FATHER’S Master Plan required Jesus to warn the churches of what would hinder and disqualify them from attending the Wedding Feast!
It is FATHER’S desire for all believers to attend the Wedding Feast. However, it is up to each of us to prepare ourselves lest we be disqualified. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus goes into detail concerning the positives and the negatives found in each church. These are timeless by nature, and we should pay close attention to what Jesus reveals concerning these churches.
Jesus spoke in Revelation chapter 2:
1 Write the following to the messenger of the congregation in Ephesus. For these are the Words of the One who holds the seven stars firmly in His Right Hand, Who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2 I know all that you’ve done for Me—you have worked hard and persevered. I know that you don’t tolerate evil. You have tested those who claimed to be apostles and proved they are not, for they were imposters.
3 I also know how you have bravely endured trials and persecutions because of My Name, yet you have not become discouraged.
4 But I have this against you: you have abandoned the passionate Love you had for Me at the beginning.
5 Think about how far you have fallen! Repent and do the works of Love you did at first. I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place of influence if you do not repent.
6 Although, to your credit, you despise the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also despise.
7 The one whose heart is open let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is saying now to all the churches. To the one who overcomes I will give access to feast on the fruit of the Tree of Life that is found in the paradise of God.
Jesus commended:
Hard work and perseverance
Did not tolerate evil people
Tested and exposed false apostles
Endured hardships for Christ’s name
Did not grow weary
Hated the practices of the Nicolaitans (which Jesus also hated)
But what was the problem? “You have left your first Love.” Thy were doctrinally sound and morally careful… but their Love for Christ had cooled. What does this mean?
They lost their passion for Christ Himself (not just Truth about Him). They lost their joy in prayer and worship; Love for other believers; their desire to serve from Love (not duty); and they were no longer had a tender, responsive heart to the Holy Spirit. In essence, their motivation of Agape Love was replaced by simply walking in correct doctrine, moral standards, and discernment.
But they lost the love that motivated it all. They became busy without intimacy; they were right without warmth. They were disciplined without affection and they were serving Christ… without Loving Him first!
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians chapter 13:
1 If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the Heavenly Tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with Love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.
And Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 22:
37 Jesus answered him, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’
38 This is the great and supreme commandment.
39 And the second is like it in importance: ‘You must Love your friend in the same way you Love yourself.’
40 Contained within these commandments to Love you will find all the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.”
If we are not motivated by Agape Love, we can be disqualified!
In summary, the remedy Jesus gave was:
Remember — how close you once were
Repent — change heart direction
Return — do the first works again
This means that we should talk to Jesus again, worship sincerely, seek Him personally, and Love Him above ministry. It’s all about Love!