Sermon
#2[1] Christ’s Warnings To The Churches
Title:
CHRIST’S LETTER TO
THE CHURCH AT
EPHESUS
Text: Revelation 2:1-7
Readings:
Office:
Larry Criss Auditorium: Mark
Henson
Subject: Christ’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus
Date: Tuesday Evening - April 6, 1999
Tape
# V-21b
Introduction:
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 Nicolaitanes, 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."
Ephesus
was a wealthy, prosperous, magnificent city, famous for its extravagant temple
for the pagan goddess Diana. For many years it was the center of commerce in
Asia. It was connected to all the major cities of Asia Minor by well maintained
roads. Its harbor accommodated the largest ships of the day. The temple of
Diana in Ephesus was a museum, a treasure house, and a place of refuge for
criminals. That pagan temple provided employment for artisans and silversmiths,
who made and sold little shrines, religious trinkets, and idols to the
worshippers and tourists who passed through the temple.
The
Apostle Paul came to this city of more than 225,000 people on his third
missionary journey. He preached the gospel in Ephesus for over three years
(Acts 18-20). Multitudes were converted by the grace of God. A gospel church
was established, which quickly became a lighthouse for truth, from which the
gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ went preached. The church at
Ephesus was devoted to Christ. It was known throughout the Christian world for
its devotion to and zeal for Christ.
But, now, more than forty
years had passed. Another generation had arisen. The church at Ephesus still
walked in the truth. The gospel of Christ was still proclaimed from her pulpit.
But something desperately evil had happened. The Lord Jesus Christ discovered a
sad, sad fault in his church at Ephesus. The pastor, the angel of the church,
did not discern the fault. The people were unaware of it. But Christ saw it.
Therefore he sent this letter to the church, to be read publicly in the
assembly of the saints. How their hearts must have sunk when they read these
words from the Savior - “I have somewhat against thee, because
thou hast left thy first love.”
This
letter was not written to the church at Ephesus alone, but to all the churches
of Christ in this world. “He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (v.7). It is
written to you; and it is written to me. Let us each ask God to give us ears to
hear and hearts to obey the word of Christ to his church.
Let us each ask ourselves
this question - Is there in me a
declension from my first love to Christ? Painful as the question is to
the heart of one who truly does love the Savior, it must be asked and honestly
answered.
We must not fail to recognize that there was much in
this Ephesian church which the Savior commended (vv.2,3,6).
Our Savior always deals with
his people in love, kindness, and tenderness. When there is a stern reproof to
be given, he cushions it with a kind word of commendation and encouragement.
Let no one imagine that the church at Ephesus was an apostate or even
indifferent congregation. Nothing could be further from the truth! Few are the
churches to whom such a laudable commendation could be given.
The Lord Jesus Christ, who
is the faithful and true Witness, said to these Ephesian believers, “I know thy works, and thy labor, 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: And
hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast
not fainted...And this thou hast,
that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.”
With those words, the Lord
Jesus Christ commended his church at Ephesus for eight noble things. Blessed is
that man, blessed is that local church in which such commendable
characteristics of grace are found!
1. “I
know thy works.” These were not idle believers. Their faith was
practical. By works of obedience to God, works of charity to men, and by works
of devotion to Christ, the saints of God at Ephesus demonstrated their faith.
They did not merely profess faith.
They practiced faith. Their works
were known, approved of, and accepted by Christ.
2.
The Savior also said, “I know thy labor.” These
believers not only walked in good works before God, they put themselves
whole-heartedly into the work God gave them to do for his glory. They zealously
and anxiously went about serving the cause of Christ in their generation with
all their might. These men and women were not lazy, loitering, listless people.
They seized every opportunity to serve their Savior. And they did it willingly.
3.
Next, the Lord said, “I know thy patience.” There
are many who labor, and labor well, but labor only for a while. They do not
persevere in the work. Before long, they faint and fall by the wayside. Not
these people! This congregation had labored steadily, in the face of great
opposition, in the midst of great trials, and in a dark, pagan world of
religious superstition and moral perversion. They had done so for more than
forty years! This church threw all its energy and all its means into the cause
of Christ, not in spurts and spasms, but in continual, unabated zeal for the
glory of God!
