schuylermostales
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Apathetic Christians
As Christians we work in our church, we do stuffs, we do our ministries and we become busy in our Church/ Ministries. We know we do it for the Lord.
Did You consider yourself sometimes doing works for the Lord but feeling tired of doing it? Just because you have to, you still do it. Just like the volunteers feeling like they are obliged by the work because they have to finish their task. We became apathetic Christians when we forget to come into the Word.
what we are going to meditate and study right now is the book of Revelation 2:1-7.
“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, and 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. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 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.’ (ESV)
The one who write the book of revelation is Apostle John which is exiled in the island of Patmos, these words was a revelation to Him while He is in the island. Jesus is speaking to the messenger of the church of Ephesus, whom were He has against them – they have left their first love.
Who were the called first love of the Church of Ephesus?
First let us read how the church of Ephesus grow.
We can see it in the book of Acts 19:1-10. This is the background how the Church of Ephesus started. The church were firmly taught by Paul from the Word of God for 2 Years and they are so on fire with it because of the Holy Spirit that is with them, that every people in Asia minor heard the Gospel.
Their first love is the Word of God, they grow in the knowledge of the Word, and “so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.” Acts 19:10
In Revelation 4:1-7, let’s read and overlook what the Lord said in the messenger in Church of Ephesus
Forsaken The First Love (vv. 1-4)
Why they become Apathetic?
Church have worked, labored, been patient, did not work with those who are evil, revealed who are the false teachers/Prophets, and not become weary for Christ’s sake (2-3). But the was a problem, God is not pleased.
Are we like the Church of Ephesus working and laboring in our church or in our Job doing this things:
We worked, labored, been patient, did not live with the wicked, revealed the false teachers, and not become weary as Christians for Christ sake. We give our tights and offerings.What if we are doing these things but in the end we’ll going to hear the message of God as He in the Ephesus:
“I know your works, but I have something against you”
and we are going to ask why? what do I neglected?
If we are the church of Ephesus we will know that our first love is the Word of God.
Remember Where You Have Fallen (v. 5a)
“Works without the Word is still not glorifying God, therefore He is not pleased”
Where they have fallen?
The problem in Ephesus
“As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” - 1 Timothy 1:3-7, ESV
Their love for the word of God has Fallen. The church of Ephesus have lost their affection for the WORD OF GOD, they become apathetic.
Whatever we do in our workplace or in our ministries without taking the word inside our hearts, we cannot live it out in the world, in our workplace, and/or in our ministry; therefore God is not pleased for Christ is not in the center of all of our works because we forgot to involve the Word of God in our lives and therefore God is not glorified in all of these.
The emotion has lost, the affection for the word has lost.
“Works without taking the Word inside us is vain”
“Apathy in the Word is a loveless works”
How we should respond?
Remember
Remember is the first word of instruction in this verses. Consider your life with the Word from the beginning. Remember that you have fallen from the word of God and now you are living without taking it in your heart.
Remember that in all of our deeds our heart for the Lord is the most important as we do those things, and we cannot do things for the glory of God if we cannot embrace the Word.
Turn Away/Repent
As Christians if we can see ourselves as the church of Ephesus, God is calling us too in repentance and turn away from our sins when we are far from the Word.
Do The First Work
The first work is to get back from the Word of God and embrace it, like how the psalmist says:
“I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You” – Psalm 119:11,ESV
Removing the Lamp Stand (v.5c)
Means that both in the near future and when Christ return, they would lose their status as a church and Christ would treat them like apostate Israel.
Nicolaitans - Heretical Christians. (V. 6)
The Greatest Reward (v.7)
Eat in the Tree of Life which is in Heaven.( v. 7)
Like the Church of Ephesus some Christians hates the heretical Christians the unorthodox, God considered those; we are also warned to remove their lampstand if they will not repent (it’s just mean that we are not a legitimate part of the church), and if we overcome we will inherit the rewards waiting for the church.
Taking the Word inside our hearts as we live it all out in our ministry and in everywhere we are is the work that pleases God, the Love that loved us first. In the end after all that should happen on earth has done we will face God and get the price we deserved aside from the eternal life.
