The Church of Ephesus - Part 3 - Dearly Beloved

Temple Baptist Church - 11-10-2019

Revelation 2:1-7

Introduction:

A.  The message to the Church of Ephesus—Beginning of the Church to A.D. 100. Ephesus represents the Apostolic Church.

B.  Ephesus means desirable. I call it “Dearly Beloved” because it was everything that the Lord wanted a local church to be.  It was the early church with all the zeal of its first love, burning for Christ.

C.  This church started out with a great love for Christ and a burning desire to see souls saved, but toward the end of the first century she left her first love and began to cool off.

D.  The Description of The Church:

1.  Prophetically, it was the Apostolic Church of the First Century.

2.  Perennially, it was the Fundamental Church.

3.  Parabolically, it was the Sowing Church.

4.  Practically, it was the Drifting Church.

E.  Let us look at what Revelation said to the Church of Ephesus.

1.  The Companion of the Church of Ephesus.  (2:1)

a.  The Companion’s Power – “He holdeth the seven stars in His right hand”

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

b.  The Companion’s Presence – “who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks”

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

2.  The Commendation of The Church. (2:2-3)

a.  A dynamic church   (2:2) ("works") – What they do.

b.  A dedicated church (2:2) ("labour") – How they do it.

c.  A dogmatic church (2:2)  ("patience") – How they continue it.

d.  A discerning church (2:2) ("found them liars") – How they observe it.

e.  A disciplining church (2:2) ("tried them") – How they prove it.

f.  A determined church (2:3) (not fainted") – How they perceive it.

3.  The Condemnation of The Church. (2:4)

          a.  Program Without Compassion.  Upon the lost.

Ephesians 3:17-19  tThat Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  (18)  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  (19)  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

          b.  Love Without Passion.  Toward the Savior.

Ephesians 6:24  Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.

4.  The Charge of The Church. (2:5a)

a.  Remember

b.  Repent

c.  Repeat

5.  The Consequence of The Church. (2:5b)

a.  The Church Disciplined (Heb 12:5-8) ("come ...quickly")

b.  The Church Disapproved (I Cor 9:27) ("remove...candlestick")

6.  The Controversy of The Church. (2:6)

a.  Doctrinal Error Incurred ("thou hast")  Deeds of Nicolaitans ("to conquer the people")

b.  Doctrinal Error Detested

7.  The Conclusion of The Church. (2:7)