"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love"

The title of this post, is found in verse 4 of Rev 2:1-7.

The first 7 verses of Rev 2, are a letter sent by Jesus through John the apostle to the church at Ephesus.

This letter, like the other 6 found in Rev chapters 2-3, are each addressed to the angel, or messenger, or pastor of the church the letter is being written to.

Most of the letters are like this first one, where there is quite a lot of commendation, and then a word or two of correction and rebuke. The only two that did not receive correction were the Churches of Smyrna, and Philadelphia.

To Ephesus, the Lord again, ( as He did in the first chapter, ) says, that He is holding the seven stars, or the messengers in His right hand, and that He walks in the midst of the lampstands, or the church. So, He is there, in the church, in a very intimate and personal way.

He goes on to say, that He knows a number of things about the church ( of course, the Lord knows everything about all things, but here He just lists some things ) There are about 10 things that Jesus says here.

1. I know you works.
2. Your labor.
3. Your patience.
4. And, that you cannot bear those who are evil.
5. You have tested those who say they are apostles, and are not.
6. And you have found them liars.
7. You have persevered.
8. And have patience.
9. And have labored for My names sakes.
10. And have not become weary.

Then the Lord points out the one thing that He has against them, or the thing that He wants them to change. He also by the way, not only points what He has against them, but He shows them what to do about it, and then also gives them a warning.

"that you have left, or are leaving your fist love" The word left, means an intentional, not accidental act. Some 30 years earlier, Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, ( see chapter 1:15-16, had commended them for their love. But, here, 30 years later, Jesus is reproving them for leaving it.

At one time they had a great love for the Lord, but, now they were leaving that love. ( Although, they were continuing on in their various Christian activities and ministries. ) This is a sobering reality.
That as believers, we can leave that love for Christ, and all the while keep right on with our involvement in church and such.

The remedy is given by the Lord. It's a 3-fold remedy. The three "R's"

1. Remember therefore from where you have fallen.
2. Repent.
3. Repeat, or do your first works.

There is also a warning from Jesus given to the Ephesian church. "Or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from it's place-unless you repent.
So, this removal of them from their place as it were, but, it they repented, all would be well.

What does this mean? To have their lampstand removed from it's place? Perhaps, it means that their usefulness would cease. The Ephesian church would no longer be useful in the hands of the Lord.

One thing we can deduct from this warning that a healthy and useful church has at it's core, members, who are not only active in their Christian works and such, but are primarily and centrally, focused on loving the Lord. That all healthy ministry flows out of, and from that primary relationship. And, the Lord will not have it any other way. Love is what makes a church powerful.

There was one other word of commendation for this church, and it's found in 2:6,
"But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate"
So, they hated something, and it was the same thing Jesus hated. Interesting to hear Jesus say that He hates something.

What is it.? Well, there were followers of one, Nicolas. His name is mentioned in Act 6:5, according the to the early church fathers.

Here's what is believed to have been going on. A sect, or group arose, which advocated what is called "license" in matters of Christian conduct, which included among other things, "free love"
A kind of anything goes attitude in relationships with one another.

Additionally, it's believed that they were also misusing the roles and offices of leadership.
The word "Nicolaitans" means, conquering the people. So, there was then this group of people who were promoting a kind of religious, or clerical hierarchy. See also Rev 2:15

So, in Rev 2:6, the Lord simply states that they had this going on, and that He hated it.

Finally, at the end of this brief 7 verse letter to the Ephesian church, the Lord appeals to them and then gives them a promise.

The appeal........."He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. "
The promise......."To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God"

So, that marks the first of 7 letters given to the 7 churches that were in Asia.
According to Rev 1:19, these letters it seems, comprise what is called in the book of Rev, "the things that are" Or the church age.

If indeed, that is the correct way to look at the time line of the churches, then it means that starting in Rev 4, you have the things which are to come , or the things that will take place after the church age.

Thus, Rev 4-19, which comprise the majority of the book of Rev, would show us that what is called the great tribulation will take place at the end of the church age, or just after the church is removed from the earth. That removal has been called the rapture of the church.

