Querida Éfeso | La Iglesia Distraída // LAS 7 IGLESIAS DE APOCALIPSIS

Upbeat music Family, today we start with a new series called Dear Church, the Seven Churches of Apocalypse It's going to be seven weeks. In fact, I always like to ask this question How many Christians brought their Bible to church today? How good that they brought their Bibles. You can come with me to Apocalypse, chapter 1 Pastor, where is Apocalypse? Ask someone who is close by It's going to be seven weeks studying, in the book of Apocalypse, specifically chapters 2 and 3 Where there are seven letters written to seven churches, personally dictated by Jesus And each of these letters contains something personal, practical and powerful And I think it's going to communicate something important to us, both as a church and as individuals Today's message is the first letter and the title is Dear Ephesus, the Distracted Church Dear Ephesus, the Distracted Church Join me and let's pray to invite the Lord to speak to our lives today Amen Lord, thank you for your presence in this place and the opportunity we have to hear your word Read your word and understand it We pray that the good seed of your word falls in good land in each of our hearts And that we can hear, understand and apply the principles of your word in our lives In the precious name of Jesus, Amen The book of Apocalypse is an interesting book and it starts with a promise So before we go to the second chapter, which is Ephesus, the letter I want us to read together Apocalypse chapter 1, verse 1 Apocalypse chapter 1, verse 1 And it says This is the revelation of Jesus Christ Pause Of whom?

Of Jesus Christ That God gave him to show his servants what without delay has to happen Jesus Christ sent his angel to give the revelation to his servants Juan, who did God give this revelation to? To Juan Juan, who on his part gives faith in the truth by writing everything he saw The word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ Let me mention a couple of things here The book of Apocalypse was given its name because it is the revelation of Jesus The testimony of Jesus is given specifically in this case written by the apostle Juan The word Apocalypse in itself means to reveal That is why in English the name of the book is Revelation We discover that the apostle Juan has been exiled and from an island he writes this book Does anyone know the name of the island? Patmos, the island of Patmos, those who have studied the Bible In the island of Patmos Juan is exiled More or less in the time of 90 years after Christ The Christians at that time, including Juan, were living under an extreme persecution Under the Roman Empire Specifically, the emperor Domitian wanted to be worshiped as God Therefore, Juan and the Christians committed at that time said Domitian, we understand that you are the emperor and we accept it But we understand that we will not worship anyone else who is our only and true God Therefore, by not worshiping the emperor there were consequences That is why Juan is exiled on the island of Patmos He is on this island and it is there where Juan receives this vision and revelation from God About many things, including things to come The book of Revelation is a very prophetic book And in many cases it talks about things of the future Now, it is also a book that has incredible promises

In fact, if you read the complete book of Revelation You will find inside the book several promises that are very precious for us The believers and followers of Jesus Christ Let's see one of those in Revelation 1, verse 3 Here is a great promise And it says, some versions say blessed that those who read and those who listen to the words of this prophetic message and listen to what is written here, because the time of their fulfillment is near. This is an incredible promise, and let me start by saying that God wants something for you today. Can someone say Amen? God wants something for all of us, and I believe with all my heart what this word says. I believe that today you will come out of here happy, blessed, and blessed because you are listening and reading the word of God. Amen? Amen, amen. Now, at the end of verse 3 it says, because the time of your fulfillment is near. Now, what is this referring to? That the time of your fulfillment is near. This statement refers to the fulfillment of the promise of God given to Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter 3 in the garden from the moment sin entered the world. Remember that the remedy for sin was given from that time when it was spoken of one who would come. One who would come to overcome sin once and for all, a reference to Jesus, who was the Messiah and was promised. So, what this book of Revelation points to is the moment when Jesus, once and for all, finally and forever, will eradicate sin and evil and injustice and everything else that comes with these things. When He will overcome all sickness, all jealousy, envy, anxiety, avarice, fear, hatred, all evil and injustice will be overcome. Satan and his demons will be decisively overcome. Why? Because it is clear in the word, and all of us who belong to Christ, this is the message of the Gospel, will reign with Jesus Christ for centuries and we will live forever in His presence in the perfection of the promise that God gave us for all of humanity since Genesis. So, Vertical Church, listen to this statement that I am going to give you. The first statement is very important. Here it is. The return of Jesus is imminent.

