Exhortation To Ephesus
This is taken from my study on Ephesus: The Backslidden (Loveless) Church - from the letters to the seven churches in Revelation.
Revelation 2:3-4 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
They had borne (#941 – endured), and had patience (#5281 – perseverance), and laboured (#2872 - to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard; toil) for Christ’s name's sake. And they had not fainted (#2577 – become weary).
A trace of the words “fainted” and “weary” throughout Scripture reveal some of the Lord’s intended ways for us to refresh our spirits. We are to continually:
- seek God in prayer (Luke 18:1)
- wait upon the Lord (Isaiah 40:31)
- remember that it is He Himself who fights our battles and delivers us from our troubles and distresses (Deuteronomy 20:3-4; Psalm 107:5-6)
- hope and trust in His Word and the promises contained therein (Psalm 119:81)
- study His Word and look to the Scriptures for comfort (Isaiah 50:4-5; Amos 8:11-13
- look for Jesus Christ throughout the Scriptures (Isaiah 28:9-13, 16; also see Matthew 11:28 and Acts 3:19)
- rely on God’s mercy and grace (2 Corinthians 4:1, 16)
- take Christ’s yoke of service upon us (Matthew 11:29)
- persevere in well doing (Galatians 6:9)
- keep looking unto Jesus and remembering His example (Hebrews 12:1-3)
All these things the Ephesians no doubt did when their love for Jesus was fervent and fresh, but somewhere along the way they took their eyes off of Him.
Revelation 2:3-4 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
They had borne (#941 – endured), and had patience (#5281 – perseverance), and laboured (#2872 - to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard; toil) for Christ’s name's sake. And they had not fainted (#2577 – become weary).
A trace of the words “fainted” and “weary” throughout Scripture reveal some of the Lord’s intended ways for us to refresh our spirits. We are to continually:
- seek God in prayer (Luke 18:1)
- wait upon the Lord (Isaiah 40:31)
- remember that it is He Himself who fights our battles and delivers us from our troubles and distresses (Deuteronomy 20:3-4; Psalm 107:5-6)
- hope and trust in His Word and the promises contained therein (Psalm 119:81)
- study His Word and look to the Scriptures for comfort (Isaiah 50:4-5; Amos 8:11-13
- look for Jesus Christ throughout the Scriptures (Isaiah 28:9-13, 16; also see Matthew 11:28 and Acts 3:19)
- rely on God’s mercy and grace (2 Corinthians 4:1, 16)
- take Christ’s yoke of service upon us (Matthew 11:29)
- persevere in well doing (Galatians 6:9)
- keep looking unto Jesus and remembering His example (Hebrews 12:1-3)
All these things the Ephesians no doubt did when their love for Jesus was fervent and fresh, but somewhere along the way they took their eyes off of Him.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
May 1st, 2001
Jerry Bouey
May 1st, 2001
Jerry Bouey
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