Apocalipse 2

Apocalipse 2

Ironside says "If lips and life do not agree, the testimony will not amount to much" 🙏 THOUGHT - I recall when I was first saved 38 years ago (age 39) that when I would commit a sin against God, it would occasionally bring me to tears, especially if it recurred. It seems now that I am older (age 77) the hardening effect of sin (Heb 3:13+) has made my tears to be far less frequent. For me that is one aspect of falling from my first love and thus the need for me to return to the deeds I did at first. In those early days of being in love with Jesus, I was more aware of and sensitive to hurting His heart (cf what sin does to God = "I was crushed by their unfaithful heart" Eze 6:9NET)! Oswald Chambers alludes to this writing "The old Puritans used to pray for 'the gift of tears.' (THEY WERE REFERRING TO THE GOD'S GIFT OF REPENTANCE - cf Rev 2:21, 2Ti 2:25) A man has the power to harden himself against one of God's greatest gifts. If in order to dissolve a piece of ice, you take a hammer and smash it up, you simply break it into so many pieces of ice; but put the ice out in the sunshine and it quickly disappears. That is just the difference between man's handling of wrong and God's. Man's handling may cause it to crumble, but it is only so much crumbled-up wrong; when God handles it, it becomes repentance, and the man turns to God and his life becomes a sacrament of experimental repentance." D A Carson on do the things you did at first - This ("do") is part and parcel of repentance, of course; but to put it this way ensures that the command to repent will not be taken to mean simply, "Say you're sorry." The Christians in Ephesus must do again the things they did at first, those things prompted by their first love. The imperative does not mean they are to work up their first love by means of returning to first duties, for the tenor of this letter is that the Ephesians were remarkably efficient at doing their duties. It is not that they must do more things as if the things they did at first must be added to the things they are now doing. Rather, they must return to the quality of the first things, those that were done out of unfeigned love rather than out of mere efficiency (From article The Church that Does All Things Right) William Newell on do the deeds - This (DOING) is not a call to “Christian service” or “renewed activity.” Ephesus had toil, patience, intolerance toward evil, patience in suffering,—everything. But the “first works” are the goings forth of affection to Christ, freely, devotedly, as in our first love. It is the story of the bride of the Song of Solomon (Song 5:2–16). Her slowness caused His withdrawal, and it caused her much trouble; but it brought her at last to cry, “My beloved is the chiefest among ten thousand; he is altogether lovely!” “First deeds” with her, were, finding again Him whom her soul loved! Most Christians—yes, real Christians—let Christ go, when He “makes as if He would go further.” This, those walking to Emmaus did not: “They constrained him, saying, Abide (aorist imperative) with us.” (Lk 24:29KJV+) And He went in with them. In Laodicea we shall find Him standing outside (Rev 3:20+). Astonishing! Outside of the Church when His place is in their midst! (Commentary on the Revelation) Steven Lawson - Step Three: Repeat. Third, Jesus says, “do the deeds you did at first.” In other words, “Get back to the basics.” What are these first deeds? Simply put, these first deeds are what the early believers did when they were first saved and added to the church. After Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, 3,000 souls were converted, baptized, and enfolded into the church. Immediately, these new believers were “continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). These are the first deeds to which these early Christians devoted themselves—teaching, fellowship, worship, and prayer. They studied the apostles’ teaching. Biblical truth is essential to the health of every believer. It is the Word of God that stimulates our hearts to love Christ. The early disciples remarked, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was … explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Lk. 24:32). They maintained close fellowship. They were continually sharing and encouraging one another. Bearing one another’s burdens. Comforting one another’s hearts. They came together to break bread. The early church worshiped Christ by regularly taking the Lord’s Supper together. Communion with the living Christ kept their hearts aflame (See below). The Lord’s Table cultivated reverence, gratitude, purity, and the anticipation of Christ’s return. They devoted themselves to prayer. These early disciples spent much time on their knees. Kneeling in God’s presence was as necessary as breathing. Daily, they enjoyed intimate fellowship with Him. Prayer transforms God’s truth into personal devotion to Christ. It keeps us fervent for our first love. (Falling in Love Again) Acts 2:42+ (read full context - Acts 2:42-47) is one of the best examples of first love of a body of believers in the Bible, Luke writing They were continually devoting (proskartereo in present tense) themselves (1) to the apostles’ teaching and (2) to fellowship (koinonia), (3) to the breaking of bread and (4) to prayer (proseuche). So what was the "doing" that reflected this church's first love? Teaching and fellowship were obvious. Note the third thing is "breaking of bread" which most writers feel speaks of celebrating the Lord's Supper. And how would the Lord's Supper relate to our first love? John