Church of Ephesus

Ephesus

Ephesus was a city in the Asia Minor with a major natural harbor rich fertile grounds and a great commercial city

It was also however home to the great temple of Diana

Diana was the goddess who focused sensual pleasure of the flesh

As years passed the great Harbor silted up and then it silted up more and more and more. Causing the people of Ephesus to rely more and more on the trade that came from the temple Diana

re 2 1-7

Revelation 2:1–7 ESV

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

The church of Ephesus was a very promising church

They started from humble beginnings with as few as 12 believers

They grew in spiritual strength and number

This was a successful church in a successful city and they were making believers

II.The complaint

However they were given a warning from God here

The city had fallen into lustful habits and so had the church

They lost they’re first love v.4

They lost Jesus in they’re church

I imagine the church may have still appeared to be succesful but it wasnt nearly cause God was no longer in it

We don’t know every detail of what they did to lose they’re love for Jesus but they did

They forgot to remember Christ

They failed in the most important job of the church

They forgot about christ

They forgot his love his suffering his shed blood

I think we as a church should be cautious of whats going on in our minds and not forget that jesus is the reason we come to church

Jesus had a love for you

a love so strong he died on the cross for you

don’t forget that enthusiasm, love, sincerity, excitment and compassion you once had for you’re savior

Keep him near to you and always remember why you are a beleiver

Lets look at verse 6-7 for a minute

This is Gods warning to Ephesus

He said to repent and do what you used to do

So that tells us at one time the church of Ephesus was a very spiritual church doing what God had told them to do and doing it how God told them to do it.

So here God is saying repent cause you know you don’t love me like you used to love me.

ILLUSTRATION 96

EX-EVANGELIST MISSES JESUS

Topics: Atheism; Belief; Doubt; Faith; Gospel; Jesus Christ; Regret; Skepticism; Unbelief

References: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Charles Templeton was a close friend and preaching associate of Billy Graham in the 1940s. He effectively preached the gospel to large crowds in major arenas. However, intellectual doubts began to nag at him. He questioned the truth of Scripture and other core Christian beliefs. He finally abandoned his faith and made an unsuccessful attempt to persuade Billy to do the same. He felt sorry for Billy, saying, “He committed intellectual suicide by closing his mind.” Templeton resigned from the ministry and became a novelist and news commentator. He also wrote a critique of the Christian faith titled Farewell to God: My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith.

Interviewed when he was eighty-three and suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, Templeton talked about some of the reasons he left the faith: “I started considering the plagues that sweep across parts of the planet and indiscriminately kill—more often than not, painfully—all kinds of people, the ordinary, the decent, and the rotten. And it just became crystal clear to me that it is not possible for an intelligent person to believe that there is a deity who loves.”

When asked what he thought of Jesus Christ, Templeton would not acknowledge him as God. Rather, he responded: “He was the greatest human being who has ever lived. He was a moral genius. His ethical sense was unique. He was the intrinsically wisest person that I’ve ever encountered in my life or in my readings. He’s the most important thing in my life. I know it may sound strange, but I have to say I adore him! Everything good I know, everything decent I know, everything pure I know, I learned from Jesus. He is the most important human being who has ever existed. And if I may put it this way, I miss him.”

Templeton’s eyes filled with tears and he wept freely. He refused to say more.

A man who once believed then didn’t said that Jesus was the most important person to ever live

mr. templeton had left his first love

He didn’t believe in christ at all

Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (pp. 64–65). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

The church of Ephesus went a step farther because they still believed in God they just forsook him

They stopped leading a Godly church and started letting other things get in between them and God

So I want to ask you this morning do you live by God like you should

If you are a person who says well ive lost Jesus as my first love

Or maybe you say I need to watch more closley what im letting slip in

God called the church pf Ephesus to repent but for them to repent it didn’t just mean for them to apologize

In fact for a person to repent they must also have a true heart desire to be a better them

For Ephesus to repent theyd have to get they’re love for Christ back

They would have to run they’re church in Godly matter again

They would have to submit themselves to prayer and fasting

They would have to commit they’re live to Jesus and love of one another

They would have to be a light to community in Ephesus not just another building in the city

If we are to be a church of God we have to stand out in our community

We cant blend in we cant look the same

One of Ephesus biggest attractions was a world wonder and it was the temple of Diana.

If the church of Ephesus didn’t look any better then the a false God then they failed

They didn’t let the spirit of God lead the church or even they’re own hearts

As a member of this church it is each members responsibility to guard they’re heart and fill they’re heart with nothing but God

Ephesus members didn’t keep God as they’re first love therefor neither di the church as a whole

the church failed and the church didn’t continue to flourish

They lost they’re love for Christ and the rest came tumbling down

(close)

The City of Ephesus was once a powerful strong city comparable to Rome

Ephesus had a beatiful natural harbor and was blessed beyond measure

The church lost they’re first love

The Harbor left practically useless

Now its nothing more then a tourist attraction and ancient ruins

So I close today saying don’t lose you’re first love

Don’t allow you’re heart to become ancient ruins where God used to be.

Allow it to be a thriving sanctuary where he lives everyday