4.
Then, the Son of God commended the church at Ephesus for its intense adherence to gospel truth. “I know how thou canst not bear them which are evil.” They had an
intense loathing for that which is evil, both doctrinally and morally. They
loved the truth. And their love for the truth made them “hate every false way” (Ps. 119:104).
Psalms 119:104 "Through thy precepts I get
understanding: therefore I hate every false way."
5. The Lord went on to say, “I
know thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast
found them liars.” Few there are to whom these honorable words
could be spoken! But the saints at Ephesus knew the difference between things
that differ. They knew truth from error. When they heard Judaizers and
free-willers (legalists and Arminians) preaching another gospel, another Jesus,
and another spirit, their blood boiled. They boldly denounced all such
pretentious preachers as liars, deceivers, and wicked men.
6.
This church also bore reproach and persecution for Christ’s sake, and did so
with patience. The Lord Jesus said, “I know how thou hast borne, and hast
patience, and for my sake hast labored.” In the teeth of
opposition, they stood firm. In the midst of Christ’s enemies, they boldly
confessed him. In the face of hardship, trial, persecution, and imprisonment,
they confidently served their Master. They were loyal to the core.
7.
The Savior commended them for their
rare faithfulness and perseverance. “I
know that thou hast not fainted.” They
never failed. They never faltered. They never quit. The saints of God at
Ephesus were rare, rare people.
8.
One other matter of commendation was their
hatred of the Nicolaitanes. “I
know that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.” The Nicolaitanes were a sect of
base antinomians which had arisen in those early days of Christianity. They
contended that since God’s elect are saved by grace and are free from the law,
nothing is evil. They made every excuse for lewdness and licentiousness.
John Gill tells us that the
Nicolaitanes “committed fornication, adultery, and all uncleanness, and had
their wives in common.”
All this evil was practiced
and promoted in the name of Christian
liberty! All true believers, like these Ephesians and like Christ himself,
despise those who promote ungodliness in the name of grace.
These
eight things the Lord commended. Commendable characteristics they are! Yet, the
church at Ephesus had one serious flaw, one dreadfully evil weakness which, if
it were not corrected, would end in utter ruin
The Lord Jesus said to this
otherwise exemplary church, “Nevertheless,”
though you are orthodox, zealous, patient, persevering, uncompromising, and
upright, “I have somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first love.”
I have come here today to preach to my own
heart. The message I have to deliver to you is first and foremost a message
from my Savior to me. If any of you have offended as I have in this matter,
this message is for you, too. I pray that God the Holy Spirit will now apply
his Word to your heart and mine. May he graciously, by the renewing that only
he can perform, cause us to return to our first love.
“Where is the
blessedness I knew
When first I
saw the Lord?
Where is the
soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus in
His Word?
What peaceful
hours I then enjoyed,
How sweet
their memory still!
But now I find
an aching void
The world can
never fill!”
Proposition: Love that is not fed with
fellowship and communion soon decays into something worse than indifference. It
decays into presumption and ingratitude.
Divisions:
1.
What is this first love?
2.
How do we leave it?
3.
What can be done to regain it?
I. What is this first love?
I am
not sure that I can really define the term “first
love;” but I am sure that it can be clearly identified. Do not imagine that
this is merely an emotional or sentimental thing that has no real significance.
This thing called first love is very
important to our God and Savior (Jer. 2:1-2).
Jeremiah 2:1-2 "Moreover the word of the LORD came to
me, saying, (2) Go and cry in the
ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness
of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the
wilderness, in a land that was not
sown."
When
our Savior says, “Thou hast left thy
first love,” it is obvious that he
is not talking about believers who once loved him, but have now ceased to love
him. True love can never be quenched. Anyone who ceases to love Christ
never truly loved Christ at all. Love for Christ is a gift of God’s grace that
can never be taken away, lost, or destroyed (Jer. 32:38-40; Hos. 2:19-20).
