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                     Guard Your Affection For Christ!

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By David Wilkerson
November 3, 1997
__________

          In the first three chapters of Revelation, the apostle
          John has an amazing vision: He sees Jesus walking in
          the midst of the seven New Testament churches of Asia.
          Christ's eyes are aflame, and he's wearing priestly
          clothes. It is clear he has come to judge these
          churches in righteousness.

          Peter writes, "...judgment must begin at the house of
          God..." (1 Peter 4:17). And now, as Jesus appears among
          the seven churches, he begins to judge them according
          to both the good and bad he beholds. These judgments
          appear in Revelation 2 and 3 - both red-letter
          chapters, meaning every word comes directly from Jesus'
          lips.

          Now, these seven churches were actual congregations, in
          real localities - the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna,
          Laodicea, and so on. Yet John hears God's voice
          speaking not only to these particular churches, but to
          the church universal - indeed, to every believer who
          looks for Jesus' soon return.

          Jesus begins his judgments by listing the many good
          things about the churches that bless him a nd he
          compliments each church on these things. But he also
          sees several things that grieve him deeply - and he
          issues a warning to each church.

          His first message is to the Christians at Ephesus - a
          church founded on the godly teaching of the apostle
          Paul. Jesus' judgment of the Ephesians is, "... thou
          hast left thy first love" (Revelation 2:4).

          When Jesus uses the words "first love" here, he isn't
          speaking of the immature love we experience when we're
          first saved. Rather, he's talking about exclusive love.
          He's saying, "I once occupied first place in your
          heart. But now you've lost the exclusivity of your love
          for me. You've allowed other things to take my place!"

          It is significant that of all the sins Jesus points out
          in these seven churches - adultery, covetousness,
          lukewarmness, false teachings, Jezebels in authority,
          dead worship, spiritual blindness - the first sin he
          names is the one that grieves him most: a loss of
          affection for him. Our God is a jealous lover - and he
          won't allow anything to come before our love for him!

                      -------------------------------

                  I Believe of All the Seven Churches, the
              Christians at Ephesus Wounded Christ The Most!

                      -------------------------------

          David writes, "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I
          trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his
          heel against me" (Psalm 41:9). I identify with David's
          words. The people in my life who are able to wound me
          most easily are those who love me the most. My
          halfhearted friends can't truly hurt me, nor can my
          enemies. But those who claim to be closest to my heart
          can wound me deeply.

          Now, these Christians at Ephesus had walked closely
          with the Lord. As I read through Paul's letter to the
          Ephesians, I'm amazed at the gospel these people heard
          and lived in fact, Paul compliments them at length. He
          addresses them as "... the faithful in Christ Jesus...
          blessed... with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
          places in Christ...chosen...before the foundation of
          the world. . . predestinated. . . unto the adoption of
          children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the
          good pleasure of his will" (Ephesians 1:1-5).

          Paul adds that they are a forgiven people, having the
          revelation of the mystery of Christ and being
          "...sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (verse
          13). He further prays they would have "...the spirit of
          wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes
          of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may
          know...the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward
          who believe..." (verses 17-19).

          These Christians had been made alive, ".. . quickened.
          . . with Christ. . . (who) hath raised us up together,
          and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ
          Jesus" (2:5-6) Paul calls them Christ's
          "...workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
          works...(and) are made nigh [near] by the blood of
          Christ" (verse 13). He says that by God's grace, they
          are"...grow(ing) unto an holy temple in the
          Lord...through the Spirit" (verses 21-22).

          What a description of a blessed, holy people! And now,
          in the book of Revelation, Jesus also compliments the
          Ephesian Christians. He tells them, "I know thy works,
          and thy labour, and thy patience..." (Revelation 2:2).
          In other words: "I know all the good things going on in
          your lives. You patiently labor for me without
          complaining. And you'll do anything for others. You're
          diligent in your good works - and that is very
          commendable!"

          Jesus continues to compliment them, pointing out ". .
          .how thou canst not bear them which are evil..." (same
          verse). He's saying, in essence, "You hate sin with a
          passion! You don't tolerate it - in your life, your
          home or your church. You have good moral standards. And
          that also is commendable ! "

          "...thou hast tried them which say they are apostles,
          and are not, and hast found them liars" (same verse).
          Jesus is saying, "You're rooted and grounded in sound
          teaching. And so you haven't been tossed about by all
          the latest teachings of the flesh. You're able to
          rightly judge false teachers and false prophets. And
          you expose them as liars, for the benefit of everyone
          among you. I commend you for this as well!"

          "...thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I
          also hate" (verse 6). In other words: "You reject
          antinomianism - the doctrine that says simply having
          faith allows man to do as he pleases. Indeed, you hate
          all doctrines of easy believism that say God overlooks
          the deeds of the flesh. You faithfully stand up against
          unholy lifestyles, and you cling to righteousness. This
          also is highly commendable!"

