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BACKGROUND :
The message to the seven churches is a revelation of Jesus Christ to John in respect of the seven churches in Asia.
The seven churches have a fourfold reference. They are :
- to the local churches actually addressed.
- an admonition to all churches in all times as tests and so to our times.
- personal, exhortation to him that has ear, who is in the promise to him who overcomes.
- prophetic message disclosing two areas of the phases in the spiritual history of the church, (a) pattern that has been repeated over and over through the centuries. (b) the progress of its spiritual state until the end of the Church Age.
The prophecy gave a foreview of the church and in the time of the apostle it was noted in Ephesians 2:1-7. It is typical of the church in the first century.
Read Ephesians 2 : 1-7.
The churches mentioned are (1) The Church in Ephesus (2) The .church in Smyrna, (3) The Church in Pergamos (4) The Church in Thytira, (5) The Church in Sardis (6) The Church in Philadelphia (7) The Church in Laodicea.
These churches were in different states.
We will treat these phases, because of the events of the time so that he that has an ear and who is in the promise and wants to overcome will redeem the time.
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Message To Ephesus.
We will begin these teachings starting with the church in Ephesus, using biblical extractions to lead us to have a grasp. We have to use the Churches to help us to discover the Church to which we belong. People belong to one or another of the churches mentioned. Let us know that the spiritual content is expected to help us live right before the Lord and also helping people to live in God’s word.
The prophecy as regarding the Church in Ephesus is as follows :
Read the verses from Revelation 2 : 1-7:
The Ephesian church, where Timothy was bishop, was discovered to have the following merits and demerits:
MERITS:
(1) God told the church that He knew their works, labour and patience, that they cannot bear those who are evil, have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, o but found them as liers.( verse 2.) This is meritorious.
(2) they have persevered, have patience, laboured for Christ, and not become weary.
verse 3. This is also meritorious.
(3) they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which the Lord said He also hated. (verse 6.
The church in Ephesus was doing many things right.
Who were or are the Nicolaitans?
The Nicolaitans were those who followed the doctrine of Nicalaus who was a heretic and an agnostic, who had the doctrine similar to that of Balaam.
Nicalaus taught the following doctrines :
- i) immoral doctrines
- ii) that community of wives and thereby committing adultery and fornication was not sinful. Members could practice adultery or fornication freely. To be simple wives sharing goes on in some corrupt assemblies today.
iii) eating meats offered to idols was not sinful.
So the Ephesian Church held perfect doctrines as are some churches in our time.
But they had lost their first love, for which they must be judged unless they go back to their first love.
And the following is the prophecy to them :
DEMERITS :
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2 : 4-5).
What is the first love from where they have departed?
The first love are likely the burning interest which they originally possessed which is possibly now given second place or outrightly ignored. When I got converted in 1967, I had great passion for many aspects of God’s work. I carried my bible everywhere I go. I preached with great drive, I prayed and experiemced great miracles. The way I practised the faith, separated me so much from youths of my age grade. My association with my age grades was for evangelism.
Note that not everybody had left their first love. Individuals may have their own version of a departure from their frst love.
Sometimes the flame we started with gets diminished. So like a woman who comes into marriage with alarming love, who now dishonours her husband after experiencing blessings, and like Hagar dishonoured Sarah, when she conceived Ishmael, and like many, who were poor and upon coming to God and when God blessed them soon or later forgot the reign of poverty that was in their lives. So are many today. Where then is the original love of God. God will rebuke these attitudes.
Many of us originally rebuked sin, but now we have soft- pedalled, many of us cannot correct our children in the evils they do, because they have grown up and become afluent and through that wealth now living a lax or a life of compromise. In many instances it is done to retain their favour. If we live right, but do not lead others, to our ways, because we want to maintain their friedship, are we not indirectly condoning evil? . How can we love God and leave others to live the way they like, because we do not want to miss their favour? How can we say we love God and not correcting our children, but will correct other people’s children even angrily.
Remember that in the age we are today, many people are not violent possessors of this faith for when conditions get tough, they are ready to join them. Where then is the first love?
Where are we in this scenerio? Have we lost our first love? God will judge His people, who have set aside some values, which they cherished upon their conversion.
Final Warning :
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2 : 7)
Having an ear calls for obedience, eating the tree of life means to have eternal life.
To overcome is to go through trials and not sin. This is the only certificate to heaven.
What does it mean for God to remove the candle stick?
This is judgement and destruction which is the punishment for sin. Eventfully, such people will not make heaven.
There is a promise for those who hear :
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2 : 7).
Now if you find yourself wanting in any way retrace your steps OR wait for the judgenent.
May the Almighty God bless whoever readeth. We will not be the church that has left her first love Amen.
CIRCULATE THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR FRIENDS. THE OTHER SIX CHURCHES’ MESSAGES WILL COME IN THE NEXT SIX SUNDAYS.
Miracle Valley Sunday Message April 22nd 2018.
Rev. .Dr. Prof. P . C . Nnaocha.
outreach.mvgm@yahoo.com.
Website : www.mvgmng.org.
Kindly leave your questions and comments below.