You don't bring me flowers anymore

okay today we're reading from revelation chapter 2 verses 1 to 7

Revelation 2:1–7

to the angel of the church in ephesus write the words of him who holds the seven stars in his

right hand who walks among the seven golden lampstands i know your works your toil and

your patient endurance and how you cannot bear with those who are evil but have tested those

who call themselves apostles and are not and found them to be false i know you are enduring patiently

and bearing up for my name's sake and you have not grown weary but i have this against you

that you have abandoned the love you had at first remember therefore from where you have fallen

repent and do the works you did at first if not i will come to you and remove your lampstand from

its place unless you repent yet this you have you hate the works of the nicolaitans which i also hate

he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches

to the one who conquers i will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of god

okay uh well good morning everyone my name's david it's uh great to be gathering together as

christ people uh would you pray with me as as we begin let's pray

father in heaven you know our hearts and you know that we are quick to listen to the world around us

and we're slow to listen to you we're often quite deaf towards you

so lord we need you to give us a spiritual ear to hear your voice to hear your truth

we can't create this ourselves we ask that you give it to us please speak to us so that we might

find life in you i pray this in jesus powerful name amen

well uh when em and i moved to sydney for a few years we had to go church hunting

uh it was a good experience to help us work out what makes for a good church what's essential and

what's just our personal preferences and after this one particular church service

uh i decided to do a little experiment to see if it was a good church on them

in a crowd of around 200 people all around there's guys hugging each other welcoming each other

laughing together i assure you this is before covid came i walked into the middle of the crowd and stood

there by myself to see how long it would take for someone to come up and welcome me

i didn't time it it was probably only five minutes standing there by myself but it felt like an hour

it was such an awful feeling needless to say i didn't feel very loved or welcomed

except for one young guy who came up and spoke to me

i think being authentically welcoming is a good mark of a healthy church isn't it is that your experience

if the lord has welcomed us to himself as we are surely we will extend that welcome to others

what other marks would you look for for a healthy church would it be the quality of coffee at morning tea

obviously we're all missing john's coffee while we're online maybe you look for engaging teaching

the quality of music a children's and youth program an invitation to lunch after the service

what what do you look for what's your criteria imagine you're moving to newcastle again

and you walk into grace evangelical church at clandale

what criteria would you consider essential and what's just your personal preference

have we been a healthy church while online will we be a healthy church when we regather at glendale

i've got a book about this very thing it's called nine marks of a healthy church i'm just going to

list off what's in the contents page i think there's some good stuff in here number one

first mark expositional preaching what we're doing right now going through a book of the bible bit by bit

letting god set the agenda for the topic not the preacher listening to god's word bit by bit

as our daily diet number two biblical theology seeing the whole bible as a unified message pointing to

christ number three being clear on what the gospel is and what it isn't number four a biblical

understanding of conversion number five of evangelism number six of church membership number seven

of church discipline taking immorality seriously as a community number eight a concern for discipleship and growth

mature spiritual maturity and number nine biblical church leadership

now i'm not here to plug this book even though there's a lot of good stuff in it

i've got a different point to make according to these nine marks i'd say we're a healthy church

and i would gladly recommend any newcomers to many more healthy churches in the hunter region

the church we're about to hear about in revelation 2 the church in ephesus from what we know of it

and according to our criteria they were a healthy church

but as we lift the veil between earth and heaven christ reveals what's really going on in his church

how does he see it because how he sees it is what is actually true

he says ephesus had a fatal flaw

so whatever our assumptions are about what makes a healthy church

we need to listen to christ's assessment of his people

and that's what we're doing in this series listening

to the letters to the seven churches

so before we zoom in or i didn't mean to use that phrase as before we focus in on ephesus

let's just briefly survey what christ thinks of his seven churches

historically there was at least 10 local churches in the asia region at the time of john's vision

so why only seven letters as john spoke about earlier seven is a pattern in revelation

