The church at ephesus

The church at ephesus

• 2.
  The Church atEphesus! Rev. 2:1 "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”
• 3.
  I will tellyou up front I am excited about this study! I have been wanting to preach through these seven churches for a long time! ▪ If you are not familiar with the first three chapters of Revelation, & even if you are, I would like to challenge you to read through them every day for the next 2 months as we study about these 7 churches! ▪ The book of Revelation was originally written for and sent to these seven churches! (See. Rev. 1:4 and 11)
• 4.
  Background of Ephesus! ▪It was important, commercially, politically & religiously! ▸Commercially, it was a trade city that was a huge part of the 1st Century economy. ▸Politically, it was the capital city of Ionia, the Roman province of Asia, it was the 2nd largest city in the Roman empire. ▸Religiously, It was indispensable in the 1st Century regarding the early church. It was also home to the Tempe of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the World!
• 5.
  The importance ofthis congregation to the church! ▪ Paul preached here more than any other congregation! Both on his 2nd & 3rd missionary journeys! (Act. 18:19-20 & 19:1-10) He preached there longer than anywhere else (Act. 19:10) “two years!” ▪ Timothy preached for them (I Tim. 1:3) Apollos preached for them (Act. 18:24-28) Aquila & Priscilla worked with them (Act. 18:18-28) ▪ History claims that John wrote 4 books from there! (John, 1st, 2nd & 3rd John)
• 6.
  Often known as “Theloveless church!” ▪ Imagine if Lakeside was known for being a “loveless church” this conclusion of course is not our own, by the Lord’s! ▪ This is the “true” nature of them, from the inside and not from the outside! ▪ What is the true heart of our congregation, not as we see it, but as it really is? ▪ It is important that we don’t come to have right head, but wrong heart! (Mt. 23:3)
• 7.
  I. Their Reputation! Rev.2:1-3, 6 ▪ The evaluation being done here is being given by Christ Himself! ▪ When you look at their bulletin, one would think, they are doing great! Look at all the things they are engaged in! ▸Works ▸Toils ▸Patient endurance ▸Will not bear those who are evil ▸Have not grown weary (in the fight of faith!)
• 8.
  It first seemsthat everyone should be like this congregation! When they first begun reading this I would imagine they got a “big head” until Jesus pointed out they didn’t have a “big heart!” ▪ It would indeed be wonderful if every congregation had a reputation as this found here in (Rev. 2:2-3) but not miss the bigger picture! ▪ Jesus commends their, service, separation, standards and steadfastness!
• 9.
  II. Their Reality! Rev.2:4 ▪ They had the right actions, but the wrong attitude! They had a hand for service, but not a heart for service! ▪ “But” these three letters speak volumes! ▸This is your reputation! (Rev. 2:2-3) ▸This is your reality! (Rev. 2:4) ▪ You are not where you think you are! ▪ They had forgotten what is of the most importance!
• 10.
  Nothing is anythingwithout love! 1 Cor. 13:1-3 ▪ The Greatest Commandment! ▸Mt. 22:36-40 love God, love others (on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.) ▪ Love is the fulfillment of the law! ▸Rom. 13:8-10 ▪ Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
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  III. Their Remedy! Rev.2:5 ▪ Remedy = a medicine or treatment for a disease or injury; a means of counteracting or eliminating something undesirable (Oxford Dict.) ▪ Now we know what is wrong, how do we make it right? ▪ This reminds me of a passage! ▸Ac 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
• 12.
  From the conditionto the cure! Jesus tells them what is needed! ▪ The need to remember! “Remember from where you have fallen!” ( cf. Gal 5:4) ▪ The need to repent! “Repent!” (Lk. 13:3) ▪ The need to repeat! “Do the works you did at first!” (Rev. 2:4 cf. 1 Jn. 4:8) ▪ The need to remove! “I will come to you and remove your lampstand” ▸They need to remove this loveless attitude or God will be forced to remove them!
• 13.
  IV. Their Reward! Rev.2:6-7 ▪ Now we get to the real exciting part of this passage! As long as we are alive and still breathing there is still “hope!!!” ▪ Verse 7 is the end result of the conclusion that Jesus gives to the problem of the church at Ephesus! If they will accept the remedy, they can reap the reward!!! ▪ Jesus moves from “a church/congregation” to the application, which is for “all churches/congregations!”
• 14.
  The reward isopen to all of us! “To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God!” ▪ There is a “condition” that precedes the reward! “To the one who conquers” ▪ We must not fall out of love with Jesus! ▪ Let’s go back for a moment to vs. 6 “the Nicolaltans!” They are a group that claim to be Gnostics, and we will read more about in our 3rd lesson. For now simply note what Jesus says, “you hate them, I hate them” so you got the hate part down, now get “the love part down!”
• 15.
  Conclusion: ▪ May eachone of us really learn to fall in love with Jesus! ▪ If we give God a little, our love will be a little, if we give God a lot, our love will be a lot! ▸Lk 7:47 "Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." ▪ If you are not yet a Christian, today is the day, tomorrow maybe too late!