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Author
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Topic: The Backsliding Church
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trafield
Advanced Member
Member # 5358
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posted
quote:
His counsel to them is in these words: “remember, repent, repeat the first
works” (v. 5). If we get back to our first love, we will repeat the first works,
those labors of love that marked our first meeting with Christ. If the church does
not get its heart back in the right condition, the lampstand will be removed. The
local church is to shine as a light in the world. Without true love for Christ, its
light will go out.
That is a good word.
And since the church is the body of believers this word applies not only to those active in the church building, but to all of us believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. And I believe that whenever we forsake our fist love (remember that before we loved God, He fist loved us), then we are putting the love of our own selves, before the love of God.
We will be trying to feed our own needs rather than the needs of others.
Are you reaching out to the lost? Are you sharing the "Good News" with those who desperately need this hope in their lives? Are you sincerely loving others, or pointing the finger at them as if you are better than they are? Is your motive of works for the Lord to help build your own ego or the Kingdom of God?
Good word, indeed.
Romans 12:9-16
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Posts: 225 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2005
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KnowHim
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Member # 1
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posted
He commends them for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The Gk. name “Nicolaus” means “to conquer the people.” It refers to the development of a priestly caste (clergy) in the church that throws aside the common believers
I found the below to be very, very interesting:
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. 5Remember 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 Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. 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 2:1 through Revelation 2:7 (KJV)
Title: Wiersbes Expository Outlines on the New Testament
Author: Wiersbe, Warren W.
Ephesus: The Backsliding Church (2:1-7)
The hands and feet of the exalted Christ are emphasized here: He holds the
stars (the messengers of the churches), and He walks in judgment among the
churches (lampstands). He begins with Ephesus, the city closest to Patmos. It was
a great commercial center. The emperor had made Ephesus a free city; it had the
title “Supreme Metropolis of Asia.” Most important was the great temple of
Diana, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was 425 feet long, 220
feet wide, and 60 feet high, with great folding doors and 127 marble pillars, some
of them covered with gold. The worship of Diana was “religious immorality” at
its worst. Read Acts 19-20.
The church at Ephesus had works, labor, and patience—but no love for
Christ. In contrast, the Thessalonians were commended for their “work of faith,
labor of love, and patience of hope” (1 Thes. 1:3). It is not “what” we do for
Christ, but the motive behind it, the incentive, that counts. Ephesus had a busy
church with high spiritual standards. They could not bear “worthless [evil]
people” and would not listen to false teachers. The work had been difficult, but
they had not fainted. In every way, it was a successful church from the human
point of view. Some of today’s busy churches with their full calendars and weary
workers would fit the description.
But the Man in the midst of the churches saw what was missing: they had
left (not “lost”) their first love (Jer. 2:2). The local church is espoused to Christ
(2 Cor. 11:2), but there is always the danger of that love growing cold. Like
Martha, we can be so busy working for Christ that we have no time to love Him
(Luke 10:38-42). Christ is more concerned about what we do with Him than for
Him. Labor is no substitute for love. To the public, the Ephesian church was
successful; to Christ, it had fallen.
His counsel to them is in these words: “remember, repent, repeat the first
works” (v. 5). If we get back to our first love, we will repeat the first works,
those labors of love that marked our first meeting with Christ. If the church does
not get its heart back in the right condition, the lampstand will be removed. The
local church is to shine as a light in the world. Without true love for Christ, its
light will go out.
He commends them for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The Gk. name
“Nicolaus” means “to conquer the people.” It refers to the development of a
priestly caste (clergy) in the church that throws aside the common believers.
While there must be pastoral leadership in the church, there must not be a distinct
“clergy” and “laity” in which the former lords it over the latter.
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Posts: 3276 | From: Charlestown, IN | Registered: Jun 2002
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