          It quickly becomes evident in this passage that the
          Ephesians are not just a bunch of novices or lukewarm
          saints. No, Jesus is examining the hearts of a people
          who are well-grounded in the truth of the gospel - and
          who work to prove it in their lives, by sacrificing,
          laboring and standing up for truth.

          Yet Jesus points out something else in the hearts of
          these Ephesians as well - something he notes is deeply
          wrong. He says, "I see all your works - your hatred for
          sin, your love for truth, your righteous courage. And
          yet somehow in all your labors, you've allowed your
          first love to wither. Your affection for me is dying!"

          "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because
          thou hast left thy first love" (verse 4). Beloved, I
          have read and reread this verse - and I have concluded
          its seriousness cannot be overlooked. The word
          "somewhat" here - indicating something that might be
          taken lightly - does not appear in the original Greek
          text. Instead, the original phrase is translated,
          literally, "I have something against you!"

          Now, I would like to think I'm an Ephesian-type
          Christian, someone who's a faithful laborer. I want to
          believe that my suffering is for Jesus' sake, that my
          good works glorify him, that I practice righteous
          living, that I'm seated with him in heavenly places.

          But when I read of Jesus walking among such well-taught
          believers as the Ephesians and telling them, "I have
          something against you" - it grips my soul! I have to
          ask my Lord: "Jesus, do you have something against me?
          Have I also lost my affection for you?"

                      -------------------------------

                 Christ's Warning Isn't Just For Christians
                    of a Bygone Era - But for Us Today!

                      -------------------------------

          I believe this warning to the Ephesians is intended for
          me personally - as well as for every Christian living
          in these last days! Simply put, the Lord is telling us,
          "It's not enough for you to be a caring, giving,
          diligent servant who grieves over sin and preaches
          truth. It's not enough for you to uphold moral
          standards, endure suffering for my sake, or even be
          burned at the stake for your faith. This is all part of
          taking up my cross.

          "You can do all these things in my name. But if in the
          process of doing them your affection for me does not
          increase - if I am not becoming more and more the one
          great delight of your heart - then you have left your
          first love! If your affection for me is no longer a
          matter of great concern to you, then I have something
          against you!"

          Consider David's words: "Whom have I in heaven but
          thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside
          thee" (Psalm 73:25). These are strong words - yet David
          isn't saying, "I don't have human love." He knows God
          has blessed human love. Rather, David is saying, "There
          is no one I love exclusively in my heart as I love my
          Lord. I desire him above all others!"

          David also writes, "O God... my soul thirsteth for
          thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty
          land, where no water is" (63:1). "As the hart [deer]
          panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul
          after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the
          living God..." (42:1-2).

          David says, "I thirst deeply for the Lord, the way a
          deer thirsts after it has been chased. A deer will go
          past the point of exhaustion to find the water it
          seeks!"

          Likewise, Jesus is telling the Ephesian Christians,
          "You no longer seek me as the deer does. I'm no longer
          the chief object of your desire. You may be willing to
          do things for me - but I'm not at the center of your
          heart anymore!"

                      -------------------------------

                    Christians Have Lightly Skimmed Over
                   This Passage In Revelation for Years!

                      -------------------------------

          Some believers might respond, "What's so serious about
          this matter? Maybe I'm not as intense for the Lord as I
          was when I was younger. And maybe I've slacked off in
          my affection for him. But, so what? Jesus knows I still
          love him."

          No! Jesus takes any lack of affection very seriously.
          Indeed, he says such a lack constitutes a fall:
          "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and
          repent..." (Revelation 2:5).

          You might answer, "I can understand how an act of
          adultery is a fall. And I can see how falling back into
          drugs or alcohol is a fall. But how can losing an
          intense love for Christ really be a fall?"

          When Jesus warns, "... repent, and do the first
          works..." (same verse), he's saying: "Think back to
          what you were like when I first saved you. You rejoiced
          that I came to live in your heart! You couldn't wait
          for church on Sunday, just to tell people how much you
          loved me. And you spent all your free time digging into
          my word, learning about my love for you. You never
          considered prayer a burden, because I meant everything
          to you. You loved me more than life itself.

          "But now you've fallen away from all that. I get so
          little of your time now, so little of your attention.
          You've grown cold toward me. Something else has your
          heart!"

          Jesus attaches a serious warning to this verse: ". . .
          repent, and do the first works; or else I will come
          unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out
          of his place, except thou repent" (same verse). For
          many years theologians have tried to soften this
          warning, wanting it to mean something different. But it
          can't be softened! It means exactly what it says. Jesus
          is saying to us:

          "If you claim to have the fire of God, and yet I am no
          longer the delight of your heart - I will take away
          every bit of light you have! No matter what good works
          you do for me, you will no longer be my witness. I
          simply won't recognize anything you do - because you've
          lost your love for me!"

