The Church That Loved Too Little
Richard Bradley
Revelation 2:1-7
How many times have you heard someone say, ''It doesn't matter how you feel about something as long as you do the job.'' Early on, the British navy discovered that they couldn't keep men from complaining about assigned work so they came up with a famous naval saying, ''Growl ye may but go ye must!'' Jesus wouldn't likely agree because He obviously believes that the purity of our motivation is everything. In fact, this is exactly what he told the church at Ephesus.
The church at Ephesus had a lot going for it. On paper, this would have a church any pastor would have been proud to serve. Unfortunately, they had one enormous problem. Their love for Christ had stopped being their number one motivation and this was something the risen Christ could not abide.
Revelation 2:1-7
1 ''To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
''The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says:
2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.
3 You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name, and have not grown weary.
4 But I have this against you: you have abandoned the love you had at first.
5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent.
6 Yet you do have this: you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 ''Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Look at what we discover about Jesus and our only legitimate motivation.
JESUS IS AMONG US!
1 ''To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
...
Richard Bradley
Revelation 2:1-7
How many times have you heard someone say, ''It doesn't matter how you feel about something as long as you do the job.'' Early on, the British navy discovered that they couldn't keep men from complaining about assigned work so they came up with a famous naval saying, ''Growl ye may but go ye must!'' Jesus wouldn't likely agree because He obviously believes that the purity of our motivation is everything. In fact, this is exactly what he told the church at Ephesus.
The church at Ephesus had a lot going for it. On paper, this would have a church any pastor would have been proud to serve. Unfortunately, they had one enormous problem. Their love for Christ had stopped being their number one motivation and this was something the risen Christ could not abide.
Revelation 2:1-7
1 ''To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
''The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says:
2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.
3 You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name, and have not grown weary.
4 But I have this against you: you have abandoned the love you had at first.
5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent.
6 Yet you do have this: you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 ''Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Look at what we discover about Jesus and our only legitimate motivation.
JESUS IS AMONG US!
1 ''To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
...
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