2. – Revelation – The Living One Walks Among Us 2
– Revelation – The Living One Walks Among Us The Letters to the 7 Churches
Revelation 2: 1-7 p

3. Letters to the Seven Churches
Letdown – the conditions in the 7 churches
Need to maintain historical perspective
In their 5th or 6th decade
Second generation believers
Have become something of a mixed bag
Ephesus –
City the Crown Jewel of Asia
Censure (v 4) “forsaken the love you had at first”
Commended far more than they are censured

4. 1. Commendations (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

5. 1. Commendations … God knows our deeds – intended as Good News
Good deeds are for the sake of others
Not to be lauded by others
Not to earn points with God
Looking after the needs of others
Love of Neighbour

6. 1. Commendations …
They have persevered and endured hardships … … and not grown weary!
To not grow weary seems impossible
The kind of fatigue that thinks – “what’s the use?”
They had kept at it

7. 2. Their only Censure (v 4)‏
“Forsaken the love you had at first”
What would this mean if Christ said it to us personally?
The Lord takes a slacking off of love very seriously
Love is a tough word here
Goes in 2 directions at once
Feelings of emotional tenderness
Selfless action towards others
Each of us needs to ask – is it love that moves us to action?
Christ own response to them –
They have fallen a long ways and need to repent
Not addressed to Individuals: Applies to the church as a whole
Urge us to listen to what the Spirit might say to us

8. 3. Promise (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