Revelation 2-3 “Why Relationship?”

You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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I can't hear that song without thinking of Delilah Harris.

Many of you won't know Delilah.

She's been with Jesus for several years now.

She was a special part of this church family.

And she would light up when she talked to you about walking with Jesus and talking with Jesus.

And she'd love to talk about their especially close relationship the last several years of her life that she lived alone as a widow.

And she talked about that a lot.

And this rock actually belonged to Delilah and Jack, her husband.

When this church was built here, they got to pick something to write on a rock that they were so thankful that the foundation of this church was built on.

And they wrote, God's saving grace.

The grace of the Savior that Delilah loved and loved walking with.

This was her favorite hymn.

The one that reminded her of how Jesus walked with her.

Walking with Jesus.

Talking with Jesus.

Hearing him constantly shape who we are as he calls us his own.

That's the kind of relationship I want us to talk about for a few weeks this summer.

We have been marveling these past few months at the historical, real Jesus of the Gospel of John.

Watching him work wonders.

Learning who he is.

Hearing him invite us to find life by believing in him.

To find life in him.

Not just life one day, someday, but life today with him.

That we would have relationship with the living Jesus.

The walking and the talking.

So I want to slow down this summer as I told you last week.

Take a break from John.

To ask, what does that actually look like?

What does it look like for us to enjoy that moment by moment, day by day relationship with God?

That relationship with God is the most important of our three key relationships here.

It's where it all starts.

What do we mean when we talk about walking with Jesus?

See, I think while some of us would say with Delilah, oh, I know exactly what you mean.

Relationship with Jesus.

That is the joy of my life.

It's why I've loved being a part of this church family.

Because it was here that I first was told I could actually have a relationship with God.

And it's been life changing for me.

It feels like this beautiful picture of walking with Jesus in the pathways of grace.

Yes.

And I know some of us feel that way.

I also know that many others of us have a more difficult time with that whole idea of relationship with God.

We struggle to understand or to experience that relationship.

Some of us would say things like, I mean, I say Jesus is the most important thing in the world to me.

I really do believe that I need him and I depend on his grace.

But honestly, just practically in life, I'm really busy with work like all day, every day.

Or I'm just trying to keep up with the kids these days.

I don't know what you mean about relationship.

I've kind of figured out how to manage and get by, get through life without some active relationship with God.

Others might add, I've managed to go quite a while without really knowing about relationship with God.

Jesus or Christianity is just an appendage, as Bill prayed earlier, an accessory to my life.

If I'm honest, I mean, it's something I do from time to time.

But I've never felt it as more than that.

I mean, come on, pastor.

I come to church most Sundays.

I try to be nice.

I give roughly 10%.

After all, isn't that what God really wants?

What else do I need?

Quit all this mushy-gushy relationship talk.

I got this figured out.

I'm okay.

Whether you've always delighted in relationship with God,

whether you've always had a difficult time with relationship with God,

or whether you have never thought relationship with God was even a real thing,

that's where I want us to start this morning.

Before jumping into ways that we experience that relationship this summer,

we'll talk about how God meets us in his word,

how to hear and talk with God in prayer, those kinds of things.

But I want us to start with why relationship?

Why is that even important?

Well, it's really important to God.

The Bible says it is fundamental to why he made us,

how he made us to work,

and to have this relationship with him and with others

the way Father and Son and Holy Spirit have always enjoyed this special relationship.

So many passages all the way through the Bible highlight this.

So this morning I considered staying in John one more week

and talking about abiding in Christ like a branch connected to the vine.

It's this beautiful image of that relationship God made us for, right?

Or Psalm 23, where day by day our shepherd leads us

and feeds us and provides all we need

and makes us lie down and gives us peace and restores our souls.

I consider reflecting on Jesus as Emmanuel, God with us, right?

Just as he tabernacled with his people for generations and generations,

then in the flesh he walks among us and he dwells with us forever.

Or the fact that when he walked here, when he was living on this earth,

he was known as friend of sinners.

What good news that is for people like me and you,

that Jesus is friend of sinners.

I considered Colossians 2, where Paul tells us to walk day by day in Jesus.

That special daily relationship where we're so united to him

that our relationship guides our daily lives,

our highest praise, the things that are most worthy.

Or Philippians 3, where Paul longs to know Christ.

It's the greatest treasure he can imagine.

To experience the actual fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,

of having that relationship with Jesus

that would be better than any other spiritual achievement

or experience that he could imagine.

See, this is at the heart of the Bible story about God and us,

this is this relationship.

But I decided to focus briefly this morning

on a bit more direct challenge to God's people

about their struggles in relationship with him.