The return of Jesus is near. It is getting closer and closer. The Bible is clear and says, no one knows the day or the hour. No one knows. In fact, there is a reference that says, He will come as a thief at night. A thief does not call you to warn you. So, no one knows. But this is good news that Jesus will return. Why? Because He will return to restore all things. To restore all things and all creation, to do correctly what He wanted from the beginning. Now, we are talking about Jesus. And Jesus, in chapter 1, verse 8, refers to Himself by saying these words. Jesus says, I am the Alpha and the Omega. That is a reference to the fact that He is saying, I am the beginning, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and I am the Omega. I am the end. A-Z. Says the Lord God. The One who is, and the One who was, and the One who is to come, the All-Powerful. I love how this book starts with a promise. In Revelation, before talking about many things to come, it starts with these seven letters to these seven churches. And they were dictated by Jesus Himself. The reason that Jesus is sending these letters. Why does Jesus send these letters? Ask me why. Because Jesus wants His church to be prepared. Jesus wants His church to be ready. To be in the right heart condition to receive His salvation. Jesus wants His church to have its lamps full of oil. Do you understand me? He wants us to be prepared. Now, in these letters to these seven churches, there were seven letters written to seven specific churches in seven specific cities at one point in history, in reality. However, since the book of Revelation is prophetic in its nature, it means that you and I can receive the same blessing, word, and anointing on this day. You and I can receive from these same letters.

That is why the Bible says that the word of God is alive and active and sharper than a two-edged sword. It penetrates and reaches the deepest. Something interesting about these seven letters, although not all are exactly the same, we see some patterns. One of the patterns in the letters is that Jesus encourages the church. Through these letters, one of the things that Jesus does is that He encourages the church. For example, Jesus says things like, hey, church, I love how you are doing this and this. And this, but in addition to Jesus encouraging the church, there is another part in the pattern, which is that Jesus challenges the church. In addition to encouraging the church, Jesus challenges the church. He says things like, I love this, I love this, but there is something that has to be fixed. But you have to pay attention to this area, but don't neglect this. And in fact, that's what makes a good coach in your life, that's what makes a good mentor. How many of you know that in life we need people who are willing, in love, to talk to us and affirm us and encourage us for the good things, but also to challenge us, challenge us and correct us in the areas that need help? How many of you know that this is important in life? And how good it is that our God can do this in our lives, His Word, Jesus Christ, wants and can do this in our lives, but how important it is to pay attention to this. So, week after week, we are going to learn from these seven letters to these seven churches. Now, look at how John introduces these letters in Revelation, chapter 1, verse 9, when he explains how the vision that God gave him came. Verse 9. I, John, brother of yours, and companion in the suffering, in the kingdom, and in the perseverance that we have in Jesus. It continues. I was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the day of the Lord came upon me the Spirit, and I heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, saying, Write in a book whatever you see, and send it to the seven churches, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and the Odyssey. I turned around to see who was the voice that was speaking to me. When I turned around, I saw seven golden candlesticks. In the midst of the candlesticks was someone who looked like the Son of Man, dressed in a tunic that reached up to his feet and a gold band around his chest. His hair looked like white wool, like snow, and his eyes shone like flames of fire. His feet looked like bronze to the living red in an oven, and his voice was as loud as the thunder of many waters. In his right hand he had seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword.

His face was like the sun when it shone in all its splendor. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if dead. But he, placing his right hand on me, said to me, Fear not, for I am the first and the last, I am the one who lives. I was dead, but now I live for the centuries of the centuries, and I have the keys to death and its dominions. So write what you have seen, what happens now and what will happen later. This is the explanation of the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and of the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, the shepherds, and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches. Interesting, that is the introduction. Now, the Apocalypse begins. Chapter 2, which in its Bible is what it says to the church in Ephesus, right? Chapter 2, verse 1. It says, Write to the angel of the church of Ephesus, that is, to the shepherd, to the leader of the church of Ephesus. This says the one who has the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden candlesticks. I know your works. Pause, pause, a moment, I repeat. If Jesus comes to you and touches your shoulder and says, I know your works, How many of us would say, uh oh? Because the first thought that you and I have when we understand or hear, first of all, we know that Jesus is God, right? What does God know? God knows everything. If Jesus is God, what does Jesus know? Everything. Therefore, if Jesus comes to you and says, I know your works, what does he know about us? Everything. Therefore, if Jesus says, I know your works and knows everything, the thought that you and I would naturally have is, uh oh. He's going to fall on me, right? He's going to take out the whip because he knows all my works.