          There are several signs and evidences of a dying love
          for Christ. I want to list three of these for you. I
          believe you can measure your love for Jesus by
          examining these three things:

                      -------------------------------

                  1. Your Love for Christ Is Dying If You
                   Spend More Time on the Things of This
                   World and Less Time in His Presence!

                      -------------------------------

          What holds your heart right now? Does your soul yearn
          for Jesus, or for the things of this world?

          Not long ago, I received a distressing letter from a
          woman on our mailing list. She wrote: "My husband was
          once on fire for God. For years he gave himself
          faithfully to the Lord's work. But today he's all
          wrapped up in his new pursuit - horses! He bought
          several, and he has become absolutely consumed with
          them. Now, instead of getting into God's word, he
          spends all his free time reading about breeding horses.
          He no longer has any time for the Lord, or for me. I
          worry for him, because he's grown so cold!"

          Of course, there is nothing wrong at all with owning
          horses or having an interest in them. But Jesus told a
          parable about this very kind of legitimate pursuit. A
          wealthy man sent his servant to invite all his friends
          to a great feast he was holding. But, scripture says,
          the man's friends "... all with one consent began to
          make excuse..." (Luke 14:18).

          One friend told the servant, "I just bought a piece of
          land sight unseen, and I have to inspect it. Please
          tell your master I won't be able to come." The next
          friend told the servant, "I just bought a yoke of oxen,
          and I haven't had time to test them. Tell your master I
          can't come, because I have to go into the field to plow
          with them." Yet another friend told the servant, "I
          just got married, and I'm about to take my honeymoon. I
          don't have time to come to the feast."

          This man had invited all his friends to enjoy an
          intimate time of fellowship with him. And he had made
          all the arrangements for their comfort and convenience.
          The table had been set, and everything had been
          prepared. But no one came. Everyone was simply too busy
          or preoccupied.

          Yet each person had a good, legitimate reason for not
          coming. After all, they weren't avoiding their friend
          so they could go partying or bar-hopping. On the
          contrary, the Bible commends everything these people
          were doing: Buying and selling can provide security for
          one's family. And testing a major purchase is a sound
          business practice. Finally, marriage is a blessing that
          the scriptures encourage.

          Yet, how did this wealthy man react? Scripture says,
          "The lord said unto the servant, Go out into the
          highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that
          my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none
          of those men which were bidden shall taste of my
          supper" (verses 23-24).

          Jesus is making a very clear point in this parable:
          Each of these good, legitimate things becomes sinful
          when it takes priority over the Lord!

          Let me give you an example. A favorite after-church
          activity for many Christians is to go to a restaurant
          with friends. They're able to sit and talk for hours
          about the things of God over a sandwich or a cup of
          coffee. And once they exit the restaurant, they spend
          another half hour talking in the parking lot before
          parting. It's a time of wonderful fellowship for
          everyone. Yet, when asked, many of these same
          Christians claim they have no time to seek the Lord!

          During my early years in ministry, I had several godly
          friends whom I admired for their devoted prayer lives.
          They spent hours on their faces in God's presence - and
          their sermons showed it. They preached with fire,
          unction, life!

          Some of these men later went to seminary, seeking a
          deeper knowledge of the Bible. They dug deep into
          Hebrew and Greek studies, trying to know the scriptures
          better. And their studies demanded they read many
          outside texts.

          In the end, however, many of these men lost their fire
          for Jesus. Why? They spent so much time reading
          legitimate things - literature, commentaries, textbooks
          - they neglected to study God's word for themselves.
          Their pursuit of knowledge robbed them of their
          affection for Christ!

          Any "good" or "legitimate" thing becomes sinful when it
          takes priority over the Lord!

                      -------------------------------

                 2. You Can Measure Your Love for Christ by
                How Deeply You're Affected by Anything That
                 Robs You of Quality Time Alone With Him.

                      -------------------------------

          If you can go about your daily life facing all kinds of
          interruptions and demands, and yet not spend ten
          minutes in God's presence - your love is dying!

          Think about it: If you love someone exclusively above
          all others, you'll make that person feel he's the most
          important being on earth. Everything else will pale in
          comparison to him.

          Isn't this how you first loved your spouse, when you
          were courting? If she called on the phone while you
          were busy doing something, you dropped everything just
          to talk to her. And if anyone intruded on your time
          alone together, you resented it! Your one desire was to
          develop the love between you. Everything else took
          second place.

