The Letter to the Church at Ephesus Revelation 2:1-7

Introduction God is specific in His pattern for the church. –The work that it is to do. –The character of its members. –The way it deals with sin and error. –The attitude of the people in the church. –The zeal of its members for the kingdom. The letters to the seven churches express our need to uphold God’s pattern.

The Letter to Ephesus Address: To the Angle or Messenger. The speaker: Holding seven stars in right hand. –Seven stars are the seven angels or messengers (Rev. 1:20). –Seven candlesticks are the seven churches. He walks in the midst of the seven candlesticks (Matt. 28:20, 18:20). “I Know”: He knows what we do, our hearts, our works (John 2:24).

What Is Right With the Church “Your works and your labor.” –Diligence in ministry of the church. We need such diligence. “Patience.” –In suffering, endurance. We need such patience. –Church faces trials of all sorts. –But in all cases must have the faith to “preserve and have patience.” “You cannot bear those who are evil.” –Patience does not mean inaction toward sin. –They did not tolerate those living in sin. Neither should we. –Patient with people while zealous against sin.

What Is Right With the Church “You have tested” false apostles. –Tested men’s claims of authority (Matt. 7:15- 20). As must we. –Zealous to do so. –Zeal does not negate discretion. These were tested before being cast off (Tit. 3:10). “You have labored for My name’s sake.” –Labor against evil. –Labor in work of the church. –“Not become weary.” –So we must be tireless in our efforts to be the kind of church Christ wants us to be.

What was Wrong with the Church “You have left your first love.” –Not object, –But fervent degree of it. –“decay and declension of holy love and zeal” (Henry). First affections toward Christ and brethren (Acts 2:44-45; 1 Pet. 1:22). –Affections begin to cool and abate with time. –Christ is grieved when He sees His people “grow remiss and cold toward Him” (Henry). –All the labor we do will not excuse a lack of love and zeal for the Lord.

Action to be Taken “Remember from where you have fallen.” –Recall the zeal and love once had in the beginning. –Recall devotion to God from the heart. Repent. –Turn back to how you once were. –Turn from mindless obedience to zealous love and obedience. Do the first works. –Works that result from great love. –No matter how much we do, unless we have love, there will always be something missing. –I.e., care for brethren, love for lost souls, etc.

Consequences of Inaction I will remove your lamp stand. –Represents church’s presence with Christ (in His midst, 2:1). –Though the congregation may still exist, without repentance their spiritual presence would be taken from Christ. –“I never knew you” (Matt. 7:21-23; Rom. 9:6). –Existence of a church does not mean they are right, only love and devotion to God is true indication.

Promised Reward “To him who overcomes:” Requires endurance. “Eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Man was separated from this tree in the beginning. Adam’s sin took it away, our sins keep us away. But in Christ we can return (Rom. 5:17), but only if we hold fast, have patience, overcome the trials that face the church.