A. Letter to Ephesus. 2:1-7 - The bridal Church I. Church period - Year 30 - 100 A.D. The Apostolic age. A. The period of the apostolic ministry, the Church is being grounded and established in Christ and in Scripture. (The New Testament is written in this period to establish the Church) B. The apostolic ministries spread the word in the world. C. The period ends when the last of the 12 apostles dies. II. Connection to the 7 churches of Paul: Ephesians (Christ and the Church) III. Connection to the 7 parables of Jesus: The sower. Matt. 13:1-9, 18-23 The early Church sowed the first seeds in the ground. IV. People connected to the Church. A. Paul wrote to the Ephesians about 35 years earlier and had been preaching and teaching in the city for about 3 years. Acts 18:19-21; 19; 1.Cor.16:8 B. Timothy was the Pastor of the church for a season. 1.Tim.1:3 C. The apostle John was the Pastor of the church for a season before his exile to Patmos. D. Perhaps that is the reason why this church is first among the seven because it had all the reasons to have matured. V. Ephesus means either darling, maiden of chose or desirable. A. To the epistle of the Ephesians the Lord spoke about the Church being His betrothed 1:4 and the Church being His coming wife. 5:22-32 B. In Revelation 2:1-7 He speaks about His “ right hand” , “ walks” , “ golden lampstands” , “ work and labour” , “ perseverance and patience” , “ name” “ first love” , “ to eat” , “ paradise” . All the things involved in a marriage. VI. EPHESUS. A. Was the chief city of the Roman province of Asia and was a commercial, cultural, political, and religious centre. B. It was called “ The vanity fair of Asia” ; she called herself “ The first city of Asia” and “ The queen of Asia” , it was also called “ The Metropolis of Asia” . . C. It had one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world - The temple Diana, which was the largest Greek temple ever constructed. D. The population where about 250.000 thousands. V.1 a) The Counsellor - I. The Ephesians knew that Jesus was seating at the right hand of the Father Eph.1:20, now they are also told that He holds the 7 angels in His right hand. II. The Ephesians knew that Jesus was the centre of the Church Eph.1:10, 22-23 now they are told that He walks in the midst of the churches. III. 6 times the Ephesians were told to walk right Eph. 2:10; 4:1, 17; 5:2, 6, 15, now Jesus says He walks among them. He also reveals it because of the warning of removing the lampstand. v.5 IV. The Ephesians knew that they ought to be a shining lampstand in the world Eph. 1:17-18; 5:8-14, now they are told they are. V.2-3 b) The Commendation - I. Dedication - Christ knew their Works and Withstanding. Jesus knows the motives behind all works and all believers’ works will be judged accordingly. Matt.6:2,5; 1.Cor.3:8-15; Heb.4:11-13 II. In all the 7 letters Jesus begins with “ I know your works” after the introduction about Himself. III. Discernment - They had Withstood the Wicked - (Evil action) just as they were exhorted in Eph. 6:11, 13, 16 IV. They had Withstood the Wolves - (False teaching) Paul had taught the believers about true apostles Eph.2:20; 3:5; 4:11; Acts 20:29-3, now they are commended for it. 2.Cor.11:13-15; Matt.7:15, 21-23 V. Devotion - They had Perseverance and Patience. VI. The Ephesians knew about how great the name of Christ is Eph.1:21 and they laboured for Jesus. VII. They were not Weary in Works and Withstanding. V.4 c) The Chastening - I. A. The Ephesians had been told about God’ s love for them and about love Eph.1:4; 3:17-4:2; 5:2; 6:23, they didn’ t continue in this former exhortation but had left their first love. Eph.1:15 B. The motion where no longer an emotion. 1.Cor.13:1-3 C. Paul’ s ministry were moved by Christ’ s love, his emotion resulted in a motion. 2.Cor.5:14 II. The difference between Lost and Left: Lost means to loose something we would like to keep, Left means to forsake something. III. They had not left all love, but their first intense love. IV. Work should never be a substitute for fellowshipping with the Lord. V.5 d) The Counsel - I. The 3 steps to Renew their first love: 1. Remember. (Go back) Luke 15:17-18 2. Repent. (Turn around) 3. Repeat. (Go forward) “ First love” is the first works not the first emotions or thrill. 1.John 5:2 II. If these 3 steps were not taken then Jesus would Respond - React by Removal. Not removal from the book of life, but existence as church. III. The church of Ephesus has been gone for centuries, there is no local church in Ephesus nor within miles from the city. IV. A church that has left their first Love for Christ will loose their Light in the world. V.6 e) The Commendation - I. They hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. II. “ Nico” means to conquer and “ Laitans” means laity - Conquer the laity. A. Perhaps they were people that exercised strong oppressing leadership, they oppressed the laity. B. The Nicolaitans dominated rather than served. C. Perhaps some of these were the false apostles! D. Mark 10:42-25; John 13:14; 1.Peter 5:3; 3.John 9 III. The Church fathers says concerning the Nicolaitans: A. Irenaeus says it is a sect founded by Nicolas of Antioch. (One of the seven deacons of Acts 6:5) B. Tertullian says the sect was Gnostics (Basically: knowledge saves) and believed in immoral practises to be free. C. Clement of Alexandria says they were unbridled and excessive in their lusts. IV. In 2:15 the deed has become a doctrine. V.7 f) The Challenge - I. Those who has spiritual desire to hear the voice of the Spirit will be Attentive to the words and Act on it. Matt.13:9 II. In ch.2 and 3 Jesus says these words 7 times, at the end of every letter to each church. In the gospels Jesus is also recorded 7 times to have said these words. Matt.11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8; 14:35 III. There is one difference between the words in Revelation and in the gospels: In Revelation it’ s singular “ a ear” in the gospels plural “ ears” , its perhaps referring to more attentive hearing in Revelation. IV. To him who overcomes, who does not loose faith. 1.John 5:4-5 If they do one thing He will do two things: A. Give them eternal life. 1. Jesus is the eternal life for all believers. John 5:47-58 2. The Ephesians had been told about the life of God Eph.4:18, now they are exhorted to overcome to remain in that life. B. To be in the midst of paradise. 1. The tree was in the midst of paradise and they would be allowed to be in the midst of His paradise. Gen.2:9; 2:Cor.12:2-4 2. The tree of life is a real tree. Rev.22:2, 14 C. Perhaps Proverbs reveals to us how this tree will manifest in a believer. 1. Wisdom. Prov.3:18 2. Righteousness. Prov.11:30 3. Hope. Prov.13:12 4. Controlled speech. Prov.15:4 D. Jesus was walking in their midst, now they are invited to be the midst of His paradise. E. The words in this letter begins with midst v.1 and ends with midst. v.7