YOU IF YOU ARE A CANDLESTICK, BUT DON'T DISPLAY THE CANDLE, WHAT PURPOSE ARE YOU SERVING?
“…I KNOW THY WORKS, AND THY LABOR, AND THY PATIENCE, AND HOW THOU CANST NOT BEAR THEM WHICH ARE EVIL: AND THOU TRIED THEM WHICH SAY THEY ARE APOSTLES, AND ARE NOT, AND HAS FOUND THEM LAIRS… [however,]… you hath left your first love…” (REVELATION 2:2 KJV).
“… Repent and do the first works…” (REVELATION 2:5 KJV). “… or else I WILL COME QUICKLY, AND WILL REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK…” (REVELATION 2:5 KJV).
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Most believers are excited, passionate, and zealous about FIRST LOVE (God), and they want to tell everybody and will do anything for FIRST LOVE (God).
However, over TIME their perspective of FIRST LOVE (God) changes, even though he NEVER changes. “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).
Some of God's people think they are martyrs for Christ. They feel they DO the necessary "religious" works. They DO the labor. They patiently endure various hardships They hate evil. They don't tolerate hypocrisy.
However, somewhere along the way they start depending upon their own strength and NOT that of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
God shows, teaches, and empowers his people to walk in his ways. “…Christ liveth in [you]…” (Galatians 2:20 KJV). “…God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “… The God of peace… that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in [you]… what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
God’s indwelling Holy Spirit empowers each of his people to walk in his ways of love. God’s indwelling Holy Spirit empowers them to walk in his ways of showing grace and mercy. God’s indwelling Holy Spirit empowers them to walk in his ways of forgiveness. God’s indwelling Holy Spirit empowers them to walk in his ways of being patient and endurance. “….Apart from [the indwelling Holy Spirit], you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV However, “….I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).). “… I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God. …” (Galatians 2:20-21 KJV). “…by the GRACE of God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
When God's people start to learn God’s ways, they can begin to falsely believe they can DO spiritual WORKS or live a RIGHTEOUS life without him. “….Apart from [the indwelling Holy Spirit], you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
God's people allow themselves to become deceived, will stop depending upon his indwelling Holy Spirit, and will start depending on their own self-efforts. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
Apart from Jesus’ and his indwelling Holy Spirit, God’s people can DO “NOTHING!” Eventually the FLESH wears out! “….Apart from [Jesus, the indwelling Spirit], you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). “The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right (by myself), but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right (by my own self-effort), but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. …I [am] …a slave to the sin that is … within me. Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
In the beginning of the Christian journey, the redeemed are more fervent about their God-given purpose, as a life WITNESS of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Most of his people start out depending upon HIM and allowing themselves to become empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, until they DON'T.
Thus, as time tarries their original enthusiasm fades tremendously. So they simply adapt to their dutiful obligations by religiously doing the Lord's work, doing the labor, and being patiently enduring in their own strength.
Most of those proclaiming God don't deny him, but they are NOT WITNESSING for him either. However, they will remain faithful and loyal to the Christian religious practice, but have grown weary, given up, lost interest, laid it down, and became detached, unknowingly, from FIRST LOVE (God) in regard to this particular test.
God's people's ongoing prayer may go from asking God to give them the strength to overcome it - to give me the strength to live through it. They actually need both; the strength to overcome and the strength to get through. However, most of God's people are merely praying for the strength to get through the Christian journey.
God's people become HOPELESS about their situations changing and like Lazarus, feel its DEAD and BURIED. In addition, the bible said this about Lazarus' death. “… by this time, [it] stinketh: for [it]…hath been dead for …[years] …” (John 11:39 KJV).
After a while and without knowing it, God's people are no longer listening Thankfully, God “…dealt to every man (woman) the measure of faith...” (Romans 12:3 KJV).
In addition, God's people have the “the indwelling Holy Spirit” to depend upon if they choose to do so. Yet, sometimes their flesh convinces them God isn’t going to change their situations. Plus its TOO LATE, its OVER and it has DIED OUT. Martha’s declaration was THIS: “… As soon as she heard that Jesus was coming … Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died… ” (John 11:20-22 KJV).
After a while or so many years, God seems to have abandoned his people or have trapped them in situations where duty-bound obligations become the norm. Many think they are being “humbly” accepting of their lots in life. “Poor me, the suffering little martyr.”
The truth is that man of God's people are no longer depending upon the Holy Spirit to Do the WORK of faith “in” and “through” them. They are simply trying to get through it or survive it in their OWN efforts. “…In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ASV).
God's people overcome "EVERYTHING" by faith or depending upon Jesus, the indwelling Holy Spirit and the Word of their testimony. DEPENDING UPON JESUS gives them experiences to testify about: “….Apart from [Jesus, the indwelling Spirit], you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…” (Revelation 12:11 KJV).
God's people choose to let their situations became a duty-bound, boring, joyless and religious obligations. They have, unknowingly, fallen away from GRACE. They are becoming irrelevant as God's WITNESSES, upon earth and useless as God’s agent of change.
Depending upon their own self-effort changes their perspective of FIRST LOVE (GOD) too. They can begin to believe God can't transform their situations or DO all that his WORD promises to DO “…Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself…“(Psalm 50:19-21 KJV).