We're going to look at letters to the churches

in the book of Revelation

that are about what's really important,

how they've missed it,

and what needs to change.

And then I realized this week

that those chapters were in our Bible reading plan

just this week.

So many of you have already read them.

God's timing is perfect.

He wants us to study this.

So, let's stop and pray

that God will show us his heart,

grow each of our relationships with him,

wherever they are right now,

to be more real

and deeper

and more delightful to our souls.

Let's pray.

God, we do ask for that.

But our hope in this

is that we know that is more important to you

than it is to us.

That you want us to know you.

Us to walk with you and talk with you.

Us to know because of Jesus

that we're yours,

that you love us

and have brought us into your family.

So, would you use your word this morning

not just to teach our heads,

but to direct our hearts

to love you and walk with you.

We ask it in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Friday mornings,

you can find Christy and me

almost without fail

at Latoile.

It's this wonderful local French bakery.

We'll be sipping a latte

and a glass of ice water.

Relaxing.

Talking about life,

about our relationship.

Plenty of people come in and out.

Many of you have seen us there.

We love getting to see you.

But for the better part of the morning,

it is just the two of us.

And let me be clear

about this aspect of our relationship.

Our relationship is a significant part

of every day.

Of every single thing that I do.

I am mindful of Christy throughout the day

even when I'm with others, right?

Even when we're going in different directions,

each taking a kid to something else.

When I'm grilling dinner

and she's with a child,

I care about her.

Then my love for her never stops.

And my knowing what she's feeling

or at least wondering how she's doing

is 24-7.

But there's something special,

something important

about Friday mornings at Latoile.

Our 24-7 relationship

needs those regular times

where we can talk with one another

about our relationship.

I get to learn some of what is on her heart.

What she's excited about.

What she's anxious about.

How I am or am not

communicating love to her.

How we together

are going to approach parenting

or friendship

or the other times that week

where a lot will be going on

and it won't be just the two of us

in those moments.

Sometimes our coffee date

lasts longer than others.

Sometimes the connection

and conversation

is better than others.

Sometimes I just sit there

and wonder

how did you end up with me?

And how are you still here?

But it's a chance to be together

and on our better days

remember why we fell in love

with one another

once upon a time.

Back in the first place.

We've been doing this

only the past couple of years.

I wish we had started sooner.

I look forward to Friday mornings

every week

because I love

being in relationship

with Christi.

Do we have similar feelings

and moments like that

in our relationship with God?

I think we should.

More importantly

God wants us to.

I want us to notice briefly

three letters

Jesus writes to churches

in the book of Revelation

that all highlight

the significance

of this relationship.

By so doing

they point out

how easily

we neglect

this relationship.

Maybe because

we've never known

God at all.

Or because

we've been in a season

of losing focus.

Distraction.

Listen first

to his words

to the church

in Ephesus

at the beginning

of chapter 2.

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

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

sounds pretty good

right?

What great encouragement

they're doing

so many good works

holding so tightly

to the truth

right?

