Letters to the Seven Churches – Ephesus

“Loyal but Lacking”

Introduction to Ephesus

1.   Ephesus was a chief city in Asia, and its name was synonymous with Asia (e.g. Ephraim = Israel)

2.   Ephesus was known as “the city of change” as it was for many years on the Aegean Sea, but the Cayster River began depositing silt in the harbor, and the city now sits 16 miles from the sea.

3.   Ephesus was a city of great wealth:

      a.   It was a dominant banking center in Asia;

      b.   Many homes had mosaic floors, marble walls, running water, and two houses were discovered to have heated bathrooms.

      c.   The road from the harbor to the theater was called the Arkadine. It was 36 feet wide, 2000 feet long, constructed of marble and lined with rows of marble columns.

      d.   Because of the silt problem (Acts 20:16), the residents of Ephesus constructed a harbor and canal and continually dredged the canal to maintain a passageway to the sea.

4.   Ephesus was also known as the “highway of the martyrs.”

      a.   The Roman government brought Christians through Ephesus on their way to the amphitheater where they would be fodder for the gladiators and the lions.

      b.   Ignatius = “the passageway of those who are slain unto God.”

The Lord’s Letter to Ephesus

1.   The COMMANDER – “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven candlesticks”

      a.   Jesus is OMNIPOTENT (all-powerful)

      b.   Jesus is OMNIPRESENT (ever-present)

      c.   Jesus is OMNISCIENT (all-knowing)

      d.   Jesus is OMNI-BENEVOLENT (all-loving)

2.   The COMMENDATION . . .

      a.   “I know thy WORKS” – This phrase introduces every statement of the Lord to each of the seven churches.

             i.    It is given to encourage the faithful to continue to serve him who sees in SECRET and rewards OPENLY (Matt 6).

             ii.   It still applies today! Hebrews 4:13, Psalm 139:7-12

      b.   (I know thy) LABOR = more accurately, toil, pain, weariness

      c.   (I know thy) PATIENCE = lit., to remain and bear up under

      d.   (I know thy) FIDELITY to doctrine

3.   The COMPLAINT – “I have somewhat against thee.”

4.   The CHARGE – “because thou hast left thy first love”

             i.    Is this a failure to evangelize or a failure to act as prompted by love? (cf Gal 5:6)

             ii.   I believe verse 5 provides the answer (cf Acts 20:28-38).

5.   The COUNSEL

      a.   “REMEMBER from whence thou art FALLEN”

      b.   REPENT

      c.   RETURN – “and do the FIRST works”

      d.   REMOVAL “I will come quickly and REMOVE thy candlestick”

6.   The COMMITMENT – “to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life”

             i.    1 John 5:3-5

             ii.   Revelation 12:7-11