First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes

First Baptist Church

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seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested
those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars.” Revelation 2:1-2 (NKJV)

They can’t bear those who are evil.

Literally, “they can’t bear those who are worthless.” In Ephesus, the congregation couldn’t bear with those whose walk didn’t match their talk
and, in fact, were not even within the fold of the Great Shepherd, Jesus. Knowing the truths of God’s heart and word creates a type of “lie
detector” which allows the leadership within the church of Ephesus the wisdom to expose those who seek to destroy
God’s work.

They expose false prophets.

These people seek to be prophets but the local leadership cannot bear with those who do not possess the call of God on their lives. The
Ephesian elders knew truth and were able to spot a deceiver by their character and the content of their message.

These are two wonderful aspects which Jesus Himself commends in these churches! Their deep love of God desires to hold onto the truth and
keep pure from the invasive attacks of the enemy. There is nothing wrong with ensuring the purity of one’s church. In fact, this is very
commendable. However, this is the where the picture becomes hazy – and confuses the less astute follower of Jesus.

In churches that refuse to transform, the focus is on exposing sin. Focus always deals with direction. As we will see in upcoming parts to this
discussion, Jesus is most interested in what beats strongest in our hearts – without leaving other important matters undone.

As Jesus deals with the core items within the heart of the Church at Ephesus, most likely in the order of importance there, we will discover that
the focus of a church reveals God’s attitude towards it.

© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.

What Keeps a Church From Being Transformed? (Part 2)

As we explore the deep-seated issues encircling churches which refuse to transform, we discover some surprising things. One of the most
amazing things is that churches that refuse to be transformed do so because they think there is nothing they need. These churches feel like
everything is going well and God is pleased with them. They are doing many of the right things, they just miss the most essential item. The
second characteristic (and another surprising one) of churches which refuse to be transformed is...

CHURCHES THE REFUSE TO TRANSFORM REVEL IN MINISTRY

In this church, ministry was done for the right reasons with an amazing passion. Ministry was an all-time, persistent pattern of service to Christ.

I know your works, your labor, your patience … and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have
not become weary. Revelation 2:2-3 (NKJV)

Ministry begins to take over a greater and greater part of our hearts. Pretty soon, the demands of the ministry begin to encroach upon our
hearts. Note the way these men and woman of God pursued ministry. One can get tired just reading the text.

They persevered – They worked hard – long, tiring hours to bring God’s message to the people of Ephesus. And when they rose each
morning they would do it all over again. The world “persevered” denotes that they did so against great odds and for a long period of time.

They were patient – Things did not go well for the men and women of Ephesus. Their labors were intensive but their results were minimal,
thus they had to be, and succeeded in remaining patient. Despite the odds, the hearts of these people in Ephesus continued to serve
the Lord diligently.

They were potent – As the weeks and months grew into years, these followers of Jesus did not grow weary of their tiring routine. There
was a satisfaction born of serving Jesus that thrilled them as they served Him.

Yet, as the months turned into years, no one seemed to notice that activity had replaced intimacy. Doing replaced being. This insidious shift
went totally unnoticed in the lives of those who served the work of God. Soon the exhaustion erased every shred of vivid memory of those
intimate walks with God. Transformation requires intimacy. When anything overtakes our time alone with God,
transformation is impossible.

© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.

What Keeps a Church From Being Transformed? (Part 3)

As our study of American churches continues, we see where the key to the lack of transformation originates. Jesus now brings into light the crux
of His complaint and the core of our lesson. He is jealous over the way we have allowed ministry and our defense of the faith to push Him out of
our lives. In His indictment, He convicts many of the churches we are part of.

CHURCHES THE REFUSE TO TRANSFORM REJECT AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP

Ministry is great and exposing false prophets is necessary, but without a personal, intimate and vital love relationship with Jesus – all is for
nothing! You see, we are to be “with Jesus,” this is what salvation is all about. Jesus longs to spend as much time with us as we will free up from
our schedule. Listen to Him as He chastises the church at Ephesus …

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first
works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. Revelation 2:4-5 (NKJV)

One can hardy miss the tone of this reprimand, despite the fact we only have the transcript and it has been two millennia since he spoke it.
Jesus gets to the point and reveals the depth of His disappointment at the failure of this church. Ultimately, the failure is one of …

Leaving their relationship with Jesus – “you have left your first love.” Of course, He is our first love. Busy-ness, even in the ministry, is no
excuse for neglecting the Lover of our soul!

Refusing to remember the intimacy with Jesus – “remember therefore from where you have fallen” indicates the insidious drift has so
effectively erased the memories of the courtship, Jesus Himself has to remind them of their past.

Refusing to repent of their autonomy – If reprimanded by Jesus, one must change, or the consequences are certain. Jesus calls the
church to turn around, change their minds and let their love flow once again. How are they to do that? They are to act out their love, to
“do the first works.”

Jesus longs for our return. His incredible and unfailing love drives Him to call us back to Himself. From the beginning of time with Adam and Eve,
God has been calling to us, “Where are you?” Now, at the end of the Bible, Jesus calls us to Himself once again.

© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.

What Keeps a Church From Being Transformed? (Part 4)

These are serious times for the American Church. According to church growth specialist Leonard Sweet recently, 75% of American churches
are dying and 24% of churches in the USA are plateaued. As we consider the words of this passage and align the American congregation’s
current condition with that, we are chilled at the possibility that we are witnessing the results of this passage before our very eyes.

CHURCHES THE REFUSE TO TRANSFORM RISK THEIR DESTRUCTION

While we blame our pastors or mega-churches for the cause of our demise, it is obvious from Scripture that the main reason is this refusal by
the bulk of the local church’s membership to allow transformation to occur in their lives. We must look at such a refusal to transform as
tantamount to insulting the Lord of the Church. Welcoming the fresh work of God is the only appropriate conduct for any child of God.

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand
from its place--unless you repent. Revelation 2:5 (NKJV)

The pain of Jesus’ heart moves to the consequences of our failure. Jesus provides us with the motivation to return – a bit of stern parenting. As
we consider Jesus’ words, let His broken heart reach yours! Jesus focuses out attention on our one great failure here …

Not returning and restoring the relationship – This failure of neglect is church-wide. The leadership had failed to notice and to rectify this
congregational loss. Now, Jesus scolds them: “or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you
repent.” The “lampstand” is a metaphor for the church itself. Jesus is threatening the local church (and their leadership) that, despite
intense ministry and a vigilant defense of the faith, without a close and vital relationship with Him, there is no reason to exist!

These are words to take to heart. The essence of existence as a local church is for its members to have a close and vital relationship with
Jesus. In the process of being close to the Master, we are all changed – transformed.

In other words, transformation happens when churches – as a body – remain close to the Lover of their souls! If the majority remains busy and
distracted, neglecting the overtures of the Lord Jesus can bring the ultimate in discipline.

© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.