Revelation 2:1-7
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;2 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:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
- This was a good church.
- They knew the truth and taught it.
- They were a faithful church.
- BUT – They had left their first love.
- Told to repent or God would remove their effectiveness.
- Take a closer look:
- In Ephesians 4-5 Paul sets out to instruct this church to follow fully after the things of Christ.
- He told them to make wise use of their time. -Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
- He told them to be spiritually filled – Ephesians 5:17-18 – 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
- Paul told them to worship Ephesians 5:19-20
- Paul told them the importance of others – Ephesians 5:21 – Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
- Paul told them to love family. Ephesians 5:22- 6:4
- Paul told them to be a faithful employee. Ephesians 6:5-9h Paul told them to protect against evil
