HOME - Rhema Gospel Church - Houston, Texas.

WHAT IS THE SPIRIT SAYING TO THE CHURCHES
Rev 2:1 - 6 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 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. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

In the message to Church of Ephesus, the Author - Jesus says some candid things to the Leadership of the Church. He identifies himself as he who hold the seven starts in his right hand - the star represents the leadership of the Local assembly and the candlesticks represents the church itself. Interestingly, he says that He holds both the Church and its Leadership in His right hand. The right hand is a place of grace and approval. It is a position of favor. It is the place of active vested interest. It is a place of decision and the setting of standards. it is the place of accepted ownership. With this introductions, Jesus states his rightful place in exercising or uttering binding utterances on the church. Jesus was saying... I own the Church and it's Leadership. I am authorized to govern the Church and its Leadership.

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: The Church in Ephesus - the first Church that Jesus addressed here is a model of spiritual authority and reformatory relevance. Jesus says - I know what you are doing... the type of work, labor or toil you are bestowing... the effort you are making because of the type of result that you desire... mixing your labor with patience - (cheerful enduring resilience). the church is commended as a body that CANNOT BEAR THEM WHICH ARE EVIL. The church had every aspect of its society under its gamut. They had so much influence on the society that they were noted as a church that does not TOLERATE evil. Tolerance of evil and the lifestyle that connotes such are nails that puncture the strength of today's Church. The Church in Ephesus was not just passionately saddled with the charge to reform their world but also the charge to reform and guard leadership. They were also noted as the Church that has tried people in Leadership - who say they are Apostles... the result was that they found these men as liars.

As an essential part of maintaining our relevance and our attachment to the vine, we must be passionate enough to look over what is happening in the rest of the field. We are not permitted to be blinded by what we have called our own mission statement or covenant statement. We must in love assume the oversight of all that is done in the masters name... in other that he way of truth be not evil spoken of - 2 Peter 2:2. The Ephesian church did not see themselves as existing in isolation. The operated in openness and were willing to take a stand against falsehood; even if it is perpetrated from leadership. The Ephesian church was well knowledgeable in the ramifications of the mission and doctrines of Christ. This is key to trying Apostleship and determining falsehood. The Church did not just seat to accept anything that is taught by anyone with a claim of a revelation as Biblical or Christs' doctrine... even when there are miracles that seem to support the so called new doctrine. The Church today must understand the double pronged nature of it's assignment. We are to model Christ to our world - by taking a stand against evil and vocalizing our intolerance to it and a guard the doctrine of Christ. The job of the Apostle as a gift of Christ is to the end of perfecting the saints... not elevating the Apostle as perfect. The Ephesian church retained a well-rounded definition of evil. It was retentively cast in stone. It was not subject to a redefinition in other for it to become more relevant. The society was expected to follow the Church and not the Church following the society.
Today, the Church is so blind and so nerveless. Doctrines of Devils are taught in the Church. The Ephesian Church could not stand evil. Today the Church in following the world is preaching the poison of tolerance without a difference to what evil is. Evil is that which is principally or morally wrong. Today, the Church has a wavy and dwindling grip on that which is morally acceptable. It is following the moral definition of the world - as opposed to that which is laid down in scripture. The Ephesian church was however admonished to return to its first love. This was a church that had fallen from their fist love. Rev 2:5 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.

It is so easy to fall out of "first Love" in the name of maturity, added responsibility, expansion of ministry and ministry demands and mission.
As ministry demands expanded, the Apostles said... Act 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
One interesting thing here is that what Jesus refers to as the first love of the Ephesian church is not mentioned. This is not an obvious issue for which we are all supposed to walk, search and grope in the dark; it is rather an issue of mutual confidence between the master and his love relationship with the Ephesian church. Too many attempts have been made and copied by the Church about the mystery of love. Too often, we seek various reasons for the mutually enduring love relationship between two parties or two persons. Real love is never predicated on expressible reasons. Between lovers, the mutuality of the affection promotes openness and a well understood idiom and or mannerisms of communication that both parties interprete on a constant basis. This is what Jesus was addressing here... the fact that the Ephesian church has moved or deviated to some other activity or focus... while Jesus continued His well placed value on the former passion of the Ephesian church. It is the loss f fellowship or passion for first things... and not the act thereof... this quest for the first love must be seen as such... a message that only the Ephesian Church alone can understand. Jesus concludes His message to the Angel of the church in Ephesus by saying ..." 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." The master warns that He would come quickly and remove the candlestick out of its place... this means that the church will be removed out of its place and center of relevance... except there be repentance. In this regard, the Church will lose its place and previously retained authority for spiritual influence. God forbid that this should happen to todays church... even though our situation begs for it.... the so de-robed church from which Jesus has removed the candlestick will wallow in the darkness in noon-day. It easily becomes just a physical and historical monument and community landmark.... sadly enough, he may allow the structure to remain so that all who pass by may hiss and the passionate may weep.