Enduring

and suffering

but

but

verse 4

I have this

against you

that you have

abandoned

the love

you had

at first

that

honeymoon

love

deep

fresh

can feel it

tangible

remember

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

this first

warning

is a heart

check

for God's

people

isn't it

it's like

getting a heart

cath

some of you

have been there

and you

found out

that there's

a blockage

in your heart

that you didn't

know about

you're living

well

there's lots

of good

things going

on

you didn't

know

but there's

a problem

with your

heart

you've

abandoned

your first

love

God is

concerned

first

with who

we are

before

what we

do

it's that

first love

love for

Christ

that drives

then a love

for a neighbor

for other

people

and so the

prescription

given for the

heart blockage

is what

repentance

return to him

come back

to Jesus

Jesus

do you

remember

your early

days

with Jesus

was it at

a VBS

maybe like

Kathy described

as a kid

memorizing

God's word

and just

eating it up

was it at

college

telling everyone

around you

how awesome

Jesus is

maybe for you

it's just been

in the past

couple of years

that your

heart found

life in Jesus

for the very

first time

in spite of

yourself

but now

already

you've moved

on to a

busy life

of performance

of doing

things

and you've

forgotten

how overjoyed

you were

to find

God

to see him

love you

at your

worst

when you've

done nothing

but give him

reasons to

turn away

from you

how much

you treasured

Jesus

then

remember

remember

those emotions

those moments

that

love

and repent

God

I'm so

sorry

after all

my life

and all

my wanderings

how are you

still with

me

Jesus

it's been

so long

since we've

talked

but you're

calling me

back to

delight in

you

and then

the fruit

of love

can grow

from a

renewed

heart

there's a

warning here

for us

isn't there

to be

honest about

your heart

have you

left

your first

love

have you

decided

if you're

honest

that life

is mostly

okay

with Jesus

mostly

on the

shelf

on the

side

more of a

thing to

do

occasionally

than a

person

to love

God

is calling

our hearts

back to

himself

don't

neglect

relationship

with me

any longer

use this

summer

I think he

would say

as a chance

to see the

love that you

had at first

rekindled

that's what

that's what

I'm hoping

we'll set it

aside for

wherever we

are there

pray for

that

right now

pray

pray that

God would

would do

that in

your heart

today

and through

these next

few weeks

don't delay

or ignore

the results

of the

heart check

any longer

ask God

to work

there

second

warning

to the

church in

Sardis

of course

all these

letters were

read to all

the churches

there's a

lesson

for us

too

Revelation

Revelation 3:1

3

verse 1

to the

angel of

the church

in Sardis

write

the words

of him

who has

the seven

spirits of

God

in the

seven

stars

I know

your

works

you have

the

reputation

of being

alive

but you

are dead

wake up

and strengthen

what remains

and is about

to die

for I have

not found

your works

complete

in the sight

of my

God

remember

then what

you received

and heard

keep it

and repent

if you will

not wake

up I will

come like a

thief and you

will not know

at what hour

I will come

against you

yet you still

have a few

names in

Sardis

people who

have not

soiled their

garments

and they

will walk

with me

in white

for they

are worthy

the one

who conquers

will be

clothed

thus in

white garments

and I will

never blot

his name

out of the

book of

life

I will

confess his

name before

my father

and before

his angels

he who has

an ear

let him hear

what the

spirit says

to the

churches

again a

church that

looks good

on the

outside

but inside

it's dead

Jesus is

very concerned

he sets

off the

alarm

wake up

God is

not done

with you

yet

isn't that

so hopeful

God's

not done

with you

even though

you're

dead

no he's

not cutting

you loose

to move

on to

someone

better

no

so what's

the call

again it's

the same

call it's

to remember

what you

received

and heard

a way of

saying the

gospel

the good

news of

Jesus

the hope

of the

scriptures

repent

and come

back to

him

in fact

you can

be like

he's saying

to those

who have

wandered

who have

soiled

their garments

you can

be like

those in

your church

who walk

with

Jesus

clothed

in his

righteousness

experiencing

the joy

of Jesus

being with

you and

for you

rather than

against you

that's the

warning is

that he'll

come against

you

he could

be with

you

walking

with you

and for

you

have

you felt

that sense

of drifting

spiritually

just

I'm just

here

I haven't

changed anything

I believe

I just don't

feel it

anymore

I'm checked

out

what's Jesus'

