16th July 2017 - Revelation 2 – Letter to Ephesus - Ben Pocock

16^th July 2017

Revelation 2 – Letter to Ephesus

Ben Pocock

 

 

Ben first explained that we are currently in a series on the book of revelation, last week Simon Benham explored Revelation 1, and over the next few weeks we will be looking at the 7 letters to the 7 churches which are covered in Chapters 2 & 3 of Revelation.

 

The book of revelation points and looks towards Jesus. Over the next 7-8 weeks we will be looking at these Letters and looking at:

 

• What did Jesus want to say to these churches 2000 years ago?
• What does Jesus want to say to us, Kerith Community Church now?
• What does Jesus want to say to us individually today?

 

Ben explained that over the course of the last 11 years – His relationship with Heather has gone through different seasons, from their dating time when they lived in Yorkshire and Exeter, when Heather moved to Finland and now as a Married couple and most recently with the new addition of a baby. Over the course of the past 11 years they have been through many seasons, and sometimes intentionally and sometimes not intentionally they have had to relook at their relationship and what it looks like, how do they continually love one another in the new seasons.  The same goes for the way we connect to Jesus, our relationship with Him.

 

The Letter we are looking at today sees a church in a season of a relationship that isn’t where it could or should be.

 

The place we are looking at today is in a place called Ephesus.

 

LETTER TO EPHESUS

• By the coast,
• One of the largest cities in Asia-Minor
• 250,000 population
• At an intersection of major trade routes.
• Had a harbour, became a commercial centre, trade, business.
• One of the ‘jewels on the belt of the Roman lands in the Mediterranean’.
• Cultural centre too.
• Temple of Artemis (Temple of Diana) – one of the wonders of the world.
• One of the most urban centres in the Roman Empire.

 

It was a place of influence. A city of influence. Culturally, religiously, in business.

 

This is a letter ‘to the influencers’

 

 

 

 

 

The average church size in the UK is 75 – Kerith is much bigger. Cathy Madavan has said of Kerith “Our church is a church of influence. ‘this is not normal’

We are an influential church, we are influential individuals. This is to us.

 

Almost all of the 7 letters have a similar structure,

 

USUAL STRUCTURE

 

1. Image of Jesus
2. Positive encouragement, something that they are doing well.
3. Area of correction to face.
4. A warning and a promise from God.

 

 

IMAGE OF JESUS

 

7 stars in his hand – 7 stars are angels the letters are written to.

7 golden lampstands – represent each of the recipients of these letters.

 

We learn that GOD IS WITH US. WALKING AMONG US.

THIS IS HIS CHURCH!

 

Ben said that this demonstrated the Sovereignty and Authority of Christ

 

‘He is the Head of the body, the Church’, ‘in Him all things hold together’.

Jesus said

“I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE

GATES OF HELL WON’T PREVAIL AGAINST IT”

 

The church is not Simon’s, its not the Trustees its HIS Church – it takes responsibility away from us and gives us Peace.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

“I know your deeds, your hard work. Your perseverance” – DESPITE PERSECUTION

 

Christ sees your deeds, your commitment and consistency.

 

Let’s recognise that this community known as church takes hard work

Work itself is not wrong – working hard is honoured by Christ here.

 

Let’s not live in unreality that community shouldn’t take work or perseverance. It does.

 

DESPITE what happens to you.

DESPITE trials, persecution, keep going. Have an unswerving FAITH.

 

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT CONTINUES

 

I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. “

 

Paul wrote

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

 

Christ honours those who stay true to the Word. Jesus came in TRUTH and grace. Hold onto that truth.

Jesus said “I am THE way, THE truth, THE life, no one comes to the father except through me.” Let’s not dilute that, let’s not ignore that.

 

As a church we want to be like a PEACH – ultimately sold at the core.

 

CORRECTION

 

In the striving for doing the work of God, the Ephesians lost the main point – LOVE.

 

This refers to both their love for God, and their love for others.

When giving ‘next steps’, Jesus said ‘repent and DO the things you DID at first’ So we see that this love they have left aside and abandoned, is impacting their behaviour too.

 

Jesus said the two most important commandments, “love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbour as you love yourself.”

 

Paul wrote about LOVE in another letter. 1 Corinthians

Explains what love is and what it looks like.

Then comments ‘these 3 things remain, FAITH, HOPE and LOVE.

 

Ephesian Church had FAITH and HOPE it seems! But lacked Love.

The greatest of the 3? Love.

 

They had become ‘EMPTY SHELLS’.

 

Signs you may be losing your first love.

Feeling short with people? Bitter towards anyone?

Impatient with individuals?

Avoiding certain people or groups?

Wanting to distance yourself from people?

Delegating any relational responsibilities to others?

You’re doing FOR God takes up more of your time and thinking than conversations with him.

Your ministry is causing increasing stress and any anxiety.

Strong desire to isolate yourself and remove yourself from situations where you may be required to reflect on your life/ministry/relationship with God.

 

Jesus says REPENT – turn from it and come back to what you first did.

• Relationships look different over time – but LOVE should continue.
• What was your attention on when you had that love?
• What was your focus?
• How did you invest in LOVE with PEOPLE and JESUS?

 

Go back to basics – who is Jesus and what has He done for you?

 

 

WARNING & PROMISE

 

Ultimately Jesus tells the church that they will lose their LIGHT if they don’t return.

 

As a church, if we don’t LOVE, we will lose our light, our impact.

Go to Ephesus today – you will struggle to find a church.

 

BUT

 

‘To the one who is victorious’- battle language!

We are in a spiritual battle – for our minds, for our attention.

FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.

Keep pursuing LOVE.

Keep moving and acting in LOVE.

When you have an opportunity to LOVE, do it.

Be interrupted in your life by ACTS OF LOVE.

 

“have the right to eat from the tree of life”.

 

Temple of Artemis had a tree in it, when criminals would go to this tree they would be safe from being arrested – a safe haven, an asylum for them.

 

Christ here says ‘THE’ tree of life. Coming before Christ and remaining in Him you would eat from the tree of life, not temporary asylum. Not some fleeting safe house, but permanent, eternal life.

 

As I think of that – reminded of Christ’s love for me. His desire for me, his attention on me. I’m reminded of the times in my life where I have come back to Him, and fallen back in love with Christ.

 

Questions for Small Groups

 

• Ben talked about going “back to basics” who is Jesus and what has He done for you?

 

• Share with each other where you feel you are at with your love for God – do you feel you have lost your first love?

 

• Do you find yourself short with people, impatient – how do you conquer these feelings? What can you do to change these attitudes?

 

• How do you “find” your first love – what practical things can you do? – share with each other ideas you can do habitually so that you keep your or find your first love again