Jeremiah 32:38-40 "And they shall be my people, and I will
be their God: (39) And I will give
them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of
them, and of their children after them:
(40) And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not
turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts,
that they shall not depart from me."
Hosea 2:19-20 "And I will betroth thee unto me for
ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and
in lovingkindness, and in mercies. (20) I
will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the
LORD."
Yet, God’s people do
sometimes leave their first love. Through indolence, neglect of duty, and the
care of this world, the heat and fervor of our love for Christ abates, and the
exercise of love toward him diminishes.
Let
me stir up your memories a little,
and see if there are not yet some burning coals which will break out into a
flame with a little stirring. Go back
with me to the place where we first met the Savior. Go back to Mt.
Calvary, where the Lord Jesus Christ first appeared to you, bleeding upon the
cross as your Substitute. I remember how he spoke to my heart and said, “I am
thy salvation. I have redeemed you. All your sins are forgiven, washed away in
this fountain of blood.”
Immediately, I fell in love
with him. Had he asked me then to give everything I had to him, I would gladly
have done it. In fact, he did ask it, and I laid all at his feet most gladly. I
think I could have used the language of Samuel Rutherford in those
days with honesty and could have said to Christ, “Oh, my Lord, if there were a
broad hell betwixt me and thee, if I could not get at thee except by wading
through it, I would not think twice, but I would plunge through it all, if I
might embrace thee and call thee mine.” It
is that love, that first reckless, careless, uninhibited, unrestrained love,
that I am afraid we have in measure left.
A. That first love caused us to earnestly and zealously
confess Christ to men.
B. That first love inspired our hearts to almost
unceasing prayer, praise, and communion.
C. That first love for Christ made His Word our most
delightful treasure.
D. That first love made the house of God, the ministry of the Word, and
the fellowship of God’s saints the most
important and most joyful things in the world to us.
·
- The Songs Of Zion.
·
- The Breaking Of Bread.
·
- The Preaching Of The Gospel.
E. That first love caused us to do the will of God with
unquestioning faith and unhesitating obedience.
·
- We would give anything for the cause of Christ.
·
- We would do anything for the glory of Christ.
·
- We would go anywhere at the bidding of Christ.
Those peaceful
hours we once enjoyed,
How sweet
their memory still!
Do
you remember how it was then, when your heart was still burning with those
coals from off the altar? But now we are more refined. Now we are more settled.
Now we are more learned, more mature, more cold, more dead, more useless!
II. What happened?
Where did we go wrong? How
did we leave our first love? Rarely,
if ever, does this decline in love begin with some climatic event. It gradually
steals over our hearts and suffocates us by degrees. But the cause of the
decline is not hard to find. If we will be honest with ourselves, we will find
, I am sure, that any decay from our first love comes from three sources.
A. Our love decays whenever we willfully neglect Christ (Song
5:2-6).
Song of
Songs
5:2-6 "I sleep, but my heart
waketh: it is the voice of my beloved
that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my
sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the
night. (3) I have put off my coat;
how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? (4) My beloved put in his hand by the
hole of the door, and my bowels were
moved for him. (5) I rose up to open
to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh,
and my fingers with sweet smelling
myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. (6) I
opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he
spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no
answer."
Now
let the preacher be honest and preach honestly to himself. One of my most
besetting sins is the neglect of Christ, the neglect of sweet communion with my
Savior. I am not a lazy man. Give me something to do for Christ, for the good
of his church, for the furtherance of the gospel, and I will immediately put
myself into the work. But I am not, I shamefully confess, nearly as quick to
open my heart to communion with Christ. Yet, love to Christ very much depends
upon nearness to Christ.
We
are like the planets and the sun. Some of the planets are as hot as fire.
Others are as cold as ice. Some move very slowly around the sun. Others move in
rapid orbits. Why? Because some are near the sun and others are far, far away.
