Ephesus: The Loveless Church

OPENING

This Wednesday night, we are going to embark on an in-depth study of the book of Revelation in our Bible Study. We are going to be covering the Introduction and Chapter 1 in the Study Guide I handed out this past Wednesday night. If you are part of our Bible Study and didn’t get one or if you want to follow along with us, let me know after service and we’ll get you a copy.

In Chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation, Jesus has the Apostle John pen letters to seven churches in Asia Minor, located in the area of modern day Turkey.

Revelation 1:11 NKJV

11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

MAP

Instead of covering these seven letters to seven churches on Wednesday night, we are going to cover them on Sunday mornings. I’m calling it “Red Letters.” The words of Jesus are in red and are His special message to these seven churches. These letters are intended to encourage, correct, and motivate. And these letters not only apply to the original churches in Asia Minor, but they also apply to us today.

And so we are going to begin this week with the first of these seven letters to the seven churches; the church in Ephesus.

You may already be familiar with the central message in the letter to the church in Ephesus that is made in Revelation 2:4 “4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

So this letter is really all about love growing cold in the lives of believers. Loving Jesus is the foundation to a saving relationship with Him.

Matthew 10:37-38 “37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

Jesus again makes it clear:

John 8:42 “42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.”

Again Jesus says:

John 14:21 “21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.””

Jesus asked Peter three times the same question in John 21: “Peter…do you…love me?”

Those who are Christians love Jesus. But our love for Jesus has a tendency to fluctuate over time. And the danger comes when our love begins to decrease. And the letter to the church at Ephesus is an illustration of the danger of letting our love for Jesus begin to wane.

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 2:1–7 NKJV

1 “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. 4 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. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 “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.” ’

MESSAGE

Each of the seven letters follows a similar pattern:

Introduction from Jesus

Address to a Particular Church

Compliment for Good Works

Rebuke for Problems

Call to Repentance

Exhortation to Listen

Promise of Reward

Introduction from Jesus

Revelation 2:1 “1 “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:”

There is no doubt who is writing these letters. It is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. This description is a direct reference back to the vision of Jesus that the Apostle John saw in Chapter 1. And we will see this same pattern in the letters to the other six churches. Jesus introduces Himself as the author of the letter and gives part of the description of Himself from Chapter 1.

So who or what are the seven stars that Jesus holds in His hands and who or what are the seven golden lampstands? Well we don’t have to speculate because Jesus gives John the answer at the end of Chapter 1:

Revelation 1:20 NKJV

20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

The word “angels” is the Greek word “angelos” which simply means “messenger.” It could mean that there is an angel who is assigned to watch over every church. However, it is more likely, although less impressive, that the word “angel” here simply refers to the pastors or leaders of the church. Either way, the angel of the church in some way represents the church, but what Jesus is writing in these letters applies to the church as a whole.

The lampstands represent the seven churches. If you recall from the Old Testament, the lampstands in the Tabernacle and Temple, also called the menorah, provided light. The priests had to keep oil in the lamps and keep the lamps trimmed constantly in order for the light not to go out.

What a comfort it is to know that Jesus, as our High Priest, is walking in the midst of the lampstands of the church today and providing the oil of the Holy Spirit and trimming the lamps to ensure that we continue to shine the light of Jesus Christ!

Address to a Particular Church

Revelation 2:1 “1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write...”

We actually have a good amount of information concerning the church in Ephesus in the Bible. We know that it was probably the first church established in Asia Minor. We know that Paul ministered there for three years (Acts 20:31). And we know that, when the church was established, there was a powerful move of God going on in this church.

And this is amazing considering the culture of the people who lived in and around Ephesus. Ephesus was a famous cultural, economic, and religious center. It had the largest port in Asia Minor and four major roads intersected in Ephesus making it a very important center for trade and commerce. It was the central bank of the Mediterranean. It was home to the Ephesian Games, which rivaled the Olympic Games in popularity. Later when Christian martyrs were taken from Asia Minor to Rome to be thrown to the lions in the Colosseum, they were marched through Ephesus and the road became known as the Road of the Martyrs.

So Ephesus was an important cultural and economic center, but it was also a important religious center. Ephesus held one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Diana. The Temple of Diana was made of Persian marble. It was 420ft long, 260ft wide, and had columns 60ft tall which were embellished with gold and jewels. The Temple of Diana was truly a sight to behold.

But it was filled with wickedness. The pagan worship that took place in and around this temple is indescribable. At the center of the worship was a black cow-like idol that was supposed to give spiritual life. There were eunuchs, prostitutes, dancers, singers, musicians and continuous sexual immorality and mutilation.

Now consider, here is this church plant in Ephesus in the middle of all of this evil and depravity. But the church in Ephesus, early on at least, was on fire!

The Church in Ephesus became the center for Christian revival in Asia Minor. Paul arrives in Ephesus and preaches the Gospel to people who had only heard about the baptism of John. They are filled with the Holy Spirit and then the Bible says:

Acts 19:8–10 NKJV

8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

The power of the Holy Spirit was moving and great miracles took place:

Acts 19:11–12 NKJV

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

Occult practices were denounced and demonic strongholds were pulled down:

Acts 19:18–19 NKJV

18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.

The Christian revival in Ephesus turned the pagan culture upside down, made the devil mad, and caused a riot:

Acts 19:29 NKJV

29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.

