Ephesus

• Rev. 2:1-7• “2 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;

• 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, 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:

• 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

•

• 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

• 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, 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.

• 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

• 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.

• God wants a PURE CHURCH that

• Is Zealous for Him! Titus 2:11-14

25. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

26. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Ephesians 5:25-26

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Ephesians 5:27

The Church Is the peoplePurchased with His blood – Acts 20:28

Pure = no defilement, not contaminated, clean, chaste, immaculate

Impurity is a danger for the churchJames 1:27 “pure religion”

Clean unspotted from the world

Doctrine = what is taughtActs 2:42 “apostles doctrine

Pro.30:5 “every word of God is pure”Ps.119:150 “Thy word is very pure”

God’s word will make us pureJn.15:3 “You are already clean because of the word which ….”

Possible to corrupt the word

2 Cor.2:17 7 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as

of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

2 Tim.4:3-4 “will not endure sound doctrine”

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:” Titus 2:1

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim.1:13

Sound Healthy, be well To be uncorrupt True in doctrine

Think right - Phil. 4:8 8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Talk right - 1Pet.3:10 For he that will love life, and

see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

Do Right Ourselves 2 Cor. 7:1 Having therefore these

promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God

Rev.21:18 “the city was pure gold” Rev.22:1 “pure river of water of life” Rev.21:27 Not enter – that defiles

Heaven Is Pure

Rev.21:18 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper:

and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

Rev. 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Rev. 21:27 Revelation 21:27King James Version (KJV)27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Possible to Be Defiled

By the worldJames 1:27 “keep unspotted”1 Jn.2:16 “lust of the flesh”

By a Divided heartMt. 6:24 cannot serve two mastersPartial service to God

Reading the Word“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Ps.119:11

Doer of the Word“But be ye doers of the word” Jas.1:22

That Has Great Love, filled with Zeal..Working with motivation of loveFor the Master!

Christian Love1 Jn.4:20-21 Love God = love brother

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth

not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Jn.13:35 – badge of discipleship

Love EnemiesMatt.5:44 “love your enemies”

Pure love is Endangered by:

SelfishnessPhil.2:4 “look not every man on his own

things, but every man also on the things of others.”

HypocrisyRm.12:9 “Let love be without hypocrisy1 Pet.1:22 Unfeigned = sincere love

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Rom.12:10

“Love one another with brotherly affection.” ESV

Yesterday…

• A young lady came into the store and• Was buying a few things. She told us• That she and her husband were getting• A divorce. They have been living to-• Gether for a little over 6 years!. They• Have 4 or 5 children and expecting • Another one. Mark and I talked with her..• And told her we would pray for her.

• I hope things will change for her and

• For her family. It is stressful and hurtful

• To all that is involved. Their love had

• Grown cold…

• God loved the church at Ephesus.• How long they had been in Jesus• Christ I don’t know. But their love• For Christ was not what it was at• The beginning. • God tells them to Remember,• Repent and do something immediately• About it.

I have somewhat against thee…

• What about us at O’Neal?

• What about each of us personally?

• Has our ‘fire for the Lord’ become cold…

• And no longer love Him as we once did.

• Ephesus was in danger of having

• Their ‘candlestick’ removed!

Become a Christian Today

• Hear the word. Rom. 10:17

• Believe in Jesus. John 8:24

• Repent. Acts 17:30,31

• Confess. Matt. 10:32,33

• Be baptized. I Pet. 3:21

• Live faithfully. I Cor. 15:58

Are you an erring childof God?

• Repent. Acts 8:22

• Confess. I John 1:9

• Pray. James 5:16