And I also know them. And we would generally think, well, he's going to come and punish us. It is the thought that many have of God. But look how it starts. It says, I know your works, your hard work and your perseverance. I know you can't stand the wicked and that you have put to the test those who claim to be apostles, but they are not. That's the cool thing. that are false. You have persevered and suffered for my name without discouraging you." Hey, what a relief, because he says, I know your works. And what Jesus does here is encourage them, affirm them in the things and in the areas where they were doing it well. And how tremendous is that? How tremendous is it to be able to believe and understand that when Jesus sees me, not only does he know my works, but he wants to encourage me, he wants to affirm me. I think that is something important. I want to motivate you today. What better encouragement than to know that you are a son of God? If you have received Jesus as the Savior of your life, then you are part of his church. You have been forgiven. You have been perfectly and eternally loved. Why? Because if you have received Jesus, you are of Jesus. Therefore, his goal and heart is not how I can punish you. No, his goal is, hey, you are my son. And a good father affirms his children, and I love that. It is good news. In fact, the Bible says that when you and I are sincere in repenting of our sins, it says he is faithful and just in forgiving us of our sins. How many thank God for the forgiveness of our sins? So he affirms, he affirms, blesses, and encourages. But then comes the part of the challenge. Look at verse 4. Revelation 2, verse 4. It says, I love this, this is good, this is good. However, I have against you that you have abandoned your first love. Jesus says, remember where you have fallen. Jesus says, repent and practice again the works you did at the beginning.

If you do not repent, I will go and take your candelabrum from its place. But you have in your favor that you abhor the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also abhor. Okay, okay, let's stop there. We don't have time to unpack this about the Nicolaitans. However, if you study a little, theologically about the Nicolaitans, they were a group of Christians who were mixing, mixing with the message of God, mundane and carnal practices and customs. Specifically, they were mixing acceptance of sexual immorality within the context of the Church and of faith, telling people, perhaps, the idea that you can be good to God and still remain in sexual immorality, which, clearly, the Bible is not correct. It does not say so in the Bible. And it is not very different from what we are seeing today with some sects or some Christian denominations that are embracing or accepting sexual immorality, which does not go with God and does not go with His Word. So, Jesus is saying, Ephesus, I love this, I love that you are persevering, that you are serving, that you are not embracing these false doctrines, but you have to understand something. If there is something that I have against you, it is that you have left your first love. You have left your first love. And it is important that you and I open our ears and our hearts to understand this. In fact, in Revelation 2.7, right there, the next verse says, Whoever has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Whoever comes out victorious, I will give him the right to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Every week, as we unpack the letters to these churches, I think we are going to identify a particular area. And here I give you the first line. The church of Ephesus was a distracted church. What was the church like? That is the word I want us to focus on today. A distracted church. Notice how Jesus describes the church. He says, I love Ephesus. How are they doing this? Hard work, perseverance. They do not tolerate false doctrines. I love that. They have persevered, even for my name. They are on a mission. They are active. They are involved. However, there is one thing that I have against you. That you have left what? The first love. Now, what does Jesus mean by this phrase? The first love. Let me give you an illustration using marriage. In this first illustration. Then I will give another one for singles. How many singles are there in the house? Singles in the vertical church. Come on, get up so that the other singles can see you. That's it. That's it.

Very good. But I also want to talk to the married. There are many people happily married. Amen. Happily married, yes. Some are not happily married, but do not raise your hand. In fact, if you are married, you would agree with me that the way marriage is spelled is T-R-A-B-A-J-O. That's how you spell marriage, work. Because if you don't work in your marriage, your marriage won't work. Is anyone with me? Okay. Intentionality is required. You don't get to have a good marriage accidentally. Are you with me? So, how many times has this happened in marriage? Of course, I'm not talking about mine. And you guys neither, because here we are angels in our marriages, that we float. But sometimes it happens in some marriages out there, that one of the two says, we have to talk. And the other person says, well, yes, let's talk, what do you want to talk about? The first person says, well, I want to talk about us. The other person says, okay, let's talk about us. And this person says, you know, I feel that we are not as close and connected as before. And the other person says, okay, but what do you mean? I don't understand why you're saying this. It's that I feel disconnected, or disconnected. I feel that our hearts are no longer close and together. And generally, the other person is surprised, like, I didn't see this, I don't understand why this is happening.

