Eric Ward
January 05, 2022
A relationship with God is something to be enjoyed and not just endured.
Play Video
Play Audio
· Leonard Ravenhill: “Maybe you are the key to revival in your church.”
Revelation 2:1-5 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you:
1 Samuel 16:7 The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
Revelation 2:5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
· Step 1 – REMEMBER
Revelation 2:5a (NASB 1995) Therefore remember from where you have fallen…
· Step 2 – REPENT
· CS LEWIS: “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
Psalm 1611b (NKJV) In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
· A relationship with God is something to be ENJOYED and not just ENDURED
· Step 3 – REDO
Revelation 2:5b (NASB 1995) …repent and do the deeds you did at first;
· Your homework assignment:
· Take a personal inventory – identify the time that you were most connected with Jesus
· Make the decision to change
· Make the decision, every day, that TODAY is the day we are going to be most on-fire for God
· Start by doing those things you used to do when you were most on-fire for God
· Text YES to 321.574.6970 if you have chosen to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted. NLT = New Living Translation.