Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Amen. (Revelation 1:4-5)

Lord Jesus, you who hold the destiny of the Church in your hand, we ask that you bless those at Epiphany that they may continue to work hard and persevere even in the face of opposition by wicked men in our world. Help them to persevere and endure hardships in your name and not grow weary. Lead them to repentance and love. Move them to hear your Spirit’s words of correction and comfort so they may one day be given the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Amen.

How does a typical husband respond when his wife comes down with a cold? In the first year of marriage: "Sugar Dumpling, I’m really worried about my baby girl. You’ve got a bad sniffle, and there’s no telling how bad it can get so I’m taking you to the hospital where I’ve reserved a private room for you. I know the food’s lousy, so I’ll be bringing your meals in from the Chancery."

Second year of marriage: "Listen, Darling, I don’t like the sound of that cough and I’ve called the doctor to rush right over. Now you go to bed like a good girl, and I’ll take care of everything." Third year: "Maybe you’d better lie down, Honey. Nothing like a little rest when you’re feeling lousy. I’ll bring you something. Do we have any canned soup?" Fourth year: "Now look, Dear, be sensible. After you feed the kids, do the dishes, and mop the floor, you’d better get some rest." Fifth year: "Why don’t you take a couple aspirin?" Sixth year: "If you’d just gargle or something instead of sitting around barking like a seal all night..." Seventh year: "For Pete’s sake, stop that sneezing! What are you trying to do, give me pneumonia?"

Love has a way of growing cold unless we work hard to keep it fresh and alive. That’s true in our human relationships and also true in our relationship with Jesus. Our relationship with Jesus takes the same kind of commitment and effort required for a good marriage.

Sadly, though, Jesus had to criticize the Ephesian congregation for its lack of love. He said: "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love." These Ephesian Christians were working hard, but they worked more out of a sense of duty than a sense of love. They had lost their love for Jesus and their fellow believers. Their faith and love had started out strong in the beginning, and then it just slowly faded away over the years.

This morning we listen to what Jesus said to the Ephesian congregation and apply his words to our Epiphany congregation. We examine the theme "love lost, death found." We will learn that with love for God’s Word we overcome every enemy. We also learn that with love for sharing God’s Word we will enjoy the tree of life.

Jesus described himself to the angel – the pastor -- of the Ephesians by saying: "These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands." Jesus was saying that he held the destiny of the seven pastors – the seven stars – in his hand. This shows how deeply interested and involved Jesus is with his Church.

My girls have tons of toys in their rooms. But as I watch them play I notice that they are only interested in one thing at a time. The thing that has their attention is the toy they are holding in their hand. Think about all the stars and galaxies of the universe, of all the creatures and ecosystems that God created and sustains. Out of all this, the one thing that Jesus holds in his hand is you and me, the Church.

Jesus not only holds us in his hand, but he also walks in the midst of the seven churches – the seven lampstands. Churches are described as lampstands because they are to shine the light of the gospel into a sin-darkened world. Jesus was figuratively expressing his promise to his Church: "Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20)

I’m sure that this description of Jesus was very comforting for the Ephesians, just as it is comforting for us. We know that Jesus is among us and protecting us in difficult times. Jesus is holding Epiphany Lutheran Church in his hand during difficult times.

One of these difficult times in Epiphany’s history was dealing with false doctrine. We in the WELS often hear that we are unloving when we refuse to work with churches that don’t accept all the Bible’s teachings. But here Jesus teaches that resistance to moral evil and false teaching is entirely consistent with his Word. He said: "I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary."

The Ephesian Christians carried out Christ’s work in spite of opposition and difficulties. They confessed Christ even though they were in a very heathen city where idol worship of the Greek goddess Artemis was a huge part of the local economy. They stepped on sensitive toes in the city when they preached that Artemis was not the true God. But that’s what happens when the truth is spoken honestly and frankly. Since Ephesus was a stronghold of idolatry, it was certainly exhausting labor to witness to Christ there. They also hated the teachings of the Nicolaitans who taught that since we are fully forgiven, then we can live any way we want to.

That fact did not go unnoticed by their all-seeing Lord of the Church. He commended the Ephesians for not wearying in their struggles or giving in to the false prophets in their midst.

Let me ask you a question: which is more damaging to a Christian congregation – persecution from the outside or false doctrine from the inside? Persecution causes Christians to grow closer together in their faith. False doctrine tears Christians apart. This congregation knows that first-hand. You know what it is like to have false teachings in your midst and how that can rip apart the fabric of a loving, Christian congregation.

But you stood strong. You stood on the truth of God’s Word. With God’s Word you can overcome any enemy. You did not tolerate "wicked men." You persevered. Jesus commends you. He says to you, "Well done, my good and faithful servants." And look at what God is accomplishing in this congregation since you stood up for him. Wednesday night we had 127 people for Ash Wednesday. That’s awesome! I suggested to someone on the church council that we had so many people here because of the cantor, Pastor Bauer, or the great preacher. He said, "Nah, it was the sub sandwiches." Whatever works, God is blessing with results.

