Today, we enter into the second section of the Book of Revelation, which

deals with “The things which are” (reference Revelation 1:19). These

seven letters have a four-fold application. First, they are to be applied

locally. The cities of the seven churches are given in the order of an

ancient Roman postal circuit so once written, these letters could be easily

circulated among those churches during that time.

Second, they apply ecclesiastically. In studying these letters to the

churches you’ll find every problem, difficulty, and challenge that has faced

the church throughout church history and every issue that the church faces

even today. Third, these letters apply personally. To each one of us

individually. Very interestingly, each letter ends with, “Let he who has an

ear hear, let him hear,” and therefore even us, as we listen and read…these

letters apply to each one of us personally. (We actually have 2 ears!)

Fourth, the letters apply prophetically. As we march through the letters to

the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3, what we’ll see is an unfolding of

history. A story being told of the church over the centuries. We’ll begin in

Ephesus which is the first century church. We find this church founded by

Paul in Acts chapter 19 with 12 believers…and we end in Laodicea which

is the lukewarm church…neither hot nor cold which represents the church

that will be prominent right before the rapture. The church that departs

from the Word of God and caters to man, to society, to modernism rather

than loving, worshipping, serving and honoring God who has not changed

over the ages.

Revelation Chapter 2 Verse 1

 The church in Ephesus is also known as the Apostolic church as it was

the church in place during the first century. Its also known as the

loveless church but that isn’t entirely accurate. Jesus isn’t going to say

that this church is loveless. In fact, Jesus speaks about all that they do

that is FULL of love, such as their labor for the ministry and their

patience, and the fact that they cannot stand evil. The issue was that

they didn’t have love…, the issue with this church is that they left

their first love.

 The church of Ephesus speaks of the period of church history from

AD 33 to about AD 100. We find Paul in Ephesus in Acts Chapter 19

and what is he doing? Planting a church! 12 believers gathered there

had not even heard of the Holy Spirit and so Paul baptized them, the

Bible says they received the Holy Spirit mightily, and then we see

great persecution from the Ephesians (because this was the

international center of worship for the goddess Diana) as Paul and

these 12, filled with the Holy Spirit, spread the gospel and gained

popularity, and turned folks away from the idolatrous economic

engine there in Ephesus.

 Jesus identifies Himself saying, “These things says He who holds the

seven stars in His right hand.” The church belongs to Jesus. And

that’s just all there is to it. Jesus is the authority, and in His Word are

His orders. It’s really just that simple. Jesus holds the messengers of

the churches in His right hand. He upholds them, He sustains them,

and if needed, He can squash them…

 And what’s on His palm? A wound. To remind the messenger, the

pastors that love is the reason for the church. Not to build an empire

or megachurch and exalt a pastor or a program or anything else than

the Lord Jesus! To remind by His scars that truth and justice without

love is cruel and it is not Godly…, and that love without truth and

justice is a lie and false. To remind the pastors that the Lord God

Almighty is acquainted with sorrow and compassion…and that He

desires mercy, grace, sacrifice and peace.

 And He walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, He is in

the midst of the church. You’ll meet Christians who say, “Well I’m

not into church.” That’s too bad, because Jesus is. And they’ll say,

“Yeah but churches are just messed up. Full of problems and stuff.”

So were these seven, yet here Jesus says, I am in your midst…

Revelation Chapter 1 Verses 2 and 3

 Jesus’ commendation to this church is powerful. It’s sort of like

taking an inventory of everything outstanding! I often take an

inventory on the Lord’s heart concerning this church and how it is

being overseen and taught. I mean constantly. I think that is a good

thing to do…what is it that we are doing right. Start, Stop, Continue.

What do we/I need to start doing, stop doing, and continue doing.

Being very very serious here…if you never take an inventory like that

then how do you ever grow? You won’t. Be it in your walk, in your

career, in your marriage…you should…, you should think about these

things from time to time and if need be, make a physical list, so that a

year from today, two years, two decades from today, you have grown

up… You say, “Hey, I can do that without doing that…” I’m here to

tell you, no you cannot. And you won’t. (This is 1 John 1:9)

 What is the Lord’s commendation of you today…and what is it that

He would say the next verse about in your heart and life,

“Nevertheless.” If you don’t know, you’re not seeking Him the way

you could be seeking Him. You’re not growing the way you could be

growing…

 To this church He says well done on your hard work, staying on task,

not growing weary and standing firm with the truth! He says

something quite interesting here that they’ve done well in rooting out

deceivers who have crept into the church. That’s tough to do, hardly

acceptable in the expectations of church attenders today, but yet still

very much needed and here it is commended by the Lord!

