Title: Revelation 02:1-4
Contents
Ephesians 4:13-15, Revelation 2:1-4, we must grow
One of the things we need to remember while living our life of faith is that faith is more abundant than we think. This is not the same as believing in Jesus and being saved and going to heaven even if you die now. Our faith is now called upon to live in the new divine character, holiness, and glory God has given us in Jesus.
In that sense, faith does not stop when we gather together to have fun and to be comforted, graced, and satisfied when we gather together. It is the Christian faith that the life, strength, hope, and grace that we have gained should exert an influence in the entire system of our lives, beyond the boundaries of the church, and in all fields of life. And the world never welcomes, applauds, or leaves us living this way. They try to knock them down, tempt and deceive them, preventing them from living in faith. Among them, faith is what we must overcome through faith, righteousness, and holiness. So faith must grow and grow.
How far should I grow? The Bible is asking us this far.
(Ephesians 4:13-15) ⇒ In order not to be shaken by the deceitful tricks of men and deceitful temptations, we must grow up to the full size of Christ. You must grow up to him in all things.
So Paul prays to the church like this.
(Ephesians 3:14-19) ⇒ In order to grow, we are praying that our inner man may be strengthened, and that we may be rooted and grounded in love so that we may know the love of Christ and be filled with all the fullness of God.
In other words, in order not to be defeated by evil, to overcome evil with good, to turn the left side when hit on the right cheek, to go ten miles when we try to force a duck to go, and to feed with love when the enemy is hungry. Paul knows that this prayer is being mobilized for the church. If we are not filled with the fullness of God, we cannot do it.
But this never happens overnight. It's not just about praying. These trainings are what we must acquire and create by fighting against all the cunning and harsh temptations and trials we face in this world. It should be our skill that flows naturally, rather than just taking it out once when we feel good. That is why the Bible requires the church and believers to constantly grow. If you believe in Jesus, it is not the end, it is only the beginning. Now you grow up like those who believe in Jesus, please grow up a little, God is saying.
The church in Ephesus has failed in this very respect. When we look at the Bible, the book of Ephesians is different from the other epistles. Typically, there are many rebukes in Galatians and 1 and 2 Corinthians, but not so much in Ephesians. So, we often jump to the hasty conclusion that the church in Ephesus is a pretty good church, but in the book of Revelation, it is not. You soon find the serious rebuke of “I will move my candlestick”. What the hell did you do wrong to move the candlestick?
(Rev 2:1-5)⇒ What is wrong? It's the first time you gave up your love.
But except for that one, everything else was fine. Look again at verses 2 and 3. There is deed, toil, and patience. I did not tolerate the wicked. Note Be patient and do not be lazy for the sake of the name of the Lord. No, isn't it okay to just do this? That's all you have to do, right? How do I do better here?
Nevertheless, if they do not repent, they say that they will move the candlestick. And he says that the most important reason is that he abandoned the first person. What was it about giving up on your first love that caused these great words to fall?
Let's ask ourselves. What did you give up on your first love?
Usually we have to recover the heat that fits easily. You need to restore your enthusiasm. I think so. Of course, that's true. The characteristic of first love is heat. There is enthusiasm. But it's not just for that reason that you get scolded for abandoning your first love. First, let's think about this.
If you look at love from a deep and mysterious perspective, was it when you were young and never had a fight before getting married when you were young? Or is it after getting married and having sons and daughters, and after all the children are married and married? Of course the latter is the case.
For example, if you watch the movie Love and Soul (a typical New Age movie, but it's a movie that people really enjoyed and beautiful, so, hey, I hope I've tried that kind of love...) It is described as if But in real life, it is not so beautiful. If you live without actually dying, love is not Bruce. Love quarrels, loses, stirs, shouts, and so many times a day I think about whether or not to part. Is that person my cross? is my thorn This kind of conflict is love.
But if you hit it with heat and zeal, young people are much stronger, when you're dating, before you actually live under one roof, of course, it's sweet, and tears come to your eyes just looking at you, then you'll die for that love. I don't know how hot it is. But also at this time, that love is broken because of the smallest things.