there's a rhythm to this book there's seven scenes it's in this picture book

and the first scene is focused on christ's church

and each letter has a seven point structure to it

and where where a letter doesn't follow that seven point structure

we should pay attention and ask why

so seven seems to be important in revelation

it seems to be a way of saying

this is the complete story

this is what the church is really like

from a heavenly perspective

it seems most natural

to take these letters as speaking into real churches

with real situations

but

every church

needs to read every letter

because

it deals with topics

that are relevant

to all god's people

at all times

so we need to listen up

and we also need to hear

all seven letters

not just align ourselves with one of them

if we just pick one of them

then we're taking charge of our own assessment of what we're like

we need to listen to christ's complete word to his church

to see what the church looks like from his perspective

and notice something else

that the local church are pictured as golden lampstands

this reminds us of the lampstands

in the lord's

tabernacle

and temple

in his holy presence

this is a priestly picture

as christ

was the faithful witness

of god to us

so now the local church

is to be the light of the world

witnessing to god's truth and love

put simply

lampstands

are meant

to give off light

amidst the darkness

so what

does the risen

and glorious christ

think of his local church

well the main thing

to say

is out of all heaven and earth

local gatherings

of his people

are his primary

attention

he who loves us

and has freed us

from our sins

by his blood

and made us a kingdom

priests

to his god

and father

he died for his church

and he is present

walking among

his people

relating

speaking

through his word

we might

look at our church

we might look at

other churches

and

we might think

they're pretty ordinary

during lockdown

society might

conclude

that churches

aren't

essential

but as the veil

is lifted

between heaven

and earth

we see that

christ

christ

consuming

passion

is his

people

and so

our

consuming

passion

should be

to reflect

christ's

passion

okay

so now

that we've

spent some time

looking at the

big picture

of the letters

let's

let's focus in

on what christ

says to ephesus

and says to us

in as much

as we share

in common

with ephesus

so have a look

at verse one

to the angel

of the church

in ephesus

as david

mentioned last

week it's

difficult to be

precise

whether the

seven stars

which are the

angels

represent human

preachers

or are they

literal heavenly

messengers

whom the lord

assigns

to look after

his local

churches

it's hard

to tell

but everywhere

else in

revelation

angel

literally means

heavenly angel

whatever the

case

it's clear

by the content

that the whole

church

is meant to

hear and

respond

to the

letters

and who's

speaking

is it just

john

it's not

just john

the words

of him

who holds

the seven

stars

in his

right hand

who walks

among the

seven

lampstands

the lord

who has

the armies

of heaven

at his

disposal

as his

church

in his

firm grip

they are

protected

in his

hand

and no

matter how

ordinary

our worship

of christ

seems on

any given

sunday

whether the

sermon is

dull

or our

singing is

a bit

off key

or our

prayers are

a bit

muddled

here we

see what's

really going

on

we are

relating

with the

risen christ

he is

with us

as in the

garden of

eden the

lord is

walking

among

his people

he is

near

to us

and so

he sees

the

ephesians

zeal

and he

praises

them for

it

i know

your works

your toil

and your

patient

endurance

ephesus

didn't put

up with

false

teaching

that leads

people

away from

god

and to

death

they hate

the

practices

of the

nicolations

which

christ

also

hates

now we

know little

of the

nicolations

except

by the

teaching

by their

teaching

they led

people

away

from

christ

this

wasn't a

threat

from

outside

the

church

it

was

people

inside

the

church

claiming

to be

the

true

and

better

version

of

christianity

but the

ephesians

tested the

teachers

according to

god's

word

and they

found them

to be

false

they love

truth

they love

goodness

they didn't

put up with

evil

behavior

they didn't

put up with

immorality

they're even

willing to

endure

hardship

simply for

being christians

defending

gospel

truth

hating

immorality

persevering

for christ's

sake

even when

other people

despise them

for it

christ is

here

he sees

he knows

and he

praises

what is

genuinely