It's that I feel that we have moved away, we have distanced ourselves. Yes, we live in the same house, but we are disconnected. So, of course, the second person starts to reason, well, I've been working hard, you've been working hard, we have these financial goals, so we are working. And well, yes, the truth is that we haven't had a romantic date, maybe in a few weeks, or maybe a few months. Exactly, that's what I'm saying. I feel that we have disconnected and I would like us to reconnect. So, there you have to make decisions, right? Be intentional and work in marriage. Sometimes, there are cases like this, and we are talking about something more serious, because I think the other is very realistic, right? But now, talking more seriously, there are cases where, and maybe you've heard a story like this, where a person in marriage tells the other person, you know, we have to talk. So, the other person says, well, what do you want to talk about? And the person says, well, it's that I feel that, I feel that there is a problem. What is the problem? I don't love you anymore. I don't love you anymore. And generally, the other person says, what do you mean? Why? No, no, it's that I feel that we have disconnected, we have separated and distanced ourselves, and I have already lost my love for you. And generally, there is someone who is thinking, when did this happen? Where did this happen? At what moment? Why didn't you tell me anything? And this usually happens many times in marriage, where a person basically says, I'm tired, I'm done, I don't want to do this anymore. And the other person is asking, tell me when, how, where, and why?

And in many cases, what happens is that neither of them can guess at what moment it was, at what day it was, or at what situation it was, but rather, over time, naturally in marriage, over time, if there is no intentionality, there is distancing. In English, we say drift. There is distancing. It's not intentional, it's not on purpose, generally, it's simply natural. If we are not intentional, there is distancing. It's like when you are at the beach, as a child, I always loved to be in the waves, boogie board, with the waves, and suddenly, half an hour in the sea, and suddenly, I look back, I don't find myself, ah, they are over there, because without realizing it, I was so distracted, that now there is distancing between where I should be. And this usually happens in marriages. I don't understand how and when it happened. Now, pay attention. This is what Jesus is saying to this church. This is what is going to happen to you if you don't return to the first love. This is what can happen. This can be a consequence. If you are not willing to be intentional, to work, and to look for what we had before, at the beginning, this can happen to you in your relationship with God. And this is a challenge for people like us, and for churches like ours, that we are constantly on a mission, that we are active for the Lord, that we are willing to serve and work hard for the Lord. And the challenge can be that sometimes it is so easy to love serving God that we forget to be with God.

Sometimes it is so easy and so good para Dios, pero se nos olvida disfrutar tiempo con Dios. Como pastor, y predico este mensaje a mí mismo. Como pastor, tengo que tener mucho cuidado con esto, porque si no tengo cuidado, la iglesia se puede convertir en un ídolo para mí. El servir se puede convertir en un ídolo. Entonces, aquí le doy un buen consejo. Aquí está. Ten cuidado de no estar demasiado ocupado trabajando para Dios, mientras descuidas el estar con Dios. ¿Alguien me sigue? No permitas la excusa de estoy trabajando. Yo le digo mucho a los padres, cuando tengo grupos de vida con hombres, especialmente padres, yo les digo, mira, no descuiden a sus hijos. Porque a veces, a veces la excusa de un padre es, estoy trabajando duro para proveer para la familia. Pero así, así de rápido pasan de kinder a graduación de high school. Y el hijo o la hija dice, mi padre proveyó financieramente y materialmente, pero no lo conozco. No tiene mi corazón. Y hay muchos padres que han provisto, pero no tienen el corazón de sus hijos. Entonces, yo no estoy diciendo, no proveas. Estoy diciendo, ¿al costo de qué? Si no voy a poner intencionalidad en mi relación con ellos, va a causar un distanciamiento. Y por eso suele suceder en las relaciones.

