To the Seven Churches 1
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Eph
Eph
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 mystery reveled
Seven stars - Angelos - messengers Gods caretakers to the churches, the pastors
Angelos - envoys of the King to make a proclamation
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
and Declare to you - anaggello
“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:
Look at the position - in His hand of the messengers - in his hand
God is the source of inspiration and revelation unto the Pastor for the edification and training of the church
The seven lampstands here representing the seven churches or as we shall see seven eras of the church
Notice that the lamp stand is not the light
It is simply the holder of the light!
The churches responsibility is to let His light shine in such a way as those around us give glory to Him!
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
“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.
There is always an exhortation and a rebuke to each of the churches
I know your works, labor, patience and not bearing evil
The church at Ephesus most likely was founded by Aquila & Percila
So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow.
And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent,
but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.
Ephesians deals with topics at the very core of what it means to be a Christian—both in faith and in practice—regardless of any particular problem in the community.
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
While Paul was not responding to a particular theological or moral problem, he wanted to protect against future problems by encouraging the Ephesians to mature in their faith.
Your Christian “walk” (in other words, your daily life) is to be characterized by unity, holiness, love, wisdom, and perseverance in spiritual warfare.
It is about 30 yeas later that John is reflecting on their condition - Still defending a “lived out” Christianity and calling into account those who would pervert the truth!
I know your works, labor, patience and not bearing evil
Their works - literally zeal or useful activity a tradesman honing his skill mostly refers to the sphere of moral action
Labor - Heroic acts; actions in service of humanity - Exertion; physical tiredness; strenuous effort - a solider in battle! Not fainting under assault
Patience - Endure, stand-fast, to bear expectantly; to persevere
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
“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;
Cannot bear hose who say they are Apostles and are not - discernment
Already the birds of the air have come to nest in the tree!
Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”
False ministers and strange doctrines have already sprung up during the infancy of the church - Need a steadfast faith!
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
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.
They had all the actions but the heart had grown cold!
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
We get all the doctrine right and still miss the mark of love!
But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.
Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
We can not forget from whence we came! We are only “ok” now because of HIm
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
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.
Not works but WALKS! - The first signs of a developed system of religion
The word nikos is the Greek word that means to conquer or to subdue or lord over. The word laos is the Greek word for the people. It is also where we get the word laity. When these two words are compounded into one, they form the name Nicolas, which literally means one who conquers and subdues the people.
It was the beginning of the introduction of the priesthood - a separation again of the people from their savior
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
And so we see that today, a number of denominations separate the people from God - Thyatira
Do the first works! No love - No Spirit - I will remove the Spirit - division, infighting, pride etc
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.
Let all that you do be done with love.
“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.” ’
A restoration of the garden condition - Adams choice Tree in the garden
Now its planted in the “Paradise of God”
Love was growing cold - Smyrna - 2nd 3rd century - time of martyrs - Rome
A time of great suffering