Letter # 1 – To the church at Ephesus
Revelation 2:1-3 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
The Church at Ephesus
The first letter is addressed to the angel of the church in the city of Ephesus. From this statement it looks like Jesus is talking with the church at large at Ephesus – not a particular congregation in Ephesus. Jesus being the founder of the Church at large, is concerned that the church be presented to Him at His second coming, “…a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph.5:27).
The Seven Stars and the Seven Golden Lampstands
Jesus then makes reference to two different symbols John saw in his vision recorded in Rev.1:13 & 15 where Jesus was walking among the seven golden lamp stands, and further down, He was holding the seven stars in His right hand. The Lord even explained to John what the seven golden lampstands and the seven stars referred to. We can read this in Rev. 1:20 - “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the lampstands which you saw are the even churches.” Now let’s take a deeper look at the message to this city church.
THE WORDS OF COMMENDATION
1. I know your works
Jesus began this letter by commending them for their works. The term, ‘works,’ was often used by the Apostle Paul to refer to living the Christian life, reflecting Christ in every way. In Eph.2:8-10 we read, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
The Apostle Paul makes it clear that we were not saved by good works, but rather by grace through faith in Jesus. But later in verse 10 he says that we were saved for good works, meaning that our good works could not save us, because we could never be good enough but now that we are saved, we are supposed to reflect the good God we believe in, by living good lives.
What about us?
• Are we known for our good works after coming to know Christ?
• Do people see us and recognise us as followers of Jesus or does our lives contradict our words? In other words, does our walk and our talk sync or is there a contradiction?
2. Their Labour
The second commendation Jesus goes on to give them is for their labour or hard work. Often living the Christian life is not an easy road – it is challenging, and we’re called to overcome temptations and obstacles and it calls for a lot of hard laborious effort to carry out our responsibilities, especially in sharing the gospel with those around and making disciples of new believers.
The church of Ephesus was actively busy in carrying out the great commission and were making disciples, just as they were supposed to do. They were labouring hard in this area, and were also perhaps seeing great results.
What about us?
Every one of us as believers in Jesus have been saved to serve the Lord and carry out the great commission (making disciples of all nations) that Jesus Himself commenced and passed on to us. But sadly, and to our own detriment, the church of today has abdicated that responsibility to a large extent, and passed it on to a select few who have been called to full-time ministry. By taking this stance towards our responsibility the task is getting increasingly difficult to accomplish, and the church is on the decline in many parts of the world, especially in the so-called Christian nations.
3. Their Patience
The third commendation in favour of the Ephesian church was the fact that they were patient. When the word patient is used it can sometimes be understood to refer to patiently waiting for something to happen – a bus to arrive, a healing to take place, a promotion to come through, a business deal to materialise, and the like. It can also refer to being patient with people – not giving up on people. But it appears that the patience Jesus was referring to in this letter was in connection with their patience in the midst of suffering and persecution, for their involvement in sharing their faith and making disciples.
What about us?
• If we lack patience in the face of suffering, it’s almost certain that we will give up on the task at hand, and the church runs the risk of slowing down in its growth.
• Many of us have suffered persecution in one way or the other, and have chosen to quit on the responsibility we’ve been given – the reason being, a lack of patience in the face of suffering or persecution.
• In Rom.12:9-21, of all the attributes the Apostle Paul encouraged the believers to possess he said in verse 12 – “...be patient in tribulation.”
4. Their Intolerance to evil people
The fourth commendation for the Ephesian church was the fact that they were intolerant to evil people. By this it does not mean that they were intolerant to evil people in the world, but rather evil people within the church. There were wolves in sheep’s clothing in the days of Jesus (remember Judas), they were there in the early church, they’ve been there within the church down the ages, and Jesus said they would always be there until Jesus returns, when the angels will weed them out to be judged. (Read the Parable of the Wheat and Tares in Mt.13:24-30).
Jesus is not commending them for weeding out the evil within the church, but for being intolerant to evil. By Jesus commending them for standing against those who were evil in the church was to indirectly say that these He’s commending were rather good, integrous and just.
What about us?
The Lord is not calling us to stay away from evil people in the world but rather from evil people in the church. In fact, as the light of the world, we are supposed to be a light to those who live in darkness, and if we don’t interact with them, how can we shine the light on them?
Let’s remember the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor.5:10, “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
5. Their Testing of false apostles
The fifth commendation was for the fact that they did not blindly believe anyone who claimed to be an apostle, but rather they tested them before they believed them. That was a wise thing for them to do, so that they were not led astray from the faith by false teachers. Very often they found that those who claimed to be sent by God were actually liars and impostors, posing as something they were not. These false apostles had selfish goals - to God’s people, and make a name, and perhaps money for themselves.