No intercambies la intimidad con Dios por actividad para Dios. Así como es fácil, cuando estás casado, descuidar a tu cónyuge y la relación, si no eres intencional, y excusar. No es que estamos trabajando, es que estamos trabajando. Tú sabes, es la lucha. Es la lucha, hermano, todos los días. Pero no estamos convertiendo tiempo. No nos sorprendamos si algún tiempo hay una conversación. Tenemos que hablar. Entonces, lo que Jesús hace en esta carta a la iglesia de Éfeso, es que él, por un lado, la anima y la afirma, pero por otro lado, la confronta y la reta. Y él es muy claro con ellos en ayudarles a entender que están distraídos. Porque hay mucha distracción. Y Jesús dice, tengo un remedio para la distracción. Aquí les voy a dar el apunte, aquí está. El remedio para la distracción está en el texto. Son dos palabras, recordar y arrepentimiento. Ahí mismo en el texto de Apocalipsis 2. Recordar y arrepentimiento. ¿Cuáles son las dos palabras? Recordar y arrepentimiento. Lo primero que Jesús dice en Apocalipsis 2, 5, dice, recuerda. Recuerda de dónde has caído. Jesús está diciendo, recuerda de dónde te he sacado. Recuerda cuando primero me conociste. Recuerda cómo era nuestra relación al principio,

que el fuego estaba caliente, que estábamos cerquita y cercanos y conectados. Recuerda. Recuerda, dice Jesús. Quizás un ejemplo para los que no están casados es simplemente amistades, ¿no? ¿Cuántos de ustedes han experimentado esto que me ha pasado a mí en diferentes momentos de mi vida? Que has conocido a un amigo y literalmente la primera vez que lo conoces, dices, esta persona es un amigo por vida. Hay una conexión tan estrecha que uno dice, wow. Y de repente empiezas a conectar, empiezan a verse todas las semanas, a estar juntos con la familia, se reúnen. Porque hay una amistad y una conexión tan real. ¿Cuántos han experimentado eso con un amigo? Claro, o con una amiga. Es tremendo. O con una familia, amigos. Es algo lindo. Pero mira, si somos honestos, algunos de nosotros tuvimos eso con alguien, pero ahora mismo no hemos hablado con esa persona en dos o tres años. Y no es por algo malo necesariamente, es porque la vida naturalmente, si no somos intencionales, aunque fuimos tremendos amigos en un momento, fácilmente se apaga el fuego. ¿Alguien está conmigo? Entonces, es algo relacional. Es algo relacional.

Y Jesús está diciendo a la iglesia de Éfeso, quiero que recuerdes cuando primero fuimos amigos. Recuerda cuando primero me conociste, ¿quién eras? ¿Dónde estabas? Y cómo yo impacté tu vida, dice Jesús. Recuerda cuando vivías sin paz y ahora tienes una paz que sobrepasa todo entendimiento. Jesús dice, recuerda cuando constantemente cargabas con vergüenza, con culpa y con soledad, y ahora estás conectado a una familia espiritual. Has recibido el perdón y la gracia de Jesús y tienes el Espíritu Santo como tu compañero. Jesús dice, recuerda cuando estabas viviendo sin dirección y sin propósito, pero ahora tienes llamado y propósito en tu vida. Recuerda cuando antes le compartías a todos del evangelio, a todos tus amigos y familiares y conocidos, aún hasta los desconocidos, porque estabas tan apasionado, el fuego estaba caliente y no te avergonzabas de compartir con nadie. Recuerda cuando invitabas a alguien a la iglesia todas las semanas, porque siempre querías que alguien conociera a Jesús, así como tú lo conociste. Recuerda cómo era nuestra conexión al principio, dice Jesús. saying to us, remember. Do you know why? Because we are so prone to forget, forget, and with time, move away. That is why remembering is a discipline. Here I give you a line. In our relationship with God, moving away occurs by default, but maintaining that connection requires intentionality. Being connected in a relationship with God requires focus, attention, time, care, and discipline. One word, intentionality. Jesus says, remember where you have fallen.