praiseworthy

i think we

should remember

that the

next time

you don't

feel

appreciated

christ

sees and

he knows

let's do

it for

his sake

ephesus

was a

solid

church

it

looked

really

good

but one

thing's

wrong

despite so

much good

the one

issue

is so

serious

that christ

warns i will

remove your

lampstand from

its place

i will come

and shut

the church

down

one thing

what is this

critical issue

verse 4

i have this

against you

that you have

abandoned

the love

you had

at first

is this

love for

christ

or love

for one

another

in the

church

that they

have

abandoned

perhaps

that's not

even the

right question

love for

god

and love

for one

another

are

inseparable

but

one

is first

one is

primary

and leads

to the

other

a heart

consumed

and devoted

to the

lord

overflows

in love

for his

children

the church

at ephesus

they had

the form

of being

passionate

followers of

christ

but in

their heart

they weren't

loving him

they weren't

worshipping

him

they had

the form

of a

solid

gold

lamp

stand

but their

light

was barely

flickering

how does

a person

and a

church

get to

this

point

how can

we

abandon

our

original

love

we're not

told

exactly

and perhaps

it's left

open

on purpose

so that

you and

I reflect

on our

own

hearts

it's

probably

gradual

bit by

bit

over

time

a man

doesn't

wake up

one morning

and decide

to commit

adultery

that day

it is a

gradual

redirection

of his

attention

and his

heart's

desire

the very

deeds

of serving

his wife

that once

were the

overflow

of his

devotion

and passion

for her

can become

the very

excuse

for letting

his heart

wander off

somewhere else

Christ

is

jealous

to have

your heart

he is

jealous

for the

heart

of his

bride

the church

I think

we've got

a choice

now

will you

hear the

Lord's

criticism

as unfair

and harsh

because all

the things

you do

aren't

enough

or you

hear his

call to

redirect your

passion back

to him

as the

words of the

one who

will not

settle for

anything

less than

wholehearted

joyful

intimacy

with him

now I

don't think

true passion

always burns

with high

emotions

so if

you're not

feeling high

on emotions

feeling close

to God

I don't

want you to

feel guilty

about that

but

we all

know the

difference

between

doing

what feels

like a

joyless

duty

compared to

when your

heart is

consumed

with something

so much

so that

your passion

for it

just propels

you into

action

we all

know the

difference

Christ

wants all

of our

heart

our soul

and mind

and strength

so how

does he

call us

to respond

he gives

us three

steps

for us

to do

look at

verse 5

remember

therefore

from where

you have

fallen

repent

and do

the works

you did

at first

so number

one we

need to

keep

remembering

our

original

passion

when we

think back

to when

you first

grasped

how much

God loves

you

in the

death of

his son

for you

how

satisfied

was your

heart

it felt

like you

need

nothing

else

that was

enough

that

commitment

to change

your entire

life for

his sake

that desire

for everyone

around you

to experience

God's love

as you

have

keep on

remembering

that state

of total

worship

from the

heart

and see

where you've

fallen from

don't settle

for going

through the

motions

now my

personal

experience

is that

this is a

daily battle

my heart

does not

wake up

in the

morning

in love

with Jesus

it wakes

up in love

with the

world

I think

this is a

constant call

to remember

and not

to settle

secondly

we've got

to repent

this is a

conscious

decision

to take

action

don't wait

until you

feel something

before you

do anything

about it

it's

impossible

to conjure

up passion

from within

yourself

you need

to go

to the

object

outside

of yourself

to stir

up your

heart's

desire

we need

to go

to him

listen

to him

see him

afresh

then

when you

find him

or he

finds you

the third

thing is

do the

works you

did at

first

here's the

fruit of

the first

and second

step

like a

fountain

a heart

that is

satisfied

in the

love of

Christ

will

overflow

when you're

contenting

him

you will

overflow

in love

for other

people

the

Ephesians

were

commended

for their

hard work

but there's

a difference

between

slogging

it out

and the

loving

service

that is

motivated

by a

content

heart

in him

and we

don't need

to wonder

where to

find him

we don't

need to

have a

mystical

experience

or go

to a

lofty

mountain

we're told

right here

how we

meet with

him

the Holy

