Cycles of Resistance || Overcoming Lawlessness
Revelation 2:1-7 New King James Version
2 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “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; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 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. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
Only First Love Fire can Overcome Lawlessness
Like Ephesus, We Live in A Cultural Moment of Lawlessness
What is Lawlessness? [Anomia (G458)]
Lawlessness is the Rejection of God’s Prescribed Way of Life
Lawlessness is OVERFLOWING from Within the Cultural Moment and Into the Church
Abortion, PRIDE, sexual perversion and gender confusion
Hatred of Israel, justification of riots, violence, and murder (Iryna Zarutska & Charlie Kirk)
Political spirits that divide/deceive us into thinking political candidates will legislate sin from hearts
Utilizing the fear of man to silence or provoke to action those we disagree with
Contempt for God’s Law Causes the Love of Many to Grow Cold
Matthew 24:12 New King James Version
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Five Ways Lawlessness Causes Love to Grow Cold
Matthew 24:3-12 New King James Version
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
1. Lawlessness Excuses Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain
“Many will come in My name… and will deceive many”
2. Lawlessness Weaponizes Fear
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars”
“See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass”
“All these are the beginning of sorrows”
Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom
There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places
3. Lawlessness Justifies Hate
They will deliver you up to tribulation, they will kill you, you will be hated by all nations
For My (Jesus’) name’s sake [You will be hated, persecuted and killed for loving God’s law]
4. Lawlessness Promotes Division
Many will be offended with, will betray and hate one another
5. Lawlessness Perpetuates Deception
Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many
In a lawless cultural moment, everyone gets a personal false prophet
You are justified in your fear, hatred, division, and deception
You are deceived out of your responsibility to forgive, bear with, or love one another
Matthew 7:15-23 New King James Version
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
2 Timothy 3:1-5 New King James Version
3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
East Gate, How Will We Combat Lawlessness?
Revelation 2:1-7 New King James Version
2 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “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; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 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. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
The One Who Holds Us, and Walks Among Us, Knows Us
I Know Your Works - Ergon (G2041)
business, employment, that which any one is occupied, undertaking
Nothing is hidden from Jesus, He knows what we do publicly/privately, as a congregation/individuals
Jesus Knew What Ephesus Did Well in Their Battle Against the Lawless Cultural Moment
They worked hard, tirelessly and patiently for His name’s sake
They were doctrinally pure, they hated what Jesus hated [the deeds of the Nicolaitans]
They were not easily deceived, they tested false apostles, found them liars
Jesus Knew Where Ephesus Fell Short in Their Battle Against the Lawless Cultural Moment
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love
First - protos (G4413)
first in time or place [Secret Place]
first in rank [influence, honour, chief, principal]
Love - agape (G26)
affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love
love feasts
Repent, Or Else I will Come to You Quickly and Remove Your Lampstand from Its Place
Jesus was ready to take His fire and presence from Ephesus over the loss of their first love
Ephesus could continue as an organization, but not as the true church of Jesus Christ
Three Ways to Steward Our First Love as We Battle Lawlessness
1. Remember From Where You Have Fallen
Difference between losing accidentally, and leaving intentionally, is knowledge of where it was left
Remember your poverty of spirit and need for Holy Spirit
Remember the initial joy of your salvation, the radical nature of your obedience
Remember the boldness with which you shared the gospel and your testimony
Remember how grateful you were to be in His presence and with His people
2. Repent — Metanoeo (G3340
To change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
Turning with humility from sin to God
Jesus was telling Ephesus [hard working, doctrinally pure, not easily deceived] that they were in SIN!
Ephesus was fighting the lawlessness of their cultural moment with hard work and the knowledge of good and evil rather than by stewarding their FIRST LOVE
Matthew 22:36-40 New King James Version
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
3. Return — “Do the First Works”
Matthew 6:6 New King James Version
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Somewhere along the way, scripture, prayer, and the faith became about the work of the ministry and not the intimacy of fellowship with, and ministry unto Jesus
Only First Love Fire can Overcome Lawlessness
Matthew 24:12-14 New King James Version
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
He Who Has An Ear, Let Him Hear What The Spirit Says To The Churches
To Him Who Overcomes…
I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God
How Do We Overcome Lawlessness?
Don’t Lose Sight of He Who Holds Us in His Hand, and Walks in Our Midst
Hebrews 12:1-2 New King James Version
12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Never Stop Encountering Him in the Secret Place
Psalm 91 New King James Version
