The Message of the Teachings on the Mount (91)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on October 11, 2011
Topic: Entering Into The Kingdom of Heaven (3.1.2)
No audio available for this study.Background
Last week, we began to look at the Lord Jesus’ messages to seven churches in Asia Minor. We noted that these letters had some things in common, even though they were each different and distinct. The similarities were; to whom the letters were sent (the angel/custodian/messenger of the particular church); a description of the Lord that was fitting to His comments on the particular church; the Lord’s commendation or/and condemnation of the church, based on His own assessment; His counsel to the church; His warning to His listeners; the reward awaiting those who overcame the challenges/temptation/spiritual warfare they were in; and, the fact that the rewards all pointed to access into the kingdom of heaven!
We went on to look at the particular message to the angel of the church in Ephesus, and made the following observations:
1. Although the letter was written to the angel (custodian) of the church in Ephesus, it was directed at the church as a whole.
2. The Lord described Himself as holding the angels of the churches in His right hand, and walking in the midst of the churches; meaning that He has His ministers in the church within His reach, as well as being present in His churches.
3. The fact that the Lord was aware of the Ephesian church’s works, labour, patience, proving of false apostles, forebearance and waiting, and, hatred for the deeds of the Nicolaitans.
4. The flaw of the church in Ephesus was that they had left, abandoned, forsaken, or given up on, Christ, their ‘first love’. We noted that this issue would be discussed in detail in a couple of weeks.
5. The Lord called the church to remember the great height from where they had fallen, to repent, and return to Him; or else, He would come to them in a rush, and remove their golden candlestick from its place (not putting it out or quenching the flame of the candlestick, which gives light to the individual, community, or territory where it is located), and relocate it to another individual, community, or territory, leaving the individual or locality where there was once light in darkness.
Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 7:21-22; Revelation 2:1-7
Tonight, we shall be looking at the other observations from the Lord’s message to the angel/custodian of the church in Ephesus. It is our prayer that the Holy Spirit will help us to learn the lessons He wants us to, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Let us now turn our attention to the seventh verse of the Book of Revelation, chapter two, and see the observations in question.
Matthew 19:10-12; 13:10-17; Mark 4:23-24; Luke 8:18; James 1:21-25; Hebrews 3:15-19; Proverbs 4:20-22; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12; Mark 13:28-37; 1 John 4:4; 5:4; Revelation 12:11; Matthew 26:36-46; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Genesis 2:9, 16-17; 3:22-24; Revelation 22:1-2, 14.
Conclusion
We have heard the Lord’s warning to the church. It is a warning which is not only for those in the church in Ephesus, but it is also a warning to all believers in all the churches all over the world in this present generation. We have also seen that the Lord counsels all believers to overcome (that is, prevail and conquer) the temptations and obstacles to doing the will of God, so that we can have access to be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life, which was denied Adam and Eve and all those who have chosen to live in disobedience.
We can reconstruct or paraphrase Revelation 2:7 as follows: “If you are willing and able to receive, accept, and do what the Spirit is telling all of you (not just those of the church in Ephesus); and if you are able to endure and prevail over all that is thrown at you by the devil, the world, the religious hierarchy, and your flesh; then, I will give you access to eat of the fruit of the tree of life, which will enable you to live forever in your state of righteousness. This tree of life was denied to Adam and Eve, and all men who have followed in their disobedience; but to all who will walk in total obedience to God, not only in the beginning, but all through their Christian walk, even until the very end shall be granted access to freely partake of the tree of life, which brings healing and restoration to the nations.”
As we prepare to take a deeper look next week, at what it means to leave our first love (Christ), we each need to ask ourselves one question tonight: “What is my response to the Lord’s warning and counsel to the Ephesian church, and particularly, to me?”
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