TOMB OF THE APOSTLE JOHN

HAVING AN EPHESUS MOMENT

Adapted from:

The Pondering PreacherTHE MUSINGS OF A CURIOUS CLERIC

http://ponderingpreacher.com/2012/03/02/having-an-ephesus-moment/

I like to be right.There, I admitted it. I think most of us think it sounds arrogant or somehow ‘unchristian’ to say such a thing but the fact is, most of

us like being right. We like knowing the facts are on our side. We like knowing that

what we believe is true. In fact, everyone in the universe thinks they are right. The problem arises when we realize not

everyone has the same opinion. That is when we engage in discussions to prove

just how right we are.

As a movement the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ have often prided themselves on being able to ‘get it right.’ Does the pride of being right hinder

us from winning the lost to Christ thus fulfilling Jesus commission? Is ‘getting it

right’ the only feather in our cap? To answer this question, let’s look at a Biblical church as a test case; a church that nearly always

‘got it right.’

The Church in EphesusWe first see Ephesus on Paul’s 2nd

missionary journey. It seems Paul left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus to plant the

church. Acts 18:18 NET Paul, after staying many more days in Corinth, said farewell to the

brothers and sailed away to Syria accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He

had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because he had made a vow.

19 When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila behind there, but he

himself went into the synagogue and addressed the Jews. 20 When they asked

him to stay longer, he would not consent, 21 but said farewell to them and added, "I will come back to you again if God wills." Then

he set sail from Ephesus,

When you study the church in Ephesus you realize that their lineage reads like an all-star roster of Biblical proportions. We see the effect Paul, the guy who wrote half of the books in the New Testament, had on

Ephesus. Apollos, a man Luke describes as “eloquent,” “well-versed, accurate” and

“enthusiastic, fearless,” does a mighty work proclaiming the Good News.

Acts 18:24 NET Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus.

He was an eloquent speaker, well-versed in the scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in

the way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he spoke and taught accurately

the facts about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.

26 He began to speak out fearlessly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila

heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more

accurately. Timothy, (1st & 2nd Timothy,) also ministered in Ephesus, The ‘disciple whom Jesus loved,’

the Apostle John, according to tradition, spent many years in Ephesus, where he

died and was buried. (Easton)

With such men as ‘founding fathers’ it is little wonder that the church succeeded in

such a mighty way.

Ephesus is next seen on Paul’s third missionary journey.

Let’s take a moment and read Acts 19 to see the impact of the church in Ephesus.

Acts 19:1 NET While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland

regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples there 2 and said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They replied, "No, we have not

even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 So Paul said, "Into what then were you

baptized?" "Into John's baptism," they replied.

4 Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they

were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, 6 and when Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. 7 (Now there were about twelve

men in all.)

8 So Paul entered the synagogue and spoke out fearlessly for three months,

addressing and convincing them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were

stubborn and refused to believe, reviling the Way before the congregation, he left them and took the disciples with him, addressing

them every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

10 This went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord. 11 God was performing extraordinary miracles

by Paul's hands, 12 so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched

his body were brought to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went

out of them.

13 But some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits, saying, "I sternly warn you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 (Now seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jewish high priest,

were doing this.) 15 But the evil spirit replied to them, "I know about Jesus and I

am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?"

16 Then the man who was possessed by the evil spirit jumped on them and beat them all into submission. He prevailed against them so that they fled from that

house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus,

both Jews and Greeks; fear came over them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus

was praised.

18 Many of those who had believed came forward, confessing and making their deeds known. 19 Large numbers of those who had practiced magic collected their books and

burned them up in the presence of everyone. When the value of the books was

added up, it was found to total fifty thousand silver coins. 20 In this way the

word of the Lord continued to grow in power and to prevail.

21 Now after all these things had taken place, Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem,

passing through Macedonia and Achaia. He said, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." 22 So after sending two of his

assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed on for a while

in the province of Asia. 23 At that time a great disturbance took place concerning the

Way.

24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of

Artemis, brought a great deal of business to the craftsmen. 25 He gathered these

together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our

prosperity comes from this business.

26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a large crowd, not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia, by saying that gods

made by hands are not gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, but also

that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing, and

she whom all the province of Asia and the world worship will suffer the loss of her

greatness."

