VII. EPHESUS.

Introduction

Revelation 1:9–20 NKJV

9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island 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 I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 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.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 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.

PRAY

Introduce the 7-Part Sermon Series.

Introduction: EPHESUS

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.” ’

What if I told you the way you were born thinking was the way out is the road to destruction?

Proverbs 14:12 NKJV

12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Background

All of the twelve disciples had been martyred. Bartholomew was skinned alive, Peter crucified, Thomas speared to death... John was the only one left. Since John was the only remaining member of the twelve and showing unwavering fidelity to Christ by evangelizing, his enemies wanted to silence his testimony by sending him to death thinking the doctrines of Christ would fade away. In 81 AD, 14 years before the writing of John's account, he was sent to trial before Domitian and they tried to boil him in oil... miraculously, John survived unscathed. He was then exiled to the Greek Island of Patmos, a prison colony . This was told to us by Tertullian and the events that unfolded are chronicled in John's writing in 95 AD

Ephesus was a major port city in what is today known as modern turkey. It was considered the capital of Imperial worship. At the time of this writing, the emperor was Domitian. Domitian ruled with an iron fist, Ephesus was the location of the temple ascribed to Him. It is interesting that this is the first place where Jesus sends the letter. The order of the letters is geographical in nature and very specific. Look at what he says

Revelation 2:2 NKJV

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;

This very statement, “I KNOW YOUR WORKS” becomes key to what is told to the church. Let’s look at that a little deeper:

Point 1: He knows our works

The word of God says it like this:

Jeremiah 17:10 NKJV

10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

Galatians 6:7 NKJV

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Our message today is full of a lot of reflective questions.

What are we referring to as our works? Are these the ministry activities that we do for God? Is this just this, activity?

What about the heart involved? The Bible says:

Matthew 7:22 NKJV

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

We must understand the difference between activity and service to the Lord. Ephesus had been doing all these things, but look what Jesus says Revelation 1:5-7

Revelation 2:3–4 NKJV

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.

YOU LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE

Point 2: You Left Your First Love

Revelation 2:4 NKJV

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

VERSE

Nevertheless is an interesting word. It is interesting because it basically tells us to disregard the thing said before in a sense.

We have left our first love:

Give an Illustration of a woman who is faithful 364 days a year and how that is considered completely unfaithful.

Give an illustration of a mother’s love and a child trying to get away with something.

Notice the good things about the church, Jesus is laying them out, but after this notice something He says, “You have left your first love.”

Point 3: Return to Your First Works

Revelation 2:5 NKJV

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.

The significance of the message to Ephesus is often interpreted as a reminder to prioritize and maintain a fervent love for God, not just engaging in religious activities and good deeds. It highlights the importance of heartfelt devotion and maintaining a vibrant relationship with Christ, rather than merely going through the motions of religious practices.

When you think about it:

There is a difference between being set free and being redeemed. Redemption speaks of responsibility. After all, couldn’t the Hebrew children have just went separate ways after being freed? You see, they were being redeemed not liberated. Can you see the theme here of understanding key differences? Look at what Paul has to say about it:

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 NKJV

18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

The Spirit of the Lord today has shown you Ephesus as a mirror. What then are we supposed to do? Writhe in condemnation? No… we have a very clear call and the call is to know where we are, repent, and get to where we need to be:

Conclusion: The Call to Repent

Revelation 2:7 NKJV

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.” ’

Self-examination is key. My first week here was Palm Sunday. I preached a sermon called Cross-Examined which asked, “Have we examined our life against the cross?” We must realize the separation between our works and those done with a heart for the Father, in order to do this, we must search our hearts and examine ourselves against the Word of God. In fact, it is not enough to hate the right things but not love the right way. Paul says if I am all these things but have not love, I am useless.

This first church was a mirror, what did the mirror show you?

Are we as in love with Jesus today as we were when we first got saved, or have we forgotten our first love?

Once we acknowledge, we must repent and turn from our ways instead moving toward

Next Week: SMYRNA: THE PERSECUTED CHURCH.