Spirit is

speaking his

words to

us

the

Spirit is

continually

speaking

the words

of Christ

written down

for us

that's

where we

meet him

primarily

the question

is do we

have an

ear to

hear him

do we

want to

hear him

and here's

what's

promised

to you

if you

do

to the

one

who

conquers

Adam

in the

garden

was

expelled

from

God's

presence

cut off

from

eternal

life

found

only in

relationship

with the

Lord

and we've

all followed

in his

footsteps

our

natural

inclination

is to

follow the

rest of

the world

to live

apart

from

God

but it

doesn't

work

what faith

looks like

is to

actively

fight

against

that

natural

inclination

and the

ways of

this

world

it is

to believe

that life

can only

be found

walking

with God

in peace

and fellowship

faith

is a

struggle

for a

heart

satisfied

in

Christ

if

you're

struggling

excellent

that's

great

that's

what you're

called

to

that's

why we

gather

as his

people

to help

each other

in that

struggle

do you

hear

Christ

promise

to you

the

struggle

will

one day

be over

and we

will be

satisfied

fully

in the

presence

of God

Christ

alone

has the

right

to give

it to

you

this

struggle

isn't

an

earning

he's

already

got the

victory

over

your

sin

by his

death

on the

cross

but we

need to

struggle

to keep

fighting

the fight

of joy

in him

he promises

this is

your reward

you will

have your

heart's

desire

so

are we

at grace

a healthy

church

if we

think

solid

ministry

programs

and

reestablishing

all the

good

external

marks

of a

healthy

church

is what

will keep

our

light

burning

in the

community

then just

as we're

presuming

that we're

about to

open the

doors at

Glendale

Christ

might be

on his

way to

shut

it

down

external

form

is not

enough

let's

not settle

for it

let's

let our

light shine

before the

world

what will

determine

our health

as a

church

is down

to each

one of

us

to

continually

check

our

hearts

returning

again

and again

and again

every day

to our

original love

of Christ

and we're

not alone

in that

the spirit

is here

helping us

and we

are a

church

called to

serve one

another

in helping

one another

keep that

passion

going

if you're

like me

you might

be fearing

you don't

have it

in you

to produce

this passion

and that's

true

you don't

I don't

I don't

have the

power to

change my

heart

but there's

one who

does

the one

who holds

the seven

stars

having all

authority in

heaven and

earth

whose words

are like a

sword that

breaks through

our hardness

of heart

he alone

has the

power to

give us

a spiritual

ear to

hear him

I think we

need to keep

asking him

for an ear

to hear him

he has

the power

and even

if he

feels a

million miles

away

the curtain

has been

lifted

remember

he is

with us

he is

walking

among his

people

his spirit

is speaking

as we sing

together

and learn

together

and pray

together

and encourage

and cry

together

as a church

family

let's do

it in a

way that's

in tune

with reality

what's

actually

going on

that Christ

is present

with us

our passion

will revive

in as much

as we

anticipate

the future

he promises

us

one day

very soon

you're a

day

you're a

week

you're a

year

closer

we will

be walking

with the

Lord

in his

paradise

we have

a taste

of it

now

in the

church

but gee

it's going

to be so

much better

we're going

to be eating

from the

tree of

life

as a

free gift

going for

an afternoon

stroll

in the

cool of the

day with

the Lord

trusting in

his power

trusting he

is present

trusting his

promise is

going to keep

our light as

a church

shining

will you

pray with

me

let's pray

to finish

Lord God

in heaven

we thank

you that

you do

have all

power

that you

have conquered

death

that you

have conquered

our sin

that you

have conquered

satan and

the world

that you

hold us

in your

right hand

that you

are with

us by

your spirit

through your

word

Lord we

thank you

that by

your grace

alone you

promise to

give us

life in

abundance

with yourself

Father I

pray for

each one

of us

that you

would take

hold of

our hearts

give us

hearts that

are consumed

with you

you know

how prone

we are to

wander away

bring us

back again

and again

Lord bring

glory to

your name

through grace

evangelical

church

make us

a people

who

love you

from the

heart

and show

it in

love for

one another

keep us

from

just mere

external

works

we pray

in Jesus

name

Amen

thanks for

listening

Amen

or

you

are

going

chs