God's people get tired, weak, and depleted of hope, which are the places self-effort takes you. Yet, they continue to do religious duties, but have, in reality, laid down their hope for a resurrection, because they don't believe God can FIX certain situations in their lives. “THEY” can't and won't overcome the problem, in their own strength and, therefore THINK neither can God. “…Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself…“(Psalm 50:19-21 KJV).
“…the things which are impossible with men ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD…” (Luke 18:27 KJV). “….I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: IS THERE ANY THING TOO HARD FOR ME?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “… [GOD]… IS ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or THINK…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
When God's people FORGET to continue to grow in his GRACE and KNOWLEDGE they can get STALE. When they start depending upon their OWN self-efforts they also get STALE. Their puny power and the indwelling power of the Almighty God are NOT the same and will NOT produce the same results.
When the Christian journey becomes duty-bound and religious it is usually because his PEOPLE took their eyes off of FIRST LOVE (God, the Holy Spirit's) and his power and grace. MANY need to repent. Job said, “…Now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said [and did], and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance” (Job 42:1-6 NLT). I got it wrong and “…[thought] … that [God]… was altogether such an one as [myself]…“(Psalm 50:19-21 KJV).
It is hard to look at the places you have willfully chosen to exclude God or reduce him to some human perception of mankind.
Sometimes, during specific trials and tribulations, God is only trying to get your attention, or humble you, or prepare you for his great, divine purpose.
God knows what it will take to get your attention, prepare you, or humble you. “…God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding. He does not let the wicked live but gives justice to the afflicted. He never takes his eyes off the innocent, but he sets them on thrones with kings and exalts them forever. If they are bound in chains and CAUGHT UP in a web of trouble, HE SHOWS THEM THE REASON. HE SHOWS THEM THEIR SINS OF PRIDE. HE GETS THEIR ATTENTION AND COMMANDS THAT THEY TURN FROM EVIL…” (Job 36:6-10 NLT).“…But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he GETS THEIR ATTENTION through adversity…” (Job 36:15 NLT). Therefore, “..In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider-- God has made the one as well as the other…” (Ecclesiastes 7:14 NASB).
Thus, “… Repent and do the first works…” (REVELATION 2:5 KJV). “… or else I WILL COME QUICKLY, AND WILL REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK…” (REVELATION 2:5 KJV).
You CAN “NOT’ go through TEST without being EMPOWERED by the indwelling Holy Spirit to endure them. Human pride is a deceiver. Human pride will puff you up falsely, but God will humble you authentically. It is NOT “what” you know, but “who” you KNOW.
Thus, during a TEST, choose to avoid thinking more highly of yourself than you should. “… Repent and do the first works…” (REVELATION 2:5 KJV).
What make you think “YOU” can turn around ANY situation without continuing to depend upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to DO the WORK? “….Apart from …[God’s indwelling Holy Spirit], [YOU can]… do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).“…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “… [God] work[s] IN [you]… what is pleasing to him…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…It is God which worketh in you…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “… [He doeth the work] according to the POWER that worketh in [you]…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
God does the WORK of the Hebrews 11:1 faith, the measure of faith or the spirit of faith that works “IN” and “THROUGH” you. “…The … HOLY SPIRIT who is the SOURCE of [it]… all. …it is the same God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his… THROUGH each of us … … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
Laying down your dependence upon the indwelling Holy Spirit is the same as leaving FIRST LOVE out of the situation and falling away from FIRST LOVE’S GRACE. “…If you are trying … [in your OWN effort] … to make yourselves (or your situation) right with God by keeping the … [commandments dutifully], you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s GRACE…” (Galatians 2:21 NLT). “…a person is made right (or their situation is made right) with God by faith [or depending upon]… Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 2:16 NLT).
Self-effort is a sign of pride and a false belief of one’s OWN ability; OVER God’s. “Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall…” (Proverbs 16:18 KJV). “A man's pride shall bring him low…” (Proverbs 29:23 KJV). “… For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Galatians 6:3 KJV). “…Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself…“(Psalm 50:19-21 KJV).
Some of God's people don't know that their pride or their dutiful, religious self-effort is an issue, but God did. Thankfully, God, “… [has] searched [his people]… and … know[s them] …[He is]… familiar with all [their] ways” (Psalm 139:1-3 KJV). “…And those who walk in pride … [God] is able to humble” (Daniel 4 NIV). Like Job, “…I take back everything I said [thought or did), and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance” (Job 42:1-6 NLT).
Removing someone's candlestick, from a particular place is humbling and gave me a deeper respect for the IMPORTANCE of God's WORK upon earth. “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “… [God] work[s] IN [you]… what is pleasing to him…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…It is God which worketh in you…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “… [He doeth the work] according to the POWER that worketh in [you]…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
Only God can empower the WORK of FAITH through his indwelling Holy Spirit and NOT self-effort “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…It is God which worketh in you…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “… [He doeth the work] according to the POWER that worketh in [you]…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
Removing someone's candlestick from that particular WORK is about GOD’S love for them and other lost souls. “…If you are trying … [in your OWN effort] … to make yourselves (or your situation) right with God by keeping the … [commandments, dutifully], you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s GRACE…” (Galatians 2:21 NLT). “… Repent and do the first works…” (REVELATION 2:5 KJV). “… or else I WILL COME QUICKLY, AND WILL REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK…” (REVELATION 2:5 KJV).
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