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If the Lord came back now, would He commend us for the same things?
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: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. . But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate." {REv 2:2-6}
Such are the wonderful words of approval and commendation the Lord could say to the Church at Ephesus and of the whole Church of God in this first epoch of its prophetic history. There were works pleasing to Himself, labours, patience, abhorrence of evil, testing of profession in godly care, long-suffering, devotion to His Name, and perseverance in difficult labour. Wonderful features indeed were found in the Assembly at Ephesus, and in all this there is a pattern and example for the Church at all times. Oh, that such exquisite characteristics were found in Assemblies of believers today!
They not only laboured, but continued in labour and fainted not amidst difficulties and discouragements. They had endurance in labour for His name's sake. How many times we have laboured, but have grown weary in it, fainted and given up. It is a great thing to persevere in work for Christ. "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal.6:9).
"Thou canst not bear them that are evil." Ephesus realized something of the holy character of the Lord to whom they were gathered and who was in their midst, and thus they were not careless or indifferent to evildoers. This feature should be found in us today also when the tendency is to wink at evil, let down the bars, make excuses for many things and be indifferent about that which the Lord hates. There was an abhorrence of evildoers at Ephesus, and the Lord commends them for it.
Such are the wonderful words of approval and commendation the Lord could say to the Church at Ephesus and of the whole Church of God in this first epoch of its prophetic history. There were works pleasing to Himself, labours, patience, abhorrence of evil, testing of profession in godly care, long-suffering, devotion to His Name, and perseverance in difficult labour. Wonderful features indeed were found in the Assembly at Ephesus, and in all this there is a pattern and example for the Church at all times. Oh, that such exquisite characteristics were found in Assemblies of believers today!
They not only laboured, but continued in labour and fainted not amidst difficulties and discouragements. They had endurance in labour for His name's sake. How many times we have laboured, but have grown weary in it, fainted and given up. It is a great thing to persevere in work for Christ. "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal.6:9).
"Thou canst not bear them that are evil." Ephesus realized something of the holy character of the Lord to whom they were gathered and who was in their midst, and thus they were not careless or indifferent to evildoers. This feature should be found in us today also when the tendency is to wink at evil, let down the bars, make excuses for many things and be indifferent about that which the Lord hates. There was an abhorrence of evildoers at Ephesus, and the Lord commends them for it.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by konceptskool on
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I understand your qxn to be wether the Lord would say these same words to the church if he came to visit today.. Well I cant tell because I am not the Lord and this was totally His assessment. I know that He also said to this same Church that they had lost their first Love and you know the Deeds of the Nicolaitans was a big thing among them.. What am saying is that even though things were apparent and going wrong in the Ephisian Church, He gave them this commendation. I do not attempt to make an excuse for todays Church, matter of fact i hold a view that this church today is nothing like what the Ephisian Church was, we are way behind in terms of character, devotion and personal walk with our Lord.
But am saying God has the most interesting point of view....God bless...
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Permalink Reply by thane006 on
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Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, konceptkool. and I agree with you in all respects about the church today, and the lose of their first love is also reflected in the Church of today as will, and I regret this too. I also agree that the Lord's perspective is truly interesting in all seven Churches, but I believe that we as the church can redeem ourselves in terms of chacacter, devotion,and our personal walks with the Lord by spending more time with Him and less with the world. Peace to you and God bless you as well, Quester
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My prayer is May God have mercy on us as His church and may he find us faithfull and not in the same circumstance he found a lot of those people..I wonder that the church is the body of christ where ppl can come in and Horne their God given gifts, this is wot perfects us and brings us into the image of the stature of Christ.. God help us my bro.. Hey Thane, Wanna be friends?
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Grace and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Konceptskool. interesting prayer, and the only way I found to prefect the saints is to be steeped in the Word and not the world, as I see the church falling into the world view on most thing, this pains me greatly and my prayers are to ask the Lord to return us to our first love in Christ. As for being Friends, brothers are friends from birth and as you are my brother first and foremost in Christ to me that means you are a friend. May the Lord our God Bless you this Easter, even though it is a sad time for most as the World sees it, I find myself rejoicing knowing that Jesus is alive and has promised to return for us. Peace to you My new friend, your brother in Christ, Quester.
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