See Rom 5:8, 1st Thess 4:13-18, and 1st Thess 5:8. These tell us what we as christians are delivered from, and will not be subjected to, and what we can expect by way of meeting the Lord etc.

Well, more to come tomorrow on the 2nd of the 7 churches in Revelation.

May God bless you.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

The things Jesus said, and said about Himself in Revelation chapter 1

Rev 1:11 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.

Rev 1:17 Do not be afraid; I Am the First and the Last.

Rev 1:18a I Am He who lives and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. Amen.

Rev 1:18b And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Four simple statements, that are the most profound thing anyone could ever say. These things are true about Jesus. He said them because they are true. Let's just look at each one briefly.

# 1. Alpha and Omega, are the first and the last letters of the Greek Alphabet, indicating that the Lord God is the beginning and the end of all things.

# 2. Do not be afraid: I Am the First and the Last. This was the first thing from Jesus to John, that was instruction if you will to John personally, and it's based on who Jesus is. Here is something John, "not to be" Do not be afraid. Do not fear, don't be in terror, or fright. And the reason is, because of who I am. I'm eternal, I was here before anything. I'm the one who lives forever. My person and position is greater then any problem, or predicament you may find yourself in. So, Do not be afraid.

# 3. And, this is somewhat of a repeat, but with explanation. I'm the one who lives and was dead, and I'm alive forevermore, Amen. Looking at His current state, He was alive, but looking back at His time here on earth, and focusing on the cross, where He died. He was at one point dead. But, now, being alive, He is also alive, never to die again, but is alive forevermore. Or for eternity.

# 4. There are two keys that Jesus has. This places Him in the position of authority over these two areas. One is hades, or modern day hell, where the souls of unbelievers go upon their death, as they await the final judgement, and then they will be cast into the lake of fire. The other is death itself.
Death is under the control of Jesus, in that He has conquered it. The separation that sin brought to man, has been fixed if you will by Jesus. He bridged the separation, by becoming separated from His Father, and dying, but only to be raised from the dead, and alive, to never die again. He is the authority over death.


When you review what Jesus said, it mostly has to do with His eternal nature, and ability to influence our lives, and the great authority He has, and the peace we have by being in Him.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

Are you discouraged? This may encourage you.

Isaiah 49: 4 Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, And my work with my God.’”

This may have been Isaiah speaking in the first part of verse 49, expressing that he felt that his labor and work in the Lord was in vain. He did not seem to see any results from his work.

Also, in the middle part of the verse, he says the same thing a little differently. "I have spent my strength for nothing in vain"

This seems to mean, that as he looked back on all the work he had done, all the strength and energy that he had put into his work, his ministry that it was for nothing it was in vain, it was ( as far as he could tell ) futile and empty of results or fruit. 

These thoughts and feelings of discouragement are not uncommon to the servants of God. In fact, there is no doubt that the Lord would not be the one to initiate them within a person's mind. 

On the same note, many over the years have said, that discouragement is one of satan's "favorite tools and weapons" and he uses it all the time against God's people. 

But, as we look at the rest of verse 4, we see the truth of God coming to the forefront of the prophets mind and heart. In other words, he was coming around to his right mind, to the mind of the Lord, the way things really are as far as God is concerned. This truth is truth, it's not a made up thing, to be used by the enemy to hurt and discourage, but to encourage, and to build up, and to give strength and peace. 

Please note the two things that are said in 49:4b

1. "Yet surely my just ( or justice ) reward is with the Lord"

How true this is. Our service here on earth is connected with rewards and treasures that are being stored and reserved in heaven for us. God keeps them, and will give them to us when we arrive there in heaven.

2. "And my work ( or my recompense ) is with my God" The Bible teaches us, and tells us that God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love, and also that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

So, while we may feel sometimes like Isaiah did, ( and I'm quite certain we all do from time to time ) the truth is, that our feelings are just that feelings. And the eternal, true, truth is that God is reserving our treasures and rewards in heaven. And, there is coming a day when we will stand before Him, and He will lavishly distribute them to to us, and reward us in a just and gracious manner. 

