REVELATIONS MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS

Revelations is the most interesting epistle of the Bible; it is where we will find the final prophecies to which apply to our generation and the future that is to come. The author to Revelations is Christ Himself; although, Apostle John was given the message through visions, the One that conversed with him concerning the message was Christ Himself.

John was exiled to Mount Patmos, a very small deserted and desolated island, that had no other life form, but himself. Mount Patmos was located 40 miles outside of Ephesus; it was only ten miles long, and six miles wide, with rising rocky hills. He was sent there as persecution for preaching and teaching the Word of God.

In Revelations, Jesus spoke to seven Churches which had issues that relate to the churches of our day. By speaking to these seven churches; Jesus spoke to the world in whole. The message was not only for the seven churches, but for all churches that would later follow in the same pattern. So, it is to all mankind that we have a ear to hear, and a heart to listen, to the message, given to all that believe.

Jesus warning was that the church of Ephesus was falling away from God as their first love. They were very much dedicated to their doctrine and the Word of God; however, they came to love their church more than they loved God. The zeal and fever that they held for God in the beginning slowly dissipated. They began a good Christian race: following God's commands, setting devoted time aside for prayer, helped the poor and widows, and  taught the Word of God with foremost dedication; yet, their love fleeted. They were no longer praying, helping the less fortunate, teaching the Word with diligence... What happened??? They became consumed with placing personal affairs before God; they were easily moved to feeling for other things. They became lazy in the work and laboring for God in whole; however, they remained steadfast in only upholding church programs, services, ministries, and fellowshipping amongst the church, without warmth, sensitivity, or the focus being on Christ. They failed to rejoice in Christ throughout their daily lives, as they once did; altogether, they no longer held Christ in the forefront of their minds. They came to be people who were once loving, kind, helping, disciplined, to people who were critical, self-important, jealous, and of grumbling.

Jesus message is to encourage us to remain in fellowship with Him. He does not want us to place our focus on worldly events within the church, but on the affection, adoration, and the preaching and teaching of Him, salvation, repentance, and forgiveness. He wants us to remain in grace to our free gift, while helping those who have not been taught the understanding of His Word, to understand. He wants believer's to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves, being a witness to the hopeless, that God's love sustains them, bringing truth to His promises. He wants all people to turn away from being attached to anything else other than Him; whether it is our: jobs, family, spouses, mates, personal activities, worldly events, and so on. Anything that takes more space in our mind than God is idolatry. He wants us to focus on everlasting life instead of the life that is before us daily that will soon perish. He wants us to hold purity for ourselves in: body, spirit, and soul.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE TO OVERCOME??? WHAT PULLS YOUR HEART AWAY FROM GOD IN THIS WORLD??? ARE YOU COMMUNING WITH GOD IN PRAYER DAILY??? DO YOU FIND YOURSELF REJOICING IN HIM, SINGING PRAISES, OR EXALTING HIM??? WHAT TIME HAVE YOU PLACED ASIDE TO READ HIS LOVE LETTER TO YOU OFTEN??? WHAT FRUITS CAN YOU SAY YOU ARE BEARING IN OBEDIENCE AND LOVE???

GOD WATCHES EACH OF US WITHOUT HASTE, SLUMBER, OR FLICKER. HE KNOWS WHEN WE ARE DOING HIS WILL AND WE ARE NOT, WHEN WE ARE DISTRACTED AND WHEN WE ARE FOCUSED, WHEN WE ARE DISCIPLINING AND WHEN WE ARE LAZY, WHEN WE ARE FULL OF ENERGY AND WHEN WE ARE TIRED.... HE KEEPS US ACCOUNTABLE EVEN IF WE ARE NOT KEEPING ACCOUNTABILITY OURSELVES.

SUNDAY LOVER

Are you a Sunday Lover?

God's love never clocks out with devotion for us; however, people have a difficult time remaining their best for God except on Sundays. On Sundays we dress our best, speak our best, are courteous to our best, praise our best, sing our best, sow a seed to our best, and reminiscence on God's love for us at His best... What happens to us Monday through Saturday?! What do will find ourselves doing? Who do we praise? Who do we sing to or along with? Who do we give our adoration too? How are we speaking? Who are we fellowshipping with? What are we wearing? What is our attitude towards others or towards God?

Are you a Sunday Lover?

We should not attend church regularly or irregularly on Sundays, and then live like the world the rest of the week. If we truly love God, and come to know His Word very well; we should understand what He expects all through the year, on a daily basis. We are to love God as He loves us; in and out of season. Anything other than living in righteousness, is to live a lie. We cannot be the truth on Sunday, and a lie all the rest of the week. As a little yeast ruins the whole batch of dough; a little lie taints our whole spiritual walk. God states that we fool ourselves about our love for Him, but He sees our heart (Romans 1:22, 2 Corinth 4:4, Jeremiah 17:10). Loving God all through the week is a part of our Amour; the Breastplate of Righteousness.

If you are not loving God the way you should, then it's okay to turn around, and love Him the righteous way. He will forgive those who turn to other loves, accepting them as if they never violated His covenant.

Why?

He is an unconditional, everyday lover.

He loves you that much.

And you should too...

THE 1 CORINTHIAN 3:17 RULE

God desires, and so commands, that we not forsake the gathering of the saints. Our gathering is designed to encourage one another, keeping ourselves focused on the task, with the knowledge that we are not in the spiritual fight alone (Heb 10:25).