So it is with us. If we live near Christ, we cannot help loving him and being
controlled by love for him. The heart that lives nearest Christ in sweet
communion is most aflame with love for Christ.
B. Another thing that causes our love to decay is the
love of the world (Matt. 13:22).
There are few, very few, men who increase in
riches and increase in grace at the same time. Of all the temptations to which
God’s people are exposed in this world, this is the most dangerous, because it
is the most subtle. Too much of the world is an evil encumbrance to any man.
Illustration: A man on a journey takes one staff in his hand to help him as he
walks. If he is greedy, and tries to carry a hundred staves, the staff which
could have helped him, will very likely keep him from completing his journey.
C. The third thing which causes our love for Christ to
decline is our carnal tendency toward presumption, self-confidence, and
self-righteousness - “Woe unto them that are at ease in Zion” (Amos 6:1).
When
a man begins to think much of himself, he will think little of Christ.
Presumption destroys perseverance. Self-confidence destroys faith. And
self-righteousness destroys love.
III What can be done to regain our first love?
I sound this word of warning to us all. If we
belong to Christ, through we decline in love to him, his love toward us will
never decline; and because he loves us he will chasten us and cause us to
return to him (Song 5:6-7). If we do not return to Christ, if our hearts do not
again glow with love for him, if our decline is a permanent decline, it is
because our love is a fake, a pretense, a sham profession, and no more. My
soul, do not be presumptuous here!
Help me to
love Thee more and more,
If I love at
all, I pray:
If I have not
loved before
Help me to
begin today.
If you would return to your Savior and regain
that first love, the Lord Jesus here gives you three words of instruction.
A. Remember! “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen.”
1. Remember what a blessed
condition your soul was in when you enjoyed that first love (Song 2:4-6).
Song of
Songs
2:4-6 "He brought me to the
banqueting house, and his banner over me was
love. (5) Stay me with flagons,
comfort me with apples: for I am sick
of love. (6) His left hand is under my head, and his right hand
doth embrace me."
2. Remember where and what you
were when the Savior found you and saved you by his grace (Isa. 51:1).
Isaiah 51:1 "Hearken to me, ye that follow after
righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged."
Illustration: The Remembrance Room
3.
Remember what you owe Christ (Ezek. 16:6-14).
B. Repent!
Repent as you did at the first. Repent of the
evil you have done to Christ in leaving your first love.
1. Repent of your shameful
neglect of your Savior.
2. Repent of your sinful love
of the world (Col. 3:1-3).
3. Repent of your proud
presumption, self-confidence, and self-righteousness.
C. Return! “Repent and do the first works.”
That is just another way of saying, “Return to the Lord.” Return to the
place where first you met Christ. Return to the foot of the cross. Bathe your
sin-sick soul again in the precious blood of Christ.
1. As at the first, trust
Christ.
2. As at the first, let your
soul be ravished with his love, and look on him until your heart breaks with
love for him again.
“I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye
tell him, that I am sick of love” (Song 5:8).
Application: Now, in order to stir up our
hearts to return to him and regain that first love, our Savior gives us a
warning and a promise.
1. The warning is this - If you do not remember,
repent, and return to me, “I will come unto
thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place” (v. 5).
2. The promise is this - “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which
is in the midst of the paradise of God” (V. 7).
Those who lose their first love fall, but
those who regain their first love are made to stand. And that love is fed and
nourished by Christ himself, both now upon this earth and forever in heaven’s
glory.
a. The Tree of Life is Christ.
b. The Paradise of God is
heaven.
c. The feeding of love upon Christ
is heaven begun already in the soul!
If I
could have anything on earth I might desire, I would choose to have nothing but
love for the Lord Jesus Christ, and to do nothing but that which is for his
sake and that which is done out of love for him. Oh, may God the Holy Spirit
now fill my heart and yours with love for Christ.
Yet, I know this - There will be no
returning of these hearts to our first love, except Christ himself cause us by
his Spirit to return. So this is my prayer - “Turn us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned: renew our days as
of old.” Amen.