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the end game Slide 2 Church @ Ephesus 5 Points 1.The End Game 2.Focus of Revelation--JESUS 3.Definition of Revelation 4.Literal Interpretation Slide 3 Slide 4 5. Revelation can be divided into 3 sections: 1.The Cover Letter explains how John received the revelation, and his reason for sending it (Chapter 1). 2.Letter to the 7 Churches this was a letter dictated to him by Jesus. This letter contains special instructions to each church (Chs 2-3). 3.The Prophecy This is the revelation itself which is recorded in chapters 4-22. Slide 5 Tonight, we are going to begin our examination of the letters to the 7 churches of Asia. 1.Ephesus 2.Smyrna 3.Pergamum 4.Thyatira 5.Sardis 6.Philadelphia 7.Laodicea Specifically we are looking what Jesus said to the Church at Ephesus. Slide 6 Slide 7 Revelation 2:1-7 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven gold lampstands: 2 "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for Me without quitting. Slide 8 4 "But I have this complaint against you. You don't love Me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. 6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. 7 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God. (NLT) Slide 9 7 Golden Lampstands 1:20 tells that the lampstands are 7 churches of Asia. A lampstand is a fitting symbol for the church. We give light, but the light does not originate with us. A lamp or a light bulb gets it power from electricity. The bulb itself is useless by itself, but when it is connected to the source, it burns brightly! We are the bulb and Jesus is the electricity. We need to stay plugged into Him! Slide 10 In each of these letters, there is a 4 part pattern in how Jesus deals with the churches. 1.Praise/Commendation Jesus commends the characteristic He likes in the church. 2.Issues Jesus calls attention to what displeases Him about the church. (Fire in His eyes) 3.Counsel/Directives Jesus calls for repentance and what to do to make it right. (parenting) 4.Challenge gives the blessings of obedience or warnings of disobedience. Slide 11 2:1 Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven gold lampstands. John was acting as a secretary writing down exactly what Jesus dictated. This verse tells us 2 things that Jesus does: 1.He holds the 7 stars 2.Walks in the midst of our churches Slide 12 This is a comforting thought: Jesus walks in our midst and holds us in His hand. Because He is in our midst, He is the source of our light. His power is readily available to us. Matthew 28:20b And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Hebrews 13:5 Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (NIV) Slide 13 The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven gold lampstands. Each 1 of the 7 churches has a different description of Jesus tied to the problems in that particular church. This picture of Jesus shows that He is in control. Pride was, no doubt, an issue for this church because they were in the most influential city in the region. Slide 14 City of Ephesus: 1.1 of the 3 major cities of the Eastern Roman Empire (Alexandria, Egypt & Antioch, Syria). 2.Free City Large measure of self rule. 3.Temple of the goddess Artemis (Diana). The temple is one of the wonders of the Ancient World. 4.Great revival took place here & Paul ministered here for 3 years. (Acts 19) 5.Apollos, Aquilla & Priscilla, John, Paul & Timothy all ministered here. Slide 15 Slide 16 Slide 17 Lets look at the 4 parts of Jesus Letter to the Church @ Ephesus: 1.Praise/Commendation 2 "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for Me without quitting. Slide 18 Jesus praises them on several points: 1)A Hard Working Church I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. Jesus sees and records our faithful service. Matthew 10:42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded. Others may not see what you do, but Jesus does! His pay day is coming. Slide 19 2)A Separated Church I know you don't tolerate evil people. Church = ekklesia = Called out ones We are in this world but not of this world. The last time Paul saw the leaders of the Ephesian Church, he warned them: Acts 20:29-30 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. Prophetic! Slide 20 3)A Pure Church You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered that they are liars. We dont judge peoples motives, but we do need to judge their doctrines. Immediately after Pentecost, Satan sowed weeds among the Lords wheat fields. Some went about disguising themselves as apostles. The Ephesian Church tested them to see if they were of God or not. Slide 21 4)An Enduring Church You have patiently suffered for Me without quitting. Consistency and Faithfulness are important qualities to have! 5)A Strong Church 6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. Who are the Nicolaitans? 2 Greek words = Victory over the Laity. They were probably a group that wanted to re- establish the priestly hierarchy of the OT. Slide 22 1 Peter 5:3 Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. There will always be order and structure, but no one is more important than anyone else. Notice it says that Jesus hates their deeds not them personally. Slide 23 2.The Issues 4 "But I have this complaint against you. You don't love Me or each other as you did at first! The only point He had against this church. This is important because when we lose our love then we will lose the joy of our salvation. Because the Joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10), we lose our spiritual strength. The devil will always attack your love and joy. Notice that our love for God and for others is connected! Sum: relationships. Slide 24 3.Counsel/Directive 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first. Jesus counsels for them to do 3 things to remedy their lost love. 1)Remember the height from which you have fallen. This is a good process for all of us. Remember how you felt when you first followed Jesus? Married couple has to ask: Why did I fall in love with them in the first place? Slide 25 2)Repent Turn back from their apathy and indifference to a fresh relationship with the Lord. 3)Do the things you did at first. What made you fall in love with Jesus at first? Go back to those times and renew your commitment to Christ. If you excuse your lack of commitment, then you show that you are lacking in your love for Jesus. Slide 26 5b - If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. Sad to note that this is what happened to Turkey. Today, the Muslims control that part of the world. They turned the churches into mosques. Dont think this cant happen to the U.S.A. Slide 27 4.His Challenge 7 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious [overcomer], I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God. Jesus gives 2 challenges to the Church @ Ephesus. Slide 28 1)Be Sensitive to the Holy Spirit Here are 5 points to judging things to see if they are from the Holy Spirit. I.The Holy Spirit exalts no one but Jesus! Ask: Was Jesus exalted? II.The Holy Spirit always directs attention to Jesus. Nowhere in the Scriptures that the Holy Spirit draws attention to Himself. III.The Holy Spirit never violates Gods Word. The Bible is always the final authority. Slide 29 IV.The Holy Spirit brings edification to us. 1 Corinthians 14:26 Let all things be done for edification. V.The work of the Holy Spirit withstands examination. The Bible tells us to test the spirits. The Holy Spirit will always gently lead. Slide 30 2)Eternal Life is Offered to those who overcome! Who is an overcomer? 1 John 5:4-5 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (NKJV) Overcoming the world is only for those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ. They will eat of the Tree of Life, the symbol of eternal life. Slide 31 This is the tree that was lost in the Garden of Eden but appears again in Revelation 22. If we overcome, we will eat of the Tree of Eternal Life in Heaven! Practical Observation: How do we keep our first love? Read, study and memorize the Word of God. Daily Times of Refreshing in the Presence of the Lord. This includes Worship and Prayer. Slide 32 Lets purpose it in our hearts to make our relationship with Jesus 1 st. If you have found a successful marriage, then you will find a marriage where both partners have worked at it. It does not happen by chance. The same is true with our relationship with Jesus. Keep it first and work @ it! Slide 33 the end game