Church of Ephesus
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Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus was a city in the Asia Minor with a major natural harbor rich fertile grounds and a great commercial city
It was also however home to the great temple of Diana
Diana was the goddess who focused sensual pleasure of the flesh
As years passed the great Harbor silted up and then it silted up more and more and more. Causing the people of Ephesus to rely more and more on the trade that came from the temple Diana
re 2 1-7
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
“ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
The church of Ephesus was a very promising church
They started from humble beginnings with as few as 12 believers
They grew in spiritual strength and number
This was a successful church in a successful city and they were making believers
II.The complaint
However they were given a warning from God here
The city had fallen into lustful habits and so had the church
They lost they’re first love v.4
They lost Jesus in they’re church
I imagine the church may have still appeared to be succesful but it wasnt nearly cause God was no longer in it
We don’t know every detail of what they did to lose they’re love for Jesus but they did
They forgot to remember Christ
They failed in the most important job of the church
They forgot about christ
They forgot his love his suffering his shed blood
I think we as a church should be cautious of whats going on in our minds and not forget that jesus is the reason we come to church
Jesus had a love for you
a love so strong he died on the cross for you
don’t forget that enthusiasm, love, sincerity, excitment and compassion you once had for you’re savior
Keep him near to you and always remember why you are a beleiver
Lets look at verse 6-7 for a minute
This is Gods warning to Ephesus
He said to repent and do what you used to do
So that tells us at one time the church of Ephesus was a very spiritual church doing what God had told them to do and doing it how God told them to do it.
So here God is saying repent cause you know you don’t love me like you used to love me.
ILLUSTRATION 96
EX-EVANGELIST MISSES JESUS
Topics: Atheism; Belief; Doubt; Faith; Gospel; Jesus Christ; Regret; Skepticism; Unbelief
References: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Charles Templeton was a close friend and preaching associate of Billy Graham in the 1940s. He effectively preached the gospel to large crowds in major arenas. However, intellectual doubts began to nag at him. He questioned the truth of Scripture and other core Christian beliefs. He finally abandoned his faith and made an unsuccessful attempt to persuade Billy to do the same. He felt sorry for Billy, saying, “He committed intellectual suicide by closing his mind.” Templeton resigned from the ministry and became a novelist and news commentator. He also wrote a critique of the Christian faith titled Farewell to God: My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith.
Interviewed when he was eighty-three and suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, Templeton talked about some of the reasons he left the faith: “I started considering the plagues that sweep across parts of the planet and indiscriminately kill—more often than not, painfully—all kinds of people, the ordinary, the decent, and the rotten. And it just became crystal clear to me that it is not possible for an intelligent person to believe that there is a deity who loves.”
When asked what he thought of Jesus Christ, Templeton would not acknowledge him as God. Rather, he responded: “He was the greatest human being who has ever lived. He was a moral genius. His ethical sense was unique. He was the intrinsically wisest person that I’ve ever encountered in my life or in my readings. He’s the most important thing in my life. I know it may sound strange, but I have to say I adore him! Everything good I know, everything decent I know, everything pure I know, I learned from Jesus. He is the most important human being who has ever existed. And if I may put it this way, I miss him.”
Templeton’s eyes filled with tears and he wept freely. He refused to say more.
A man who once believed then didn’t said that Jesus was the most important person to ever live
mr. templeton had left his first love
He didn’t believe in christ at all
Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (pp. 64–65). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
The church of Ephesus went a step farther because they still believed in God they just forsook him
They stopped leading a Godly church and started letting other things get in between them and God
So I want to ask you this morning do you live by God like you should
If you are a person who says well ive lost Jesus as my first love
Or maybe you say I need to watch more closley what im letting slip in
God called the church pf Ephesus to repent but for them to repent it didn’t just mean for them to apologize
In fact for a person to repent they must also have a true heart desire to be a better them
For Ephesus to repent theyd have to get they’re love for Christ back
They would have to run they’re church in Godly matter again
They would have to submit themselves to prayer and fasting
They would have to commit they’re live to Jesus and love of one another
They would have to be a light to community in Ephesus not just another building in the city
If we are to be a church of God we have to stand out in our community
We cant blend in we cant look the same
One of Ephesus biggest attractions was a world wonder and it was the temple of Diana.
If the church of Ephesus didn’t look any better then the a false God then they failed
They didn’t let the spirit of God lead the church or even they’re own hearts
As a member of this church it is each members responsibility to guard they’re heart and fill they’re heart with nothing but God
Ephesus members didn’t keep God as they’re first love therefor neither di the church as a whole
the church failed and the church didn’t continue to flourish
They lost they’re love for Christ and the rest came tumbling down
(close)
The City of Ephesus was once a powerful strong city comparable to Rome
Ephesus had a beatiful natural harbor and was blessed beyond measure
The church lost they’re first love
The Harbor left practically useless
Now its nothing more then a tourist attraction and ancient ruins
So I close today saying don’t lose you’re first love
Don’t allow you’re heart to become ancient ruins where God used to be.
Allow it to be a thriving sanctuary where he lives everyday