So, a couple of questions, two questions that maybe you and I can ask ourselves personally to self-evaluate. Here is one. Have I become so busy with life that I don't have time for the giver of life? And if maybe you say, well, I don't know Jesus, I don't have a relationship with him, well, maybe you would say it this way. Have I become so busy with life that I haven't taken the time to consider who gave me life? I am so full in my agenda that I haven't considered who Jesus is, what he says in his word, and the profound statements that he has made? Because here is the truth. If what Jesus says here is real and true, it has great, eternal, lasting implications. Have you become so busy and distracted in your life that you haven't taken the time to consider what this says? Because you and I, at some point, have to define and decide what we believe about Jesus. For example, haven't you considered John 14, verse 6, where it says, Jesus answered him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Pope if it isn't through me. Who said it? Jesus. Have you taken the time to consider what Jesus said in John 10, verse 9, when he says, I am the door, those who enter through me will be saved. They will enter and leave freely, and they will find good pastures. Have you considered what Acts 4, verse 11 says, where it says, Jesus Christ is the stone that you constructors threw away and that has become the angular stone. In fact, there is salvation in no other. It is not in the Virgin Mary, it is not in the saints, it is not in Mahoma, it is not in Buddha, it is not in Confucius. There is salvation in no other, because there is no other name given to men under heaven through which we can be saved. Jesus. You and I cannot avoid or evade Jesus. We have to consider whether we believe in Jesus or we don't believe in Jesus, because Jesus said some very, very clear and very great things, and the reality is one of two. Either Jesus was crazy, or Jesus is God. It is one of the two. There is no middle ground. Either Jesus is who he says he is, or he was crazy. One more crazy. But you have to define what you believe. I have to define what I believe. We all have to decide and define what we believe about Jesus, and eventually if we receive it or not. Thank you, I don't need it. Everyone will have to make that decision. The Bible also says in Romans 3, Romans 6, verse 23, it says, Well, we have all sinned. Who? Who? The word in the Greek of all means all. In English, all. Who are all? Who does all include? Me and you. All. We have all sinned. No one can reach the glorious goal established by God. Romans 6, verse 23, because the payment of sin is death. Pause. The payment of sin is death. Pause. Who has sinned?

All. Because we are what? Sinners. And the payment of the sin that we deserve is death, while the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. And look at the good news, 1 John 1, verse 9, look at this, But if we confess our sins to God, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all evil. Romans 10, verse 13, For all who invoke the name Nombre del Señor será salvo. Aquí está mi desafío para cada uno de ustedes hoy, y le voy a hablar a dos grupos de personas. El primer grupo, si tú has experimentado personalmente la gracia salvadora de Jesús, y la has recibido como tu salvador, le pregunto, ¿cuándo fue la última vez que te detuviste para intencionalmente agradecerle y expresar tu amor por Él, por lo que Él ha hecho por ti? ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que te detuviste para, escúchame, para escuchar intencionalmente y apartar un tiempo intencional para permitir que el Espíritu Santo hable y ministre tu corazón personalmente? Yo creo que estos 21 días de oración van a proveer un espacio bien especial para todos aquellos de nosotros que queremos eso en nuestras vidas, porque es posible que el fuego de algunos se ha apagado, y es posible que Jesús está diciendo, hey, no descuides el primer amor. Y de repente tú dices, bueno, yo nunca he estado en una oración de 21 días, pues ven. Y yo sí he estado antes, pues ya tú sabes que eso es poderoso. Pero no esperes resultados diferentes

si no pruebas cosas diferentes, espiritualmente hablando. Ahora, el segundo grupo, si tú nunca has experimentado personalmente la gracia salvadora de Jesús, nunca has recibido a Jesús como tu salvador, te preguntaría esto, ¿cuándo fue la última vez que te detuviste para intencionalmente considerar las implicaciones de quién verdaderamente es Jesús y qué crees acerca de él? Porque si la Biblia es verdad, aquí hay una realidad seria, y se las doy. Puedes tener todo lo demás, pero si no tienes a Jesús, no tienes nada. Con todo el respeto y con todo el amor y con convicción te lo digo, puedes tener todo lo demás, pero si no tienes a Jesús, no tienes nada. Si tu vida está llena de todo, pero no tienes a Jesús, tu vida está vacía. La vida sin Jesús no es vida. Ten cuidado de no ganar en todas las categorías, pero perder en la única que tiene implicaciones eternas. No te preocupes tanto por lo temporal sin dar tiempo y atención a lo eterno. Entonces Jesús le escribe a la iglesia de Éfeso, querida iglesia, me encanta su arduo trabajo. Quizás sonaría para nosotros así. Querida iglesia vertical, diría Jesús, me encanta el trabajo que hacen semana tras semana.

