Revelation 2:1-7
Here in Revelation 2 we see a local church. Verses 1-7 are written to the local church at Ephesus. In verse 1 the word "angel" is speaking of a messenger, an elder in the church, probably the pastor. He is the one who would relay the message to the members of the church. They are receiving a direct, personal message from Jesus Christ through the apostle John. Look at verse 1, "These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks." Let us turn to chapter 1 verses 10-16. These verses reference Jesus Christ walking through His churches with penetrating eyes protecting and judging His church. He is actively involved in His church. His church is to be actively involved in obeying His will, and being obedient to the Scriptures. These go hand in hand. I want to remind us that His church is made up of people who were ungodly. He saved us and made us new creatures in Him.
Christ knows what we do. He sees all and He knows all. Look at verses 2-3. "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my names sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted." Christ surely knows what we do and why we do it. The local church at Ephesus was doing some things right. They were busy. They stood on the bible. They would not allow false teachers to come in and they would not yoke up with the latest fads that were going through the churches. They hated sinful acts. Notice verse 6, "But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate." Nicolas was leading people into sinful acts and calling it spiritual activities. These were focused on sexual sins. God hates all sin, and sexual sins are at the top of His list. The church at Ephesus stood against sin; they stood against false teachers. They were rooted and grounded in the doctrines of the bible. They viewed everyone and everything through the Scriptures. They were bible believing Christians. They reverenced the pulpit and the place where they would gather to meet. They knew how to conduct themselves.
The credentials of this local church were great. Paul spent three years with them. The epistle of Ephesians was written to them. Ephesus is where Timothy was pastoring when Paul wrote the Pastoral Epistles. If you were looking for a church with a pedigree they had it. On the outside they looked great, but He who sees all and knows all saw things differently.
"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love," verse 4. They were no longer willing to die for Christ. They were no longer looking and longing for His return. Yes they knew what good sound preaching and teaching was, and they were rightly dividing the Word of God, but they had left their first love. They became focused on things rather than on Christ. This is easy to do. Especially in the day in which we live. There is so much that is constantly trying to steal our love. Remember that love is not a feeling. When love cools from one it goes to another. Your time and your investments, and your loyalty go also. You begin to blend in with those around you and you lose your identity.
You can come and go, or you can take it or leave it. If the church closed its doors it would not bother you that much. It would actually free you up and give you an excuse to do those things that you would rather do anyway.
When you leave your first love, Christ Jesus, you also fall out of love with the brethren. Your life becomes selfish. You actually become a burden to the church. You become high maintenance. You have begun to retreat in the battle. You become undependable. People know what you are against. People know the stands you take. People know you are sound in the doctrines of the Bible. Christ knows all these things too. Look again at the first two words of verse 2, "I know". How about this church? How about you and I?
The church at Ephesus seemed like they were doing right, but Christ had something against them. They were no longer willing to die for Christ. This changes their focus, and their prayer life. Turn to James 4:1-12. We do not want God as our enemy. Some may say, Oh, but God would not do that to His church. "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God," I Peter 4:17. Some may still say that God would not do that. Go back and read Acts 5, I Corinthians 11, and Hebrews 12.
Think about what I am about to say. How do I know if I need revival? Honestly how is your prayer life? How is your communion with God? How is God's communion with you? God communes with us through the Scriptures. In other words, how is your study life? Was there a time when you would study the Scriptures to see if those things you were taught were true, but now you don't. How is your desire to meet with the brethren? How is your desire to help the brethren? How do you view other people? Do you see them as people who need the Lord, and are you praying that God would use you to reach them? Are we praying, studying, loving, living, and proclaiming Jesus Christ to others? Please understand that we can take stands on the Word of God and against sin and false teachers, but at the same time need revival. Turn to I Thessalonians 1:2-10. They were on fire for the Lord. They had not left their first love, and everyone knew it.
If you are not where you should be in your walk with the Lord, confess it as sin, and run back to the Lord. If you have fallen out of church, crucify your flesh and get back to fellowshipping with the brethren and worshipping the Lord together. There is forgiveness with the Lord, and the Lord's church is made up of people who fail Him every day. Our Lord and Saviour is so good to us. He never fails us.
Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com.
Soli Deo Gloria
