Churches of Revelation: Part 2/ Ephesus: The Church Without Love
Pastor Lee Faust
Part of Sermons
May 4, 2025

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 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. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 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. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 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 2:1-7

“8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”
Revelation 2:8-9


Jesus starts with a

.

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.”
Revelation 2:2

“No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
2 Samuel 24:24

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:7


Jesus moves to a

.

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.”
Revelation 2:4

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people.”
Ephesians 1:15


What is first love?
It is an

love.

“I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.”
2 Corinthians 11:2

“This is what the LORD says: “I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness.”“
Jeremiah 2:2


It is a

love.

“We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I Thessalonians 1:3


Jesus finishes with

.

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”
Revelation 2:5


Application:



“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