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The Seven Churches of Asia Ephesus

The Seven Churches of Asia Ephesus. Revelation 2:1-7. NT Church 2017-18. Letters to the churches. 7 letters to 7 congregations – symbolic of the church as a whole. Common conditions found in every church Thus we can ask, “How does this apply to us?. Ephesus. Letters to the churches.

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The Seven Churches of Asia Ephesus

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  1. The Seven Churches of AsiaEphesus • Revelation 2:1-7 NT Church 2017-18

  2. Letters to the churches • 7 letters to 7 congregations – symbolic of the church as a whole. Common conditions found in every church • Thus we can ask, “How does this apply to us? Ephesus

  3. Letters to the churches • The 7 Churches • Ephesus – Left their first loveSmyrna – Persecuted (poor-rich)Thyatira – Compromise (tolerating)Pergamos – Corrupt (immorality)Sardis – Dead (or dying)Philadelphia – An open doorLaodicea – lukewarm (rich-poor) Ephesus

  4. Letters to the churches • Each letter – a uniform pattern • Church identified • The Lord described • “I know your works” • Commendation/condemnations • Call to action • “He who has an ear” • To him who overcomes – a promise of reward Ephesus

  5. The church at Ephesus • We know more about this church than any other of the 7 • Ephesus – an important Roman city in Asia. A seaport with great commerce3 major roadsA free city and a judicial center • Religiously – filled with idolatry including the great temple of DianaAlso dark arts Ephesus

  6. The church at Ephesus • The church at Ephesus • First mentioned in Acts 18:19-20 • Paul stayed 2+ years – Acts 19:10, 20:31 • Both Jews and Gentiles • Paul met with elders on way to Jerusalem – Acts 20:17ff • Letter believed written from Rome • Aquila & Priscilla, Apollos, Timothy, etc. Ephesus

  7. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Christ identified He who holds the seven stars 2:1 In His right hand, described as “angels of the seven churches” – 1:16, 20 Ephesus Don McClain, w65stchurchofchrist.com

  8. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Christ identified The Angel – a messenger of ChristJohn 14:6Galatians 1:12Ephesians 3:3 Ephesus Don McClain, w65stchurchofchrist.com

  9. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Christ identified The Holy Spirit reveals His messageJohn 14:26, 16:13 Ephesus Don McClain, w65stchurchofchrist.com

  10. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Their strengths • “I know your works” • Your labor – they worked hard at what they did • Your patience – they had suffered in times past (cf. Acts 19) and endured. They had not given up Ephesus

  11. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Their strengths • You cannot bear those who are evil – they did not tolerate evil in their midst • Recall how Paul warned them to watch for wolves - Acts 20:28-31. They had heeded that warning Ephesus

  12. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Their strengths • You cannot bear those who are evil • You have tested those who are false apostles – 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Ephesus

  13. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Their strengths • You cannot bear those who are evil • You have tested those who are false apostles • You have hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans – vs. 6 (2:15) Ephesus

  14. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Their strengths • You have persevered and have patience – even in the midst of idolatrous Ephesus, etc. • You have labored and not become weary – still going strong in their stand against error! vs. 6 (2:15) Ephesus

  15. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Condemnation • Nevertheless, I have this against you • Only ONE negative observation • How many errors are necessary to put us in spiritual danger? James 2:10, cf. Luke 18:22 Ephesus

  16. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Condemnation • You have left your first love • Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, Ephesians 1:15 • They had zeal (destroying books) and compassion (weeping for Paul) Ephesus

  17. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Condemnation • You have left your first love • If we don’t have proper love –1 Corinthians 13:1-3 • Consider love between a husband and wife – begins strong, but what happens? Does it grow stronger or weaker? Do they begin to take each other for granted? • Ephesians 5:22-33 Ephesus

  18. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Condemnation • You have left your first love • The flame of Ephesus had grown weak. They took for granted the love if Christ behind their actions. • They WERE battle hardened, NOW they are battle weary • Ephesians 5:22-23 Ephesus

  19. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Condemnation • You have left your first love • Summary: In Ephesus we find a church lacking proper motives and zeal • We need to do the right thing, WITH the right motives!Matthew 5:8, 22:37, 23:23, etc. Ephesus

  20. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Call to action • Remember! • Change always begins with examination • 2 Corinthians 13:5, Galatians 6:4 • Luke 15:17-21 – the prodigal “came to himself” Ephesus

  21. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Call to action • Repent! • We cannot just drift and assume God will be pleased • Luke 13:3 & 5 • 2 Corinthians 7:10-11, “In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter” Ephesus

  22. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Call to action • Do the first works • Return to the old paths, the original patternCf. Jeremiah 6:16 • Rekindle the flame! Ephesus

  23. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • Consequence if you do not repent • OR else I will come quickly and remove your lampstand • Their standing with the Lord was in jeopardyLoveless action is NOT something to take lightly Ephesus

  24. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • “He who has an ear, let Him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” Ephesus

  25. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • DOES THIS APPLY TO US? • Have we left our first love? • Doctrinally sound, but zeal is weak? • Have we forgotten that we are here to serve Christ, and not our selfish agenda? • Are we more interested in winning arguments or souls? Ephesus

  26. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • DOES THIS APPLY TO US? • Is our worship more about form than purpose? More about ritual than heart? Cf. Malachi 1 & 2 • Is our love for our Lord and one another, and others weaker! • Are we more interested in “the way we have always done things” with no desire to improve or adapt (without compromise)? Ephesus

  27. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • DOES THIS APPLY TO US? • Have we neglected the weightier matters of the law? Matthew 23:23 • If this is where we find ourselves, let us learn from Ephesus – Remember – Repent – Return! Ephesus

  28. The Letter to Ephesus – 2:1-7 • The promise! • To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God • Genesis 3:22 – the tree of life lost. • Revelation 22:2, 14, 19 – in the heavenly city Ephesus

  29. How is our first love?

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