church of Ephesus

[Ezra]

what do you think caused the church of Ephesus to leave their first love ?

 

[Fred J]

what do you think caused the church of Ephesus to leave their first love ?

Good point!

Probably their 'first love' they 'left out' was, not obedient to the word of GOD but rather excel in works alone.

To us 'first love', is to love the LORD thy GOD with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.

'Seek ye first the Kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousness ..............................'

Be 'doers' and 'abiders' of HIS word or teaching, and fixate one's foundation on the rock, that the man of GOD may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Then comes the 'second love', is to love thy neighbor as thyself.

The reason is, there's a lot of denominations out there excel in good works for the Kingdom of GOD and their neighbor, exceeding the righteousness of unbelievers even.

But on the other hand, poor in obedience, doing, abiding to the every word that proceeded out of the mouth of GOD, nevertheless excel in some.

Just imagine a good citizen towards his neighbor, yet abide not fully to the law of the King who saved them from the hands of their enemy to a freedom new life?

Seems like someone forgot their 'first love' there, like a servant think he's better than the Master, don't you reckon?

In other words, it's like someone traveling to a far away country without a map or bringing a map?

That's why Jesus prophesied earlier in His teaching making disciples, that on that day many will come to Him saying their good works in His name, ...............

And He'll only answer them to depart from Him workers of 'iniquity' or 'lawlessness' (and lawlessness is sin, and sin is violating the word of GOD in the first place)

In the 'spirit' as servants, do you see the 'pattern' that is taking place in the church, spiraling out of control even and becoming complacent citizens?

Allow me to narrow it down in regards a simple matter to us, but to GOD is 'serious' one, since apparently HIS thoughts and ways are higher than ours.

Even to a matter as simple as a mustard seed, which can grow also into a big tree, or as to the Law of GOD, violate even to the least, as to violate em' all.

To begin with, when we pray what 'posture' Jesus commanded(do not) us not to follow, in the beginning of His teaching and making disciples?

'Stand' right?

And who does it, a hypocrite right?

Where, in their meeting places and every street corner right?

Then why in most of HIS congregation and every street corner today, the man of GOD calls HIS lambs and sheep or the body of Christ to 'stand' in time of prayers?

There's the 'lawlessness' as the size of a mustard seed or the least of His commandment violated, and these churches are fine until today and members grown.

These 'lighthouses' on a hill, many have witnessed it, followed towards it and influenced by it, but how the Builder and Owner with the manual book given and rented it out to 'renters' sees it?

Will HE personally approach HIS clergies and notify face to face, or merely approach a nobody among them, pours out HIS frustration on such and sends such, even a 'donkey', to speak for HIM?

Can you imagine the 'irony' of HIS character, where such nobodies complained the responds they got speaking for HIM, besides the 'donkey'?

That's what HE said the respond'll be even in the New Testament congregations as well, but be 'joy' and 'excited' such for a great reward awaits above.

Is it easy for such nobodies of today amongst them, even 'shivered' while speaking to them, as a result being shunned and treated like the scum of the earth, to be 'joy' and 'excited'?

To them in 'ignorance' and 'careless', such nobodies are merely 'invisible' or 'ghosts' or 'just a voice in the wilderness'.

As Israel did to 'such' repeatedly and when every thing was going fine for them, peace and prosperity as GOD freely gave and protected them.

Until one fine day, month or year, without warning a great tragedy struck them hard and great were their fall, until only a few lived to remind and warn the next generation.

But for these generation of churches, there'll be no next, but rather eternal life or damnation without a chance.

'For many are called but only a few chosen' or 'the way is narrow and hard to follow, for only a few make it'.

Since in the 'spirit' you brought this up, it's like the double edged sword just pierced me also, even though have ministered and witnessed what is of HIM.

Shalom in the name of Adonai Yeshua

 

[Ezra]

it appears one of the factors is the got to Busy...Being under satan yoke . we get so involved with everything else we get slack..

 

[Fred J]

it appears one of the factors is the got to Busy...Being under satan yoke . we get so involved with everything else we get slack..

i agree, thank you and may GOD the FATEHR of our Lord Jesus Christ bless HIS church with 'boldness' to stand up for grace and truth of the New Testament, and required references also to the Old Testament.

Why i testify this rather than something else in the matters of protection or the removal of our enemies, because is inline with the scripture.

For instant, when James was 'beheaded' by Herod in order to falsely please Israel, even Saul before Paul at that time?

The church in fear and distress gathered in a home all locked up due to the persecution of the church, the significant thing for our faith likewise today is their prayer.

If it were me, i would have prayed for 'protection' and to 'destroy' my 'enemies', so i can freely minister and witness the Gospel and live a fearless Christian.

But it was on the contrary, for they prayed for 'boldness', to stand up even bolder to minister and witness the Gospel and lay down their lives like James.

Yes, you're right, we got 'busy' with the world neither 'hot' or 'cold' but 'lukewarm', and Jesus supposedly should 'spit' us out.

But meantime due to 'grace' and even '1John1:9', for us to 'turn back' and come 'inline' with the Biblical church, even begin with 'fasting' and 'prayer'.