This is a very strong commendation, and speaks a lot about the integrity and commitment of the Ephesian church. For Jesus to commend them for testing those false apostles and proving them as such is another proof that they were not only genuine and true but they were also concerned for the well-being of the church at large; so that it was not led astray by false teachers and false teaching.
What about us?
• It’s very few today who can boldly confront another believer in wrong-doing without condemning themselves in the process. But sadly, there’s so much of finger-pointing happening in the church today, despite the finger-pointers being as guilty, if not more, than those they accuse.
• It’s very important that every one of us do all we can to live above reproach. Jesus did not condemn judging one another per se, but he said in Mt.7:7, “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” We need to be able to correct one another and rebuke one another in love, and also be able to confront those who teach false doctrines or who make believe they are somebody they are not.
6. Their Perseverance
The sixth commendation by Jesus was for their perseverance in the midst of their suffering and persecution. Perseverance is more than just being patient; it’s pushing through in spite of difficulties or persecution. Most people would quit when things get tough, but it’s only the tough that strive on, no matter what, and that is what the Ephesian church was – tough and committed.
What about us?
Do we push through when things get tough in our service for the Lord or do we take a back seat on serving in the face of persecution or suffering?
7. Their Labour for His name
The seventh commendation by Jesus was for the fact that they labored – not just worked, but labored. It’s not those who merely work who see the results, but those who labour (work hard). Jesus goes on to say that they labored for His name – not for themselves, not for anyone else, but for His name’s sake. There can be no greater name to labour for than the name of Jesus.
What about us?
Very often we find ourselves laboring for our own name’s sake, or for someone else’s name – so either way, we get a good name, become popular, attain great heights, etc. but we’re all called to labour for the name of Jesus alone.
8. Their attitude of not growing weary
The eighth commendation by Jesus was for their attitude of not growing weary. The Apostle Paul said in Gal.6:9 – “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” The Ephesian church was known by the Lord Jesus Himself as a church that did not get weary in their walk with the Lord. There would certainly have been reasons to get weary, and want to quit, but they remained steadfast and did not grow weary and quit.
What about us?
• We too, like the Ephesian church need to persevere in the face of tribulation.
• We need to keep on laboring for the name of the Lord and not grow weary.
• So often we find ourselves being tempted to quit on serving the Lord in a particular way, but if we push through, we will see the results in God’s own perfect time.
Revelation2:4-5 – “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
A Call to Change
After starting with the commendation to the church of Ephesus, Jesus begins to reveal areas of their lives where they need to change. Jesus tells them that they have deserted their first love, meaning that they no longer love the Lord like they used to when they first came to know Him. Despite all their works, labour, patience, perseverance, and all other commendations they received from the Lord, there was something big they had forgotten over time – it was their first love they had for the Lord. It seems like they had gradually made serving the Lord a greater priority than loving the Lord.
What about us?
• That is something most of us even today are guilty of – we don’t love the Lord like we used to when we first came to know Him.
• How much do we love being actively involved with church, be it attending Bible Studies, Prayer meetings or getting involved in various ministries of the church?
• How about the time we spend with the Lord alone with Him in prayer and study of the word on a daily basis. Has that increased over time or has it decreased over time?
• How often do we turn to the Lord through the day to seek His guidance, to thank Him, to just talk with Him and share our hearts with Him?
• How often do we share about the goodness of God to others?
• How often do we share our faith with others on a daily basis? At first, we did all these things without even having to be told or reminded – it just came so naturally and we did it all joyfully.
The Lord urges them to do three things – remember, repent and return.
1. Remember
The first thing Jesus asks the church at Ephesus to do is to remember. He tells them to remember the height from which they had fallen, meaning the level of their commitment and love for the Lord was at such an all-time low in comparison to what it was when they first came to know the Lord, that it was evident in the way they lived their lives, especially in their relationship with the Lord Jesus.
What about us?
• That is something all of us need to take time to do as well – remember the height from which we have fallen.
• It sometimes takes that little time to stop and compare our level of love and commitment to the Lord now, with that of when we first came to know the Lord. If we don’t stop and look back on our lives, chances are we’ll find ourselves drifting further away from the Lord every day, without even noticing it.
2. Repent
The second thing He asks them to do is to repent. To repent is to change one’s mind and therefore one’s direction in life. Despite all the good they did, there was a dire need for repentance on the part of this city church. They needed to not only remember the height from which they had fallen, but if they were to do something about it, then the first thing they needed was a change of mind, which is what repentance is – a change of mind.