Me encanta que son valientes y hacen cinco servicios todos los domingos. Me encanta que algunos son en español y algunos son en inglés. Me encanta que tienen más de 600 personas activamente sirviendo en el equipo Impacto, en diferentes equipos ministeriales entre domingos y los domingos. Me encanta que son una iglesia que persevera, que no se dan por vencidos aún en la pandemia. Nunca dejaron que un domingo pasara sin transmitir un servicio. Me encanta esa tenacidad, dice Jesús. Me encanta que están construyendo mis reinos. Me encanta que empezaron como un grupo de vida, un estudio bíblico en una casa que han crecido y ahora han comprado nueve acres para poder establecer el reino de Dios aquí en Sunrise. Me encanta, dice Jesús, estoy orgulloso de ustedes por no tolerar lo maligno, por no tolerar las falsas doctrinas, por predicar el evangelio todos los domingos sin vergüenza, sin comprometerla. Gracias, el Señor dice, estoy orgulloso por ustedes que no han caído en falsas doctrinas, que han sido claros en lo que es la verdad. Gracias por permanecer. Sin embargo, sin embargo, dice Jesús, tengo en tu contra que has abandonado tu primer amor.

Me encanta que tienes Biblia memorizada. Me encanta que conoces la escritura. Me encanta que sirve compasión. Pero, pero, pero, ¿de qué sirve todo eso? Si has perdido el amor conmigo. Y la segunda pregunta que tú y yo nos podemos hacer es esta. Importante. ¿Estoy dispuesto a escuchar la voz de todos los demás, pero no la voz de Dios? ¿Será que en mi vida tomo tiempo para escuchar las voces de todos? ¿Hasta la voz de inteligencia artificial? ¿Y la voz de influencers en redes y en línea? ¿Y la voz de amigos y personas, pero realmente no tomo el tiempo para escuchar la voz y los consejos del Señor? ¿Alguna vez te ha pasado esto? Estás hablando con una persona y crees que es algo importante, pero te das cuenta que esa persona no está poniendo atención. Está distraída. Está como que mirando por allá. O sea, tú le estás hablando y está mirando para allá. Y terminas de decirle lo que le estás diciendo importante y le pregunta, le hace una pregunta y dice, ah, perdóname, es que no te estaba escuchando. Repeat it again. No, no. Then you tell him again, and he's still distracted. And you tell him, repeat it again.

Frustrating or not? I think that many times Jesus feels frustrated with us. Because he's talking to us, but we're distracted. He's talking to us, but we're distracted. And when we're distracted, we deviate. And when we deviate, we move away. And when we move away, the fire, the proximity, goes out. I think that's why this letter to the Church of Ephesus. We've already read it, Revelation 1.3 says, Deuteronomy 6.3 Jeremiah 7.26 Look at this, look at this. He hasn't even tried to hear me. They've been stubborn and even worse sinners than their ancestors. I hope God doesn't say that about us. When was the last time that you intentionally took the time for God

to speak to you? This is not to bring condemnation. This is to help you understand that you may possibly be distracted. Why? Because there are so many voices in this world competing for our attention. And that's why it's so easy to fall into distraction. When was the last time that you took the time intentionally to listen to God? Some would say, well, Pastor, if I'm honest, it's been a long time. And others would say, well, to be honest, I've never spoken to God, I've never looked for Him. Well, Jesus gives us the remedy for distraction, in two words, reminiscence and repentance. When Jesus says, Have you forsaken the first love? He means, have you been negligent with it? Have you ignored it for a while? And that's why Jesus says,