heart for you

if that's

what you feel

come back

to me

he's urging

you

toward

revival

towards

new life

with him

don't keep

drifting

come walk

with me

draw on

my strength

find life

not in

other things

but in me

otherwise you're

dead

unless you

find life

in me

one more

warning

with an

invitation

perhaps the

most famous

of these

seven letters

the final one

to the church

in Laodicea

verse 14

to the angel

of the church

in Laodicea

write

the words

of the amen

the faithful

and true

witness

the beginning

of God's

creation

I know

your works

you are

neither cold

nor hot

would that

you were

either cold

or hot

so because

you are

lukewarm

and neither

hot nor

cold

I will spit

you out

of my mouth

for you

say I am

rich

I have

prospered

and I need

nothing

not realizing

that you

are wretched

pitiable

poor

blind

and naked

I counsel

you to buy

from me

gold refined

by fire

so that you

may be rich

and white

garments

so that you

may clothe

yourself

and the shame

of your

nakedness

may not be

seen

and salve

to anoint

your eyes

so that you

may see

wretched

pitiable

poor

blind

and naked

even though

you felt

strong

and rich

even though

you dress

up really

well

even though

you made

budget

last year

even though

you know

theology

watch out

you're lukewarm

milk toast

Christians

not offering

refreshment

or comfort

and healing

to anyone

around you

to the world

God is

threatening

to spit

you out

then listen

verse 19

because that's

pretty tough

you don't want

God spitting

you out

those whom

I love

I reprove

and discipline

so be zealous

and repent

behold

I stand

at the door

and knock

if anyone

hears my voice

and opens

the door

I will come

into him

and eat

with him

and he

with me

the one

who conquers

I will grant

him to sit

with me

on my throne

as I also

conquered

and sat

down

with my

father

on his

throne

he who

has an

ear

let him

hear

what the

spirit

says

to the

churches

another call

to repentance

isn't it

with an

incredible

invitation

here

to the

church goer

who feels

so far

from God

to the

Christian

who feels

exposed

and

exhausted

to the

person

who feels

utterly

unworthy

of any

relationship

with God

what does

Jesus say

I will

come in

and eat

with you

the word

used here

is for the

meal that

was at

the end

of the

day

after all

the day's

work was

done

everything else

had been

set aside

and people

would linger

together

over

conversation

and

friendship

this is

the

Jesus

then

who is

the

bread

of life

the

divine

king

of all

glory

the

miracle

working

resurrection

and the

life

saying to

you

offering

to you

to renew

acquaintance

fellowship

friendship

with you

don't rush

off to go

do amazing

things

to impress

him

or get

his attention

no I'm

right here

knocking at

the door

it's what

repentance

means

just the

thing to

do

is to

repent

to restore

fellowship

with me

to invite

me back

into the

center of

your life

to linger

with me

in this

relationship

Jesus says

that's

true riches

buy that

it's actually

free for you

buy it

it'll last

it's real

clothes

that'll actually

cover you

it's corrected

vision

to see the

most glorious

person

the weightiest

the most

important

relationship

see me

I'll do

that for you

just open

the door

I'm here

to meet

with you

and to

linger

long

with you

Jesus says

do you hear

how important

it is to

Jesus

that we

individually

and corporately

as a church

are nurturing

relationship

with him

it's not

it's not just a

verse here

or there

this is his

heart

he warns us

repeatedly

because he

knows how

easy it is

to neglect

the heart

is that easy

that's very

easy for us

to get busy

with all the

things we're

doing and

miss the heart

he knows how

natural it is

to drift

spiritually

drifting is

very easy

that's the

definition

of it

he knows

how comfortable

it can feel

to be a

half-hearted

nominal

box-checking

Christian

who thinks

all God

cares about

is you're

doing some

things for

him

y'all that's

religion

Jesus is

about

relationship

he's not

trying to

drive you

away

with these

strong words

he's wanting

to sit

down and

eat

to walk

with you

to renew

your first

love

you'll notice

in each of

these letters

there's a

communal

encouragement

isn't there

for the

church

that he's

writing to

my heart

for Southwood

is the same

not just

some of us

walking with

Jesus in the

pathways of

grace

boy wouldn't

it be great

if there were

just a few

of us

no

not just

some of us

reading God's

word

not just

some of our

grace groups

spurring one

another on to

love and good

deeds

not just some

of us sharing

the hope of

Christ with

our neighbors

now don't you

long for all

of us together

to be around

the family dinner

table because

we've come with

Jesus and we

often do this

on Sundays

and we come

and we linger

together

living with

him

loving him

because Jesus

has brought all

of us into

this special

relationship

don't you want

to experience

that

I want to

invite all

of us

into this

journey

this summer

I mean that

wherever you

are with

Jesus

that this is

an invitation

into revival

renewal

refreshing

of that

relationship

I think

that's his

invitation

to all

of us

we're going

to be very

practical

this summer

in the weeks

ahead there

will be

age appropriate

resources

for all

of us

I'm told

we are even

going to use

a QR code

so that you

can get it

and when they

tell me what

that is

I'll explain

it to you

but you'll

be able to

access resources

young people

and adults

and no matter

how long

you've been

walking with

Jesus

that will

help you

along the

path of

walking

with him

this morning

I just want

to give you

one practical

question

just something

to start

thinking about

we'll talk

about it

through the

summer

what's the

one time

that directs

all your

time

in my

relationship

with Christy

I told you

about that

Friday morning

time

that directs

all our

time for a

24-7

relationship

Friday mornings

are not

the extent

of our

relationship

