Christianity Oasis Forum

[saint701]

Blessings!

Good morning Christianity Oasis!

THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS
Rev.2
[1] 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 Nicolaitans, 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.
The first church our Lord had something against was the Church at Ephesus. They had left their first love. Who was their first love? Their first love was He that first loved them, God.
1John.4
[15] Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
[16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
[17] Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
[18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
[19] We love him, because he first loved us.
After our Lord has pointed out their flaw he commands them to repent and do the first works…what were their first works? Their first works were love works that had their origin in the love of God, God had placed in them. Somehow they fell away from the Father’s love and began spending their spiritual life in fear of false teachers. Their fear led them to judge everyone coming to them rather than loving God and each other.
Back in 1John.4 the apostle tells us we have nothing to fear in this world if we love as God loves. In fact John tells us we can be bold in the Day of Judgment if we will just walk in the love of God because that is how God walks in this world. John tells us if we walk like that the love of God is perfected in us. But if we fear John tells us, then we have not been perfected in God’s love.
The Ephesians left the perfect love that casts out all fear, that is, the love of God, and began walking in the fear of false teachers. Jesus rebuked them for that. They had fallen away from the love of God.
I will address the deeds of the Nicolaitans when I discuss the Church of Pergamos.



Blessings!
Love, In Christ Jesus, Saint701.

[Shan]

Well this post hit home for me.

My husband and I basically live in fear of false teachers as we have met a few in "churches" standing at the pulpit. We don't go to "church" because of this fear of false teachers, liars in the pulpit. We discuss this often but still haven't found a solution and we really miss fellowshipping, sharing burdens, helping and sharing our love for God with other followers of Christ but right now it doesn't look as if we are meant to attend a service where we live as most are false teachers if not all. We have spoken out against some in a loving manner but we don't believe that the Lord wants us to keep going door to door telling them their leading people astray. Although if He did then we would. I have been considering advertising at a local grocery for a womans bible study once a month, please pray that God will show me His will in this and that we will act in accordance to His will.

[saint701]

Blessings!

Well sweet Sister Shan there is quite a bit of information about the beliefs of you and your husband I don't have access to to. For example, "What things were the ministers you found to be false teachers feeding their sheep? How were they leading their flock away from the gospel? I would greatly appreciate it if you would answer those questions for me. It is of great concern to me that you cannot find a place to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. I will explain a few things to you if you will hear what the Spirit is saying you. If you will hear you will have no trouble finding a place to fellowship right where you live.

Always smiles with love in Christ Jesus, Saint701.