Barriers Getting Things Right An Unrepentant Heart Revelation 2:1-7 January 15, 2017

Intro: Week two of our Series called Barriers. We are also one week into our 21 day period of prayer and fasting. I really believe today will give you some strong direction for the next 14 days. We’re going to talk about “Getting things right” today.

Revelation – John exiled on an island called . reveals the future to Him and he writes it down. Jesus speaks to seven churches. The passage we’re going to read today is Revelation 2:1-7, where Jesus is speaking to believers in a church called the church in .

Quick Synopsis: Jesus is speaking to people who are busy doing spiritual deeds while neglecting the condition of their heart.

READ REVELATION 2:1 • “Angel” is actually referring to the pastor/elder of the church • I know many of you feel like I’m an angel • “Stars” messengers from the church • “Lampstands” represents the church • Reworded – This the message of Jesus to the pastor and the messengers of the church in Ephesus (what verse 1 means)

READ REVELATION 2:2-3 • Litany of good deeds that these Christians are doing • Jesus commends them for: o Their works/toil o Their patient endurance o Not putting up with evil o Enduring/bearing up for the name of Jesus o Not growing weary • Every one of us would look at this church – and all that Jesus said about them – and say, “Man, that’s a great church. What a great group of people.” • Jesus has one major problem with this church: o READ REVELATION 2:4 o In the midst of religious activity, they had lost a heart for God • Said in another way, they had a heart issue • We said last week the last thing we want you to walk away with from this series is a “to do” list…but rather walk away with a “to be” list • The Reality: It’s easier “to do” than “to be” • It’s easier to talk a good game than it is to let Jesus have control of your heart • It’s easier to fill your life with religious activity for God than be with God • It’s easier to be busy than to be close • It’s easier to look good on the outside than it is to let God to deal with the inside

Barriers: • This series is called barriers…it’s time to move forward • Last week our barrier was “An Undisciplined Life” o We learned the most valuable discipline we can learn is the discipline of continually relinquishing control to God • Today as we look at Revelation 2, I believe the barrier is “An Unrepentant Heart” • I believe out of the overflow of barrier number 1 comes number 2 o Meaning this – if you have an undisciplined spiritual life (and you retain control of your life) eventually you will slide towards an unrepentant heart • Scary thing – you won’t even realize it! • You will be busy doing all of the normal spiritual deeds you always do but in the midst of it your heart is slowly walking away from God

What’s the way out? • READ REVELATION 2:5a (through “the works you did at first.”) o Jesus says three things: § Remember § Repent § Do the works you did at first o For some of you these 21 days are a time to remember where you used to be spiritually § When were you most on fire for Jesus? Remember that… § What were you doing then, what were you committed to then, what’s different now? o For ALL of us…these 21 days are a time to repent § What is repentance? It’s changing your mind about Jesus and about yourself • How do I know if I’m dealing with an unrepentant heart? If there’s not real, regular, renewing repentance in your life, you’re struggling with an unrepentant heart. o Real § You can’t bull God – He sees right through religious shows § If there’s not a sense of your own brokenness before God and your need for Him because of your tendency towards sin, you’re dealing with an unrepentant heart o Re