Is Your Church Like Ephesus?

Paul started the church and it became the Christian capital of Asia, his visits are recorded in Acts18:19-21, chapter 19and 20 :17-38,

To this church who had lost its first love and which is in danger of losing the life of the church, Christ comes as the sustainer of the church's life.

One of the seven wonders of the world was considered to be in Ephesus. Here stood the largest and most magnificent Temple of Artemis built to the Goddess Diana.

The cult of Diana encouraged much trade. Silversmiths had a great business selling silver shrines and images of Diana[Acts 19:23]

The image of Diana was one of the most sacred images in the ancient world , not at all beautiful, with the lewdness of having four rows of breasts, legalized prostitution dominated the city.

Heraclitus, an ancient philosopher was known as the "weeping philosopher" explained that his own tears was because no one could live in Ephesus could live without weeping at all the immorality going on.

Sin has its place of judgment then and today where the temple stood is now a swamp and the ruins have vanished.

Christ who walks among his candlesticks sees how they are burning , he is not a judge who cannot be pleased,he commends the works, labor and toil and patience of this church and the careful scrutiny of false prophets.

Today , so many churches applaud and shake hands with modernist, but at least Ephesus Christ could say with approval"Thou cans not bear them which are evil"

The church suffered for Christ name yet continued on without fainting.

Nevertheless... they left their first love- Despite the above good qualities there was a serious wound, the original love and zeal for the Saviour the church first had had decayed into church work and routine, the way several marriages go.

Christ command is to repent or forfeit your life as a church.

Another condemnation comes forward now- lest they be crushed and despair that the Saviour cannot be pleased.

They hate the Nicolaitanes these were the ones who wanted to first install church hierarchy. the meaning of the word still is used today Nikao means to conquer and Laos means people. The word NIKE comes from it to, their motto "just do it" without thinking.

People that go to church just to go is what Sardis is today.

"It's Sunday we better go to church"

"Is it Sunday again?"

We are all guilty of it, the zeal needs to be brought back , the same as in marriage , remember why you got married?

Remember why you got saved and what you got saved from.

2:1 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; 2:2 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: 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 2:4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 2:5 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. 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 2:7 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.

Revelation 2:1-7 KJV

Tomorrow , on to Smyrna.