Ephesus Lost Something Valuable Series

Saturday, February 18, 2006

The Seven Church’s

Ephesus Rev 2

Ephesus Church; Lost Something valuable.

Many make comparison to the 7 churches with the history of the Church Age

The 1st century being the Church of Ephesus, which fits the conditions at the end of that century. The other churches then follow to what is called the last day Church the Laodicean Church.

Re 2:1 ¶ Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Jesus walks among the Church, this is encouraging to me, Christ is concerned about every need.

Verses 2 & 3 speaks about their service to the Lord, about their works, labor, patience and all of these are needed in the church.

He also sees how they have not quit.

Jesus honors them and remembers such work. He commends them for their patience and endurance, and for not putting up with the evil around them for here in Ephesus they were surrounded by evil people and cults, one of the most religious cities of their day.

YOU HAVE TRIED THEM WHICH SAY the false teachers that rose up even in the church was put to the test. It is never wrong to question what is being taught for proof of scripture.

They did not give up they kept on standing and taking a stand for truth in the name of the Lord.

((Re 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.))

v4 Something is wrong,

it is a serious problem,” you have left thy first love”.

:4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

America fits this revelation

Across the country churches are closed tonight not because of the weather but for selfish reasons.

People say “I’m too tired to go, my response is go tell the missionary in India and the people there having all night prayer meetings for the power of God to break the demonic strongholds in the land which are being broken up because of beatings.

Everyone else is doing it

If they go to hell are you?

No one will come, this book still says if 2 or 3 will come together in my name I will be in the mist.

Left thy first love,

Greek means they willfully abandoned, gave up and neglected.

Ephesus members were going, physically giving to the service

But something is wrong,

No inward relationship, service was out of doing what they knew they should

Left thy first Love,

Without real love Church becomes a clink & clanks.

They had a doctrine that was true but no Christ like compassion no spiritual anointing.

They had become a sounding brass and tinkling symbol.

Re 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen,

Remember where you once where but you have fallen,

Jesus knew because He walked among them,

Repent: change;

Change directions, change mind, change attitude

Change to wonder who close to God can I walk without being raptured,

Change to let me have the mind of Christ

Change to where do you want me to go, what do you want me to say, how much do you want me to give.

Repent; change

They had quit responding to the moving of the Spirit of God, they kept true doctrine but resisted the Holy Ghost.

V5……….

and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

If the church did not repent they could expect a special and sudden judgment their candlestick would be removed. Candlestick here does carry a meaning of pastor or leader so it also carries with it the meaning that the presence of God would be removed which truly leads a spiritual church.

The candlestick in the OT was always near the presence of God, where the cloud hung over. Where the cherubim’s and seraphim were near, Close to the Mercy Seat. Jesus would no longer walk in their mist.

Repent or I will come quickly and remove the candlestick out of his place.

Re 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Nicolaitans: people with no restraints indulge in carnal and fleshly lust.

The word of God declares the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. 1John 2:16

People with this life the Life of the Father is far from them.