The Seven Churches of Asia Ephesus Revelation 2:1-7 NT Church 2017-18

Letters to the churches 7 letters to 7 congregations – symbolic of the church as a whole. Common conditions found in every church Thus we can ask, “How does this apply to us? Ephesus

Letters to the churches Ephesus – Left their first love Smyrna – Persecuted (poor-rich) Thyatira – Compromise (tolerating) Pergamos – Corrupt (immorality) Sardis – Dead (or dying) Philadelphia – An open door Laodicea – lukewarm (rich-poor) Ephesus

Letters to the churches Each letter – a uniform pattern Church identified The Lord described “I know your works” Commendation/condemnations Call to action “He who has an ear” To him who overcomes – a promise of reward Ephesus

The church at Ephesus We know more about this church than any other of the 7 Ephesus – an important Roman city in Asia. A seaport with great commerce 3 major roads A free city and a judicial center Religiously – filled with idolatry including the great temple of Diana Also dark arts Ephesus

The church at Ephesus The church at Ephesus First mentioned in Acts 18:19-20 Paul stayed 2+ years – Acts 19:10, 20:31 Both Jews and Gentiles Paul met with elders on way to Jerusalem – Acts 20:17ff Letter believed written from Rome Aquila & Priscilla, Apollos, Timothy, etc. Ephesus

He who holds the seven stars 2:1 The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Christ identified He who holds the seven stars 2:1 In His right hand, described as “angels of the seven churches” – 1:16, 20 Ephesus Don McClain, w65stchurchofchrist.com

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Christ identified The Angel – a messenger of Christ John 14:6 Galatians 1:12 Ephesians 3:3 Ephesus Don McClain, w65stchurchofchrist.com

The Holy Spirit reveals His message John 14:26, 16:13 The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Christ identified The Holy Spirit reveals His message John 14:26, 16:13 Ephesus Don McClain, w65stchurchofchrist.com

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Their strengths “I know your works” Your labor – they worked hard at what they did Your patience – they had suffered in times past (cf. Acts 19) and endured. They had not given up Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Their strengths You cannot bear those who are evil – they did not tolerate evil in their midst Recall how Paul warned them to watch for wolves - Acts 20:28-31. They had heeded that warning Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Their strengths You cannot bear those who are evil You have tested those who are false apostles – 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Their strengths You cannot bear those who are evil You have tested those who are false apostles You have hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans – vs. 6 (2:15) Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Their strengths You have persevered and have patience – even in the midst of idolatrous Ephesus, etc. You have labored and not become weary – still going strong in their stand against error! vs. 6 (2:15) Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Condemnation Nevertheless, I have this against you Only ONE negative observation How many errors are necessary to put us in spiritual danger? James 2:10, cf. Luke 18:22 Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Condemnation You have left your first love Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, Ephesians 1:15 They had zeal (destroying books) and compassion (weeping for Paul) Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Condemnation You have left your first love If we don’t have proper love – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Consider love between a husband and wife – begins strong, but what happens? Does it grow stronger or weaker? Do they begin to take each other for granted? Ephesians 5:22-33 Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Condemnation You have left your first love The flame of Ephesus had grown weak. They took for granted the love if Christ behind their actions. They WERE battle hardened, NOW they are battle weary Ephesians 5:22-23 Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Condemnation You have left your first love Summary: In Ephesus we find a church lacking proper motives and zeal We need to do the right thing, WITH the right motives! Matthew 5:8, 22:37, 23:23, etc. Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Call to action Remember! Change always begins with examination 2 Corinthians 13:5, Galatians 6:4 Luke 15:17-21 – the prodigal “came to himself” Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Call to action Repent! We cannot just drift and assume God will be pleased Luke 13:3 & 5 2 Corinthians 7:10-11, “In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter” Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Call to action Do the first works Return to the old paths, the original pattern Cf. Jeremiah 6:16 Rekindle the flame! Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 Consequence if you do not repent OR else I will come quickly and remove your lampstand Their standing with the Lord was in jeopardy Loveless action is NOT something to take lightly Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 “He who has an ear, let Him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 DOES THIS APPLY TO US? Have we left our first love? Doctrinally sound, but zeal is weak? Have we forgotten that we are here to serve Christ, and not our selfish agenda? Are we more interested in winning arguments or souls? Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 DOES THIS APPLY TO US? Is our worship more about form than purpose? More about ritual than heart? Cf. Malachi 1 & 2 Is our love for our Lord and one another, and others weaker! Are we more interested in “the way we have always done things” with no desire to improve or adapt (without compromise)? Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 DOES THIS APPLY TO US? Have we neglected the weightier matters of the law? Matthew 23:23 If this is where we find ourselves, let us learn from Ephesus – Remember – Repent – Return! Ephesus

The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 The promise! To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God Genesis 3:22 – the tree of life lost. Revelation 22:2, 14, 19 – in the heavenly city Ephesus

How is our first love?