I'm calling you to repent. Here's a good line. Repentance. Jesus calls us to change direction and return to Him. The biblical word we find in the original scriptures for repentance is metanoia. Metanoia means a new way of thinking that leads to a new direction. That's why there has to be a renewal of understanding and the new direction is to return to Jesus. So, why repentance? Because many times we've been distracted and when we're distracted we take the wrong direction. What does the Lord say? What does Jesus recommend? Well, change direction. Change your way of thinking. How? Through repentance. Return to Me. Remember and repent. So, if you know Jesus and you have a relationship with Him and you've accepted Him at some point

you have to remember what you did at the beginning. Remember the relationship, the first love. Now, if you don't know Jesus you have to repent and return, change direction. Revelation 2.5, we've already read it but it says, repent and practice the works you did at the beginning. If you don't repent, I will go and take away from your place your candelabrum. Lord, Lord, don't take away anything that you want me to have. That's my prayer. Lord, don't take away any candelabrum, don't take away anything don't take away any grace, any presence don't take away anything that you want for me in my life. Don't take away your purpose don't take away your presence, don't take away anything. And Jesus is saying, watch out, there can be consequences if you don't repent. But if you repent, look at what Acts 3 says,

I love it, it says, repent of your sins and return to God so that your sins may be erased. So, from the presence of the Lord, listen, there will come times of ref... That sounds good, doesn't it? How many of you want a time of refreshment with the Lord? Amen? Sometimes, sometimes we are slow to repent. What is repenting? It is confessing, taking the light out, changing our mind and returning to God. Sometimes we are negligent in repenting because we feel and think, if we repent, sin will fall on us with the whip. Punisher! No, no, he says, I want you to repent to be able to take away the weight and the pain of sin on you, to erase them from your lives. No, no, but if I repent and I expose it and I confess to God, then he is going to put me in shame. No, no, no, he wants to take you away, he wants to cover you. So that you have what? Time of refreshment, refreshing with the Lord. So, what is my cry? What is the main call of this message? It is a phrase, here I leave it to you, return to your first love, return to your first love. And for some of you, they understand it perfectly, why? Because they remember it. You know who you were and where you were and where you fell and where the Lord took you. You know and remember what that time was like when Jesus rescued you and you say, I want

that, then you can work and return to heat that fire, okay? But for others, others have no idea, because they are thinking, how do I return to someone that not only I never loved, but I never knew? Well let me give you some very good news, I love this verse, 1 John 4.19, very simple, it says, we love because he loved us first. He loved us what? He loved us first. If you see, even if to this day you have never invested a moment in your life to consider or think of God, if today you decide to consider it and open your heart to it, you can return to your first love with God. Why? Because he loved you first. You are already loved, even if you have never loved him, even if you have never known him. Why? Because he knows you. He is the one who created you, he is the one who formed you, he is the one who gave you life, he is the one who breathed life into your lungs. God loves you with an indelible love beyond what you and I can imagine, he knows you more than you know yourself, he knows you more than others know you and he loves you more than anyone else can ever love you. Even if you have never thought of God, if you have never confessed to Jesus, if you have never looked for him, today you can return to first love because he loved you first and you can repent and receive from him what only he can offer you. So I conclude with a question and with a lot of love, I ask, what is the Holy Spirit talking to you today, here, in this message? Yes, of course, Jesus wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus, he wrote it to the church in Ephesus, but I think it also applies to our lives today. Would you be willing to be more intentional in seeking to be with God and listen to him? Would you be willing to not only seek to attend a service on a Sunday, or perhaps even serve in some way in the church, would you be willing to take time to be with him consistently?

If you have had a good time, that you have connected to listen to him, take the first remedy, remember, remember, remember who he is and who you are, remember when you first met him, remember where he took you from, remember what that relationship was like at the beginning, and if you have never met him, then I encourage you to repent today, receive Jesus and give him an opportunity to be God in your life. I want to pray two prayers to finish, one for everyone and the second for him or her who says, you know, today I want to receive Jesus as my Savior. Close your eyes, tilt your face. Thank you, Lord, for this word that today on the one hand encourages us and affirms us and on the other hand perhaps challenges us and corrects us. We want to be a receptive and attentive church to your voice. We want to be Christians attentive to the voice of our Savior. Forgive us, Lord, if we have abandoned our first love with you. Forgive us if we have allowed that flame of love with you to decrease. Forgive us, Lord, if we have been negligent in being intentional, in knowing you more, in praying, in reading your word and connecting with you. But thank you because you give us a good remedy, Jesus. You give us the remedy of remembering and the remedy of repentance. We take advantage of this letter written to the church in Ephesus and we understand that sometimes we are that church, we are that person who needs this message. So help us, strengthen us and guide us, Lord, to honor you in every area of our lives, to remember, to repent sincerely and to always be closer to you. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.