 Many times, when you shine the light of the truth onto a circumstance,

sometimes those involved pull out Matthew 7 on you…, “Hey, doesn’t

the Bible say judge not lest you be judged first!?” It’s sort of a

defense mechanism really, but you see that argument, that statement,

that teaching given by Jesus was not contextually stated…was never

intended to be used as a defense. It was an exhortation…it was a

call to personal circumspection.

 What you’ll find is 15 verses later in Matthew 7 (verses 15 and 16)

Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets who will come into your

congregations and meetings as wolves in sheep’s clothing. By their

fruit you shall know them.” So, no we aren’t to judge in a manner of

condemnation, however we are clearly instructed to judge in a

manner of identification!

 If we only teach the word but never warn the flock then we simply

fatten people up for the kill. Part of the job of parenting and

pastoring, part of the responsibility of any believer is to warn of false

doctrine, to warn of false teachers and to confront the flesh. To

correct, teach, exhort and rebuke (2 Timothy 3:16)! Jesus commends

the church in Ephesus for doing just that. They have tested those that

say they are apostles and they have found some of them to be liars.

Then what? Oh well I don’t want to pass judgment…NO! Jesus says

here they have labored for His name’s sake and have persevered!

Revelation Chapter 2 Verse 4

 This is major! Although they labored faithfully and showed great

diligence and strength theologically, they had left their first love.

Notice Jesus doesn’t say they have lost their first love but they have

left their first love. In the Greek it’s the word aphiemi which literally

means “departed.” So, they have departed from their first love, their

“protos agape.”

 What is primary. What is most important. Let me give you a

statement that carries more weight than anyone is going to be able to

process in only one season of life, it’s that rich with meaning. Love is

all about priority. If you say you love someone, and yet they are not

your first and most important, comes before everything else priority,

then you do not love. Love without priority is lust. It is selfish, and it

has a very bad effect over time on people.

 A man that is not made absolute priority by his wife will not fell

appreciated, respected, admired, adored or loved. A woman that is not

made absolute priority by her husband will not feel heard, seen,

secured, cherished, attractive, important or loved. It’s just that simple!

And what does that look like? Putting them first…, that simple. Show

me a marriage where she is his priority and he is hers and I will show

you a romance and bond energized with the power of the Most High…

 You can depart from this priority…, that’s a thing, but most often you

are distracted. Kids, work, hobbies…, on and on the list goes. For

Ephesus, it became about righteousness. Worldly focus. All things are

easy distractions for those not on guard. And before you know it,

things that are secondary have dethroned that which is most

important… Which is first a focus and devotion on the personal

level simply to Jesus.

 Church and ministry and doing and living right can so take over and

religion can so easily set in. When it truly is and must remain simply

and only about a personal best friend relationship one on one with

Jesus Christ! That is the heartbeat of the church because the church is

the Bride of Christ! When you stop being a best friend to your

husband, to your wife, to your bride…, when they sense they are not

being prioritized, the relationship stales… And now there are the

motions and all the things but the sweetness of it all begins to dim and

ultimately all together vanishes.

 Focus now goes to what we have to do, what we need to get done,

what is the routine of right living, rather than living in love. And the

crazy thing about that is when the things to do become the focus, you

never get everything done… When its love, its life… Everyday what

happens is fine. Good days, tough days, easy days, days of struggle…,

when the love is strong things are wonderful no matter… That is the

secret to victorious Christian living. To love the Lord, to be loved by

Him, and to walk by faith… 1 John 5:4 says, “Whatever is born of

God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome

the world, our faith!” Simply being with God every day is love every

day…

 This is what broke Jesus’ heart about the first century church! And it

totally makes sense. They started from nothing. All they knew was

Jesus died for our sins. All they knew was for God so loved the

world… And in about a single generation, the simplicity of the Gospel

of communion with God the Father through the sufficient blood of

Jesus Christ was tainted by demonic influence to put people back in

bondage…

 The Ephesian church began to focus on the works of the Lord and they

neglected simply loving the Lord! Here’s the thing, this doesn’t mean

do less, this doesn’t mean don’t be busy, this means love the Lord and

protect that and Him as the priority…, and all of the activity will

simply flow! If its all about the activity then you’ve simply left…get

back. Less won’t be done…you’ll see. One more super rich in

meaning truth…, life is not about balance. Balance is for children. It’s

for the naval gazers…., you never balance… Life is about priority.

That’s how you figure it all out and perhaps better said, that’s how you

actually live life alive…, without being overcome or overwhelmed…

 And so, what do you do? Simple, what do you do when you leave

something behind that shouldn’t have been? You purpose to go

back…retrace your steps and go back!