THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS

LESSONS FROM THE LETTERS
“HE WANTS A STEADFAST CHURCH”
(REVELATION 2: 1-7)

Intro:
There was once a king who wanted to teach his subjects a lesson. So, he called for a large rock to be placed in the main road going through town. For days he waited and watched to see who would take the time to move the rock and find the prize which he had hidden under it. He stood amazed as he watched person after person grumble and complain about the rock, but none stopped to move it.
Finally, at the end of the week, he called a meeting at the rock. He had all of his subjects stand and watch as he rolled the rock aside. Once it was moved, he stooped and picked up the pouch which he had placed under it. As everyone watched, he reached in, and pulled out both the hand full of gold coins, as well as a note. On the note was written, “A reward for the one who takes the time to look under the rock. In order to find a wonderful gift, all the men and women of the village had to do was look under the rock. They just had to take a little time, and give a little effort, and the reward would have been amazing!
I want to submit to you today that the same thing is true for you and me. There is a rock which has been placed at the end of our Bibles, which though large, contains many wonderful gifts and lessons for us.
I’m speaking of the book of Revelation. Written by the apostle John while he was in exile on the Isle of Patmos, it has been long discussed and debated throughout the years. In the Church today, we tend to avoid the book of Revelation. We see it as being to full of incomprehensible jargon for us to gain any value from. However, the bible makes it clear to us in 2Timothy 3: 16, that: “All scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” This would indicate to us that the book of Revelation isn’t to be overlooked, but is instead to be probed for the lessons which it contains.
Beginning this morning, and for the next six weeks, I want to share with you the lessons from the letters in Revelation. In Revelation 1: 10, Paul is instructed to write to the seven churches in Asia. Those churches were Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Found within these seven letters, we find valuable lessons which are still applicable to the church today.
The first letter which John sends is to the Church in Ephesus. This is most likely the second letter which was sent to this congregation. The first was penned by the apostle Paul. The city of Ephesus was the largest and most important of all seven cities. All that remains of it today is a small Turkish village a mile north of the former metropolis. I think we can safely say that the advice which Christ offered through his servant John wasn’t accepted, because the Church at Ephesus indeed lost its candlestick.
If we are to avoid that same fait, then we need to see what that letter said, and take to heart the lessons which we find.

I. THE WELL DONE

1. Christ begins this letter to the Church of Ephesus in the same way that he begins all the letters, by commending them on the things they are doing good.
A. Rev 2: 2a well done in terms of your work.
B. Rev 2: 2b well done in terms of endurance.
C. Rev 2: 2-3 well done in terms of vigilance.
2. First, consider the works of the Church at Ephesus.
A. In truth, we are not provided with a list of their works.
B. However, according to Coffman’s Commentary on Revelation, the word Labor could also be translated toil, which refers to: “arduous, sweat-producing labor.”
C. In other words, they were active in the work of the Lord.
D. Gal 6: 9-10 they, much like you and I today, took seriously the command to not grow weary in well-doing, but to constantly seek opportunity to help all whom we come into contact with!
3. Also, they are given a well done on their endurance.
A. Rev 2: 2b “I know thy patients.”
B. The word “Patients,” is the Greek word Hupomone.”
C. This word carries with it the idea of sufferings being endured and overcome.
D. James 1: 2 they, much like you and I, discovered a way to find joy in the midst of sufferings.
4. Finally, Ephesus is told well done in terms of your vigilance.
A. The word “vigilance”, means: “Alert, watchful, especially for danger.”
B. Here we see Christ congratulating the church of Ephesus for staying alert for things which might come and harm the congregation.
C. 1Pet 5: 8 you see, they were, as we should be today, sober, vigilant, ever watchful for the devils progress into their lives.
D. 1John 4: 1 as the modern day church let us continue to try the spirits, that we may remain ever vigilant!

II. THE WARNING

1. Here in the warning, we find two things.
A. First, the Church of Ephesus is told what they are doing wrong.
B. Second, they are told the punishment which will come if they don’t make a change.
2. If we are to avoid making their mistakes, we should take a moment to study those mistakes.
A. Rev 2: 4-5 first, it isn’t just a problem, what they have done is sin; otherwise Christ wouldn’t have said that they needed to repent.
B. You see, they were great at working, enduring, and remaining vigilant, but they had forgotten to Love God above all else.
C. There work, suffering, and watchfulness had superseded their love of God.
D. Jer 2: 13 they had become like the people of Jeremiah’s time, in that they abandoned God, and then looked for joy and happiness in other places.
E. They did so well in work, endurance, and vigilance, yet they forgot to keep the Love of God as their first priority.
F. Rev 2: 5 let’s make sure to repent, when we put Christ in any position than first, and then let all other works flow from this central theme!
3. However, it is also important that we see what will happen if we fail to heed the warning.
A. Rev 2: 5 “or else I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
B. By removing the candlestick, the church will no longer be a church.
C. The spirit will be gone, and the light will go out, and a church with no spirit and no light isn’t a church at all.
D. Rev 2: 6-7 for those who hear and overcome, they will experience eternal life in the presents of God, for those who don’t, they will not.