Maranatha Messenger

WHAT TO DO
WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO

REDEFINE YOUR PRIORITIES
Part 2

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? We must re-align our priorities. God must be at the core of our concerns! Like you and I, the church at Ephesus had gotten their priorities out of order (Revelation 2:1-7). They had become unbalanced in three areas.

Notice three areas they became unbalanced:

1. First of all, they became unbalanced in the area of work and worship (v. 2a). The church at Ephesus was known for its energetic activity and lively programs. Notice the trilogy of verbs that describe the hectic schedule of this fellowship, “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience” (v. 2a). They were known for their ergon {works} and deeds. They were a working church! Furthermore, they not only worked, they kopos {labored} to the point of complete exhaustion. They toiled faithfully in spite of weariness and fatigue. They were totally consumed by ministry! Our Lord used the action verb hupomone {patience} to explain their endurance. In other words, they stayed by the stuff as far as serving was concerned.

a. Their work ethic became a substitute for worship. Work replaced worship. Activity surrogated adoration. Ministry expelled the Master. Service superseded the Savior. Deeds dethroned devotion. Performance preceded passion. Rigor reduced relationship. Labor lessened love. Their priorities had been reversed! The church at Ephesus had gotten the proverbial cart before the horse. The primacy of Jesus Christ had fallen out of order. Their work completely replaced their worship. Spiritually speaking, they had aphiemi {left} or let go of their “first love.” They had become unbalanced in the area of work and worship.

b. Likewise, the contemporary Christian has become inundated with “church work” while worship has become a lesser priority. The church has become a center of activity and not a place of adoration. While ministry, serving, and working are needed in the congregation we must learn somehow to strike a balance between the two. Worship should fuel our work! The outpouring of the believer’s service should be a direct result of His worship.

2. Secondly, they became unbalanced in the area of position and disposition (v. 2b). The discerning members of the Ephesian congregation had very little tolerance for sin. They were known to stand against the moral evil of the day. Furthermore, they were rooted and grounded in theological truth. They had rejected the false teachers in the fellowship who phasko {claimed} to be successors to the apostles. They were diligent and discerning students of scripture opposing both moral and doctrinal error. Even though they were spiritually orthodox, affection for Christ was clearly absent from their lives. Their staunch theological position influenced their spiritual disposition. Their holy hatred for sin spilled over into hatred for the sinner. In their fervent zeal for the truth
they lost their sweet spirit for the Savior. As the old country preacher use to say, “That feller preached on Hell as if he wanted people to go there.” In other words, the hell fire preacher lacked compassion when he preached on the judgment of God.

a. How many times have we viewed the scowling face of a believer as he pickets an abortion clinic? What about incidents of bombings, gun shots and murders by religious terrorist at abortion mills? Undoubtedly, terminating the life of an unborn child is an abomination! I whole heartily agreed with this position! However, to wear a disposition of hatred, malice and meanness places us into the same category of the abortionist.

b. We must hate illegal drugs! But Jesus wants us to love the junkie! Spiritually speaking we must detest immorality. Yet we must love the whoremonger! Without a doubt, homosexuality is vile and repulsive. Nevertheless, we must love the Sodomite! We must strike a balance in our position and disposition. Thank God, the believers at Ephesus embraced the correct theological position. They quickly exposed and expelled the religious apostates in the church. In spite of their doctrinal fidelity, their spiritual disposition was hardened when they forsook their first love. Because of this abandonment they were divorced from the love of God. Therefore, their disposition became cold, uncaring and unkind. Nothing appears more unpleasant than a calloused orthodox Christian. May God help us balance our spiritual position with a sweet and loving disposition.