          Yet many Christians today go for weeks, even months,
          without spending quality time with Jesus. He stays on
          the backburner at all times. They may testify, "I love
          Jesus with all my heart" - but how can this be true,
          when they neglect him for days on end?

          In Song of Solomon, the bride could not sleep because
          her beloved "... had withdrawn himself..." (Song of
          Solomon 5:6). This woman arose in the middle of the
          night, saying, "... my soul failed... I sought him, but
          I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no
          answer" (same verse). So she quickly ran into the
          streets, looking everywhere for her lover, and crying
          out, "Have you seen my beloved?"

          Why was this such a serious matter to her? It was
          because, she said, "... This is my beloved, and this is
          my friend..." (verse 16). "... I am sick of love [faint
          with desire for him]" (verse 8). She couldn't be
          without her beloved!

          I know a couple who are having serious marital
          problems. The husband told me, "My wife has never made
          me feel I'm important to her. I take second place to
          everyone else in her life!"

          This man has to travel a great deal in his work. Once,
          when he called his wife from the road, she told him she
          was planning a romantic dinner for his return. It would
          be just the two of them, a time of romance and
          intimacy. For days the husband looked forward to that
          special evening. And finally, when he walked through
          the front door, it was just as his wife had promised:
          She was wearing his favorite dress. And she had
          prepared his favorite meal.

          Ten minutes into dinner, however, the phone rang. The
          man touched his wife's hand and said, "Let it ring.
          I've so looked forward to this time with you."

          She replied, "No, it could be important," and quickly
          got up to answer the phone. He pleaded with her,
          "Please! Let's enjoy our time together just this once."
          She assured him, "I'll only be a minute."

          Half an hour later, she came back and announced, "That
          was Mother. She's depressed, so I invited her over. She
          needs to be with people tonight."

          This man felt completely cut out of his wife's life.
          There was always someone else, or some kind of
          interruption, that seemed more important to her than
          himself. He told me, "She spends hours talking with her
          friends or counseling people. Yet every time I ask her
          for quality time, she says she doesn't have any for me.
          This can't be love!"

          I ask you - how does Jesus feel when he spreads the
          table, anxiously awaits our company, and yet we never
          show up? The Bible calls us his bride, his beloved, his
          one great love; it says we were created for fellowship
          with him. So, what kind of rejection must he feel when
          we continually put others before him?

                      -------------------------------

                    3. Your Love for Christ Is Dying If
                   You Have Given in to a Besetting Sin!

                      -------------------------------

          I'm not speaking here of Christians who still wage
          warfare with their sin - who are not yet free from it
          and continue to hate it. Such believers faithfully cry
          out to God, believing the Holy Ghost to empower them to
          victory over their lustful habits.

          No, I'm speaking instead to those who think they can
          continue being a witness for Christ while giving in to
          their bosom sin. They've given up the spiritual war
          with their lust - surrendering to it completely!

          I received a sad letter from a pastor recently. His
          wife had watched as his relationships grew worse and
          his ministry failed. Finally, as she was cleaning one
          day, she found a stash of pornographic videos. She
          confronted her husband with them and threw them out.

          But the man later sneaked out to the dumpster and
          retrieved the videos. He admitted he couldn't let go of
          them! Now he wrote to me, saying, "Brother Dave, please
          pray for me. I've left the ministry and am teaching
          school - but none of my fellow teachers respect me."

          Why doesn't this man have any respect? It's because his
          candlestick has been removed! He couldn't be Christ's
          witness on the job - because the Lord was no longer
          with him. No matter how many tears he sheds or
          confessions he makes, he will remain among the living
          dead as long as he holds onto his sin.

          Yet how different it was when a young man came to me,
          weeping and confessing, "Pastor Dave, I fell back into
          sin! I got high and nearly overdosed. But as I stood at
          the brink of hell, I saw how my sin hurt Jesus. I can't
          do this to him anymore!" As I prayed with him, he cried
          out in sorrow, "Lord, I'm so sorry for how I hurt you!"

          That young man's candlestick will not be removed. His
          light will again shine! You see, Jesus promises in this
          same passage, "... repent, and do the first works... To
          him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of
          life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God"
          (Revelation 2:5, 7). God promises paradise to all who
          repent!

          Is your love for Jesus exclusive? Do you regularly take
          quality time to be with him? Or have other things crept
          into your heart, taking up your thoughts and
          affections?

          Jesus is asking you right now to repent and start all
          over again. He wants you to stop and realize, "Wait a
          minute - I see how this thing has crept into my life.
          And it's robbing me of my exclusive love for Jesus! I
          can't let this go on any longer. I've got to go back to
          my affection for him. Lord, forgive me! Light my candle
          anew!"

          Go back to your first love today. Ask him for grace and
          strength to begin again to guard your affection for
          Christ!

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