28 When they heard this they became enraged and began to shout, "Great is

Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 The city was filled with the uproar, and the crowd rushed to the theater together, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians

who were Paul's traveling companions. 30 But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly, the disciples would not let him.

31 Even some of the provincial authorities who were his friends sent a message to him, urging him not to venture into the

theater. 32 So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together. 33 Some

of the crowd concluded it was about Alexander because the Jews had pushed

him to the front.

Alexander, gesturing with his hand, was wanting to make a defense before the

public assembly. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all

shouted in unison, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" for about two hours. 35 After the city secretary quieted the crowd, he

said, "Men of Ephesus, what person is there who does not know that the city of the

Ephesians is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from

heaven?

36 So because these facts are indisputable, you must keep quiet and not do anything reckless. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers

nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with

him have a complaint against someone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls;

let them bring charges against one another there. 39 But if you want anything in

addition, it will have to be settled in a legal assembly. 40 For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause we can give to explain this disorderly

gathering." 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

It was so dramatic that idol-makers were losing business because of the impact of the Gospel on the local culture. Imagine a church being planted in Las Vegas forcing

casinos and strip-joints to close shop because of the change in the lives of people there. That was the impact of the church in

Ephesus.

So great was the work, that Paul stayed there longer (two years) than he did in any city where he planted a church. Perhaps

this is why the church in Ephesus receives so much attention in the New Testament.

On his return from his journey, Paul didn’t stop in Ephesus, but he still needed to prepare the leaders about up-coming

attacks.

Acts 20:16 NET For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so as not to spend time in the province of Asia, for he was hurrying to arrive in Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. 17 From Miletus he sent a

message to Ephesus, telling the elders of the church to come to him.

The next 5 verses he reminds them of his work in Ephesus, then he gives them

shocking prophecy about himself.

Acts 20:22 NET And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem without

knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit warns me in town

after town that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. 24 But I do

not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God's grace.

25 “And now I know that none of you among whom I went around proclaiming the

kingdom will see me again.3 verses later comes a stern warning!

28 Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own

Son.

29 I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the

flock. 30 Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after them.

31 Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop

warning each one of you with tears.

32 And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance

among all those who are sanctified. Paul warned that false teachers would

trouble the church. This proved to be so, and Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, which he wrote during his first imprisonment in Rome, deals with some of the wrong ideas that had

become widespread in and around Ephesus.

After his release from Rome, Paul revisited the church in Ephesus to try to correct the

wrong teaching. When he moved on, he left Timothy behind to continue corrective

teaching. He also wrote Timothy two letters to help him in this task. (Bridgeway)

1 Timothy 1:3 NET As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in

Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings,

4 nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things

promote useless speculations rather than God's redemptive plan that operates by

faith. 5 But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good

conscience, and a sincere faith.

6 Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. 7 They want to

be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the

things they insist on so confidently.1 Timothy 6:3 NET If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that

accords with godliness,

4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in

controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil

suspicions, 5 and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and

deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit.

2 Timothy 2:14 NET Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them

before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen. 15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven

worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.

16 But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and

further into ungodliness, 17 and their message will spread its infection like

gangrene.

The false teaching that the apostle John condemned in his letters (written towards the end of the first century) was also centered in

Ephesus. (Bridgeway)

3 chapters in Acts talk much about Ephesus, we have Paul’s letter to the

Ephesians as well as Paul’s 1st & 2nd letters to Timothy, who ministered in Ephesus.

Paul mentions Ephesus twice in his 1st letter to the Corinthian Saints.

With so much in the New Testament written to & about Ephesus it seems obvious God

wants us to learn from the Ephesian Church.

I would dare say that if Ephesus Christian Church existed today, we would all flock to it to see how church should be done. But

she doesn’t exist, which means something, somewhere went wrong. To discover that, we must look at the final New Testament

reference to the church in Ephesus: Revelation 2.

Ephesus was Good at Getting It Right in Most Areas

Revelation 2:1 NET "To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write the following: "This

is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has a firm grasp on the seven stars in his right hand — the one who walks among

the seven golden lampstands:

2 'I know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance, and that you

cannot tolerate evil. You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as

apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. 3 I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have

not grown weary.

