Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
A Foundation for Prayer Revelation 2:1-7 Given to John ~ A.D. 96 on Patmos God / Jesus is the author (1:1, 11; 2:1) A specific message to the Ephesians with application to all that are in similar circumstances
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Their Commendation Revelation 2:2-3 Their “deeds & toil” - Acts 19:18-20, 25-27 Their faith & love - Ephesians 1:15 Their intolerance of evil – cf. Rom. 15:14; 1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:15; Acts 20:31 Their testing of false teachers – 1 John 4:1; Acts 20:28-30 Their Perseverance – cf. Ephesians 6:10f
Their Failure and Warning Revelation 2:4,5 Jeremiah 2:1-5 Growing love: devoted, sacrificial: 1 Cor. 13 Fading love: self-centered
Evidence of a loss of first love for Christ Diminishing fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22f) Diminished desire for Bible study, prayer, Christian fellowship 1 John 4:19-20: Do you love others? John 12:21f: Do you obey Christ? What is your prayer life like? Compare yourself to a new believer
Restoring Love Revelation 2:5 Remember – Repent – Redo What was it like when you were first saved? What changes occurred because you believed the truth about Jesus? 2 Corinthians 13:5; Matthew 7:23
Restoring Love Repent Repentance = “change of mind” Confession = “to agree with” Repentance is not just a mental exercise. It results in change of actions in keeping with the change of mind
Restoring Love - Marital Remember why you fell in love Repent of what have been doing – apologize & forgive Redo the things you did when you fell in love Actions of love lead to feelings of love
Restoring Love - Spiritual Remember what Jesus has saved you from Repent of your departure from Him – confess & be forgiven Redo what you did when you first became a Christian
Restoring Love – Spiritual Redo Actions of love lead to emotions of love Bible study Prayer Christian fellowship Christian service Tell the gospel to others
Commendation & Promise Revelation 2:6 They did not listen & are no more Are you listening?
Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