CHURCH # 1 THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS
Rev.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;
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.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, 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.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Some people think God does not know about them. God knows all about his people.
He knows our sins, shortcomings, and our slothfulness. God does everything in his power to help people change. Men have their own will and ways its up to them to make a choice to change. God is in constant contact with men to draw them near.
God is the only answer to our problems.
1. The Chuch
Rev.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;
This church was located in a commercial centers.
The temple of Diana
The goddess Diana was worshiped here.
Acts 19: 27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
Christ, he walked in the midst of the candlesticks.
The rightful place for Christ is in the midst of his church
How ever he must be welcome.
Rev .3: 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
2. Christ concern
Rev.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:
Purity Christ knew all about these people.
Their work Their patience Their purity
Jesus wants his church to be pure.
Eph.5: 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Purity is a personal matter
2nd Cor.7: 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Man has a choice to allow God to clean them up.
Patience
Rev.2: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
God wants us to be patience and faithful.
Rev. 2: 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
He just asks us to follow him.
Three most needed virtues and patience and faithfulness.
3. Jesus has a complaint
Rev.2; 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, 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.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Remember where you have fallen
Now repent repent and do you 1st works
Removal if you don’t repent Christ will remove your candlestick
Remember the wicked deeds of the Nicolaitans they taught fornication and adultery that it was not a sin.
4. Compensation for not doing so.
Hearing-- He that hath an ear ,let him hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches.
2nd Cor.4: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Don’t be spiritually deaf.
Hope—To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
John 14: 1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
This speaks of Christ in Heaven and his promise.
A Church will be as spiritual as its members will let it be.
No church is stronger than its members.
Peter gives us warning members.
1st Peter 4: 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Check your faith in God.
