a family is one of the best stabilizing factors for children. Those who feel they belong to a family know their conduct represents the entire family. What they do for good or bad reflects on the family. If they are loved in that family and love that family, they don’t want to do things that will reflect unfavorably on the family.

Years ago a Jewish philosopher named Martin Buber wrote a book on interpersonal relations. His thesis was there are two kinds of relations. One he called the “I and it” relationship. It is the relationship we have with things or inanimate objects such as cars, houses, and clothes. The second is an “I and thou” relationship. This relationship is one in which people become ends in themselves not means to someone else’s end. There is a breakdown when a “thou” is treated like an “it.” When this happens, we stop trying to motivate and start to manipulate.

Dr. Ernest Gordon, Dean of Chapel at Princeton University ended one of his books: “In the wild seas of violence that characterize our time we are in deepest need of islands of sanity, or harbors of humanity, in which the art of being human may be learned.”

Parents often speak of wanting to instill principles. There must be a gift of PRESENCE before there can be a gift of PRINCIPLES.

Lessons are more easily caught than taught.

Presence says, “I need you, we belong together.”

Presence says, “I care, we need to be together.”

III. A SHOW OF AFFECTION

We should relate to one another as the Father relates to us. That means we should – – –

A. Pay attention. Many family members are hardly aware of the other’s presence. Our Heavenly Father has time for us. The Scripture says, “…the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers…” (I Peter 3:12).

B. Be warm and supportive. God the Father demonstrates His love: “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isa. 40:11).

C. Inevitably there is the need for correction and discipline. This must always be done compassionately and under control. Our Heavenly Father disciplines: “My son despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Hebrews 12:5,6).

D. Be available to talk and give guidance when needed. Our Heavenly Father has said, “I will instruct…and…counsel you and watch over you” (Ps. 32:8).

Dare To Be Real

A person is who they are to another person. To one they may always be charming, To another they may always be a gritch. You may hear a person spoken of in a way you have never known them to be and think it to be a different person.

You are thought of only as what you represent yourself to be when you interface with a given person. Don’t be a play actor. In the time of Jesus an actor in a play might play more than one role. Actors wore masks. They might appear in one scene dressed as a certain character and wearing a particular mask. They might appear later in a different costume, and mask as another character. The word Jesus used for these mask wearers was ‘hypocrite.’ Consistency is a virtue.

Is there someone who bugs you, that is they irritate you leaving you thinking, I wish they were different. Don’t expect change. I read an article recently based around the idea of not trying to change such a person. The theme was “You can’t teach a cow to sing.” It is just not their nature. If you try you will irritate them and frustrate yourself. Acknowledge them as being who they are, and learn how to milk a cow.

Now back to you. Resolve:

1. To throw away all of your masks, and be consistent.

2. Determine to leave every person you are with having a positive image of you.

3. Aspire to let others see Jesus in you. After all, Christ in you is the hope of glory.

4. Live by this concept:

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

You Are A Promise, A Possibility

God hasn’t asked you to be the best at anything. He just wants you to be your best at everything.

Don’t measure yourself by anybody else. You, the unique you, are your standard.

Resolve to be your best at everything.

Some will remember the lines from an old Gaither Vocal Band song, “I am a promise, I am a possibility, I am a promise with a capital “p,” I can be anything God wants me to be.”

I have my life’s theme text posted several places around our house: “Whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord and not to men” Colossians 3:23.

That results in emotional equilibrium.  If you do what you do to an audience of one, and people criticize you, you don’t get depressed. You didn’t do it for them, you did it for Him.

If you do it to an audience of one and people brag on you and praise you, you don’t become egotistical. You didn’t do it for them, you did it for Him.

It is His approval, not man’s response that matters.

Aspire to be your best self always. Make this a moment of commitment to the Lord to always be your best.

“You are a promise with a capital “p.” You are a great big bundle of potentiality.”

The Sower and The Seed

Conduct has consequences. Throughout the Bible, sowing is used as a metaphor for one’s actions and reaping for the results of those actions. There is an old agricultural axiom supportive of this reality. It goes like this. You reap what you sow. You reap more than you sow. You reap later than you sow. Consider:

You reap what you sow. A farmer never expects corn when cotton is planted. Why should we sow bitterness and expect to harvest kindness, or hate and expect to harvest love?

Paul the Apostle writes: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” He goes on to instruct us to “sow to please the spirit” rather than the flesh, indicating that a spiritual life will result in reward.

What crop are you going to sow today?

You reap more than you sow. A single grain of corn sewn can produce 800 or more kernels. 

People sometimes feel like this law of multiplication is unfair. They make a few bad decisions, and when life falls apart, they think, “Well, I know I haven’t always made the wisest decisions, but I don’t deserve all this.”

However, what they are experiencing is probably not punishment; it is harvest. The law of the harvest doesn’t operate according to exact proportions. Seeds don’t stay seeds.

Sowing doesn’t just produce more, it often produces better. 

You reap later than you sow. This disconnect of time often causes persons not to associate the actions with the result. Because of the nine months between impregnation and birth the Aborigines of Australia have never associate the two. 

Consider some of the things you are experiencing today, and to what past action they may relate. Likewise, consider today’s actions and to what result they may lead. In light of this, be kind to your tomorrow self.