So, may you be encouraged today, as your thoughts might turn away from your feelings, and rest upon the truth found in God and in Christ, and in His precious Word. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

What are the keys of Hades and Death that Christ has?

See Rev 1:18  “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.


Jesus explains who He is, and what He has with Him. 


First of all then, "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore" What do these three things mean?


Jesus is alive. That's what He says about Himself. He had existed eternally in glory with the Father, and with the Holy Spirit, but then came to the earth, being born of a virgin, and entered humanity as a little baby. He grew and then entered His ministry, doing many miracles, teaching many things, demonstrating that He was God, but then accomplishing what He primarily came to do. 


And, that was to die on the cross for the sins of the world. He came to die for our sins. That was His hour, and He accomplished it. He finished it. He was then buried in the ground, as is most anyone who has died. He had a funeral if you will, His body being put into a tomb. He was dead. 


But, then on the 3rd day, He arose from the dead. And, it's these twin truths that Jesus mentions to start with. I am alive, I was dead, but now I'm alive. He rose from the dead. 


There is an additional thing he says here....I am alive forevermore. So, I was dead, I'm am alive now, but not just alive in the sense that anyone is alive, I'm alive forevermore. Or forever, and forever.  I will not die, I will never change my being alive status. I will continue to live into eternity, and for eternity, forever, and forever. 


So, He came from eternity, into this temporal existence, and is now back in eternity if you will, and it's forever as a man raised from the dead. 


Secondly, Jesus speaks of two keys He has. The keys of Hades and the Keys of Death. These two keys. 


What does all of this mean? 


1. Keys speak of authority.
2. Jesus has authority over Hades and Death.
3. Hades is where unbelievers go at this time when they die.
4. Hades holds the immaterial part or soul of unbelievers. 
5. Hades will one day be emptied.
6. Those in Hades will go to the lake of fire forever. 
7. Jesus has victory over death. 
8. He has the key or authority over death. 
9. Jesus proved this by raising from the dead.
10. Jesus will always have the key over death.
11. Jesus is alive forevermore.


What does all of this mean for those who believe in Christ?


1. It means we will not go to Hades or the Lake of Fire.
2. The reason, is that we are in Christ.
3. And, Christ has the authority over these two places. 
4. We will be with Christ forevermore. 
5. We have eternal life in Christ. 
6. We also will live forever, and not die again if you will. 


Death is the great enemy of man, and Christ has defeated Death. Man exists now in this world, and will one day leave this world and arrive in an eternal dwelling place. 


There are only two places that a man can go after he dies. But, those places are determined not after death, but while alive here on earth. 


God wants every man to wind up not in the lake of fire, but in heaven with Him. 


The good news is, that heaven is available for anyone who will come to Christ, and receive Him into their lives as savior.


Blessings to you.....
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

God has given us revelation, to know what will happen.

See Revelation Chapter 1.

First of all, this is for His servants. The Lord specifically gave this Book of Revelation, to show His servants the things that would come to pass.

Prophecy, is not prediction, or fortune telling, or communication with the dead. Prophecy is when God speaks and reveals what He wants to reveal about the future. It's one of the characteristics of God that sets Him apart from anyone, or anything that people might worship, or hold in high regard as some great and powerful personage, or entity etc. Only the Living and the true God, The Father of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself, and the Holy Spirit have this ability.

Secondly, the prophecy contained in the Book of Revelation is associated with a blessing to those who hear it, and  read it, and to those keep it. Blessed means to be happy. There is then a certain happiness that one will have as they hear, read and keep what's in this book.

Thirdly, the contents of this book were to be given to seven particular churches that existed at the time John received this revelation. Those churches were located in what is modern day Turkey.
However, most Bible Scholars, commentators, and teachers are of the opinion that the seven churches also are representative to two things.

1. Church History. From the inception of the church, right on through to the last days church.

2. The lessons in these letters can have application to any Christian at any time.( That is, for example, "leaving your first love" as with the church of Ephesus. Well, they, thatactual church was indeed losing it's first love, but, so with the average Christian, they canalso find themselves losing their first love. So, the letters in chapter 2-3 do have both a historical application to seven particular churches, but also to you and I as christians )

The Lord is very self revealing in this book of Revelation and very much so in the first chapter.
As you read it through you might try counting up the specific things that are said about Jesus.
It's a long and detailed list.

