Series: Jesus' Seven Messages
Part 1 Ephesus: The Church That Left Jesus
(Pages 1-3 are the
Leader’s guide, Page 4 is the handout)
Rev 2:1-7
(1) Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus
write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand,
who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
(2) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy
patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried
them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
(3) And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my
name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
(4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love.
(5) Remember therefore from whence thou art
fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
(6) But this thou hast, that thou hatest the
deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
(7) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of
the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
When God wanted to straighten out the world, He didn’t
choose to write to the politicians, or to the army generals, but He wrote to
the churches. If the churches are right,
there is hope for the world, if the churches are wrong, we are in a dire
situation!
About Jesus:
He
is holding the pastors in His hand
Great privilege and great responsibility (Pray for
your pastor)
God
protects them and tells us:
·
Psa 105:14-15
·
(14) He
suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
·
(15)
Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
To all
children of God…
·
(2Th 1:6)
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to
them that trouble you;
He
is walking in the midst of the churches
The good news is that God has not given up on His
churches!
Churches are still God’s method for reaching mankind.
Gathering redeemed men and women into a place of
fellowship and spiritual growth has been God’s plan and is still being carried
out today.
He doesn't just form the churches and walk away, but
He walks in them, among the believers, rejoicing and grieving, correcting and
commending. Calling us to repentance and
lifting us with encouragement.
I
know thy Labors
He knows what we are doing….and not doing.
He is going to tell them that they have to return to
the first works, but yet finds them incredible busy!
What
is a church called to do?
Mat 28:19-20
(19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost:
(20) Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world. Amen.
What about social work? What about caring for the poor etc.?
Yes there are definitely commands in the bible that we
should do good to them who are of the household of faith. That we should care one for another. Minister to the poor.
The problem is, those who consider themselves poor in
America are not always quite as poor as they think.
If you can pay $100 a month for cable TV, but want me
to buy your groceries for you…that isn’t going to happen.
If you have $20 a week for cigarettes and ask help for
your electric bill….that dog don’t hunt.
But the fact that Jesus tells them to do the first
works tells us they were busy about the wrong things!
We are to:
·
Teach
·
Disciple
·
Worship
·
Fellowship
But there is one thing that is to be more important
than anything else.
There is one thing that Jesus called the “First Works”
and that is to spread the good news of Jesus!
To witness to others of Him.
You
have tried them
This church did the right thing. It tried the spirits to find out is they were
true apostles or true followers or not.
We are not to blindly believe everyone that comes down
the pike and calls themselves apostle this or Minister that. They are to have fruit that you can inspect.
Life that can be tried.
They did the right thing.
You
have left your first love
They had left Jesus!
He was in the church and they were more concerned
about something and everything else.
***Joseph and Mary leaving Jesus in the temple
Repent
or I will remove your candlestick
In every congregation, there are those that overcome,
those that conquer, and those that are overcome, those that are conquered.
Handout
Discussion Questions:
1. What
does it mean to be so “busy for the kingdom, but have no time for the king?”
2. The
church at Ephesus was commended for their work, identifying false prophets,
their patience, but reproved for leaving their first love (Jesus) and their
first works (evangelism). What steps can we take to try to avoid the same
mistake?
3. If
the chief marks of religion, are fear (eternal punishment) and pride (I belong
and am better than you) what is the chief mark of a relationship with Jesus?
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
1Jn 3:14 We know that
we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that
loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Memory Verse: 1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is
of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Rev 2:1-7
(1) Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus
write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand,
who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
(2) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy
patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried
them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
(3) And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my
name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
(4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love.
(5) Remember therefore from whence thou art
fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
(6) But this thou hast, that thou hatest the
deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
(7) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of
the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Ephesus
About Jesus:
He is walking in the midst of the
golden__________________which are the _______________ and He is holding the
seven stars, which are the ___________in His hand.
He is ever present.
To those that are doing right, that is a comfort, but to those that are
hiding their sin, it is a fearful thing!
He sees it all, the good, and the bad.
About Ephesus:
This was a bustling city and a busy church. Jesus commends their labors and yet tells
them they had to do the “first works”. Obviously,
we can be busy about the wrong things.
What is a church called to do?
What is a Christian called to do?
How is it possible to be busy in a church and leave Jesus?
Jesus warns them to return to Him and to their primary
purpose (evangelism) or He would remove the candlestick (church). Apparently, at least in the short term, the
Ephesians heeded this warning. In the
early second century (not too long after John wrote), Ignatius praised the love
and the doctrinal purity of the Ephesians.
“You, who are of the most holy Church of the Ephesians, which is so
famous and celebrated throughout the world . . . you, being full of the Holy
Spirit, do nothing according to the flesh, but all things according to the
Spirit. You are complete in Christ
Jesus.” (Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians, Chapter 8. From the Ante Nicean Fathers Volume 1,
page 52)
Memory Verse: 1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is
of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
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