What about us?
• When we stop and realise how far we have fallen in our love and commitment to the Lord, the next things we need to do is to make a change in our mind.
• Once realization dawns on our mind, it’s time to have a change in mind. It’s only when we have a change of mind that there can be a change in behavior, and that’s why the Lord asks them to repent.
3. Repeat
The third thing the Lord asks the church at Ephesus to do is to repeat the things they did at first. All that they did for the Lord when they first came to know the Lord, stemmed from a love for Him, but over time it gradually shifted from love-based ministry to work-based, loveless ministry. They were hard working, toiling in ministry, were patient and persevering, not growing weary, but they had forsaken a vital ingredient in their service to the Lord – their love for Him.
The Lord asks them to repeat the things they did at first, meaning to get back to love-based ministry, and not be satisfied with merely work-based, loveless ministry.
What about us?
Let’s decide to get back to the works we did when we first came to know the Lord - all that we did that stemmed from love, we need to start doing again. There’s no room for complacency and certainly no room for a ministry that lacks love.
The Warning
Jesus warns the church that if they fail to make amends and return to their first love, and do the things they did at first, then He would come to them quickly and remove their lampstand from its place. Jesus seems to imply that if they fail to repent then when He returns to judge the world, that He would begin His judgment by removing this church from the face of the earth. It’s one thing for the church to meet the Lord in the air when He returns, but it’s a terrible thing for a church to be removed from the face of the earth.
What about us?
If this was the warning given to a city church, how much caution should we too take today to get back to our first love for the Lord. Let’s remember the words of the Apostle Paul who said in 1 Cor.13:1-3: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” He is clearly implying that any kind of ministry that is done that lacks true love (which he goes on the explain in the ensuing verses) is a waste of one’s time and energy, as it would have no impact on anyone, and will certainly not be appreciated by the Lord, whom we claim to serve.
9. They hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans
Rev.2:6 – “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
There was a ninth commendation by the Lord for this church. It was the fact that this church hated the lifestyle of the Nicolaitans. It’s not very certain what this lifestyle included, but from Rev.2:14-15, it appears that the teaching of the Nicolaitans included putting a stumbling block before the people of Israel eating food sacrificed to idols and indulging in sexual immorality. Jesus commended them for hating a behaviour that He Himself hated.
What about us?
We need to search ourselves and ask if we hold on to any behaviour or lifestyle we picked up in our childhood or from the world around us – behaviour that is in total contrast to the character of God, and is therefore hated by God?
Do we hate the things that God hates and love the things God loves, or do we hate the things God loves and love the things God hates?
He who has an ear
The Lord then encourages all those who have the ability to hear to pay heed as the Spirit, (referring to the Holy Spirit) says to the churches. This statement made at the end of all the seven letters to the seven churches was a very important one as it serves as a caution to us to intentionally listen to what the Holy Spirit says to us the church, even today.
The empowering of the church was done and is done by the Holy Spirit, but it we fail to listen to the Holy Spirit, then we run the risk of wasting our time and energy following man-made strategies that might look and sound good, and even work for a while, but will eventually fizzle out in the midst of suffering.
What about us?
• We need to remember that the power we as the Church of God have comes from the Holy Spirit, as it did in the days of the early church. When we cease to bear this truth in mind, we start to function in our own strength and rely on our own strategies to fulfil the Great Commission and we’ll find ourselves wasting our time and energy. These strategies might look good and even seem to bear fruit, but only for a while. In the face of suffering or persecution these man-made strategies will fail.
• Let us intentionally following the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives as individuals, and as a church at large. The Apostle Paul said in Gal.5:25 – “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
The Reward for the Overcomers
Jesus goes on to promise a reward to those who are overcomers. All those who overcome the temptation to put service to God over love for God, be privileged to eat from the tree of life – which is in the centre of the Paradise of God, which refers to heaven.
This tree of life was in the Garden of Eden, and Adam and Eve had the freedom to eat from this tree – it was not forbidden for them to eat of it. But instead they chose to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and they brought sin, death and a lot more chaos upon themselves and the world.
Immediately following the fall of man, God in His grace did not permit them to eat from the tree of life, lest they continued on forever in this fallen state. So we see the grace of God in death as well.
What about us?
• Do we use our ears and eyes to listen to and read God’s word, and do we pay heed by obeying it consistently?
• Are we constantly overcoming the desire to serve God without love or do we serve God because we love Him?
• Let’s look forward to the promise to eat from the tree of life we were created to eat from, and with that hope, strive to live the way the Lord would have us live – lovingly serving Him.