Let me just mention a few of them to you.

1. He is the God of grace and peace. Jesus gives grace and gives peace. See Rev 1:4.
This means, that He can give us grace and peace. He is unchanging and thus, these
blessings are also available for us today.

2. He is intimately connected with His church. He is standing in the midst of His church. He is in
His church ( although there are some warnings in the 2nd 3rd chapter about His removing
Himself from the church etc ) But, to start with He is in His church. And His church is not a
building, but it's people. And people are individually members of His church. A Christian is a
church member, and Christ is in that person. Christ in you, is how the Bible puts it.

So, the one who gives grace and peace is in you if you are a christian.

Let's today, as we begin this first week of the new year, 2012, and head to our various church services this week and coming weekend, be blessed by this book of Revelation, and be receivers today of His grace, and of His peace.

We can pray for those blessings. We can ask for them. We can have them multiplied through the knowledge of God, that is through His Word.

May God bring great, and abundant blessings of peace and grace to you today, and lay that foundation moving into the new year.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.

As you go into the new year, some thoughts to consider, and apply

Paul was looking forward to the future, but making plans in the present. Here are a few simple thoughts and truths from Scripture, that I pray will be an encouragement to you. 


God had been at work in the past in Timothy's life, just has He has in yours. Those things in the past are a bridge into where Timothy was at the time of this writing, and the same would apply to each and every Christian. .  See 2nd Tim 1:6-18  Here's a quick recap of that section. ( Taking what was said and what was true of Timothy, and applying these Scriptural truths and principles to your own life )


1. Your spiritual giftedness may need to be stirred up.
2. God has not given you a spirit of fear.
3. But rather of power, love, and a sound mind.
5. Do not be ashamed of Christ's testimony.
6. Do not be ashamed of other Christians.
7. Share in the sufferings for the gospel's sake.
8. Sufferings are helped and endured by God's power.
9. God has saved you, and called you. 
10. Salvation is not based on your works.
11. Salvation is based on God's purpose and grace.
12. Salvation was given to us in Christ Jesus.
13. Salvation and Christ Jesus were before time began. 
14. Salvation has now been revealed to us. 
15. Salvation has appeared to us in Christ Jesus.
16. Salvation means, death is abolished.
17. Salvation brought life and immortality to light. 
18. Salvation is brought to light in the gospel of Christ. 


There were a few more things that Paul said to Timothy, that can be directly applied to our lives as well. 


1. God has an appointment for you in ministry.
2. God determines our appointments to and in ministry.
3. Ministry and suffering go together.
4. Not being ashamed and ministry go together also.
5. We know who we have believed in. 
6. We are persuaded He is able to keep us.
7. We can and ought to commit ourselves to Him.
8. He keeps those who know Him. 
9. Commitment now, is connected with the future day. 




Even more things to do from Paul to Timothy


1. Hold fast the pattern of sound Words.
2. Hold them fast in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.
3. Keep by God's Spirit, what He has committed to you. 
4. Be merciful even to those who hate you. 




Now, onto the the future. Here are some really wonderful truths and blessings, and points of application from Scripture. 


1. Be made being strong in the grace in Jesus Christ.
    In other words, in light of who you are, and the gifts God has 
    given you, find your strength day by day in God's grace.
    That grace is found in Christ Jesus.


2. Commit the things you have heard to other faithful men.
    You have heard many things, i.e truths over your time in 
    Christ, and that's what you can pass on to others. 


3. Others can take the truths of Jesus Christ, and, can teach
    others as well. It's passing on what you know to others.


4. Endure the hardships like a good soldier would endure them.

5. No one who is engaged in warfare can get entangled with 
    the affairs of this life. In other words, stay focused on your
    mission. 


6. The Christian life is often described in military terms.


7. Be like an athlete. Or stick to the rules. Athletes must play 
    by the rules, or they cannot win the crown. 


8. Hard working farmers, also enjoy tasting and eating of their
    crops. 




Lastly, Paul encouraged Timothy to simply consider what he had been saying, and explained that the Lord would give him understanding in these things. Consideration of God's Truths are blessed by God, who gives the "considerer" understanding or insight. 


