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Dear Church
October 16, 2022
The Church in EPHESUS
Revelations 2:1-7
“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: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, 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. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which 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.
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
The Ephesians Had Lost Their Love for God and for One Another
Matthew 22:37-39a
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
How serious of an issue is this?
If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place (vs. 5b)
The Calling Card of the Church is LOVE!
John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 John 4:7-8
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
What does Jesus tell them to do if they want to keep their doors open?
Revelation 2:5a
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
1. Remember
Do you remember when God first awakened your soul? Do you remember the excitement you had when he plucked you out of darkness? How joyful did you dance, from an orphan to a son, a dead sinner to a resurrected saint, an enemy with God to his beloved? Do you remember? Did you once run to prayer, not to take your daily dose of spiritual medicine, but because your Great Love waited for you there? Did you ever sing in the silence with the psalmist, There is nothing I desire besides you? Greg Morse
2. Repent
Repentance is always the beginning of a new beginning.
Revelation 2:6
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
True Love Hates Sin
Romans 12:9
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Revelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.