Fired Up or Fizzled Out?
Introduction
In the first seven verses of Revelation chapter two, the resurrected Christ, via the Apostle John, writes a letter to the church of Ephesus. At the time this letter was penned, the church of Ephesus was a thriving body of believers. Times were tough, yet this group of Christians were faithful and firm in their stand for the truth, and their service for the Lord. As a matter of fact, to read the first three verses of this letter, one would think that everything in this church was just as it should be. However, the Lord makes a charge against this church that seems to negate all the good things said about it at the outset.
You see this church had no problem performing their Christian duty, or preaching the correct doctrine. They were straight as an arrow on those matters. The heart of their problem was the problem in their heart. Though they could not be faulted on Christian duty and doctrine, they had developed a definite problem in their devotion to Christ.
Unfortunately, this problem is still prominent in many churches of our day. It is possible for a church to be technically correct in their ministry, and yet possess no spiritual fervor and fire. The church’s ministry becomes mere performance without power, and sentiment without substance.
But what is a church’s source of spiritual fervor, fire, and power in ministry? It is a passionate love for Jesus Christ. Ministry motivated by any other source than a passionate love for Christ becomes mechanical and hypocritical. This had become the case in the church of Ephesus. While technically still serving Christ, their love for Him had grown cold—their hearts were no longer aflame for Jesus.
The Church of the 21st Century must be on guard against anything that would rob it of its spiritual fervor and fire for Christ. Let’s examine Christ’s letter to the church of Ephesus, and take heed to its warnings.
Theme: Examining Christ’s letter to the church of Ephesus, we notice:
I. CHRIST’S COMMENDING OF THEM
A. He Commends Them For Their Endeavors.
Revelation 2: 1, “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; 2a I know thy works, and thy labors…”
The words “angel” and “stars” refer to the pastors of the seven churches of Asia. The word “angel,” means, “a messenger” (W.E. Vine, M.A., An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, Vol. I, published by Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, New Jersey; pg. 55). The word “stars” is obviously used in a figurative sense. It is used by the glorified Christ to refer to pastors as those who give light and guidance. This would have been understood by the readers of John’s day, since light and guidance were viewed as the basic qualities of the heavenly bodies.
It is significant that the Lord is said to hold the “…seven stars in his right hand” (v. 1b). In Bible times, the right hand was a symbol of power and authority. As one commentator notes, this refers to, “…the supremacy of him who thus holds his servants in his right hand, and that of their function, as performing their ministry for him by his power, and with supreme accountability to him.” Alvah Hovey, D.D., LL.D., Editor, An American Commentary On The New Testament, published by The American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia, PA.; Commentary On The Revelation, by Justin A. Smith, D.D., pg. 40.
Notice also that the Lord is said to walk “…in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks” (v. 1c). The candlesticks, or “‘…lampstands’ were the seven churches (1: 20)” of Asia Minor (John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Editors, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, published by Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois; pg. 933). The fact that the Lord is said to walk in the midst of His churches, indicates that His presence is among them in the sense that He is intimately aware of all that is going on with them.
This is brought out by the statement, “I know thy works.” The word “works” refers to the fact that the Lord knew about “all the deeds of life, good and bad…” (Alvah Hovey, D.D., LL.D., Editor, An American Commentary On The New Testament, published by The American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia, PA.; Commentary On The Revelation, by Justin A. Smith, D.D., pg. 41).
This is likewise brought out by the fact that the Lord was aware of their “labour.” This refers to their “…labor in the sense of service, especially that which harasses and wearies…” (Ibid, pg. 41).
Sometimes we think that God doesn’t notice what we do for Him, or that He doesn’t notice how weary we become. But He walks in the midst of His church, and is therefore perfectly aware of what’s going on in it. The Ephesian church was a serving body of believers, for which the Lord commended them. However, with many Christians and churches of today, it is not a matter of whether they are serving, but why are they serving.
Self-righteous service comes through human effort. True service comes from a relationship with the divine Other deep inside.
Self-righteous service is impressed with the “big deal.” True service finds it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large service.
Self-righteous service requires external rewards. True service rests contented in hiddenness.
Self-righteous service is highly concerned about results. True service is free of the need to calculate results.
Self-righteous service picks and chooses whom to serve. True service is indiscriminate in its ministry.
Self-righteous service is affected by moods and whims. True service ministers simply and faithfully because there is a need.
Self-righteous service is temporary. True service is a life-style.
Self-righteous service is without sensitivity. It insists on meeting the need even when to do so would be destructive. True service can withhold the service as freely as perform it.
Self-righteous service fractures community. True service, on the other hand, builds community. Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, “The Discipline of Service.”
B. They Are Commended For Their Endurance.
Revelation 2: 2a, “I know…thy patience… 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.”