Remember Jesus Christ, from the seed of David, was raised from the dead, according to the gospel that Paul the apostle preached. 


Paul suffered because he was a preacher of the gospel. He was put in prison, but, he mentions that God's Word is never bound. 


Finally, Paul endured all that he did endure for the sake of the elect. He was dedicated to serving God's people. And, he was dedicated to serving the Lord, with others coming to faith as well. He was an evangelist. He was committed to evangelism. 




Well, I trust that the above thoughts from God's Word may be of some encouragement to you. And, may God truly bless His work in and through your life as we move into this New Year. 


Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

Revelation 1:17-20 Exposition and Application

After John heard the voice behind him, and then turned to see who it was, and having then seen the Lord as He is described there in verses 12-16, we now have John's reaction. He fell to the ground as if dead.

Of course he did not really die, but he did fall to the ground, as if he was dead. The sight of Jesus Christ in His glorious body and state, was so awesome that John could only fall to the ground. This same reaction is seen and found in some of the priests in the OT.

At this point, Jesus spoke again to John. This is the second time in this chapter that He did so.
The first time was in 1:11, but now, He speaks again. He first of all had identified Himself as the Eternal God, and instructed John to write in a book the things he was seeing, and then to send it to the seven churches that are in Asia.

But, now, Jesus speaks again to this aged apostle who was just prostrated before Him, and says something so familiar to anyone who has read the Bible. It's a phrase and statement that God often uses and says to His people. It is, "Do not be afraid" But, He also did something else, He laid His right hand upon John. Now, in the Bible, the right hand is considered to be a symbol of power, and it is an expression of not only power but of will and encouragement, affirmation, commission etc. It's very comforting and a real blessing.

There were a number of things the Lord said about Himself to John at this point.

1. I Am the First and the Last.
2. I Am He who lives and was dead.
3. And, behold I live forevermore.
4. Amen.
5. I have the keys of Hades and Death.

So, He was saying, I'm the eternal God. I'm the One who came to the earth, took on a body, died for your sins, and was buried, and then rose again.
I'm alive forevermore. I'll never die again. That phase of my ministry is accomplished and finished.
Amen or so be it. I'm affirming this eternal truth about Myself, and My mission to redeem man.
And, because of who I Am, I possess the ability to open the door and release men from death, and to also allow them to go into eternal judgment.

Finally in the next two verses, Jesus gives John further explanation about what to do. It's somewhat of a repetition to what He had said earlier in 1:11. Additionally, what's said to John at this point, covers the entire history of man from that time, till the end of man's rule upon this earth, extending into what is called the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth and beyond.

Jesus also gave explanation to some of what John had seen. This is so helpful for us. He explains the mystery as He calls it, of the seven stars and the seven golden lampstands.

The seven stars in the right hand of Jesus are the seven angels, or messengers, or pastor's of the seven churches that are listed in chapters 2-3. And represent the future pastors and leaders who would find themselves ministering in the church of Jesus Christ.

The seven lampstands are the seven churches.

So, what we know from this explanation is the intimate involvement of Jesus Christ with and in His church.


Some applicational thoughts.....

1. God often repeats Himself for our benefit.
2. We must need to have His Word repeated, or He would not do it.
3. Fear is one of the common emotions we have to deal with.
4. God's prescription for our fear is "do not be afraid"
5. The prescription is based on who He is in our lives.
6. Not being afraid is linked intimately with who He is.
7. One thing the Lord wants us to know is His eternal nature.
8. God very frequently tells us He is eternal.
9. Forevermore, is waiting for us.
10. Forevermore is actually waiting for everyone.
11. Forevermore with God is what He wants.
12. Forevermore without God is not what He desires.
13. Jesus received into a life, means forevermore with God.
14. The call to John was to write, or to serve.
15. God has a call upon each one of our lives also.


Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia















God is more awesome then we know.
Bowed down before Him is an appropriate reaction to God.