August 14, 2016
Evening Service

Sam started us last week into the Book of Revelations and I felt we should just continue that study on Sunday nights.  We will look at the letters to the seven churches and then see where the Lord leads us from there.

Revelation 1:10-11  I came to be in the Spirit in the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,  (11)  saying, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last.” Also, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

·         There are numerous interpretations comparing these letters to distinct periods or a certain church ages that make for some very interesting studies.  We, however, will simply take these scriptures literally at face value and will try to apply the commendations, reproofs, and the exhortations to ourselves as a church and on a personal level.

 

Ephesus:  It was a great metropolis in the Roman Empire as its harbor along the Mediterranean Sea served as an excellent commercial trade port.  The population was close to 300,000 people of various backgrounds along with a large number of Jews.  It was also a center for religious activity as the temple of Artemis (Diana) was the largest building in the Greek world and many cults flourished in the city. Paul passed through Ephesus on his missionary journeys and once spent more than two years there.  He later wrote a letter that bears its name.  Timothy is believed to be the first bishop of the church there and it also became the home of John the apostle after his exile ended.

 

Revelation 2:1 To the angel of the church of Ephesus write: He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, says these things.

·         The “angel of the church” is referring to the Bishop or Pastor who was in authority (one of the seven stars in His hand in chapter 1).

·         Jesus describes Himself differently to each of the seven churches; here He refers back to the picture of Him we saw in chapter 1:12-16.

 

Revelation 2:2-3 I know your works and your labor and your patience, and how you cannot bear those who are evil. And you tried those pretending to be apostles, and are not, and have found them liars.  (3)  And you have persevered, and have patience, and for My name's sake you have labored and have not become weary.

·         He begins the letter with praise for their labor and patience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Labor-. Exertion of muscular strength or bodily exertion which occasions weariness.

 

Patience-The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring.

·         These are positive attributes of a very active church, one that is working hard for the Lord and enduring afflictions and sufferings with the proper attitude.  As Paul encouraged the Galatian church likewise to not grow weary in well doing. (6:9). We glorify God through our actions and God notices (I know).

 

How is our work ethic for the Lord?  How is our patience and our attitude?

 

·         He also commends them for their discerning spirit as they tried or tested those claiming to be apostles and found them to be liars.  That is much like the disciples in Berea.

Acts 17:11  And these were more fair minded than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see if those things were so.

·         It is extremely important that we line up all teaching we receive agaisnt the Word of God.  We will not be deceived or misled if we filter everything through the scriptures as they will teach us all the same things (same spirit).

 

How are we about studying our scriptures and proving or disproving the things we hear?

 

Revelation 2:4 But I have against you that you left your first love.

·         Now He begins to reprove them of their one fault; leaving their first love. They were still active in service and sound in doctrine but had lost the true motive of worship that they originally possessed; love.

 

1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I give out all my goods to feed the poor, and though I deliver my body to be burned, and have not love, I am nothing.

 

1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will fail; if tongues, they shall cease; if knowledge, it will vanish away.

·         It is good for all of us as individuals and as a church to step back from time to time and examine why, or the motive behind, the things we are doing.  Everything we do must be for the glory of God and done though love.

 

Are we still in love with the Lord, or are we allowing the things of this world to draw us away from that first love?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If so He now gives us the remedy.

 

Revelation 2:5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent.

·         Remember from where God has brought you (testimony).  Look back at His faithfulness in your life and think where you could have been without Him.  We are a forgetful people and need reminding (communion).

·         Repent of how we allowed ourselves to stray away from truly obeying with a pure, loving heart.

·         Return to the first works you did when you first believed.  Remember the fire that burned within you when you first accepted the Lord?  He wants us to return to that place and be excited about our Savior and the salvation He offers.

·         The alternative to doing these things is that the church would cease to exist and its testimony be extinguished.

 

Have you been at that point in your journey with Christ that you had to repent and get back on track?

 

Revelation 2:6 But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

·         He again gives a word of commendation to the church that they “hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans.”  These false teachers taught that grace gave them freedom to practice idolatry and sexual sins within the confines of the church.

·         The commendation was that they hated the “deeds” not the people doing them.

 

Are we careful to hate sin and not the sinner?

 

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 to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

·         Each letter is closed with a plea for those who hear to listen.  We discussed this in teen class this morning, how we often are able to hear advice, but not listen to it.

·         He also promises to eat of the Tree of Life to those who are overcomers.

 

Are you truly listening to what God is telling you through His Word and acting upon it?

 

Lord please rekindle the fire of our hearts and let us return to that love we first felt for You.