A Required Return

A Required Return

1. The Church at Ephesus

Revelation 2:2-3 

If you had nothing else but these two verses, the church at Ephesus had it going on!  

They were working hard, enduring the difficulties of this world and calling out so-called apostles who are liars.  They were steadfast in bearing the Good News in the name of Jesus – and they were not losing heart.

More importantly, Jesus was commending them for their efforts! 

But Jesus continued…

Revelation 2:4-5 

What seemed to be good now appears to be hollow.  

They were so busy working for Jesus that they were failing to grow in their love for Him.  In fact, Jesus told them, “You have left me behind!”

He didn’t condemn the church for abandoning Him; He pointed out the problem and provided the way to resolution.  

• Remember from where you have been saved.  
• Repent of serving in His name when you are not following Him. 
• Do the things He leads you to do in His power for His glory.

Jesus said, if you do not repent, He will remove the lampstand (the church would lose its effectiveness and would not bear fruit).

2. The church at West Point.e

2 Peter 1:3-9 

Who has been granted ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness by the grace of God? US.

God redeemed us through the blood of Jesus Christ, restored us in fellowship with Him and positioned us as full recipients of His promises.  

For what reason?

That we may become partners in His divine nature, having escaped the corruption caused by our sinful desires. 

There is a heart change and life change that is accompanied with true surrender.  We are no longer slaves to our sinful desires, because we have been given divine power to choose God’s desires.

Our time spent in prayer and in His Word work together to keep Him first in our lives.  If we neglect either of these - we are not able to keep Him First in our lives. If we lose our first love, we become like the church at Ephesus – losing our impact and effectiveness.

Because we are partners in His divine nature and are no longer slaves to our sinful desires, we make every effort to use what God has given us to grow in His character.

We begin with faith. Many people place faith in their abilities, their money, their family or their experience – but it is only when we place our faith in Jesus, trusting in His completed work, that we will enjoy a restored relationship and experience salvation.

If you have not placed your trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, you do not have a foundation of faith from which you may grow. 

From the foundation of faith in Christ, we make every effort to add to that faith, virtue – or excellence of character.  

Character has been defined as “who you are when no one else is around”.  

To our virtue, we add knowledge.  What kind of knowledge?  The knowledge of God’s word, His promises, character and commands.  

How can we partner with someone in whom we know little about?

To knowledge, self control.  Every effort. Let me just say that every effort is not made to control self, but every effort is made to decrease self so that God might increase - who brings about self control (Galatians 5:22-23).

To self control, steadfastness.  In the same way we build up endurance through physical activity, we build up spiritual endurance by practicing what God instructs.

To steadfastness, godliness. Godliness is the devoted practice of God’s activity.

To godliness, brotherly affection.  This is where the church becomes family.  We help, protect, provide, defend, support….

To brotherly affection, love.  Love in action!  God’s love so fills us that it overflows to the church and is seen by all people to God’s glory.

Let’s not miss this instruction.  Beginning with your faith, change begins internally, which ultimately affects your external behavior.  

Instead of “doing right” and hoping it sticks, we must permit God to change our hearts.

Therefore, if we are guilty of “doing godly things” but neglect “being godly”, we are circumventing God’s work within us and missing our first love.  

Are these qualities optional? No.  

God’s Word said if you have ALL of these qualities in INCREASING measure, it will KEEP you from being INEFFECTIVE and UNPRODUCTIVE.  

If we lack ANY of these qualities, or are not growing in each of them, God said we are blind and have forgotten we were cleansed from our former sins. We are trying to be the church with a misplaced focus.

Let us return to our first love through repentance.

May we Fall before our wonderful Savior who ransomed us from the gates of hell.

Let us commit to keep Him first – before your family, your job, your school, your hobby, your money, your health, your possessions and before yourself.

Make EVERY effort to grow in the qualities of Jesus, by His power, for His glory.