The love that died - (10/24/04)

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Text: Revelation 2:1-7

Introduction.

-Ephesus was the most important city in Asia.
-Paul was a pastor there for two years.His longest ministry.
-It was a place of many beliefs and superstitions.
-Acts 19:13-20.A brief summary about how God's work started in Ephesus.
-Application:Sin makes the soul hungry for God.
-The gospel is the only food that ends this hunger.

A) The church is in God's hands.

    -Revelation 2:1 "....the one who holds the seven churches in his right hand...."
    -God holds all the churches in His hands.He has the control.
    -".....the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands...."
    -The seven lampstands also represent the churches.God walks among them.

    -Two meanings:

    1)He is present in the temple.
    2) He is present in our lives.

B) The church is active.

    -The work was done In the middle of a great persecution.
    -Acts 19:19 tells us that church started from a great revival.
    -And then what happens to revived believers after 10,15 years? (Pr Shedd)
    -Ephesians 2:3.They received a compliment from the Lord.
    -The outside of the church was beautiful.Everything seemed to be all right.

C) The Lord has something to say.

    -Ephesians 2:4.They lost the intensity of love.
    -They didn't rejoice in Jesus anymore,like when they first came to Him.
    -Many souls had been saved and this didn't happen like before.
    -Illustration:Moody was in a conference in London.
    - Before midnight a beggar was saved through him.

D) The Lord's advice.

    -Ephesians 2:5 Remember,repent and come back.
    -Remember the happiness.Repent working without love.Do it like you used to.
    -"I'll remove your lampstand from its place"It means: STOP EXISTING.

E) The Lord's promise.

    -Ephesians 2:6 :People who claimed to be believers but were not.
    -Ephesians 2:7 "to the one who wins"
    - It means to have a life to serve God.
    -It means to live with a burning and loving heart towards God.
    -It mentions victory because we are in a spiritual war.
   -Heaven: the word the bible uses to talk about the place where God is.

Conclusion.

"The church is the community God created in the world where better people can be found."
- A request:

a) Remember your sin.
b) Repent.Changing of life.
c) Come back to God.Go back to heaven,a place we left once.