Tensions continue to increase as the war between Israel and the Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon escalates.  Increasingly the American media becomes more biased toward Lebanon.  A case in point: the massacre at Qana last Sunday where it was reported that 58 people, mostly women and children, were killed by a direct Israeli hit - you saw the images of the bodies being pulled from the rubble, as did I.  Well, according to investigative reporting done, not only by Israel but also by several independent European news sources, that massacre did not happen.  In all probability it was a staged event to gather more anger in the Middle East toward Israel and the United States (which it did) and to gather more sympathy for the plight of the Lebanese people (which it also did).  But I did not hear one American news source mention this fact.  Guess we are to be kept in the dark.  By the way, let me give you one more website that is outstanding.  It is hosted by David Dolan, a former reporter for CBS and who now reports for the Moody Broadcasting Network.  David has lived in Israel since 1980 and has seen more than his share of conflicts there.  I had the privilege of meeting David in 2004 when I was leading a tour in Jerusalem.  He is an outstanding Christian.  He has been giving almost daily updates on his website on the war.  What you read there you will not find elsewhere.  The site is: www.ddolan.com.  You can subscribe to his updates.  They are worth receiving.  Meanwhile, continue to pray that God might be pleased to bring peace to Jerusalem.

 

Revelation 2 - Ephesus

As we continue our study in the Book of Revelation, I want to focus, for the next few weeks, upon those letters written to seven churches.  I believe that chapters 2-5 are critically important for us to understand if we are to gain anything from the rest of the book.  And chapters 2 and 3 of that section focus upon these seven churches.  In many ways I believe these seven churches are representative of churches today.  Certainly there is much we can learn from each letter....therefore we will be taking each letter separately and seeking to understand its message for us today.  We begin with the Church located in Ephesus - the church that the Apostle John was undoubtedly most familiar with since, according to traditions he had pastored that church for many years and had lived in that community.  This was the Church birthed by the Apostle Paul and the congregation had been discipled by him during the three years he had lived there.  Paul's young associate, Timothy, continued the ministry following the death of Paul.  So, we could say that this Church had been in the best of pastoral care.  With those thoughts in mind, let us begin with our outline:

 

 

   

 

          1.  Ephesus was the capitol city of the Roman province of Asia Minor.  It had a population of nearly 500,000 people (a little smaller than Minneapolis)

          2.  City was situated on a splendid port facility on the Aegean Sea.  It ranked as the third most important seaport in the Middle East, next to Alexandria in Egypt and Antioch in Syria.

          3.  It was an economically affluent community.

 

 

          1.  The city was morally bankrupt.  According to the ancient historian Heraclitus, no one could live in Ephesus without weeping at the immorality.

          2.  A reason for this was the presence of the Temple of Diana, a building that was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  It was massive in its structure and brilliant in its splendor.

 

C.  Spiritual Description

 

      1.  Paul had ministered here for three years - Acts 20:31

      2.  It was to this Church that Paul wrote his letter describing the mysteries of the Church.

      3.  The Church had been well-served with the ministries of Priscilla and Aquila, Apollos, Timothy, and John

 

 

A.  Works and Toil

 

      1.  Ephesus served as model of the working church - Ephesus 4:11-13

      2.  Let's imagine what it would have been like to have walked through the front door of the Ephesian Church.  We would have noticed the business-like manner of what was going on.   Everyone was involved doing something within the Church.  While waiting for the service to begin, we would have looked at the bulletin board and noticed all the committee that were functioning within the Church - they even had a committee to evaluate the committees.  We would have been impressed with the organization of the Church. Everything seemed to be running smoothly and efficiently.

 

B.  Perseverance

 

      1.  These people were committed to their Church.

      2.  These people loved their Church; were proud of their Church; worked hard to see their Church grow.  They did not lack for motivation

 

C.  Discernment

 

      1.  They were unwilling to compromise their faith.

      2.  They examined everyone who professed Christ to see if he or she possessed Christ

      3.  They even called sin "sin" - Revelation 2:6

 

 

 A.  God was not happy with this Church

 

       1.  Their service was high in quantity, but low in quality

       2.  They were so busy working for Christ that they forgot how to love Him.

       3.  They got so busy doing and meeting that they forgot their purpose for being

 

       Someone has said: "If love is not compelling us and is not motivating us, then our service is just spinning wheels."

 

       4.  The original spiritual vitality of the Church had been replaced by an orthodox routine.

 

B.  What was this "first-love" they had forsaken (adapted from Richard Mayhue)

 

       1.  It was an Upward Love - love directed to Christ and to the Father

 

            a.  Love that seeks to deepen our relationship with God rather than go through the motions of religion

            b.  They had lost their passion for Christ!

 

          - I wonder if our worship is more formality and ritual than real expression of our love for God!

          - We don't remember what we hear because we have not prepared our hearts to hear!

          - We have forgotten how to worship because we have forgotten how to love Him!

 

       2.  It was an Inward Love - love directed toward others in the Body

 

            a.  They had lost their passion for each other

            b.  They saw people as instruments to complete programs

 

       3.  It was an Outward Love - love directed to the unbelievers - John 20:21

 

            a.  They had lost their passion for the unsaved.

            b.  They had gotten so busy in their Church that they didn't have time to minister to a dying world

 

       4.  It was a Priority Love

 

            a.  Remember that first thrill of falling in love with your spouse?  You remember the excitement you felt when you saw him or her and were with him or her.  That person became a part of your life!

            b.  Now remember your first encounter with Christ.  Remember the excitement and eagerness you had for Him after your conversion.

            c.  But where, in the priorities of your life right now, is the love for Christ.  What place does He hold right now?  Is He first?  Do you love Him the most?

 

 

A.  Remember - ponder from where you have come; recall those first precious moments with Christ

 

B.  Repent - re-evaluate your priorities, the place Christ is to have in your life.

 

C.  Repeat - start over again in the right direction

 

Thoughts to Ponder: The Church at Ephesus was a great church.  It was a strong church doctrinally.  It was faithful to the Word of God.  It had many programs ministering to others.  From all outward appearances it would have seemed that this church was perfect.  Yet it was so busy with its ministries that it forgot how to love.  Jesus Christ was studied and preached and taught.  But He was not loved with that first priority love.  And when He is not loved it becomes very difficult to love another.  The fires of love must be constantly kindled.  Without love, a church can easily become a busy enterprise making a lot of noise.  Lord, renew within our hearts that love which we had for You.  Lord, rekindle, through Your Spirit, a desire not to just be busy but to be intimate with You.  And Lord, if our busyness has dampened our love, please forgive and restore within us that proper balance.  Then Your Church will be strong and we will become effective for You.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds. (Francis Bacon)