TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS
TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS
"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary."
Revelation 2:2-3 NIV
In the message the Lord gave Apostle John on the island of Patmos to the church in Ephesus, the Lord commended the church for their righteousness and hatred for the false doctrines. The church was hardworking and would not tolerate anything ungodly. They were found faithful in keep the law and in service. The have also purged themselves of every wrong doctrine that could infiltrate the body of Christ. They held unto the undiluted gospel of Christ.
"But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." Revelation 2:6 NIV
The Nicolaitan doctrine was a false and heretic doctrine common in the city of Ephesus and Pergamum, it proves that the fornication is not a crime when connected with religious rites, it also encourages cult and ritual prostitution (employing prostitutes in shrines, temples and palaces). This doctrine was outrightly rejected by the church in Ephesus which was a commendation to them.
"But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]." REVELATION 2:4 AMP
With all the commendations, a charge was raised against the church, they fell short in that they abandoned their first love. The depth of love and enthusiasm they had for the Lord at first had drastically reduced, though they were religious but the burning zeal for the gospel of Jesus was lost.
This is applicable to many believers today. When we first gave our lives to Jesus, we had the hot love of Christ in us, with great enthusiasm and zeal for the Lord, we frequently go on retreats, personal evangelism, organise study groups, write tracts, organize special programs and crusades for the spread of the gospel. But with time, all these begins to die slowly until the burning love for Christ died of. Many often visits go for prison and orphanage evangelism but have become too busy, they lost their first burning love for Christ.
"Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." Revelation 2:5 NIV
The Lord is calling you to return back to your first love, go back to those wonderful things you used to do for Jesus Christ out of enthusiasm and love, go back to the prayer programs and personal evangelism, go back to the prison and orphanage outreaches, go back to the morning cries, go back to thy first love so you will not be replaced, go back and the Lord Jesus will restore in you the Joy of salvation.
"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Revelation 2:7 NIV
............GOD BLESS YOU
"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary."
Revelation 2:2-3 NIV
In the message the Lord gave Apostle John on the island of Patmos to the church in Ephesus, the Lord commended the church for their righteousness and hatred for the false doctrines. The church was hardworking and would not tolerate anything ungodly. They were found faithful in keep the law and in service. The have also purged themselves of every wrong doctrine that could infiltrate the body of Christ. They held unto the undiluted gospel of Christ.
"But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." Revelation 2:6 NIV
The Nicolaitan doctrine was a false and heretic doctrine common in the city of Ephesus and Pergamum, it proves that the fornication is not a crime when connected with religious rites, it also encourages cult and ritual prostitution (employing prostitutes in shrines, temples and palaces). This doctrine was outrightly rejected by the church in Ephesus which was a commendation to them.
"But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]." REVELATION 2:4 AMP
With all the commendations, a charge was raised against the church, they fell short in that they abandoned their first love. The depth of love and enthusiasm they had for the Lord at first had drastically reduced, though they were religious but the burning zeal for the gospel of Jesus was lost.
This is applicable to many believers today. When we first gave our lives to Jesus, we had the hot love of Christ in us, with great enthusiasm and zeal for the Lord, we frequently go on retreats, personal evangelism, organise study groups, write tracts, organize special programs and crusades for the spread of the gospel. But with time, all these begins to die slowly until the burning love for Christ died of. Many often visits go for prison and orphanage evangelism but have become too busy, they lost their first burning love for Christ.
"Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." Revelation 2:5 NIV
The Lord is calling you to return back to your first love, go back to those wonderful things you used to do for Jesus Christ out of enthusiasm and love, go back to the prayer programs and personal evangelism, go back to the prison and orphanage outreaches, go back to the morning cries, go back to thy first love so you will not be replaced, go back and the Lord Jesus will restore in you the Joy of salvation.
"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Revelation 2:7 NIV
............GOD BLESS YOU
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