The Church at Ephesus

Background:

This church is representative of the Apostolic period from 30AD to around 100AD the time of the last Apostle John who wrote the Book Of Revelation probably in 96AD. The name Ephesus means ‘desired.’ Desired of the Lord. It is representative of the first type of seven churches throughout history and seen today in a number of characteristics that we shall look at.

Key verses: Revelation 2:1-7.

Commendation

The church is commended for condemning false leaders in verses 2 and 6. False apostles and prophets have always caused havoc and division and end up despoiling the saints and the same goes for false brethren who add themselves in – see Galatians 2:4.
Then we have others trying to act as leaders and cause distress through hidden agendas and a desire to have saints follow them when they have neither been chosen nor appointed in God.

Condemnation

This is in verses 4 and 5. Becoming complacent leads to leaving your first love and so the zeal we had in the early years wanes for a variety of reasons. We are to examine ourselves to make sure we are in the Faith as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13:5. Peter also gives us a warning in his second epistle see 2 Peter 1:6-9, 13-17. We are also encouraged and admonished in Hebrews 6:10-12 to be steady and steadfast in our walk.

Exhortation and warning

This is in verse 5. They are exhorted to keep going otherwise failure will result in their witness being lost as without His light we are nothing.

Promise

This is in verse 7. Again and again we shall see the need to be overcomers. The end result being able to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life, which speaks of having a share in the eternal order of our Lord’s Kingdom.

Finally let us see its start and finish in 5 ways:-

1) Its Formation – Acts 18:9, 19-21.
2) Its Instruction – Ephesians chapter 1 to 6.
3) Its Watching – 1 Timothy 1:3.
4) Its Danger – Acts 20:17-29.
5) Its Inspection – Revelation 1:13, 2:1-17.

The Themes of the Ephesian Epistle:-

1) Chapter 1 – The Blessings that can never be Depleted – verse 3.
2) Chapter 2 – A Building that can never be Demolished – verse 21.
3) Chapter 3 – A Bequest that can never be Disputed – verse 3.
4) Chapter 4 – A Body that can never be Destroyed – verses 12-13.
5) Chapter 5 – A Bride that can never be Divorced – verse 27.
6) Chapter 6 – A Battalion that can never be Defeated – verse 13.

The adverb ‘never’ leads to ‘forever’ which is about all our tomorrows. Amen.

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