Cecil A. Fayard
Elliott Baptist Church
February 15, 2004
The Church of Ephesus
(The Loss of the First Love)
Revelation 2:1-7
INTRO: In its heyday, it was said that "Ephesus is Asia." Without doubt, Ephesus was the greatest city in the province of Asia Minor.
In the Apostle John's day, Ephesus was the gateway to all of Asia. Its roads, rivers, and harbors made it easily accessible. Its traffic in merchandise and slaves made it the wealthiest city in the ancient world.
Ephesus was the center of the worship of Diana (Artemis). There were seven wonders of the ancient world, and the temple of Diana was one of those wonders. The worship of Diana included great immorality. Hundreds of temple prostitutes, singers, eunuchs, and dancers worked themselves into a sensual, immoral frenzy. Heraclitus, the philosopher, was called the weeping philosopher because he said that no one could live in Ephesus without weeping over its immorality.
The immorality of Ephesus was great, but the preaching of the Gospel by Paul, made its mark upon this city, and wrecked its wicked temple, threatening the idol business of that day (Acts 19:10, 18-20, 24-27).
I. VS 1, CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
A. Christ is in the midst of the seven churches, and the church of Ephesus is in the midst of paganism.
1. Our Lord Jesus Christ is introduced as the one who holds the seven stars, His pastors, messengers, in His right hand.
2. The Greek word for "hold" used here is a strong one. This word means that the whole object is gripped as a nut or a coin.
3. The pastor is in the Lord's hand; it is cupped over him.
4. Pastor and church members are in His hand when it comes to salvation (John 10:28, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
B. Christ is pictured walking in the midst of His churches.
1. Our Lord has promised to be with His churches (Mt 28:19-20).
2. The Lord's love for His churches is shown here. It is great love that does not waver.
3. "Walketh"-- Christ is active in His churches.
II. VSS 2, 3, 6 THE CHURCH COMMENDED FOR ITS DOCTRINE AND DILIGENCE
A. Vs 2, Here begins the Lord's appraisal of the church at Ephesus.
1. "I know your works."
a) They were active, energetic, busy, and working.
b) This speaks of actual service- visits, phone calls, teaching, helping.
2. "I know... thy labor..."
a) "Labor" means toil. Works and labor are different.
b) "Labor" is a strong word meaning "to work to the point of exhaustion, to sweat." This is toil that takes something out of you; it costs you something.
c) We are to put our heart, soul, and body into the work. The Ephesian church meant business. They were not saying, "if nothing comes up I'll be there."
3. "I know.... thy patience."
a) This church was planted in the midst of evil; yet in patience it persisted.
b) No matter how bad things got, they refused to compromise or quit.
c) II Cor 4:8-9 pictures the patience of the Ephesian church.
4. "Canst not bear them which are evil."
a) They were very sensitive to evil.
b) They would not tolerate anyone in sin, holding a place of leadership.
c) They were a disciplined church; they did not condone evil in the church.
5. False apostles were not tolerated.
a) They did not compromise morally or theologically.
b) True doctrine was important to them (Acts 20:28-31).
B. Vs 3, The church at Ephesus prayed and labored in Jesus name and for His sake.
1. "Borne"-- a military term meaning to carry on under fire.
2. "Hast patience"-- persistence, endurance, enduring hardship. Some folks quit when the going gets tough.
3. "Hast not fainted"-- they did not quit. They did not grow weary of the way, just in the way (Gal 6:9).
C. Vs 6, The church is commended for hating the enemies of the truth.
1. The Nicolaitanes were conquering the people of some churches.
2. Some see these folks as licentious promoting immorality.
3. This church did not want this kind of folks in their local body.
III. VSS 4-5, THE CHURCH AND A WORD OF COMPLAINT AGAINST IT
A. Vs 4, Nothing can take the place of love. They had all the orthodoxy, work, labor, patience, but they had lost something along the way. Wiersbe says: "This busy, separated, sacrificing church really suffered from 'heart trouble'-- they had abandoned their first love" (26).
1. Without love, service becomes mechanical; devotion is routine; the fires go down to coals.
2. Evidences that we have lost our "first love" for the Lord:
a) When we delight in someone else more than we do in the Lord, we have lost our first love. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart...." (Mk 12:30).
b) When my soul does not long for times of sweet fellowship with God in prayer and Bible reading, I have lost my first love. "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God" (Psa 42:1).
c) When my thoughts are not focused on the Lord, I have lost my first love. "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy .... mind" (Mk 12:30c).
d) When I easily give in to those things I know displease the Lord, I have lost my first love. "If ye love me keep my commandments" (Jn 14:15).
e) When I do not cheerfully give to Go's work, I have lost my first love (I Jn 3:17).
f) When I want the world's acclaim more that the approval of God, I have lost my first love (I Jn 2:15).
g) If I am not able to forgive those who have offended me, I have lost my first love. "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar....." (I Jn 4:20).
B. Vs 5, If you are cold, indifferent, unloving, if you have lost your first love, here is the way back to sweet fellowship.
1. The way back is summed up in three words- Remember, Repent, Return.
a) Remember the days of your first love.
b) Repent of your backsliding.
c) Return to the Lord.
2. This church was in danger of losing its statue as a true New Testament church.
IV. VS 7, WE HAD BETTER LISTEN TO GOD'S MESSAGE TO THESE CHURCHES
A. Overcomers are those whose faith has given them the victory (I Jn 5:4-5).
B. Sinful man was banned from the tree of life. Through Christ, we have access to it.
CONCLUSION: The churches of our Lord need to be sound in the faith and in love with Jesus Christ.
For additional copies of the sermon CD's, please contact the church office:
Elliott Baptist Church
566 Nat G. Troutt Road
Elliott, Mississippi 38901
Phone: 662-226-4425
Pastors Email: cecilafayard@msn.com