(1.)

Ephesus

Rev 2:1

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

Rev 2:2 - Rev 2:3

'I know your deeds, your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary.

Rev 2:4

'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Rev 2:5

'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent, do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent.

Rev 2:6

'Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Rev 2:7

'He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'

 

We must: "Refrain from the eating of "things sacrificed to idols"  (Acts 15:29).

 

1. Toil,    (work hard to do the will of the Lord)

2. Preserver

3. Do not tolerate evil men

4. Test those who call themselves apostles (and profits)

5. Preserver and endue for the name of God and do not grow weary

6. Remember where you have fallen from and repent

7. Do the deeds you did when you were first saved

8. Hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans

9. Repent

 

Or: Jesus says

1. I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent.

 

 

Refrain from the eating of "things sacrificed to idols"   (Acts 15:29)

Such a restriction, though seemingly hard, in that it prevented the Christians from joining in public festivals.

 

Nicolaitans (purposely deceiving Christian at gatherings in to eating food they had sacrificed to idols) and therefore John was justified in condemning them. In writing to the Corinthians, Paul gives warning against the same evil practices, basing his arguments on consideration for the weaker brethren (compare 1 Corinthians 8).

 

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans appears to have been a form of antinomianism. (Antinomianism: A belief that is based upon the recognition of the mercy of God as the ground of salvation, but it makes the fatal mistake that man can freely partake in sin because the Law of God is no longer binding. It held the truth on the gratuitous reckoning of righteousness; but supposed that a mere intellectual “belief” in this truth had a saving power.)

 

Hierarchy of a ruling class over the rest of the people, developing a pecking order of fleshly leadership Jesus hates this and warns the people to repent or else

 

Faithful believers, of Christ Jesus, are all God's.

 

Peter exhorted us to feed the flock of God which is among us, taking the oversight thereof, not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind, neither as being lords over God's heritage but being examples to the flock.

And when the chief shepherd will appear, you will receive a crown of glory that will not fade away.

 

Shepherds serve the sheep but the wolves that clothe themselves with so-called leadership and spiritual authority serve themselves, thinking that they serve God; in essence, this makes them false christ’s.

Early church leaders were established as overseers, not as an dictating royalty.

 

If we want spiritual crowns to lie at the feet of God we must first give up our authority and leadership at the foot of Jesus.

 

Tomorrow Smyrna

 

Want to be right with Christ and in good standing with Father God?

repent of the sin's in your life ask Christ in to your heart, ask to be forgiven, of from your ways witch are not His ways. if you will ask Jesus is faithful to forgive and except you into His kingdome.