Note for 20240826 - Revelation 2 - Part 1

Audio Version of the Note suggested because it contains more than what is here in the text document.

The House of Bread · Note For 20240826 - Revelation 2 - Part 1 - Ephesus

Revelation 2:1-7 KJV

[1] Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; [2] I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: [3] and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. [4] Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. [5] Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. [6] But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. [7] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

https://bible.com/bible/1/rev.2.1-7.KJV

Note for 2024/08/26

You can become so busy doing good things, that you forget who you are doing it for. It is important to remember that we are to receive the Word of GOD Spiritually. Sure, the question is whether we have lost that first love, that brought us to Salvation, that it is Christ that saved each and everyone of us. What of GOD our Father, to whom Christ said we should direct our prayers? Even help can be misplaced, if GOD is not consulted in the process. Do we still do according to the will of GOD for GOD'S Kingdom, or has it become about what we want? What of obedience? What about the Lord's guidance in things?

Friends, do you remember the account of Christ speaking on cleaning the house and sweeping it; how that spirit goes out looking for a place and returns when he finds none. How he goes and finds 7 of his friends far worse than him? That person's end, being worse than before because of that? Do we do what we do in love, or just because it is what we do? Who is ready to receive the Lord? Remember the rich man who could not part with his possessions? To put it simply, who is in charge of all your efforts? Do we even know what the way of the Nicolatians is, and remember that it is something that Jesus hates?

There is not much known about the way of the Nicolatians. I will give you a link where you can read more on the subject, to test in the Spirit.

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/who-are-the-nicolaitans-found-in-revelation.html

What I have is teachings that are against the Gospel of Christ. Later compared to the ways of Balaam, who seduced Israel by sexual immorality and eating meat offered to idols. But more so, of what I have found, it is taking a form of mastery over another, "micromanagement" of fellow believers as found in the Book of Acts. But, I do not want to make myself guilty of the same, by adding to, or subtracting from the Word of GOD. What I do know is that if we stay within the Gospel of Christ, without taking liberty of self-explanations, justifications and excuses; we will not make ourselves guilty of it. That means to walk in the first love.

What is it then that we must overcome, less our candlestick be removed out of its place, less we repent? GOD gave us freewill to choose, whether we choose right or wrong, it is still to be a free choice. We cannot force anyone into the faith or into God's Kingdom.

As far as the first love goes, and this is my current understanding: To Love the LORD your God with ALL your mind, ALL your heart and ALL your strength and your neighbor as yourself. That means, why are you doing what you are doing? Is it indeed for GOD, even for Jesus as we learn in Matthew 25, that what we have done for the least of these, we have done for Him; or are we still doing it for ourselves, in some form of gathering some gain, whether it be financial, in favor or in stature in the face of mankind? What are the personal idols and idolatry that we must repent of and renounce? Who or what, stands in the place where GOD should stand in our lives?

Starting out with the Book of Revelation, I told you that I will be looking at it from a reflective point of view. Testing in myself if my own heart is pure for GOD in all things. Do I love the Lord for whom I labour, or is it simply that I love what I do? Who am I doing what I do for? These are questions only I can answer, in myself, in truth and I must make sure of my own motives, so I don't stand in any form of fakery. Is my life still dedicated to Christ Jesus and do I still believe that it is Christ that saved me, not the things that I have done in His Name? Do I micromanage others? I must answer these in the sight of GOD, this is not just another Monday morning, it is serious.

Friends, I have invited you into a sacred space, deeply personal; in the hope that I may be of some service to you and the Lord my GOD. Now, I will reflect deeper on these things in private; hoping that you will do the same. For it is GOD before whom we should kneel in humility. Christ is our King.

Shalom

YouVersion Bible Verse of the Day

(Expanded from verse 1)

Ephesians 5:1-21 KJV

[1] Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; [2] and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. [3] But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; [4] neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. [5] For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [6] Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. [7] Be not ye therefore partakers with them. [8] For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: [9] (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) [10] proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. [11] And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. [12] For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. [13] But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. [14] Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. [15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [17] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. [18] And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; [19] speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; [20] giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; [21] submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

https://bible.com/bible/1/eph.5.1-21.KJV