The Church's Love For Christ/ Message to The American Church

The Church's Love For Christ/ Message to The American Church Acts 19.1-22, Ephesians 3.14-21, Revelation 2.1-7 Churches are born and they develop and unfortunately many end up in need of correction, to return to their roots and become a vibrant light again. This is a message the Church in America needs. Many places are need of renewal. The Pastors need to be renewed. The Churches have lost something that they need to regain. Churches go through stages. The Ephesian Church is the one and only church in God's Word we can see from its inception, an epistle written to it and a message from Christ to it in that stage of needed correction. It spanned approximately 40 to 45 years Interestingly often when churches are studied these days you see the tracing of its attendance and finances but seldom is the issue Jesus had with this church addressed. It is ALL important: Love. When I am asked, “How is the flock?” or “How is the church doing.” Most are looking for a numerical or financial answer. Let me humbly say that is why the Church in America is a mess. It is success is viewed solely on attendance. This is poor evaluation. I had someone tell me recently about how many people are coming to their church. Why are we counting? That particular church has had a lot of problems and I know personally that some treacherous things have been done by its leaders. The attendance does not make up for these dastardly deeds! The Ephesian Church had, in the words of Christ to it, forsaken its first love. Before delving into this let's go back to its beginnings to see what it was before this message of Christ Jesus was given to it. What was its first love? 1. The Ephesian Church was born in a great move of God. Acts 19.1-22 Water baptism of believers and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit were in its early days. John the Baptist spoke of both. Jesus did as well. In fact His final instructions before He went into Heaven in those last days before the ascension contains both. The account in Acts 19 of the beginnings of this church start with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Some have called this The "Ephesian Pentecost". By v.10 we are told that everyone in the Province of Asia heard the Word of the LORD. The gospel was explained to everyone, to each person, so they could understand it... the Baptism with the Holy Spirit which Jesus spoke about in Acts 1 to empower the church to share the gospel. The apostles needed this to carry out  Jesus' command to go into the all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. They needed this to be witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. We do too! Speaking of the ends of the Earth, please pray for Pastor Liton Roy in Bangladesh. He has asked for prayer as they hold various outreaches and attempt to feed 200 children in November. Photos The Baptism with the Spirit gave (gives) instantaneous power and boldness, vision and the ability to speak God's Word with great boldness. God confirms His Word with miracles, signs and wonders. So this church in the city of Ephesus was used by God to evangelize the entire province. Being filled with God's Spirit gives power and over a period of time there is the fruit of the Spirit which develops. That fruit is love. Interesting that this move of God affected the economy there! Verses 23-41 Paul wrote to them about the importance of love within the church 2. Paul, the apostle, prayed for their growth in love. Ephesians 3.14-21 Rooted and established in love- v.17 Power to grasp the enormity of the love of Christ.-v.18 to know this love and be filled with all the fullness of God -v.19 knowing the unknowable, His love higher than the heavens, reaching to the sky! This is the most important thing in the church. Is there love? This is reflective of God. Sound doctrine is very important. Prayer as well. Fellowship and Breaking of Bread with love all around. By the time John receives The Revelation of Jesus Christ with the message to this Church at Ephesus some 30 years have passed and Jesus after commending them for their deeds, hard work and perseverance, not tolerating wicked men, testing would be apostles, enduring hardship and not growing weary- they were a very good church, ahead of many, yet- 3. The Ephesian Church had forsaken their first love. - Revelation 2.1-7 first= in time and place and rank. Out of their love for Christ they had their priorities in good order- correct order- their motive and actions were on target. We know they were strong witnesses- they held to the truth. the Word of the LORD spread widely and grew in power. Acts 19.20 What happened?! that Christ told them this! Simply could have been their heart was not as affectionate for Him as in the beginning. What were the early days of  our church like? No building, Main Street Memorial Building, Smith Street What brought us together in 1945? What holds us together in 2025? This Church loves one another! * A group of you around Siggy last Sunday after church * The love you have for the pastors * The love around the tables after church * You look out for one another throughout the week. * You take care of the elderly and sick Mirielle calling me Wednesday afternoon to check on Margot Sue going with me to see Pastor Johnson on Tuesday. Mary texting me to see how Margot was. Robert going with me to see Pastor Johnson on Friday. * You care about other around the world * You care about others in the Parking Lot on Monday Night and Friday Afternoons feeding the hungry. * Prayer Meetings… we have prayer warriors here. Is God calling you? What happened in Ephesus? Perhaps other issues became more important than witnessing- spreading the Word. It could be that they had become bitter and angry- perhaps they had gotten caught up in getting rich quick schemes? Remember Paul wrote to Timothy, “…who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. I Timothy 6.5 The height from which they fell - Love is the highest place a church can come to. You cannot improve on love! Perhaps God's Word and prayer wasn't as important as it once was- maybe they stopped teaching about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit- we have all seen that happen. Jesus gave them a solution Remember- Repent- do the things you did at first. Acts 19 This is to a church but it could easily be applied to you, personally. Are there things that you had going when you first met Jesus which have grown dim? My eyes are dry My faith is old My heart is hard My prayers are cold And I know how I ought to be Alive to You and dead to me But what can be done For an old heart like mine Soften it up With oil and wine The oil is You, Your Spirit of love Please wash me anew With the wine of Your Blood Repent requires humility. Admitting I was wrong. Changing direction. I am so thankful for the return to prayer in this fellowship. It is going on 7 days a week here in some form. Wonderful! We are holding fast to the Word of God. Let’s be like Psalm 123 1-2-3! 1  I lift up my eyes to You,
    to You who sit enthroned in heaven. 2  As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
    as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
    till He shows us his mercy. 3  Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us,
    for we have endured no end of contempt. 4  We have endured no end
    of ridicule from the arrogant,
    of contempt from the proud. Humility is a fruit of love.