These folks contended with God-haters and stood strong, but they let their love for God grow cold.
Love will grow cold if diligence isn't taken to keep it hot - like a fire.
Consider a marriage - the spouses still love each other but the fervancy of that love has grown cold - the zeal is gone.
How? Tyranny of the urgent!
We tend to prioritze what's urgent over what's vital - Relationships are never urgent, but they are vital.
Anecdote (for our relationships with God and with our spouses):
1) Consider how far you've fallen - go back to where you were when your love was brand new.
Recall the thoughts and feelings you had for the Lord - go back to that place.
2) Repent - once you realize how far you've fallen, repent for having fallen that far.
Don't wait on an emotion - just ask forgiveness and then start walking in the opposite direction.
3) Do the things you did at first - the things you did when your love was brand new, do them again!
Don't wait on an emotion - where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
Invest your treasure into your relationship with God (and/or spouse) and your heart will go there.
Treasure in a relationship is measured by TIME.
Psalm 73:17 - everything made sense when Asaph got back into the sanctuary of God.
Revelation 2:4-5 (12/18/14)
First Love
December 18, 2014 • Benham Brothers
Revelation - the players (12/27/18)
December 27, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* The players: * The Being on the throne is God. * The Lamb is Jesus. * The dragon is Satan. * The beast is the Antichrist. * The woman is Israel. * The baby is Jesus. * The “rest of her offspring” are God’s people. * The bride is the church - Christians who place their faith in Jesus when they hear the gospel. * The guests of the bride are believers before Christ came and the gospel existed. * Babylon is the world system of the Beast. It’s the political and economic system. * The “Harlot” is the corrupt religious system of the Beast that stands in direct contrast to the Bride. * The Beast can’t be successful in the first two systems without the third to approve of it. * There is a Babylon and a Harlot in every generation - it’s used by Satan to lead people astray. * ** a nation needs several systems to exist, mainly a political, economic, and religious.
Revelation & Red Letters (12/13/18)
December 13, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Jesus is still speaking. * We don’t often attribute His words to the book of Revelation. * What would He say? * He addresses 7 churches (the number in seven is “perfect” or “complete” - so this message would apply to all the church past, present, and future). * 1) The church of Ephesus - they were the LOVELESS church who had lost their first love. * 2) The church of Smyrna - they were the PERSECUTED church who were enduring hardship for Christ. * 3) The church of Pergamos - they were the COMPROMISING church who put up with those in their midst who believed the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans (sexual immorality and idolatry). * 4) The church of Thyatira - they were the CORRUPT church who tolerated the woman Jezebel (sexual immorality and domineering ambition). * 5) The church of Sardis - they were the DEAD church who looked alive but in reality they were dead. * 6) The church of Philadelphia - they were the FAITHFUL church who were doing good things in the midst of trial. * 7) The church of Laodicea - they were the LUKEWARM church who were riding the fence to avoid persecution.
Revelation 1:1 (12/8/16)
December 8, 2016 • Benham Brothers
* Jeremiah 29:11 - “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” * God spoke an encouragement through Jeremiah because the Israelites were about to go into captivity. * So like a good father He reminded them that this was going to be good for them and that His ultimate plan was for their blessing, not their cursing. * The book of Revelation does the same for us. * A good coach knows you can’t land a big recruit without letting him know your plan for him. * He will continue to remind him from time to time to encourage him to stick it out (redshirt). * When we read Revelation it’s God reminding us to stick it out because something ossum is coming.