3. Thirdly, they became unbalanced in perseverance and passion (vv. 3-5). Verse 3 makes it clear that the Ephesian believers weren’t quitters. They patiently labored and carried their cross persistently. Nevertheless, our Lord clearly protested the confusing of their priorities. He strongly rebuked them by saying, “I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” (v. 4). In other words, Jesus levels a complaint on where He ranked in their lives. He no longer held protos {first} place in their hearts. What an insult to the Son of God! John Walvoord said, “In the Greek the order of the words is especially emphatic in that the object of the verb is before the verb—“thy first love thou hast left.”[1] The Ephesian Church persevered, but they did not have passion for Christ.

a. Ever become mechanical and methodical in worship? They went through all the motions without any emotions. This was dead orthodoxy at its worst!

b. Likewise, the contemporary church mirrors the Ephesian mess. We are fundamental. There is no doubt we are theologically sound. We’re up to ears in ministry. It seems as if we invent new ministries to occupy our time. The machinery of ministry is well oiled. Even so, we too have left our first love. Our families are enrolled in all the programs. But a passionate and personal relationship with Jesus seems nonexistent.

c. Ever perform your religious routines, but ignore the person of Jesus Christ. Yes we are active, but were not affectionate. We are working, but we‘re not worshipping. We persevere, but we don’t pray. We are present, but we are not passionate! It almost seems like we have replaced the Master with ministry, adoration for activity and deeds for devotion.

What is the solution to this problem?

1. The Lord Jesus Christ advised the Ephesian congregation to do two things. First of all, Christ issued a call to mnemoneuo {remember} (v. 5a). It is so easy to get caught up in ministry that we forget what Christ has done for us. We fail to remember that we have been delivered from sin.

a. Take special note on how Jesus described their spiritual condition. He said they were ekpipto {fallen}. What a shocking statement! They were active, but Jesus said they were “fallen.” They were serving, but Jesus said they were “fallen.” Oh come on? We know the adulterer is fallen! We know the drunkard is fallen! We know the prostitute is fallen. How could Jesus claim the entire church membership in Ephesus was fallen? There has to be a mistake!

b. Jesus precisely diagnosed their spiritual condition; they had “left their first love.” In their hearts they had forsaken God. The outside was consumed with religious activity, but the inside was cold and calloused. This is the vilest of sins! Since loving God is the greatest commandment, not loving Him must be the greatest sin.

c. How could this church congregation get back to where they were spiritually? Jesus knew that memory and meditation would renew a passion for worship. How soon we forget! It is so easy to take our salvation for granted. Serious contemplation concerning the provisions of Christ can restore a passion for worship. Reminiscing about where we were (our past spiritual condition) and relating it to where we are (our present spiritual condition), will rekindle the fire of devotion in our hearts. The Lord Jesus Christ knew the Ephesain assembly needed a revival of remembering!

2. Secondly, Christ issued a call to metanoeo {repent} (v. 5b). Jesus explained to them that repentance involved doing their “first works.”

a. In other words, they left their “first love” because they ceased performing their “first works.” Notice the word protos {first} works. This was not a lazy church! Jesus even commended them for their hard work (vv. 2-3). They were not to repent from working, but they must return to their “first works!” Jesus was referring to works that were “first” in rank, time, order and succession.

b. Our Lord was informing them that some works are given a status of a higher priority than others. The church at Ephesus needed to rediscover their priorities! What are the first works of a new believer?

(1.) First of all, there is a hunger for worship. There seems to be an insatiable desire to know Him more intimately. The sincerest of prayers are offered. Bible study is greatly anticipated and enjoyed. Zealously sharing our faith is important. Wanting to see friends and family saved is a priority.

(2.) A return to the basic fundamentals of the Christian life can renew our love and passion for Christ. Simply walking with God must rank first in our list of priorities.

What if I’m satisfied with my priorities? What if I chose not to repent and return to my first works? Perhaps some of the Ephesians believers had this mindset. Christ adds this solemn warning to His command, “or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (Revelation 2:5b). Those two little words “or else” strike fear in my heart. This word of caution reminds us of the consequences of disobeying God. Jesus warned this local fellowship that He would act swiftly by kineo {removing} their candlestick. In other words, He would cut off their
Christian witness. The light of their testimony would be forever extinguished! As a result, they would cease being a church! Yes, there are consequences for those who chose to disobey God. Therefore, it is extremely important for the believer to have his priorities arranged in proper order. Is Jesus first in your life?

Discussion

1. Why do believers have difficulty in the area of balance?

2. Discuss the subject of unbalance in the area of position and disposition.

3. Why do believers become methodical and mechanical in worship?

4. How can we keep the fire burning in our relationship with Christ?


[1] John F. Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1966), 55.