Epiphany has become a congregation that people are talking about – in a good way. People want to belong here. They want to worship with you. And you want other people here. I’ve had people commend me for doing a good job as pastor and mention all the people who have joined since I’ve been here. But it isn’t me. It is you. Every one of the 26 people who have joined the congregation in the last nine months, came because they had some connection to this congregation – family, friends, or WLS. You are the ones who should be commended. You are doing the hard work, and Jesus is blessing your efforts. With God’s Word, you can overcome any enemy – sin, laziness, indifference and even false teachers.

The Ephesians had been commended for their doctrinal purity and hard work in serving Jesus. But they were also admonished for not loving him as they once did: "I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love." How could that happened in such a prominent, strongly established church like Ephesus? Paul himself had started the Ephesian church and handed it off to the capable hands of Timothy. Ironically, the very last verse of the book of Ephesians says: "Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love." (Ephesians 6:24) Yet, thirty to forty years later, their church had lost its first love! Today, the once proud city of Ephesus no longer exists. God’s Word and sacraments are no longer administered in a church in Ephesus. Jesus’ warning came true: "Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."

There is a warning here for you, Christians at Epiphany. Your hard work and good deeds, your doctrinal and moral purity will count for nothing without love for Christ. As Paul writes, you can have all the qualities of a Christian, but if you lack love, you have nothing. (1 Corinthians 13) Good works count for nothing without a heart that loves Christ. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends, Jesus says." (John 15:13) Without Christ’s love, there is no life, only death. There may be zeal in our lives. There may be a wealth of ritual and form in our worship. There may be clearly defined and fervently defended doctrine. But unless Christ’s love – received and given – fills that zeal and doctrine, there is only spiritual death, and the church fades away. The lampstand is removed and all becomes darkness.

The Ephesians didn’t set out to forsake their love of Jesus. It wasn’t that they just one day decided not to love God anymore. It was a gradual thing. This is a warning to us! No church is above leaving its first love. It happened to them. I pray it doesn’t happen to us.

How do we keep from losing Jesus as our first love? We need to continually remember Christ’s love for us – that with his own lifeblood, he poured out his love for you. The agony Christ endured for you in his prayer at Gethsemane, in his trials before priests and politicians, and most of all on his cross. Oh, how he loves you!

How do we keep from losing Jesus as our first love? We share Christ’s love with as many people as we can. As Christians, as members of Epiphany and as a whole church, you need to be looking for new ways to share the love of Christ with our love-starved world. For example: the Mankato area in Minnesota is now home for approximately 350 Sudanese refugees. As many as 25 Sudanese now worship at St. Mark’s in Mankato. Adult confirmations and baptisms are taking place. Individuals in the congregation are providing English- as-a-second-language classes and transportation to church and other locations. Still others assist with the paperwork required for the Sudanese to relocate in the United States or bring other family members to the United States.

On the north side of Chicago a group of WELS Christians have been meeting for nearly two years for monthly Bible studies and social activities. Their group is called "Crossroads". They are not a home mission, but are linked somewhat to Jerusalem congregation in Morton Grove. The effort for this new mission on Chicago’s north side is entirely lay driven. There is no pastor yet. And still, these dedicated Christians have personally contacted referrals and other prospects, invited friends and publicized the group’s existence and activities. They have 65 in their group right now and among that small group, they have the money to call their own pastor and to do outreach ministry.

God will allow us to accomplish great things for him. We just need to do the work. At one of our meetings, I recently asked the question, "What kind of ministry could we do if money were not an object?" People suggested paying off our debts, painting the church, increasing our commitment to Shoreland. Pretty basic stuff. Still, there were a few that thought "outside of the box" – they thought of new and exciting ministries – increasing WLS’s preschool enrollment so more unchurched people might be in contact with Christ and his Church; calling a bilingual staff minister to do mission work to children, families, and the 11,000 Hispanic people in our ministry area.

Someone even mentioned that we have Epiphany in southwest Racine, we have First Evan downtown, and New Hope on the north side. We have WELS churches in Kenosha, Union Grove, Oak Creek and Caledonia, but there isn’t anything over this side of I-94. We don’t have a church presence there. He said it is open and empty. There’s nothing there. Someone who lives there replied, "We call it Sturtevant." Wouldn’t it be awesome for First Evan and Epiphany to not only run a school together, but also start a mission congregation together?

I don’t know if any of this will ever happen. But God expects us to dream, to work, to share his Word and he will bless. And what an amazing blessing awaits us: "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Because of sin, man never ate of that tree. Jesus has figuratively saved that tree so that we may enjoy its taste for all eternity.

Be comforted that Jesus walks among our church and holds its destiny in his hand. Continue to persevere and work hard for the Lord. With love for God’s Word we overcome every enemy. Do not lose your love for Christ. With love for sharing God’s Word we will enjoy the tree of life. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. (Revelation 22:21)