{"id":261,"date":"2023-04-05T15:20:18","date_gmt":"2023-04-05T15:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=261"},"modified":"2025-12-16T17:17:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T17:17:27","slug":"renewing-your-love","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/renewing-your-love\/","title":{"rendered":"RENEW YOUR LOVE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RENEW YOUR LOVE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Revelation 2:1-7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turn with me to Revelation chapter 2. This is always a challenge for me to read. Because, it feels a little like I\u2019m reading someone else\u2019s email. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s because, this chapter and the one that follows contains letters directly from Jesus to 7 New Testament churches. And these were real churches \u2014 filled with real people \u2014 dealing with real challenges in their lives<\/em>. But the reason I take you here today \u2014 is because the struggle we find in this first letter is much like the struggle that many of us face in our lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that is \u2014 the temptation to allow our love for Jesus to be replaced by our labor for Him. It\u2019s the potential to allow our worship to wane, and be replaced by our work. And while work is good \u2014 it\u2019s not the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TRANSITION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was John D. Rockefeller who once said, “When we settle for ‘good or very good’ as our highest effort, then good becomes the enemy of great.\u201d And, while he was certainly speaking in terms of business \u2014 his words could apply to our faith as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because, sometimes GOOD things like duty, or religious obligations, or dedication, or persistence and hard work (again\u2026all GOOD THINGS), have the potential of replacing those even BETTER THINGS in our lives like, genuine passion, deep sincerity, and affection, and even an authentic LOVE FOR JESUS! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s the story of the church in Ephesus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the first century, the City of Ephesus was a powerhouse of commerce and intrigue. It was a center for tourism and trade. Because of its location as a port city on the shores of the Aegean Sea, it was in many ways the marketplace of Asia. Along with that \u2014 three major roads met in Ephesus, making it a major trade hub in every direction. Because of this, it was a wealthy city, a city of commerce and culture \u2014 but also a very pagan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hosing the world\u2019s largest temple at that time, it became ground-zero for the worship of the pagan goddess Artemis (or Diana, as she\u2019s sometimes called). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Apostle Paul spent over two years establishing the church there. Acts 19 tells that story. Later he would write the letter we call Ephesians to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years they experienced the best of the early church leaders \u2014 as they were taught by Paul, and then Apollos, and later Timothy, and eventually by John. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would venture to say, there was no church like this \u2014 they had the strongest foundation and the most potential for success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, when Jesus speaks to them in Revelation 2, He challenges them to pursue more than just religion. To remember their beginnings, and RENEW THEIR LOVE GOD!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have your Bible, look there with me. Revelation 2. Beginning in verse 1. Here, John writes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 <\/em><\/strong>\u201cTo the angel of the church in Ephesus write:<\/em> These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2\u00a0I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3\u00a0You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.<\/em> 4\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. <\/em>5\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. <\/em>6\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.<\/em> 7\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This message from Jesus to His church teaches us several VERY IMPORTANT THINGS Revelation 2, John tells us, when it came to our faith journey we must remember:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Jesus Always Celebrates The Good In Your Life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen again to verse 1, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 <\/em><\/strong>\u201cTo the angel of the church in Ephesus write:<\/em> \u201cThese are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2\u00a0\u201cI know your deeds\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get something straight \u2014 nothing gets past God. He isn\u2019t to busy, to old, to distant, to distracted by grandeur things to see you and your life. He is the God of all creation and He is completely aware of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here John uses a metaphor of stars and lamp stands to describe the church and it\u2019s leaders. And in this verse, we\u2019re told \u2014 He holds closely those who are leading the church, His people\u2026but more than that \u2014 He comes close to them, and walks among His people. And not to harm them \u2014 but to protect them, to guide them, and care for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understand, this is affectionate and caring language. And what He did among them, He does among us. He comes close and protects us, and guides us, and cares for us. And, that\u2019s because He values us! And He wants the best for us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, don\u2019t be confused \u2014 God isn\u2019t out to get you! He\u2019s not seeking to hurt you or harm you. He\u2019s not seeking to bust you, or bruise you, or banish you from His presence. To the contrary, He wants only good for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so, when He looks upon your life \u2014 He is looking for the good! Because He wants to celebrate you. God loves a good celebration!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 God not only loves to celebrate, He invented memorials, parties, and feasts! And all through the Bible, His people were called to celebrate the GOOD!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 In Luke 15<\/strong>, Jesus tells the parable of the Prodigal Son, and four times in that story He refers to the father celebrating<\/em> his son return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 In verse 10<\/strong>, of that story, Jesus said, \u201cthere is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 In Revelation 19<\/strong>, John tells us that at the end of time, God will consummate eternity with a celebration\u2026a feast called \u201cthe marriage supper of the Lamb.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to what we know from Acts 20, and the book of Ephesians, and 1 & 2 Timothy, this church knew God\u2019s Word and they held strong convictions about the truth. The were taught well, trained well, discipled by the best\u2026and they were committed to serving God and doing ministry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, verse 2 says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 I know your deeds, your hard work\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their care and benevolence and ministry didn\u2019t go unnoticed. Everything they did FOR THE LORD was witnessed by Him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for that \u2014 Jesus celebrated their labor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than that, they lived during one of the most difficult times in Christian history. And because of Christ, they suffered great persecution from the emperor at the time, Nero. But, they stood firm in the midst of their persecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, Jesus says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And again, for their tenacity, and determination, and personal resolve \u2014 Jesus celebrated!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And beyond that \u2014 when false teachers came through, and deceiving preachers arose\u2026when wicked and perverse people, like the Nicolaitans (a cult that blended pagan rituals with Christian doctrine), the church in Ephesus would have nothing to do with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Jesus says, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for that \u2014 Jesus celebrated their faithful stand upon truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see, JESUS ALWAYS CELEBRATES THE GOOD! This ought to encourage you. Nothing goes unnoticed. Nothing gets by Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He knows all, and sees all that we do. And that\u2019s good! But good works aren\u2019t enough to please the Lord. He wants more than outward compliance. He wants YOUR heart!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, while HE ALWAYS CELEBRATES THE GOOD IN YOUR LIFE, John also says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Jesus Always Confronts The Bad In Your Life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, while the believers in Ephesus might have been doing all the right things \u2014 their hearts just weren\u2019t in it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you know what I mean? Their labor lacked love. They had conviction but lacked adoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Somewhere along the way, their love for God was replaced with responsibility, duty, and obligation. And while those things are good \u2014 they don\u2019t compare to affection, adoration, and intimacy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The BIG ISSUE was, they had abandoned their love for God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And because of that, Jesus confronts their sin \u2014 and counsels them to return to those early moments of their faith\u2026that time (long ago), when they were filled with awe and desired His presence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen, when we love God \u2014 we look to Him, we depend upon Him, we find our confidence in Him. As David said, in Psalm 18, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love you, Lord! You are my strength.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or as Jesus said In Luke 4, to love God is to worship Him. “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only'”<\/em> (Luke 4:8). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And to love God is to long for and desire Him. As David said in Psalm 42:1, \u201cAs the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those in Ephesus, they had lost that sort of love for God. And their faith had become too familiar. There was no more wonder or awe to be found in them. They had started out well enough, but over time things changed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something was lacking! They had lost their passion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fervor for Christ, the passionate love that had motivated them and burned within their hearts was given over to religious orthodoxy, and a ritualistic form of service that lacked authenticity and enthusiasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you relate? If so, be careful\u2026because becoming satisfied by RELIGION will kill the soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you focus only on the form instead of the substance of your faith, <\/p>\n\n\n\n