Msg #2136 An Apostasy Root

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

In Jesus' “prophetic history of the church”¹ the single “somewhat” our Lord Jesus Christ, who was and is in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, raises against the early church is that they left their first love (Rev 2:1-7). That is tragic. It is a foretold malady of our day. These seven messages in Revelation 2 and 3, apply miraculously to the actual churches called out, to periods of church history unfolding, to every church then till now, and to our individual Christian lives. God writes this awesome Revelation “to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass” (Rev 1:1). Its been retorted, “Rejoice that they 'came to pass' and are not here to stay”, but we are not here to stay either, nor are the material “things” we cling to in this world. The Apostle Peter already told us “seeing thin that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” (2Pet 3:11).

The church at Ephesus had work, labour, and patience, they could not bear the evil of their day, they detected and abolished the fake apostles, they did not faint,... but they “left their first love.” At salvation one is overwhelmed with the truth, “Jesus loves me, this I know.” The Puffers sing a song, “Jesus knows me this I love.” When that overwhelming stops, when “things” occupy our days, when circumstances control our thoughts, and we cease being ministers of reconciliation (2Cor 5:19), we are guilty of that ugly sin called out to Ephesus in Revelation 2:4. We need to do what our Lord commands in verse 5, else we plunge into the horrid apostasy described in his other six messages to the churches. It's trending. Jesus said it would.

An Essay for week #36 - Sep 5, 2021

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs210905.mp3

Theology is for everyone www.GSBaptistChurch.com/theology

1Revelation chapter 2 and 3. Also "Revelation: An Ironside Expository Commentary", H. A. Ironside, 1920, recommends Grant's book by that title.

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