What would a letter directly from Jesus written to our congregation look like? I hope

it would start off as well as the one Jesus wrote to Ephesus does. Notice all the things

Ephesus was doing well:Good work ethicSteadfast enduranceCannot tolerate evil Test false apostles (in other words, they were committed to doctrinally pure teaching)Have not grown weary

What a list of accomplishments! From the outside Ephesus looked like the ideal Church. With hard working members,

doctrinally pure teaching, enduring persecution with dignity, this was THE

church to belong to and get involved. For those of us with a Restoration Movement background, their goal for doctrinal purity based on the Apostles’ teaching resounds

deeply within us.

If we lived in the first century we would be pointing at Ephesus saying, “That is what God’s Church is supposed to look like!”

But Jesus isn’t finished with His letter yet.

Ephesus Got The Main Thing Wrong

Revelation 2:4 NET But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love!

5 Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent! Do the

deeds you did at the first; if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its

place — that is, if you do not repent.

Imagine this letter being read aloud in our congregation. Can’t you see the chests

puffing out in pride, only to be deflated by these final words? Can’t you see the

nervous glances around the auditorium as people start to contemplate the meaning of

‘You have departed from your first love?’ You may even think of a few individuals who

would be defensive and try to justify themselves with phrases like, ‘We show our

love by working hard!

We show our love by being committed to proper teaching! We show our love by

hating evil deeds!’Lest you think that I am proposing we need

to be soft on things like doctrine and service, let me assure you I am not, and

neither was Jesus. The problem that Ephesus had is the same problem seen in

more than one church: They loved pure doctrine more than they loved Jesus.

They love being right more than they loved people. They valued the work that went into

the Great Commission more than the commission itself. They had lost sight of their first love, and Jesus, who sees the

motive behind the action, lovingly rebuked them for it.

All’s not lost! In the 5th verse He called for them to repent, then in the 6th gives them

another big pat on the back.

Revelation 2:6 NET But you do have this going for you: You hate what the Nicolaitans practice — practices I also hate. 7 The one who has an ear had better hear what the

Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.‘

I can find no evidence the Ephesians failed to repent & return to their first love. They might have returned to Do the deeds they

did at the first.

History tells us the city was destroyed two or more times. This might have been

the churches demise. The city and temple were destroyed by the Goths in 263 AD. This marked the decline of the

city's splendor. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614. Sackings by the Arabs first in the year 654–655, and later in 700 and 716

hastened the decline further.

When the Turks conquered Ephesus in 1090, it was a small village. The town

knew again a short period of flourishing during the 14th century. Ephesus was

eventually completely abandoned in the 15th century and lost her former glory. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus#Turkish_era)

Maybe this is how the Lord removed their lampstand from its place because they did

not repent & return to their first love?

It wouldn’t have been the first time He wiped out an entire city because of

disobedience!

Our Ephesus Moment

I believe that our brotherhood of churches finds themselves at a similar crossroads in

history that the church in Ephesus did. Like Ephesus, we look into a future clouded by

uncertain times. The American church may be heading for a period of persecution as

more and more of our rights are suppressed by earthly government. I have no doubt

many of our brothers will stand firm.

I also have no doubt that doctrinal purity will always remain a hallmark of our movement. But, I must ask this question: What do we love more? Do we value being right more than we value King Jesus? Do we value doctrinal purity more than the lost soul in

search of grace? I pray that we do not, and that we return to the roots of Christianity: an

intense love for Christ and His Bride.

There is hope. Our lampstand is still burning. Jesus has not removed it, yet. Let

us return to our first love.Matthew 22:36 NET "Teacher, which

commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 Jesus said to him, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all

your soul, and with all your mind.' (Deu 6:5) 38 This is the first and greatest

commandment. 39 The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Lev

19:18)

Just how do we show our love for Jesus?John 14:21a NET The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one

who loves me.Why did Jesus, God the Son, come to

earth? Luke 19:10 NET For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

We show our love by continuing His work.

Matthew 28:19 NET Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the

name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey

everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end

of the age."

Did you catch the promise Jesus made to those who keep their first love first?

7 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat

from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’

Eternal Life in Heaven!