Pastor Daniel Ethridge
In Revelation 2–3, Jesus sends personal messages to seven actual churches in Asia Minor. Although these letters were written to specific congregations, their warnings and encouragements still speak to the Church today. As we study these letters, we must remember this important principle: The Bible cannot mean something to us that it did not first mean to its original audience. These letters were written to them, but they were also preserved for us.
The first letter was addressed to the church at Ephesus:
“I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary.” — Revelation 2:2–3
From the outside, Ephesus appeared to be an incredible church. Its members worked hard, defended the truth, resisted cultural compromise, and remained faithful through persecution. Yet Jesus saw something beneath the surface that threatened the church’s entire ministry.
A Church Born in Revival
Ephesus was a major center of culture, commerce, religion, and immorality in the ancient world. Jews, Greeks, and Romans gathered there, and the city was known for idolatry, witchcraft, and sexual sin. It was also an important city in the history of Christianity. Apollos ministered there. Aquila and Priscilla helped teach there. Paul spent approximately three years pastoring there, Timothy later led the church, and the apostle John lived in the region for many years.
The people of Ephesus had witnessed extraordinary revival. Acts 19 tells us that many who believed in Jesus publicly confessed their former practices. Those who had practiced magic gathered their books and burned them. These materials were worth an enormous amount of money, but the people willingly destroyed them because Jesus had changed their lives.
That is what genuine revival produces: repentance and visible life change.
The revival in Ephesus also created immediate opposition. The gospel threatened the idol-making industry, and a silversmith named Demetrius stirred up a riot. True revival threatens the enemy and confronts the powers of darkness operating within the systems of this world.
Approximately 30 years after this powerful spiritual awakening, however, Jesus sent the church a sobering message: Repent. No matter how many great leaders a church has, how many people are saved and baptized, or how many genuine revivals it experiences, it is always one generation away from losing its light and ministry. We can never depend solely on what God did yesterday. Every generation must personally know, love, and follow Jesus.
What Was Right
Jesus began His message by recognizing what the Ephesian believers were doing well. If Jesus commended these qualities in them, we should pursue these same qualities in our lives and churches.
1. They Worked Faithfully
Jesus said, “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance.”
He knew what they were doing, the effort they were giving, and the consistency with which they served. They were not casual or passive in their faith. They worked diligently and continued serving even when ministry became difficult. God sees every person who faithfully serves behind the scenes. He sees those caring for children, setting up and tearing down equipment, welcoming guests, directing traffic, preparing coffee, leading groups, and meeting needs.
You were made to serve. The question is: Where are you serving?
2. They Refused to Compromise
Jesus commended the Ephesians because they did not tolerate evil. They lived in a culture filled with pagan worship, idolatry, and sexual immorality, but they refused to compromise their convictions. Our culture often treats love and tolerance as if they mean the same thing, but biblical love does not require us to approve of everything. In fact, there are things we refuse to tolerate precisely because we love God and the people around us.
We must love what Jesus loves and hate what Jesus hates.
There should be a noticeable difference between the way Christians live and the culture around them. Following Jesus means allowing Him, not society, to define what is good, true, and holy.
3. They Discerned the Truth
The Ephesian believers tested those who claimed to be apostles and discovered that some were false teachers. They did not accept every spiritual-sounding idea that came their way. Everything we hear must be tested against the authority of Scripture. Would we recognize false teaching if we heard it? Discernment grows as we read the Bible, participate in biblical community, and deepen our understanding of God’s Word.
4. They Endured Hardship
Jesus also praised the Ephesians because they persevered through hardship for His name without growing weary. Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy. He told His disciples that they would experience trouble, opposition, and persecution. Faithfulness means continuing to stand firm when obedience becomes uncomfortable or costly. The church at Ephesus worked, guarded the truth, resisted compromise, and endured persecution. By nearly every visible measurement, it appeared healthy.
Yet something was wrong that overshadowed everything they were doing right.
What Was Wrong
Jesus gave the church one clear and serious rebuke:
“But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.” — Revelation 2:4
The Ephesians had not abandoned their service, doctrine, or convictions. They had abandoned their first love. It is possible to do the right things while forgetting the primary motivation behind them. The Ephesian believers continued serving Jesus, but their hearts were no longer passionately pursuing Him. They possessed sound doctrine, but their love for God had grown cold.
Works performed without love for Jesus are not holiness; they become legalism.
If the Lord removed everything that was not done out of love for Him, what would be left of our lives and ministry? This forces each of us to ask some deeply personal questions: Am I still in love with Jesus? Do I have the same passion and hunger I had when I first came to Christ? Can I remember a time when I loved Him more than I do right now? A person can remain busy with church activities while slowly becoming distant from Christ. We can sing, serve, give, lead, and defend the truth while losing the joy of simply knowing and pursuing Jesus.
What Should We Do?
Jesus did not merely identify the problem. He gave the church a clear path forward:
“Remember then how far you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first.” — Revelation 2:5
Jesus called the Ephesians and He calls us to remember, repent, and return.
Remember
First, remember what your relationship with Jesus was like when He opened your eyes to the gospel. Remember when you first understood His grace. Remember the hunger you had for His Word, the joy you found in worship, and the desire you had to tell others about Him. Remembering allows us to recognize how far our hearts may have drifted.
Repent
Repentance means turning around and going in a new direction. God is not merely looking for an emotional response. He wants genuine change. Spiritual passion usually does not disappear overnight. Actions, attitudes, distractions, and competing voices have a compounding effect over time. We must honestly identify what has caused us to drift and remove anything that is keeping us from wholeheartedly pursuing God.
Return
Jesus told the church to “do the works you did at first.” In other words, return to the practices that once fueled your love for Him. Return to prayer. Return to worship. Return to God’s Word. Return to obedience. Return to serving with joy. Return to sharing your faith. Return to the fresh pursuit of God.
Pursuit is the key to reviving love.
Love grows through intentional pursuit. Just as healthy relationships require communication, attention, and time together, our relationship with Jesus must be continually cultivated.
A Serious Warning and a Gracious Invitation
Jesus warned the church that if it refused to repent, He would remove its lampstand. The lampstand represented its spiritual light, witness, and influence. The enemy is not the only one who can close a church. If a congregation refuses to be who God has called it to be, Jesus Himself can remove its light and influence. This warning is serious because our love for Jesus is central to the Christian life. Christianity is not merely about performing good works, defending correct doctrine, or maintaining religious traditions. It is about Jesus loving us and our responding by loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
The letter to Ephesus invites us to examine our hearts. Have we allowed our love for Jesus to grow cold? Are we going through the motions while slowly drifting from Him?
If so, the answer is not to pretend or simply become busier. The answer is to remember, repent, and return. Jesus is still calling His Church back to its first love. The question is whether we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying and whether we are willing to respond.
If you’re ready to take your next step, whether that’s baptism, or something else, fill out a Connection Card or visit one of our campus locations. We would love to pray with you, baptize you, or help you get connected.
