Welcome to the assembly of the 160th Ave. Church of Christ! We gather Sunday at 9 AM (class), 10 AM, 5 PM, & Wednesday at 7 PM Check the bulletin for various announcements www.160thavechurch.com

Pray for Ben Calderon (Conway, Arkansas)

Pray and prepare for our gospel meeting --

Whom have I in heaven but You Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works. (Psalms 73:25-26, 28 NKJV)

Brief History of the Gospel in Ephesus Acts 18:19 Acts 19 Acts 20:17 Ephesians 1 Timothy (1:3) Revelation 2 Acts 18:19 Paul first comes to Ephesus but quickly leaves; Aquila and Priscilla stay Acts 19 Paul returns to Ephesus* (AD 53/4) Acts 20:17 Paul visits with the elders from Ephesus Paul writes to the Ephesians (Willis says between AD 62-64, pg 17) No mention of elders** Paul leaves Timothy in Ephesus*** (AD 62-64, per Patton) Are there elders in Ephesus now? If so, work to do! John writes to Ephesus (decades later) but other six read this too. No mention of elders in any church, incl Eph. Whether there were or were not any, the immediate outlook is gloomy but Jesus through the HS through John offers an invitation, beginning with --

“I Know Your Works, Ephesus” Revelation 2:1-7

I know your. . . v2-3,6 Works Labor Patience That you cannot endure evil (1 Tim. 1:3; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; 6:21) I. I know your. . . v2-3, 6 A. works Years ago, they had worked with Paul spreading the gospel in all Asia (Acts 19:10) B. labor (toil, hard work, trouble) Being a Christian cost them 50,000 pieces of silver when they burned their magic books (Acts 19:19) C. patience 1. Years ago, a riot opposed Paul and the gospel--did that animosity end when Paul left? 2. v3 you have persevered...and have not become weary D. that you cannot endure those who are evil Timothy was sent to them, in part because of evil in the present (1 Tim. 1:3, 7; 6:3, 21) and future (1 Tim. 4:1-5). 1. you have tested those who say. . . 2. hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans

Nevertheless, I have this against you… v4 “have left” = “divorce” in 1 Cor. 7:11 Mk. 12:30 Love must exist inwardly and outwardly 1 Jn. 5:3 II. Nevertheless I have against you, that you have left your first love. . . v4 A. you have left your first love 1. What does it mean they left...? Compare 1 Cor. 7:11 2. Doesn’t mean every person was guilty but that this was a prominent problem among them. B. Like faith, the love God shows us and expects from us must exist inwardly and outwardly 1. Jesus said God demands your heart, soul, mind, strength (Mk. 12:30) 2. 1 Jn. 5:3 His commandments involve inner decisions and outer actions C. Nothing is identified as missing from their outward deeds—their problems were real but less obvious and probably surprising when read by the other six churches. D. Possibly, their love was not coming from their heart, soul, mind, strength 1. They had other purposes for what they did (protect our tradition, our religious heritage, my family [2nd gen]) 2. Much of what they did outwardly had become a meaningless ritual, like a married couple who would never leave each other and kiss each day but whose heart, soul, mind and strength is devoted to other ppl and activities. 3. They might have become the unfruitful plant of Matt. 13:22 (cares, pleasures, deceitfulness) or like Martha, most attentive to lesser things (Mk. 10:41-42). 4. Whatever was missing, their past works, labor, patience, and opposition to evil was no substitute for leaving their first love.

Remember. . . or else. . . v5 From where you have fallen Gal. 5:4 Repent. . . I will come, remove “Falling from grace means... While our position in the grace of God is secure, our experience of His grace is not..” Bob Wilkin, http://faithalone.org/magazine/y1988/88jan1.html III. Remember. . . or else v5 A. remember from where you have fallen 1. who had they left? your first love 2. where had they fallen from? Gal. 5:4 a. “once saved always saved” (Persev of saints) claims that if you leave your first love, you remain in grace b. “Falling from grace means... While our position in the grace of God is secure, our experience of His grace is not..” (Bob Wilkin, http://faithalone.org/magazine/y1988/88jan1.html accessed 9-20-17)   B. repent and do the first works 1. repent, when he did not identify any outward sin? Sin can be only in your heart, unnoticeable by others for a time (but eventually, your heart bears fruit outwardly). 2. back to the beginning—the things that compelled and persuaded them initially a. goodness of God shown in creation, OT, Jesus Christ b. severity of God shown in OT, Jesus’ death, final judgment c. the right response to these, no matter how long you have known them, is to be inwardly and outwardly devoted first to God—Mt. 16:24 (the first works). C. Or else I will... 1. come to you quickly This was not a matter of some deceitful error that would take some time to analyze and understand—they understood and had to decide who they would love the most. 2. remove your lampstand a. they would no longer have His approval, nor would He claim them b. this change would not be visible or immediately known---based on their history and visible things, they must have had a good reputation c. in time, the fruits of leaving Christ show up and others could know they were not of Christ

To him who overcomes. . . v7 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. (Rev. 22:14 NKJV) IV. To him who overcomes. . . A. overcome (nikao, r/t nike) victory B. I will give to eat from the tree. . . 1. when you eat, you get the full benefit of the food 2. this tree had not been mentioned in Scr since Gen. 3 3. Rev. 22:14 How do we overcome? Blessed are those. . . 4. They are not judged as a church (group), but each one will be judged upon whether he did his share to cause the growth of the body.

What happened next? “...your reverend presbytery...is tuned to the bishop” Ignatius’ letter to the Ephesians, around AD 107 (study Acts 20:17, 20; Titus 1:5,7; 1 Peter 5:1-2)

I know your works, Portland Jesus sees. . . (Eph. 4:16) Who is your first love? (Zech. 7:5) To him who overcomes. . . (2 Tim. 4:8) V. I know your works, Portland/160th A. Jesus sees our work (assembling), labor (toil, hard work—id and responding to sin among us), patience (process of identifying qualified leaders), if we cannot bear evil (some men who expressed interest in preaching here last yr), if we test what ppl claim (who is a Christian? who may marry again?), and hate the deeds that God hates (false teachings influencing brethren, LS not limited to fdow)? 1. Would you be able to identify the work, labor, patience, etc of this church—do you contribute to it or do you consider what this church does to be “what they do...I just go there.”—why not “what we do”? Jesus sees 2. Of the work, labor, patience, testing, and godly hate of this church, what part do you contribute to that you are able to contribute to? Jesus sees 3. Jesus sees our work---what does He see from you? Eph. 4:16 B. Who is your first love---have you left? 1. Of the work, labor, patience, testing, and godly hate of this church, what part do you contribute to in love for God? 2. Do you contribute to these things because I just don’t like change, its comfortable, x what I’ve always done, or x what my family has always done but I don’t know, or consider, what God has said about them? 3. What I do (or avoid) and Why I do (or avoid) what I do is a significant matter to God! Zech. 7:5 4. Do you need to remember...repent? If enough of us need to and do not, Jesus will come to us and . . . C. To him who overcomes 1. What have you overcome? do you remember the beginning, struggle, end? 2. the final reward will be given in that final day 2 Tim. 4:8 3. We will not be judged as a whole but we will each be judged upon our commitment to Jesus’ ppl/church.

“I Know Your Works, Ephesus” Revelation 2:1-7

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. " (Acts 2:38, NKJV) "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God. . . " (Acts 8:22, NKJV)