We started yesterday to examine four questions asked by God that might better help us understand and appreciate what those ‘first works’ are that Jesus advised a church to do that had ‘lost their first love’ (Rev. 2:4) So if you missed the past two days, may I encourage you to catch up before reading on here today.

Now before we continue on with the other ‘two questions’ that we have on record where God asked some folks, (and I believe He’s still asking us today)... I feel a need to address an important point from yesterday’s message. It has to do with this ‘walk of peace’ that we’ve been called to walk in. It really is ‘a thing’ and not just some good, flowery, religious words that we like to acknowledge or sing about from time to time.

His ‘peace’ was meant to abide in us and be our ‘guide’ (Phil. 4:7; John 14:27); and when we stray from that ‘path of peace’ (Luke 1:79)...we will ‘lose that peace’ which is God’s way of letting us know we are ‘drifting out of our lane’ and/or have sinned.

And sinning is never a good thing, especially when we have been ‘re-conditioned & hardwired’ by God to ‘go and sin no more’ (John 5:14; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 John 3:6,9). What I’m about to share here may be a source of discomfort for some who read it, but it needs to be said and all I can do is speak the truth in love, and trust the Holy Spirit to ‘confirm His word’ to you (Acts 17:11; John 16:12-13)

There really is deceptive snare that could be labeled as a ‘false peace’...that many sincere yet misguided people are walking in today. And it comes from having received ‘another gospel’, perhaps ‘following another Jesus’ and yes...even ‘receiving another spirit’. Paul warned this could easily happen to those who are deceived (2 Cor. 11:3-4). And here’s a thought to chew on- ‘Deceived people don’t know they are deceived’. I know...that could never happen to you, but it’s all those ‘other folks’ we are talking about now, right? And how often are we warned in scripture to: Be. Not. Deceived! (Matt. 24:4-5; 1 Cor. 6:9; Eph. 5:5-6; James 1:16). Let’s not forget who is behind all this deception either- (2 Cor. 11:14-15; Rev. 12:9)

Do you know how this deception is spread? Usually through false teachers and prophets, who ‘outwardly look like sheep, but inwardly are ravenous wolves’ (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29; 1 Tim.4:1). And may I let you in on how one of the most effective ways this deception or lie operates in the ‘church’ world today? Perhaps you can read Jeremiah 23:16-29 first and I would also include Ezekiel 13 as well. We are warned of those who might come preaching a ’peace and safety message’ that basically says you can still ‘have peace’ and that ‘nothing bad or evil will come upon you’...when you sin. No really...please note in those passages where this is exactly what is being taught.

Now I will admit that many who may advocate this message have been deceived themselves and are only regurgitating what they have always heard taught to them. One can be sincere, and yet... be ‘sincerely wrong’. (Rom. 10:2-3). And the message usually is presented along these lines- ‘God knows you are a sinner, a flawed and imperfect human who will always continue to sin on this side of heaven’. The problem with that is it does not line up with God’s word. In fact it sounds eerily familiar to another conversation we read in Genesis 3:1-5. Then, folks are told that they need not worry about being ‘punished’ for these ongoing sin issues is because “Jesus took all our punishment for us on the cross”. Perhaps you have a bumper sticker or T-shirt or plaque hanging up on your wall that reminds us that ‘Christians are not perfect, just forgiven’. How quaint and convenient is that? But again, it is a perversion of God’s word.

You nor I or anyone else...can continue to walk along this ‘highway of holiness’ and ‘abide in His peace and joy’ while at the same time continuing to ‘sin’ ...or ‘walk according to the dictates of your own heart’, which is another way of saying ‘walking according to the flesh(nature)’. May I again point you to Jer. 23:17 and Deut. 29:19 and Rom. 8:13 for reference.

When a false doctrine, or a ‘deceptive lie’ has captured our hearts, it has a tendency to cause our hearts to harden and then be resistant to God’s word. We usually, as a result... end up walking in a ‘form of godliness’ which both Jesus and Paul addressed (2 Tim. 3:5; Mark 7:6-13). Anyone familiar with the classic story about the “Emperor Who Wore No Clothes”?

I know...a lot to process there, but even Paul warned of a day coming when they would still be saying ‘peace and safety’...only to meet ‘sudden destruction’ (1 Thess.5:2-3).

And real quick... one other point I should mention that you might spend some time reflecting on has to do with whether a person has ever truly, genuinely... come to Jesus in true repentance, having surrendered their entire heart to the Lord, and then been washed over with His love and peace and joy, which is what Acts 3:19 promises would happen. It is referred to there as the ‘refreshing of the Lord’s presence’.

I have no doubts that countless ‘good people’ today who sit on church pews may have ‘joined a church’ after ‘praying to accept Christ’ and are just coasting along as good ‘saints who sin’, but have never fully turned to God with ‘all their heart and soul and mind’. They might be the first to admit that ‘something is missing’ in their walk or ‘spiritual lives’ but have no idea what it is; they just do what they’ve always been taught to do, which is go along with that crowd of other good, likeminded folks. (Matt. 7:13-14). Chances are that many have no recollection of ever being immersed in His presence of peace upon ‘conversion’.

But to those who do remember, and know in their heart they are no longer walking in such a place, having ‘lost their first love’ ...and need to ‘do those first works’ again (Rev. 2:4)...I now leave you with Question #3:

“Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:6)