The Letter to Ephesus

Introduction

There are different views of how to look at . One view is that these two chapters offer us a prophetic view of the church’s history. This view advocates that each church represents a different period in church history. Proponents of this viewpoint believe that we are living in the age of the Laodicean church.

Others believe that any church at any point in the history of the church can identify with one or more of these seven churches. It is not only a possibility, but even a probability that the individual members of a church can identify with one of these churches.

My belief is that does not show us a progression of the church through the ages, but shows us seven different conditions that a church can be in.

This morning, we begin with the church of Ephesus. We spent over two years studying the letter that the apostle Paul wrote to them. Today, we look at the judgment that Jesus Christ pronounced upon them.

Revelation 2:1–7 NKJV

“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: “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; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 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. 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.” ’

Revelation 2:1-

Christ is present among the churches.

Ephesians 2:1 NKJV

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

Revelation 2:1 NKJV

“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:

The seven golden lampstands represent the seven churches. Jesus said that He walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. In other words, He walks in the midst of His churches.

Now, if you remember, over the past two weeks, we mentioned the significance of Jesus’s long robe. It did signify His royalty, but it also signified His priesthood.

Let’s look at what the writer of Hebrews says about the priesthood of Jesus:

Hebrews 7:17 NKJV

For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews

One of the duties of the priests in the Old Testament was to make sure that the lamp was shining in the tabernacle and later in the temple. These duties included trimming the wicks and filling the reservoirs with oil. In fact there was a prescribed oil they had to use.

We can see from this imagery that Jesus is at work in the midst of the churches. He is present among them. However, not all of them are enjoying His presence because He has something against them.

Let’s examine what Jesus said about the church in Ephesus:

The Ephesian church was theologically and doctrinally sound.

Their belief in God, teaching of, and obedience of the Word was without fault. In fact, Jesus commended them for their belief and obedience.

Revelation 2:2–3 NKJV

“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; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

Revelation 2:6 NKJV

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

We do not have time to go into who the Nicolaitans were today, but their name will come up again. Suffice it to say that they were a heretical sect in the early church.

The church in Ephesus rejected false doctrine and false apostles.

The church in Ephesus worked hard for Christ and did not become weary.

So far, when looking at the church in Ephesus and looking at our church, we see many similarities.

We have those that work with the children and youth.

There are people who do much around the church and even outside the church. We have several people that volunteer in compassion ministries outside our church. There is a lot of activity!

Additionally, we are doctrinally sound. The Bible is our standard and we do not try to adjust it to say what we want it to say. For the most part, we adjust ourselves to fit scripture.

When it comes to what Jesus commended the church in Ephesus for, I believe that He can commend Adamsville for.

Let’s look at what Jesus condemned Ephesus for:

The love of the Ephesian church grew cold.

While the Ephesian church was laboring for the Lord, faithful to scripture, and patient, Jesus said that they left their first love.

Revelation 2:4 NKJV

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

Imagine all of the activity going on: All of the Bible studies, fellowship meals, outreaches, programs for the poor, meetings to confront false doctrine, so on and so forth. The church in Ephesus was a hub of religious activity, but they had left their first love.

They did not even realize that they had left their first love. It may have been that they loved the church or loved the work of the church, but they had left their first love.

I can not imagine any words that would be harder for a Christian to hear than to hear Christ say that I have left my first love.

What does Christ mean by leaving our first love?

He is addressing those activities and affections that become more important to us than He is. Too often, we succumb to the temptation to work for Jesus rather than working with Him.

Working with Him requires that we are spending time with HIM.

Signs that we have left our first love:

Devotional life is out of habit or is non existent.

Church attendance or activity is because it is expected.

You attend church because of your friends and not because you expect to hear a word from the Lord.

Your prayer life does not go beyond returning thanks for your meal.

You do not listen for God to speak as you pray or read scripture.

While these five examples are not exhaustive, I hope they help you see some symptoms. Maybe it would be clearer if I explained it like this:

Christy and I have been married for 15.5 years. If she quit listening to me when I talk to her, I would think that something was up. Maybe, she would be involved in something else or looking at her phone when I tried to talk to her. If I never received her undivided attention, I would wonder what is going on. If she not only quit listening to me, but quit talking to me as well, then I would start to question whether or not she loves me. What if she went from talking to me multiple times a day, to talking to me just a few times per week? Then, let’s say that she quit spending time doing some of the things I like to do, but started doing things I hated, like painting. On top of all of that what if she was going out and doing those things I hate with another man? I would have to conclude that she quit loving me.

Folks, we are guilty of the same thing. We have quit listening to God when we have let our devotional lives wane or even allow distractions.

We leave our first love when our prayers become few and far between, and are only then a list of selfish requests.

We leave our first love when we become so consumed with worldly things that we no longer have time to spend with God. These worldly things are not sinful in themselves, but become sinful when they take us away from God.

James 4:4 NKJV

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Remember, Repent, or be Removed.

Revelation 2:

Revelation 2:5 NKJV

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.

Remember:

Remember what it was like when you first met Jesus. Remember the time when you laid aside worldliness and you were consumed with knowing Christ. Remember when you pursued holiness above everything else. Remember when all you wanted to do is read the word of God.

Just like a spouse trying to rekindle a love grown cold, it will take time and effort to get back to where you were. It is worth the work it takes to rekindle that love for Christ that may have grown. You will find that the love will be deeper, and stronger than it has ever been.

Repent:

Repent and do the first works. Repentance requires that we acknowledge the sin of leaving our first love. It requires us asking Jesus to forgive us, and then committing to loving Him more. Do the first works - Read the Bible, join a Bible study class, spend time in prayer. Rather than consuming your time with television, movies, and social media, consume your time with God.

If we do not remember and repent, we will be removed:

Jesus said that He would come and remove the lampstand. He is saying that He will remove the church that does not remember and repent. Many churches have died with a lot of hustle and bustle of religious activity because the members of that church quit loving Christ.

They may have loved the church.

They may have loved working at the church.

They may have loved

However, they did not love Christ. He was no longer their first love, so they died.

Decision

If the Holy Spirit has stirred in your heart and shown you that you have left your first love, then come to the altar and repent. While it may take time for the love to grow strong again, God can do a work in your heart today so that you can fall in love with Him and then that love will continue to grow as you grow closer to Christ.

Others of you this morning have never loved Christ. You are not saved and you need to be forgiven of your sins. I invite you to come today and know what the love of God is. Would you come as we sing and give your life to Jesus?