Revelation 1:9-11 I John, who
also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and
patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word
of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the
Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:
and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches
which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and
unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis,
and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
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Revelation 2:1-7 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 Nicolaitanes, 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.
Ephesus
was a wealthy, cultured, but morally corrupt city. It was inundated
with political corruption, prostitution, immorality, and other forms of evil.
Many of its people were ensnared by the occult worship of the heathen goddess
Diana (R), Artemis (G). Her massive Temple, located in Ephesus, was considered
one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
When Paul
preached there, many believed the gospel and became believers.
However, though they had come to Christ, they were in bondage to their
past. Brought under conviction by the preaching of the Word, they publicly declared
their devotion to Christ and renounced their ungodly activities that had bound them.
The Bible states that many of them publicly burned books and other items that
were associated with the occult (Acts
19:19).
As these
believers fell in love with Jesus, sin became increasingly sinful. As believers continued to
separate themselves from the sinfulness of their society, their impact was felt
throughout the region. Attendance at the Temple of Diana declined and the sale
of idols fell off. Believers were so in love with Jesus they didn’t want to participate
in their former evil practices.
Authentic, true,
sincere love for Jesus produces extraordinary results among a community of
believers. They experienced the redemptive lift!
However, there
is a danger - over time something unintended occurred...
Thirty
years had passed, when Jesus directed these
remarks (2:1-7) to the congregation in Ephesus. The church still had a strong
biblical foundation, but they had become desensitized
to the love of Christ.
They were
sound in doctrine, but lacking in love.
·
Thirty years later the church was in need of REVIVAL.
·
Thirty years later the church needed to REPENT.
Like the
church at Ephesus, we need ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to our church, lest we become sidetracked as they had.
1.
WORKS NOTICED (v 2-3). 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. They were...
A Serving Church (v 2a).
· The word “Works”
says this was probably a busy church.
· The word “labors” says this was a hardworking church.
A Separated Church (v 2b).
· This church had high standards and
convictions.
· They stood for a morally pure membership.
· They tested those who said they were apostles, but were not.
A Steadfast Church (v 3). Thou hast... borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast
laboured, and hast not fainted.
· They persevered in spite of opposition, pressure, and persecution.
· They had a lot of things right. Yet, Jesus said they needed repentance, or
they faced removal! These steadfast, strong, Bible believing Christians had
lost sight of the most important thing – Love!
Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness,
temperance:...
1 Corinthians 13:11-13 When I was a
child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but
when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see
through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then
shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity,
these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
They didn't know; they never noticed they'd become
cold, calloused and uncaring toward those whom Jesus loved and died for.
2.
FAULT DISCOVERED
(v 4, 6). Nevertheless
I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love... 6 But
this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also
hate.
Routine Replaced Relationship. Their hatred of evil had surpassed their love for Christ and the
Love of Christ. V 6 reveals a paradox/irony!
· The name "Nicolaitanes" is derived from the Greek word nikolaos, a compound of nikos and laos. The word nikos means to conquer or subdue. The
word laos means the people; it is
also where we get the word laity.
· When these two words are combined, they literally mean one who conquers the people. It suggest the sin of the
Nicolaitans was they were conquering
not converting people.
This is a danger we still face today! We must be careful, while
defending the faith, not to lose our sincere, genuine love for Jesus and the persons He died for.
A passionate, honest, sincere love for Jesus
produces a serving, sanctified, steadfast Christian. When love is absent, there is
only law!
3.
INSTRUCTION GIVEN
(v 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...
Remember. They needed to remember
that Jesus must be at the heart of all that a church does.
Repent. Repentance
involves a change of mind which leads to a change of heart. These believers needed to
acknowledge their love and zeal had been for their Creed not Christ.
Return. Do the first works.
Mark 12:29-31 Jesus said, The first of
all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is
the first commandment. 31
And the second is like, namely this, Thou
shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
4.
REWARD PROMISED!
(v 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.
·
Throughout Scripture, life is
always linked to Jesus. I believe “the tree of
Life” represents Jesus.
·
God’s promise to those who
overcome, those who restore Jesus to His proper place, is they will eat of the tree of life (He will feast
on Jesus).