This was not a church that quit at the first sign of trouble. The ideas behind the word “patience” are that of “endurance,” “ persistence,” and “perseverance.” The New Living Translation translates verses two and three as follows:
Revelation 2: 2, “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois; pg. 1272.
C. They Are Commended For Their Evaluation.
Revelation 2: 2b, 6, “…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: …6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.”
This church found evil intolerable. They also refused to listen to false teachers. The Greek word rendered “tried” means, to “examine,” “evaluate,” or “prove.” The Ephesian Christians tested every teacher by the truth of God’s Word. They were orthodox in their beliefs. They did not swallow every new philosophy that came along. When it comes to wickedness, false teachers and false doctrine, the church of Jesus Christ has no business practicing “political correctness.”
Scholars are divided about the identity of the Nicolaitanes. My personal belief is that since this group is associated with the false doctrine of Balaam, in verses 14 and 15 of this same chapter, it is likely that this term refers to a group of people who followed the heretical teachings of a heretic named Nicolas. One prominent doctrine and practice of this group was indifference to moral purity. An early church father, named Irenaueus, said of them, “They led lives of unrestrained indulgence” (Earl Kelly, Angels, Beasts, Trumpets And Such Things, published by Rent-A-Press Printing Company, Ridgeland, Mississippi; pg. 40).
II. GOD’S CHARGE AGAINST THEM
Revelation 2: 4 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”
Christ charged the Ephesian church with having left their “first love.” G. Campbell Morgan, in referring to this passage, has said, “The elements of first love then are simplicity and purity…First love is the love of espousal” (Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison, Editors, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; pg. 1503).
You see folks, though these people were doing the right things, their ministry had become mere methods and mechanics. Their service had become much like a furnace whose fan was still blowing, but the fire had gone out. A lot of Christians and churches of our day are in the same situation. Wiersbe observes: “What we do for the Lord is important, but so is why we do it!”
Just think of it: it is possible to serve, sacrifice, and suffer “for My name’s sake” and yet not really love Jesus Christ! The Ephesian believers were so busy maintaining their separation that they were neglecting adoration. Labor is no substitute for love; neither is purity a substitute for passion. The church must have both if it is to please Him. Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Victorious, published by Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois; pgs. 26 & 27.
III. GOD’S CURE FOR THEM
A. They Were To Remember.
Revelation 2: 5a, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen…”
The word “remember” literally means, “‘keep on remembering’” (Ibid, pg. 27). Anytime we become aware that our love for the Lord has cooled, we need to remember what we have lost, and seek to restore the closeness with God we once enjoyed.
We would all do well to remember God’s goodness since our salvation. It’s vitally important that we not forget the benefits of staying in fellowship with God.
Sometimes we as Christians need to stop along life’s road and look back. Although it might have been winding and steep, we can see how God directed us by His faithfulness. Here’s how F.E. Marsh described what the Christian can see when he looks back:
The deliverances the Lord has wrought (Deut. 5:15).
The way He has led (Deut. 8:2).
The blessings He has bestowed (Deut. 32:7-12).
The victories He has won (Deut. 11: 2-7).
The encouragements He has given (Josh. 23:14).
When we face difficulties, we sometimes forget God’s past faithfulness. We see only the detours and the dangerous path. But look back and you will also see the joy of victory, the challenge of the climb, and the presence of your traveling Companion who has promised never to leave you nor forsake you. Source Unknown.
B. They Were To Repent.
Revelation 2: 5b, “…and repent…”
The word “repent” basically means, “…to change one’s mind or purpose…” (W.E. Vine, M.A., An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, Vol. III, published by Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, New Jersey; pg. 280). The idea here is that the Ephesian church was to change its attitude toward the Lord. In the religious vernacular of our day, Jesus was simply telling them to get right with God.
C. They Were To Return.
Revelation 2: 5c, 7, “…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. 7 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.”
The church of Ephesus was commanded to return “…and do the first works.” That is, they were to go back to where they left God, and start doing again those works that come from a heart of love and passion for Jesus—works produced by devotion, not duty.
There is also a stern warning here. Failure to repent of their loveless, mechanical labor toward God would result in the removal of the “candlestick out of his place,” which would “…signify the extinction of the church” (Alvah Hovey, D.D., LL.D., Editor, An American Commentary On The New Testament, published by The American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia, PA., Commentary On The Revelation, by Justin A. Smith, D.D., pg. 42).
Conclusion
We have seen a lot of churches fail in recent years. Could it be that God has grown tired of churches that are simply going through the motions, but have no real love for Him? Many churches haven’t seen a move of God’s Spirit in years, and yet they don’t seem to notice that the fire of their love has gone out. May God show His church mercy, and revive us again.