We born again with the Holy Ghost are 'freed' from satan's 'yoke' besides the world which need the Gospel, Christ, Salvation and Eternal Life.

It's just that we've been deceived by our own 'flesh' opposed to the Holy Ghost and the things of GOD, and the world deceived by satan.

The parable of Jesus in regards the 'sower' and the 'seeds' and the field which is the world sums it all, and He 'wept' after that due to the 'loss'.

Shalom in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and share with your prayer team to 'pray', probably 'fast', for HIS church to 'turn back'.

For the future is not on our side or our church generation's, because the 'testing' of the church and the prophesied 'falling away shall come first' is to come to 'pass'.

Nevertheless, the 'wise', even here when the word of GOD speaks as 'a reminder' and 'a stir up of memory', to 'turn back', apparently should be ready.

As it is written, 'Many are called but only a few chosen.' and 'The way is hard and difficult to follow, for only a few make it.'

 

[Fred J]

i believe in the matters of the church in Ephesus, Jesus apparently commended them for the things they stood up for and did in faith as 'works' for the Kingdom of GOD.

But eventually yet they forgot their 'first love' according to Jesus and it's serious to Him, that He warned He'll remove their 'candlestick' if not repented.

For He called them to 'remember' from where they are fallen, and repent, and do the 'first works' henceforth, and yet then they still had the Apostles for help.

But today this 'epistle' in the New Testament of the Holy Bible, is a 'lesson' for us church, whether we have left our 'first love'.

Therefore, by the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets in the Holy Bible, especially the New Testament we're disciple and built in, apparently 'highlights' from where we are fallen.

Henceforth 'repent', and do the 'first works', as for the church of Ephesus didn't have the Hoy Bible 'at hand' like us 'individually' today.

Just imagine to who Jesus will be 'hard on' and the measure of 'accountability' He would expect, no matter whether the churches are growing and prosperous outwardly?

Based on Jesus' prophesy about 'on that day', it seems many 'boldly' referring to their great talent and ministry of church growth and prosperity, said to have done in His name.

And yet they are told to 'depart' from Him as workers of 'iniquity' or 'lawlessness', as the other way around unexpectedly?

Basically, in every nation of the earth there is law and the law giver, and likewise down liners overseeing the citizens in submission, for the peace and prosperity of all.

Even though it seem 'harmless' for one to violate even to the least in the law, nevertheless are also workers of 'iniquity' and 'lawlessness' lawfully.

Especially to GOD, who've placed them as HIS government official also over us Christians and the world as well

So just 'imagine' on the 'spiritual' dimension of the Kingdom of GOD we're born again cum with the Holy Bible and the Holy Ghost?

Jesus have disciple His church, then and now, saying, "Be ye perfect as your FATHER in Heaven is perfect."

And, "Your sins are forgiven and sin no more, or something worst shall happen to you."

Now, 1John1:9, is given to us as 'doers' and 'abiders' of Christ's teaching in the New Testament, to stop sinning or continue sinning?

And everything shall be fine with sin, since Christ on the day of the rapture will give us the 'perfect body' and all will be fine and perfect, we'll be taken to Heaven indefinitely?

We perceive there are 'corrupt' judges and can be 'corrupted' being man, but do we have a 'corrupt' GOD and make excuses to 'corrupt' HIM since He is 'love'?

Have the church forgotten that HE's the loving GOD and also the 'consuming fire', and HE desire not to punish but desire people turn back from their sins?

For example, let's examine what happen to Aaron's sons who served in the Temple and due to a 'simple carelessness', a 'short consuming fire' consumed them.

Why 'short consuming fire', because their body yet were 'intact', since the others in the Temple were able to carry them out.

There's neither account that Aaron mourned for his sons but rather he immediately replaced with his other sons, hence to continue their duty in the Temple 'carefully' according to the Law of Moses.

And we born again cleansed fully church, as servants individually are also serving in and by our body as the Temple where the Holy Ghost, as GOD's presence now is.

As our 'first love', have we been 'careful' or 'careless' as 'doers' and 'abiders' to the Law of Christ in the New Testament, in duty conditioning them 'in' our body as that Temple today?

And our 'second love', 'by' the same body as the Temple in service to love thy neighbor the world as thyself, have we ministered likewise about sins, sacrifices and salvation for eternity?

Same in the Old Testament, the Levi priests as 'doers' and 'abiders' in the Law of Moses themselves, served as their 'first love' in the Temple 'carefully' and 'diligently' conditioning it first.

And by the same Temple according the same Law as their 'second love', likewise served their 'neighbor' the Israelites, ministering about sin, sacrifice and salvation for the day.

i also perceive without excuse, also fallen short miserably and have to workout my own salvation in fear and trembling. (besides others likewise GOD's love by this message have ministered and witnessed to them)

PS - In the category of another 'consuming fire' worst off, happened in Elijah's challenge, where there's nothing left to 'pick up', even in the surrounding 'trench'.

Shalom in the name of Lord Jesus Christ