WE RETURN TO THE FIRST THINGS

Series: First Things First | Pastor Daniel Norris

2 “ ‘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. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.
Revelation 2:2–5 (ESV)

Fire fades when the first things are no longer first.

A church can be biblically sound, hardworking, and making an impact and still drift when they forget the first things.

WHAT WE DO MATTERS TO GOD

“I know your works…” (Revelation 2:2, ESV)

We are not saved by good works.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)

But do not miss the very next verse.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

We are saved for good works.

The church at Ephesus was a great church, known for its good works.

a. PRODUCTIVE
“I know… your toil and your patient endurance” Revelation 2:2 (ESV) 

b. PURE
“I know… you cannot bear with those who are evil” Revelation 2:2 (ESV)

c. PERCEPTIVE
“I know… you have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false” Revelation 2:2 (ESV)

d. PATIENT
“I know… you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake” Revelation 2:3 (ESV)

e. PERSEVERING
“I know… you have not grown weary” Revelation 2:3 (ESV)

What we often call boring, God calls faithful.

Grace does not remove work. Grace empowers the work.

WHAT WE DO MATTERS TO GOD, BUT WHY WE DO IT MATTERS MORE

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” Revelation 2:4 (ESV)

Grace corrects. It does not condemn.

We can be highly productive and no longer passionate.

Why Do We Drift?
A. Performance replaces Presence.
B. Wonder is lost in the midst of Working.
C. Holy Dependence gives way to Self-Reliance.

“If the Holy Spirit were withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.” — A. W. Tozer

God is not longing for more activity. He is longing for our affection.

“I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride…”
Jeremiah 2:2 (ESV)

3. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO RETURN TO THE FIRST THINGS FIRST

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.

He says, Remember.

Look honestly at where you once were and where you are now.

Then Jesus says, Repent.

What did Ephesus need to repent of?

Love no longer being first.

And finally, He says, return.

Love is restored through obedience.

The Fantastic Four
Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)

The Word
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” Acts 2:42 (ESV)

Because it is impossible to work your way through the Word without the Word starting to work its way through you.

Worship
“Prayer” and “breaking bread” point to reverence and remembrance Acts 2:42 (ESV)

Works
“They had all things in common… distributing to the needs of any” Acts 2:44–45 (ESV)

Witness
“And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” Acts 2:47 (ESV)