Revelation - Chapter Two
The Church That Performed Without
Transforming
Chapter
Two begins with the risen Lord gi
ving
a personal assessment of Seven
Literal Churches that are not
only historical, but also representative
of the Church age from its conception
to the present. All seven letters
reflect the "things which
are" of 1:19 which emphasizes
the historical and characteristics of
the on going Church age.
The
Lord's assessment begins with the Church
at Ephesus for a very important reason.
This Church had tremendous influence
with the other Churches. It was a
leading Church. The effect of
Christ on this Church would have ripple
effects on the others. This
was a Church that performed for God
while neglecting the need to be
transformed by God. They loved
what they were doing for God while their
love for God diminished and suffered
tremendous neglect that had a down-ward
domino effect. Thus, it is for
this reason God starts with the Church
at Ephesus. He reminds them that
the most significant rule and role of
the Church is to Love the Lord above all
else (Matthew
22:36,38). There is safety in
loving the Lord. One's love for
someone or something will
determine the direction one will go in
relations to their desires. Not to
love the Lord pre-eminently is to love
someone else or something else that will
hurt us. When our love for Christ
is diminished... our motive becomes
self-preservation and self-vindication;
leaving us only to endure while
remaining void of enjoyment. No
doubt, a dangerous state of mind to be
enslaved to.
I.
The Church That Endured But Did Not
Enjoy -
vs.1,3
I.
The Challenge That Exposed -
vs.4
I.
The Charge That Enlightens -
vs.5,7
-
The Example of Christ - vs.6
...which I
also
hate
-
The Expression of Christ - 7a
...the
Spirit
saith unto the
churches
-
The Extending of Christ - 7b
...To
him that
overcometh will I
give to
eat of the
tree of
life
-
The
Experiencing of Christ - 7c
...the
midst of the
paradise of
God
The
Church at Ephesus demonstrates that it
is very possible to obey God and not
love him... but it is impossible to love
God and not obey Him
Jesus
Christ will never force us to obey Him.
He leaves that
choice with us (Joshua
24:15;
Luke 9:23;
Revelation 3:20). Our
obedience to Christ is rooted in the
Lord's worthiness (Revelation
4:11). True obedience is born when
Christ illuminates our heart and mind to
His glory and grace. Obedience
does not endure God's command, it enjoys
God's will from the heart (Ephesians
6:6).
If the
Lord was inclined to force us into
submission, He would be relegated to a
slave master. No one loves a
slave master. We obey our Lord
because we love Him. The true
essence of obedience is choosing to be
in one-ness with our Lord. Jesus
said that He and His Father are one (John
10:30). What we do FOR
Jesus is NOT obedience...
It is what we do WITH Christ
in one-ness with Him. The only
obedience that pleases our heavenly
Father is the obedience of Christ.
We are called and compelled to the
obedience of Christ. One-ness with
the obedience of Christ Jesus is the
high and holy calling that entrenches
the heart to pure worship of the living
God. We don't GOT to obey God... we
GET to.
Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger
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