First Works
Gtcotr/ws062304
You may wish to turn to our main text for tonight which will be found in the book of Revelation, Chapter 2. While you turn let me read our:
Key Scripture: Acts 2:42 ¶ And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (NKJV)
Tonight I want to talk about the importance of doing the first works of a Christian, which are namely:
* Prayer
* Study Of The Scriptures
* Fellowship With The Saints
Last week I shared with you that:
If the devil cannot make you bad, he will try to make you busy.
… even busy with our Lord’s work - so busy in fact that we forget to tend to our own Christianity.
Remember the story in 2 Kings 6 - I recently heard Pastor Ken preach a tremendous, life challenging and life changing message from this passage.
* It was in the days of Elisha, around 850 years Before Christ
* The school of the prophets had become too small
* Elisha ok’d a new joint building project for the college
* Students went out to cut down trees for the needed lumber
* One student was so busy working for this worthy kingdom project that he evidently forgot to attend to one of his basic duties:
> Making sure his axe head was properly secured to the axe handle before he went out to the work for the day
* While he was chopping, cutting down a tree, the axe head came loose and flew off the handle right into some evidently deep water.
You can read the story and see how the prophet fixed the problem.
But this story reveals what happens to people, even good people, even people who are busy working on kingdom projects, when they don’t take the time and develop the discipline to take care of the basic things in life. They can loose the edge - their sharpness - their ability to accomplish the work of God.
From the husband and wife that don’t set time aside for their relationship to the heavy equipment operator that is not disciplined to grease his machine regularly - not properly attending to the basic things in life can come back to haunt you.
Such is the case described by Jesus to John the Revelator written in the scriptures for our admonition.
Have you found Revelation 2 yet?
Revelation 2 (NKJV)
1 ¶ "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
3 "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
4 "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
6 "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."‘
I. The Nicolaitans
A. Unknown and uncertain origin - best understanding from some early church fathers … Unruly, fornicating idolaters.
B. Revelation 2:15 reveals that:
What was a hated deed at Ephesus became an embraced doctrine in Pergamos.
II. The Church of Ephesus
A. Jesus had taken account and was familiar with their:
1. Works
2. Patience
3. Righteousness
4. Prudence
5. Commitment
6. Perseverance
These were some of the hardest working, most productive and unselfishly motivated Christians of their day … yet …
B. Jesus had something against them
C. They left their first love - ?
III. The Young Rich Ruler Syndrome
A. Matthew 19; Mark 10 & Luke 18
B. Mark 10:21 sums it up
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack …”
1. He had been busy keeping the second table of the law which deals with how we live our daily lives with respect to others around us.
2. He had forgotten to keep the first table - the first four commandments which deal with our primary responsibility to have a proper relationship with God, first and foremost, before we go about attempting to make a living, make a life or make a difference.
C. Being busy, too busy to do the basics, too busy for God, too busy for what really matters - our first love/works - is being too busy.
1. Even if you are busy doing good things
2. Even if you are not bad
3. Too busy to keep the main thing the main thing is too busy.
IV. The Remedy
A. Remember where you once were - where you fell from
1. In relationship with God
2. In relationship with your spouse
3. In love, peace, joy … of life
B. Repent - decide to change now
C. Return - do the first works again (love is work)
We must do our first works to get back to our first love.
D. Or Else! - somebody else is going to take your place.
V. (What Are) The First Works (for the Christian)
A. Prayer
B. Study Of The Scriptures
C. Fellowship With The Saints
Communicate, get to know you & spend time with you.
These things will help keep a right relationship with God
These things will help keep your sharpness about you
These things will help keep your candle from going out
These things will help you overcome so that you may be given to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.
Keep it simple
Do the basics