that wouldn't

work

would it

they're part

of the rhythm

like mornings

and evenings

Friday mornings

together

impact all

the other

time

so then we

think about

how this

one time

directs

all our

other time

I'm asking

you that

in your

relationship

with Jesus

what's your

one time

that helps

direct you

to live

all your

time

with him

24-7

what's that

time on a

daily basis

a regular

rhythm

when you

can remember

your first

love

when he

can tell

you who

you are

to him

in relationship

with him

and you

can marvel

that he's

still with

you

when he

can linger

with you

to hear

your heart

and what's

going on

there

when he

can direct

your path

I trust

with Jesus

in that

relationship

that Sunday

mornings

are part

of that

weekly

rhythm

we'll talk

about that

later this

summer

but what's

your daily

rhythm

like

doesn't

have to

be the

same time

every day

of course

it doesn't

have to

be

but for

most of

us

schedules

fill up

pretty

quickly

and things

that are

priorities

need to

be set

early

is it

first thing

in the

morning

that's

often

best

for me

is it

right after

the kids

go to

bed

is it

right when

you get

to the

office

is it

at the

end

of family

dinner

the Bible

doesn't tell

you when

it has to

be

you don't

have to

have an

answer to

that this

morning

but I want

to encourage

you to be

thinking about

when that

special time

with Jesus

could be for

you

it is

so worth

it

we'll talk

about what

can happen

there in

that time

but if you

get some time

alone with

Jesus this

week

just the

two of

you

will you

text or

email someone

just one

line

this is

my time

will you

share that

with somebody

share it

with someone

in your

grace group

text or

email it

to me

yes

I would

love to

get hundreds

of emails

yes I

would

hundreds of

short emails

telling me

it would let

me know how

to enter in

and pray for

you during

that time

to know what

God is doing

in your life

but if you

would just

share that

with someone

when you

share it

might encourage

someone else

in considering

what the time

can be for

them

now as we

finish I want

to acknowledge

that that

can be pretty

scary

I remember

how scared

I was I

was really

worried a

couple years

ago when I

went on

sabbatical and

I was sent

to spend

some time

alone with

Jesus

and I only

told a few

of you this

before I

left but I

was afraid

honestly that I

would get

there

and he

wouldn't

that I'd

be stood

up so to

speak

that I'd

be sitting

there in

this awkward

silence

you ever felt

the awkward

silence

am I the

only one who

has awkward

I know I'm

socially awkward

but come on

somebody else

has felt going

somewhere and

it's just you

and I don't

know what to

do

maybe you

felt that

maybe you

fear that

too

you don't

look forward

to time

just the

two of

you

you and

Jesus

he doesn't

talk much

pastor

it's kind

of quiet

start by

just showing

up for a

few minutes

and telling

him that

just being

honest about

that struggle

that fear

that you

have

repenting

that he's

been telling

us about

returning to

him can be

that simple

it's not

this complex

spiritual

thing

it's coming

back to

him

he describes

it as

opening the

door

he's knocking

he's there

I can tell

you from

personal experience

God met me

there in that

time

I so needed

it

that God

delighted to

meet me

and continues

to meet with

me because I

still need it

and I am so

thankful that

he's there

and that he

delights to

walk with us

and talk with

us and tell

us who we

are

walking with

Jesus will

change your

life in a

good way

in the best

way change

all of your

life it'll

change every

moment of

every day

that's what it

did for Mary

when she was

in the garden

right and she

got to walk

and talk with

Jesus and when

he told her

now let go

and here's what

you'll go do

he met her

there and we

so need that

vital encouragement

don't we

the one who

warns us

is with us

there is so

much life

and hope

in that he

is knocking

at the door

to come in

and eat with

us isn't he

but even more

than that look

look where he

is and what he's

doing in this

passage because I

think we often

picture God

far off from

us especially

when we've been

going in different

directions with

him wandering

off perhaps for

a long time

and the picture

we have of him

is him way off

in the distance

crossing his

arms tapping

his foot

shaking his

head

that's not

what he tells

us he's doing

these words of

warning are

from the one

who holds the

seven stars in

his right hand

and walks among

the seven golden

lampstands might

not mean much

to you what

revelation one

has already told

us is that is

figurative language

for Jesus walking

among his

churches his

people holding

them and their

leaders and their

angels in his

hand he is with

us already he

gave his life to

establish this

relationship with

us in the first

place so when we

open the door and

make the time and

turn to him he is

there you can count

on it to renew the

relationship he

started to walk

with us to hold

us every day

hallelujah what a

savior hallelujah what

a friend let's

pray

Jesus we're gonna

trust you for that

we're gonna do what

might feel awkward to

many of us and trust

you that you want a

relationship with us

more than we

understand what that

means we need your

spirit to work in our

hearts that we would

feel your love for us

that we would taste the

riches and the sweetness

of your grace that we

would know that walking

with you is the best

place for us to be so

many other things will

scream at us before we

walk out the back doors

of this room this

morning as more

important and more

worthy of our attention

and our time Jesus

would you continue to

bring yourself before

us help us to

encourage one another

in that that we might

meet you and see our

love for you grow and

our lives changed

thank you for promising

to meet us thank you

for continuing to

pursue us thank you

that you're already here

with us we give you

thanks in your name

amen for more

information visit us

online at

southwood.org

you