We need the Word of God
Take it in, and live it all out
If this life on earth is a rehearsal for eternity, we should live like we were performing in eternity.
“If evil were not made to appear attractive, there would be no such thing as temptation.” -Billy Graham
Humility values others above yourself.
“If evil were not made to appear attractive, there would be no such thing as temptation.”
-Billy Graham
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
Consider Him
People look for answers from many things.
Think of God while you are young.
"People starts living when they know, why they are living"
(I just got this from someone, forgot who He is)
Remember God above all things while were yet able.
Remember God while you are still YOUNG, while you have time to come or think of Him.
While you are not anxious about many things; while you are not yet conquered by depression; while you are not busy about the routine of life.
Remember God while you are not sick and troubled.
Remember Him, so when the days of trouble comes, you will have peace for you know that God will provide even in times of needs. Remember Him while you are not sick and not able to bend our knees.
Come to God before your last breath.
Peace that transcends all understanding is only found in God. Purpose and meaning of life is only found in God and His words.
People can only know its purpose by consulting its Creator or reading the manual provided by its Creator.
"Think of Him, Trust in Him"
Let Go, and Let God
"Trust in the LORD with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding" - Proverbs 3:5
Let Go of trusting our selves, feeling like we can do all things without Christ 'coz we have our own strength. We're not.
Instead, trust God. Even if your logic and compression didn't understand. Trust God.
We have a small compression about many things. We might say 'we know many things' but God is the creator of all things, He knows all things.
"We should let go of our own understanding about many things and let God difine life for us"
"in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:6
Let God direct us in His will. We have so many want's in our lives, but the question is do we need those?
Elizabeth Elliott said "... what we don't have now, we don't need now"
God perfectly knows what we need. All we have to di is to walk the path that God has provided to us and He will provide what we need in our journey. He has promised. What we just need is submit all of our ways unto Him and He shall direct our path.
Living life in our own understanding is like running the race without aiming the prize. It's like living without a purpose.
In one quotation that I read before says "human has 2 lives. First is when they are born; Second when they know why" (not pretty sure if that's the exact word, but that's the thought)
Life begins when you know it's purpose.
Adventure begins when we live a life submitted to God, acknowledging Him in all of our ways.
Letting Go of our own understanding and, letting God to direct our paths to straight living for His glory.
The Creator's Poem
I am your poem,
Created in Christ Jesus
To imitate Him
I'm Your masterpiece,
Crafted from the beginning
For the Prince of Peace
Creator's poem
Named human, for Your glory
Your will, Your poem
The world does not need cool Christians who are culturally saturated. It need exiles with the scent of heaven and the aroma of Christ.
-John Piper
FOCUS!!
Napapansin mo ba na parang paulit-ulit ka na lang sa mga problemang pinag dadaanan mo? Na kapag darating yung malaking alon sa buhay mo lulubog ka na lang at aahon. Tapos mag pray ka tatawag ka kay Lord, iaahon ka nya. Tapos ganun ulit.
Subukan mong tignan kung anong ginawa ni Hesus sa gitna ng kanyang pinakamabigat na pinag daanan ang pag ka pako sa Krus.
Hindi Nya ikinahiya ang pag kakapako sa Krus para sa kagalakan na nag hihintay sa kanya sa Piling ng Ama. Hindi Nya ikinahiya ang pag kaka pako sa Krus para kaluwalhatian ng Habag ng Diyos sa atin.
Nakatingin si Hesus sa goal Nya ang maluwalhati ang Ama.
Ikaw, san kaba naka Focus? Sa problema o kay Hesus?
Sa Kanya lang tayo tumingin dahil Sya ang ihemplo na dapat nating ipamuhay. Tama na ang mag pakain sa problema. Ngayon na ang simula ng pag babago ang pag takbo sa karera ng ating pananampalataya. Siya ang pinag mulan at kabuuan ng ating Pananampalataya. Eto na ang oras para tumingin sa TROPHY natin na nag hihintay sa langit. Wag mong ikahiya ang pananampalataya mo ang, DIYOS ang bahala sayo.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6yKmQvJyvQ/?igshid=11vcwkz2e2ft0
In Jesus Christ there is assurance that all of our works for Him will be rewarded in the right time.