Compliment for Good Works

Revelation 2:2-3 “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 in Ephesus was doing some things right. They were hard working. They demonstrated perseverance in the face of adversity. They didn’t put up with evil and non-sense in the church. They had spiritual discernment to know when false apostles and false teachers were trying to lie their way into the church and pervert the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And then Jesus says down in verse 6:

Revelation 2:6 “6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

Now we can’t say for certain who the Nicolaitans were or what their deeds were. However, we can piece together some information from the Bible to get a good idea of what Jesus is talking about here.

Look down at Chapter 2 Verse 15. The Nicolaitans are mentioned again in the letter to the Church in Pergamos:

Revelation 2:15 NKJV

15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

But if we back up one verse to Verse 14, Jesus gives us a comparison:

Revelation 2:14 NKJV

14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

So the doctrine of the Nicolaitans is compared to the doctrine of Balaam. What was the doctrine of Balaam? Well God would not allow Balaam, the false prophet, to curse Israel. So he, along with Balak, came up with a plan to entice Israel to sin and bring a curse on themselves through pagan idolatry and sexual immorality.

Let it be clear. God hates idolatry and immorality. And here the Church in Ephesus is going a good job of not putting up with that kind of non-sense in the church.

Rebuke for Problems

Revelation 2:4 “4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

Houston, we have a problem. If anyone else has something against our church, that’s one thing. And believe me, there are enough of them out there. I’ve gotten plenty of letters and phone calls and text messages and dirty looks from those who have something against our church. But when Jesus has something against our church, that’s a completely different ballgame. I’m going to pay attention and listen.

What is it that Jesus has against the Church in Ephesus? They have left their first love. In other words, the fire, the fervor, the passion for the Lord Jesus Christ that they had at the beginning had now become cold. Approximately 40 years had passed since the stories in the book of Acts and Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. And during that time, something had happened and their love had grown cold.

What is meant by first love? Well, it’s the excitement, fire, and passion that you and I first had when we got saved. We couldn’t wait to get to church. We read our Bibles like a maniac. We were in the altar seeking God for more of Him. We just couldn’t get enough.

But somewhere along the line, that first love begin to cool. Notice they didn’t lose their first love, they left it. You can lose something by accident, but leaving is a deliberate act. And by leaving their first love, the Church in Ephesus had put themselves in danger of ceasing to be a church. Lack of love for God and passion for His work is the beginning of the death of many a church.

Jeremiah 2:2–5 NKJV

2 “Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “I remember you, The kindness of your youth, The love of your betrothal, When you went after Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown. 3 Israel was holiness to the Lord, The firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them,” says the Lord.’ ” 4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord: “What injustice have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far from Me, Have followed idols, And have become idolaters?

Call to Repentance

Revelation 2:5 “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.”

There are three things I want you to notice from this verse: (1) Remember, (2) Repent, and (3) Repeat.

(1) Remember - The first step to restoration after a fall is to remember where you used to be.

(2) Repent - Repentance means to change direction. It is not only acknowledging that a behavior is wrong and seeking forgiveness, but making a conscious decision to permanently avoid that behavior.

(3) Repeat - Jesus said “do the first works” over again. What are the first works? It is those basics that you were once so on fire about; (prayer, Bible study, worship, fellowship with other believers). Do you remember how you felt and how on fire you were for God when you first got saved? Do you still have that same love and passion for God today? If not, what has changed? Maybe it’s time to (1) Remember, (2) Repent, and (3) Repeat: go back and do your first works over again!

Notice the consequences for not repenting. Jesus said, “or else.” Momma or Daddy may have used to say to you, “get in there and clean your room like I told you three times already…or else!” You didn’t have to ask what “or else” meant. You knew you didn’t want to experience “or else” and you got in there and cleaned your room.

No disrespect to Momma or Daddy, but when Jesus says “or else” I’m paying attention the first time. Jesus told the Church in Ephesus that if they did not repent, He was going to remove their lampstand. What does that mean? That means they were going to cease to be a church. He was going to take His light, His glory, His power, His Holy Spirit, His anointing, His divine approval from the church. I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty serious.

Exhortation to Listen

Revelation 2:7 “7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches...”

This letter to the Church in Ephesus and the letters to the other six churches in Revelation are not just intended for them back then, but they also apply to us today. What Jesus wrote in these seven letters applies to the church as a whole. So we need to pay attention and listen to what Jesus is saying to us. And if He finds something wrong, if He has to say, “I have something against you,” we need to be willing to repent and make the necessary corrections so we don’t have to figure out what “or else” means!

Promise of Reward

Revelation 2:7 “7 “...To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’”

All seven letters end with this phrase, “to him who overcomes.” Who are the overcomers? Believers. Those who listen to the words of Jesus, repent, and work to correct any wrong behaviors. In this case, “him who overcomes” are those who overcome spiritual apathy and love that has grown cold and go back and do their first works over again.

What is the promise? The right to eat from the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God. What does the Tree of Life represent? It simply represents eternal life in Heaven with God. Isn’t it wonderful to know that even when we mess up and fall that there is still a promise that we can be overcomers? That we can partake of the tree of life and spend eternity in Heaven with God? It doesn’t get any better than that!

CLOSING

It is vitally important as a church that we maintain our love for God and for people. Without love, we have nothing! We can have the best programs. We can stand for doctrinal purity. We can keep false doctrine out of the church. But without love, it is all in vain.

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 NKJV

1 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.

As a church, as a body of Christ, let us endeavor to keep the fire of our love for God burning brightly. And let’s also let our love for God motivate us to love others.

ALTAR CALL