It's a story I've heard. Two young lovers fell in love with each other. We had such a love that we couldn't live and die without each other. Then one day, while watching a movie in the theater, I was about to leave after the movie was over, and a woman said “The end”. Am I in love with a woman like this when the man who suddenly heard that said that the woman he loved so much looked different? It is a story that eventually broke. He had a great love and thought he knew it well. This is how much love is.... But it breaks even more. In fact, even the 'buyers' of love did not know.
What's the story after all?
As for the church in Ephesus, the faith was broken more and more. It's not just that the passion, heat, and zeal we had in the beginning had cooled down, but that we couldn't grow and grow that love as the faith that naturally appears in living in the world. If you move candlesticks because your zeal, heat, and passion have cooled, most Korean churches will have to move candlesticks today, right? It's not like that. That there was no growth. Faith must grow. You have to grow. The love that first believed in the Lord fervently must overcome all difficulties and grow with the ability to live like a believer in the field of life.
Now, when one of you comes home from work and sees the couple in the evening, tears are flowing.
"Honey! I miss you. Not seeing you during the day makes me cry!..." What do you think of instead?
"Did that person take medicine? Why is he there all of a sudden?"
Rather, even if we go to work, who doesn't even look at me? So, "No, my husband is here and he doesn't even see me?" Then, "Who knows what is playing?" Yes, but isn't this a couple? That's skill. Fighting, fighting, not doing what you want to do, not buying what you want to buy, raising children, going through all kinds of experiences, living together for a year, you can tell just by looking into each other's eyes, that's skill and the depth of love! It's not like breaking up with The Andrew!
It is that the church in Ephesus did not have this growth. That is why, in the book of Ephesians, there are so many requests to 'grow up'. 'Please grow up!' How far? Yes, up to the measure of the maturity of Christ in the text. What should I do if, through the free grace, I receive redemption through the blood of Christ Jesus, that is, the forgiveness of sins, and draw near to God who was far away? must grow. why? It's for these things.
(Ephesians 4:25-29) ⇒ You must grow up to live like a new person, not a life that decays according to the lusts of temptation. What is the new person's life like? Putting aside falsehood, each one speaking the truth with his neighbor, and living like that until verse 32. To live as children of light. God requires this of us. For that, you need to grow in your faith.
But the church in Ephesus did not have this!
Dear saints, What is the life of faith that God requires of us?
Do you now have this kind of maturity and growth in our faith? Or are you in the same place day and night as if you grew up with your first love and abandoned it without growing up as if it ended with The End?
do you believe in jesus Are you sure you will be saved? Are you sure you will go to heaven even if you die today? That's not all.
"Even if my head is cut off today, I'm confident I'll go to heaven." Don't measure yourself with something like this, but believe in Jesus before being decapitated, grow up and live well. Heaven after death is good. What is it while you are alive? Those who believe in Jesus have not grown up if there is nothing different. They are just as greedy as people in the world, they have no spiritual interest, and even the public gatherings of the church are struggling... But are they all certain that they will die and go to heaven? The problem is that it is not alive at all.
Everyone who believes in Jesus today is smart. Smart is good. I am educated, I have learned a lot, I have money, and I have faith, but why is there a cold wind blowing there? Why do you only play with each other? Why can't you hang out with people who aren't better than you? Why are the eyebrows raised? Those who believe in Jesus should have the corners of their eyes drooping. Your face should change. Kindness and generosity.... that is not a pretense, but with skill... that is growth. “From now on we must grow up so that we may not be children, and that we may not be driven and tossed by every wind of doctrine, falling into the deceitfulness of men and the deceitful temptations of men.”
This is a fight. And you have to win. Shout like this to win. Some people say they only shout when they preach without grace, but it's okay to hear that there is no grace. Anything is fine as long as you can win.
Let us conclude with Revelation chapter 2.
(Rev 2:7,11,17,26, 3:5-6, 12-13, 21-22)
The seven churches are the same. There is praise and there is rebuke. But churches. They are God's children. What is the conclusion? that you have to win.
Dear all! What is your faith? What is good faith? It is believing that God is the God who reigns in all areas of life. Although the world threatens us, threatens us, and tempts us, there we have to fight as people who live in hope of a new heaven and a new earth and as overcomers. To win, you have to grow. I pray that you and I can grow up to the maturity of Christ.