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July 18, 1999
Becoming A New Testament Church
What is the nature of a genuine New Testament congregation?
If God is raising us up to be a New Testament congregation, we had better have some idea what that is.
It is more than just meeting together from Sunday to Sunday.............hoping that we can all hold out until Jesus comes again.
God spoke to my heart that the answer to my question (What is the nature of a N.T. congregation) will be answered in the seven churches in the book of Revelation.
Keep in mind that these were real congregations, with real people who faced real challenges.
The Book of Revelation is first and foremost the “revelation of Jesus Christ”. But it is also an encouragement to believers not to compromise their faith in the midst of pressure and persecution from pagan society.
- One central issue relates to the worshipping of the Roman emperor as a God.
- The practice of Emperor worship began in the very area of Asia Minor where the seven churches of Revelation were located.
- By the end of the 1st century, emperor worship (and all the related ceremonies) were a normal part of the public gatherings. [ Much like the national anthem or the pledge of allegiance today.]
- Christians were faced with the very real temptation to compromise their “radical loyalty” to the Lordship of Jesus Christ..........just to survive.
- It is estimated that the Ephesian Church may have had as many as 50,000 members.
READ: Revelation 2: 1-7
The Positives
1. Deeds, Toil & Perseverance (v2)
- Obviously they worked hard at things ....... and they followed through.
2. They didn’t tolerate evil men (v2)
- They put “so-call” apostles to the test.
- They exposed falsehoods.
3. Perseverance--Endured --- didn’t grow weary. (v3)
- This is not physical endurance ........ it’s spiritual.
- The phrase “have not grown weary” literally means: didn’t give up (We might say that they “didn’t throw in the towel” [which is a term from the sport of boxing].
The Problem:
1. “.........you have left your first love”. (V4&5)
- “left” = The implication is that it was an intentional act.
- This was no accident.
- It was a conscious choice.
* Thirty (30) years earlier (Eph. 1: 15-16,) this same congregation was commended for it’s love and passion for the Lord Jesus.
-Now you have a congregation of 2nd generation Christians.
* Being a second generation Christian can be very dangerous, because you have just grown up being religious.
- In their zeal to maintain doctrinal purity and expose false apostles, they have lost their love for the Lord and their passion for people.
- No longer is there an eagerness to please and worship God.
- “first love”
- It’s not so much that we are “commanded to love”, rather in Jesus Christ we experience “His love that begins to command us”.
- i.e. our attitudes and behavior toward God Himself and those around us.
- It is out of that “commanding ......... consuming love”that we begin to express His love to those around us............ be they inside or outside of the household of faith.
Another Positive:
1. “......... you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitians” (v6) The Nicolaitains are only mentioned here and in verse 15.
( 2 Key Insights )
1. Do you “hate” what God hates?
2. They hated the “deeds” not the people!
- Who were the Nicolaitians?
- Acts 6:5, Nicolas was one of the deacons.
- They advocated and condoned:
- license in matters of Christian conduct
- free love
- i.e. “As a believer you are free to do whatever you like.”
Back to The Problem:
- They knew their doctrines and their creeds, they could spot a heresy or a heretic a mile away.............BUT they had lost their intimacy and passion for Jesus. (That is what “worship” is all about.)
- Their “love focus” was on doctrinal purity NOT the Lord Jesus Christ.
“You Have A Choice” (v5)
- Repent ......... or ...... have your lampstand removed!
- “Do the deeds you did at first”
- Seek the “person” of Jesus and His Holy Spirit.
- Get some passion back into your worship.
- Get hungry for the Word of God.
- Get hungry for His Spirit.
- Let His love flow!
* That doesn’t mean we compromise when it comes to sin.
Start To Eat From the “Tree of Life” (v7)
- Most us of live off of the fruit from the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”.
* That brings Death ------- look at Adam and Eve in Genesis 2: 9 & 17.
- Fallen man (Gen. 3: 22,) is not allowed to eat from the Tree of Life.
* The N.T. Church lives by ......... and feeds off of the Tree of Life.
Eden Worship Center
P.O. Box 518
Topeka, IN 46571
Last updated 01/20/03gc