However, how do we stand together against the fight with the rulers of darkness when there are spiritual fights against each other within our own churches??? (Eph 6:12)

One thing we must understand is that church is not created for the righteous people, but for the broken, lost, confused, unrighteous, possessed, sick, and imperfect person. Christ followers are to enter God's temple with the knowledge that we are going to church to be an example to those who are visiting with us that may be unsaved, backslidden, or reprobate... that person could very well include our Pastor. For God has said that there are many false shepherds among us  (Matthew 7:15). Our mission is to be the light of the earth by reflecting the image of Christ, being a witness before unbelievers, not just in our communities,, workplace, or neighborhoods, but also during church service, and midweek Bible Study (Matthew 5:13-16).  Too often, people form the false idea,  that churches are full of holy, good to do, and wholesome people; however, fashion, fancy hairstyles, and selective hospitality, rarely have anything to do with the heart of person. God says that we are to judge a person by the contents of their heart versus their adornment of outer fashion (1 Sam 16:7)  Yet, we still find within our churches:partiality and favoritism, taking place amongst our body, bringing about divisiveness, all due to someones appearance or status (James 2:1-7). Some of us may have experienced: gossiping in the church, the feeling of being set apart, rudeness and haughtiness, the feeling of being confused, overwhelmed, or belittled, lied to, forgotten, or threatened, amongst other bad situations. This is not how God designed our churches to be. We are to be the example of who Christ is, having those who are in need to feel accepted, cared for, loved, understood, having a place to heal, and place their trust, while being given the opportunity to grow in the knowledge and relationship with Christ without ridicule, impatience, force or false doctrine.  Just as God holds a Pastor accountable for the peace of the temple; He holds those who claim to love Christ,  just as accountable. We are all accountable for our actions. God will certainly judge those who cause confusion  and disruption within His temple.... "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple". ( 1 Corinth 3:17)

If you find yourself in a bad church that may be influencing you wrong or teaching worldliness or false doctrine; remove yourself from the church, and find a healthy church home where you will not eventually abandon church altogether. 

THE HEART OF A TRUE MINISTER

There are many reasons people will give to affirm why they shouldn't trust today's church leaders; therefore, God has encouraged believers to reignite their love for them by seeking out their fruits as a means for discerning their spirit. Although, walking away from leaders seem to be the easiest decision; it is in fact, the worse decision. God says that when we think we are denying love for His leaders, we are in truth, rejecting love for Him, not the leaders; however, He accepts that we guard ourselves against and reject false leaders.

 So, how do we know the difference between the true and the false???

A true leader will never deny the deity of Jesus Christ. The true Minister will acknowledge that Jesus Christ; God's Son, was born of the virgin Mary, never sinned as a man, was crucified, died, and buried, arose again to life on the third day, as a payment for the sins of mankind, and stands at the right hand of God in Heaven. (2 John 1:7, 1 John 2:22)) The true Minister will speak all truth of the Bible, not philosophy, science, or worldliness, nor words that are only meant to please the people. (Colossians 2:8)  The true Minister will place the focus on God, the free gift of grace, and Jesus Christ, and not on their self.(Romans 16:18)  The true Minster will have an unfailing love for all people of the church, recognizing that all people are sinners, not showing partiality to anyone based on any form of status. (Leviticus 19:15, James 2:1)  A true Minister will know the truth, speak the truth, and live the truth. (Ephesians 4:15) The true Minister will have a heart that exemplifies: kindness, love, care. protection, and affection even for those who reject them as a Minister. (2 Cor 3:18) A true Minster stands guard for the church, observing that there are no mistakes made, and if so, then the mistakes are corrected before the people of the church. (Phil 3:18)A true Minister suffers long to ensure that the church is growing in spirit and truth, conforming themselves into the image of Christ, not the size of membership.( Eph 4:24, Phil 3:20-21) The true Minister will reach out to the spiritually lost, the homeless, the hungry, the widows, the sick, the possessed, the addicted, the sexually immoral, and all others without hesitation or prejudice.(Matthew 25:36, James 1:27) A true Minister rebukes a false Minister. (Titus 1:10-16) A true Minister seeks to aid the people and not take advantage of them. (Romans 13:4)

Why should people carefully guard themselves from denying a true Minister???

It is better to be hurt with the truth than to die with a lie.(Colossians 2:8, Matthew 15:9) Hearing the truth helps with the prevention of being backslidden. (Galatian's 4:8-11) Walking in righteousness guarantees that you won't fall from grace. (2 Peter 3:17, 1 Corinthians 10:12) God says that true Ministers should be welcomed in the truth they proclaim (Galatian's 2) A true Minister is worthy of double honor for they glorify God. (1 Timothy 5:17).

GOD'S SOLDIERS: ABOUT FACE

1. Resist temptations when the Enemy seeks to lead you into sin; just say, "NO!" Opposition can mean just taking your two feet in the opposite direction. Don't ever forget to use your sword or gunfire by quoting verses openly to the temptation.


2. Stay faithful even when the battle rages. The enemy will send many terroristic threats your way, hoping to frighten you into submission; however, your Commander in Chief has said, "He doesn't give His soldiers a spirit of fear"... so, decline the offer.

3. Refuse to comprise biblical truth. For every team to operate sufficiently and defensively, they must remain together regarding rules and regulations. Don't allow compromise just to appease someone; it always leads to the door of unrighteousness. Satan only needs a small entrance to bring the entire wall to the fortress down. Never doubt or deny God's rules and regulations.




4. Keep your eyes on God in spite of distractions. Distractions will come when you least expect it, taking your focus off of your goal, and delaying the outcome of victory; that's the intended purpose. Don't allow your circumstances nor the influence of worldliness to entertain you; you will find yourself shipwrecked in your faith.




5. March forward in faith at any given moment. Hesitation is a sign that you don't trust your Commanding Chief; Jesus Christ. Don't be like the Israelites who were purposely left in the wilderness, not possessing the land flowing with milk and honey, because they feared the giants that they were told would submit to them. God has given you power to overcome the world. Never allow the world to make you at ease; it submits to you.