The Church of Ephesus - First Love

[0:00] Thank you for choosing to listen to today's message by Reverend Dr. David Etrie. We know you will be blessed as you seek and serve God. We believe that this message will stir up a desire for more of God even as you listen.

[0:13] Be blessed. As I was saying last Sunday, that Christ, this gentleman, John, he said, I was on the Isle of Patmos and he had a revelation.

[0:25] The Bible says that he started by saying that these things I'm writing to you from verse 1, the revelation of Jesus Christ given to his servants, and he starts talking about the church being the testimony of Jesus, or for the testimony of Jesus and the word of God, he was in the Isle of Patmos.

[0:46] And then he continues by talking about how these things I'm saying, this revelation is concerning the church really and the word of God. Then he said, I was there in the spirit on the lost day, and I heard behind me like a trumpet a voice, and he began to speak to me, and the voice told me that I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, and what you see right in the book and sent, oh, come on.

[1:16] And he was in a state of revelation. He was carried in the spirit, and then he heard the revelation, or he heard in his voice, or he heard in his ears a voice that first of all explained to him or introduced himself, said, this is who I am.

[1:39] And after the voice introduced himself to him, the voice says that these things that you see or hear, write in a book or write it down, said, what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches in Asia.

[1:58] So he said, in other words, I've got a message for the church. Who is this Jesus? So really, the whole of entirety of Revelation is actually a message that was sent to the church.

[2:12] But not the church, but to the churches. He said, he could have said the church because it encompasses everything, but he had to say seven churches because he was focusing on the local church, as I explained last Sunday.

[2:27] God focused on the local church. So he said, when I heard these things, I turned to see who was speaking, who spoke to me. And then the verse 12, having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands.

[2:40] Verse 13, watch this. And in the midst of the seven lampstands, one like the Son of Man. Let's all say one like the Son of Man. One like the Son of Man.

[2:51] No. The Son of Man is Jesus' favorite term for himself or title for himself. It was used by Jesus more than any other title he used for himself in the Bible.

[3:04] The Son of Man, the Son of Man, Jesus. So Jesus is the Son of Man. He says that when I turned, I saw in the midst of the candlesticks, one like the Son of Man. Okay. And he began to describe how he was looking like he was clothed with a garment.

[3:18] And he had the breastplate. His head, how his head and his hair were like, and then his eyes were like that. And then, so he continued to describe him, his voice like a sound of many waters.

[3:31] And then he had in his hands, so he started describing what he had in his hands, seven stars. And his mouth, two edged swords. And he looked, his countenance was like a sun shining in his strength.

[3:44] Verse 17 talks about when he saw him, what happened to him. Because you can't see such a personality and feel normal. Seeing somebody with two edged swords from his mouth. Seriously, no.

[3:57] And his eyes were like flaming fire. His hair and his head, not only the hair. For those who say Jesus is black because the Bible says his head was white as wool.

[4:11] He didn't say the texture. He was talking about the color. This is just school, schooling. English. He says that his head and his hair were white-like.

[4:25] So the wool was not in reference to the type of head, but the color of hair. Oh, this one too, you don't get it. He said because of that, Jesus is a black man because it's only black people whose hair is like wool.

[4:39] He didn't say the hair is like. He said it's white-like. And it's not only the hair. It's the head. The entire, everything is like a statue. You know, the head and the hair were white.

[4:51] And the eyes were like fire. Flaming fire. Sword coming out, two-head sword coming out of his mouth.

[5:04] What kind of personality? His feet were like brass. And guess what? He was wearing a long garment. And he had belts not in his weight, but on his chest. Wow. This is a very interesting.

[5:15] And then, so. I think someone should draw this thing one day. I'm sure it should be somewhere, someone has attempted to draw it on the internet. Somewhere. And he had a sword.

[5:26] Sorry, sorry. He had stars. In his, in the, verse, verse, verse 16. Verse 16. He says that, and in his right hand, it's not in his left hand.

[5:36] His right hand, he, seven stars before the, his right hand, he has seven stars. And this person, so when I saw him, verse 17, he said, I fell on my feet and worshiped.

[5:48] Now, one, he's told us straight, it's Jesus, because the son of man. But if it was an angel, angels don't accept worship. All right. According to, I think, chapter 9, Revelations 19, 9 and 10, or somewhere there.

[6:00] I think, Revelations 19. Let's look at verse 10. Just, just to, and then, verse 9, verse 10. Oh, verse 10. Let's, let's do verse 10. He said, I fell at his feet to worship. But he said, see that, that, see that doubt that you do not do that.

[6:14] I am a fellow, the angel. I'm a fellow servant, and of your brethren, of the test. So he said, angels don't accept worship. Genuine angels. They're fallen angels. They're demons and Satan.

[6:25] They want worship. So Satan told Jesus, if you worship me, I'll give you all the things of the world. Right. So Satan wants to be worshiped. That's why he was kicked out of heaven. So, angels don't accept worship.

[6:38] But in chapter 1, verse 17, he said, I fell and I worship him. And then when I fell and worship him, I fell as dead. Okay, he said, I fell before him as dead.

[6:48] And he lays his hand on me, saying, don't be afraid. I am the first and the last. This is Jesus talking. I'm the first and the last. And then verse 18 talks about how, he who was alive.

[7:01] He still described himself more. He said, amen. And I have the case of age and death. Verse 19, write these things which you have seen.

[7:12] And the things which are. And the things which will take place after this. Now, this is a very important point. So he told him to write the things which you have seen.

[7:25] And the things which are. And the things which will take place afterwards. Now, so he told him what to write. And then, verse 20. Then describe to him that the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my hands.

[7:37] In my right hand. The seven golden and the seven golden. So I said, the seven stars are the angel of the churches. Or the messengers of the church. All right. So every church has a leader. He said, the leader or the angel of the church.

[7:50] The messenger of the church. They are the stars. And then, what about the candlesticks? The candlesticks are the churches. Seven churches. All right. So he said, when I heard this voice. I turned to see who is talking to me.

[8:02] And then when I turned, verse 12. The first thing I saw was a candlestick. A golden lampstand. Which is the same candle. Golden lampstand. And what is, Jesus said the golden lampstands are the church.

[8:13] And then he said, not just the seven. But in it, I saw one like the son of man. But I realized as I studied, the son of man was, it just said I saw him amongst, in the midst of the seven.

[8:25] Do you know what he was doing in the midst of it? He was walking. Walking with the stars in his right hand. According to Revelation chapter 2, verse 2 and 3.

[8:39] He was walking with the seven stars in his right hand. Okay. So, no, verse 2. Verse 3. Let's see what the verse 3 say. I think it should be the verse 1. Yeah, to the church.

[8:50] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. This says, he who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of it. So he's been walking in the midst of the church. Isn't it beautiful that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, according to Hebrews chapter 7, verse 25.

[9:07] He's seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding on our behalf. And at the same time, he's walking amongst the church, holding the leader, the messenger of the church.

[9:20] So when you come to church, you may see a leader like you can see me. But guess what? Jesus is holding me. Wow. So if I don't do my work where he will squeeze me.

[9:34] He will squeeze me. He deals with his servants. Revelation chapter 2, verse 1. Listen to how it started. Revelation 2, verse 1.

[9:44] It said, to the angel, not to the members. Ah. Ah. Ah. What is the usefulness of a pastor or a Christian leader who can't hear from God?

[9:56] Oh. A preacher. When I say can't hear from God, I know what most of you are thinking. Having revelations and visions. That's not what I mean. Because then we have the sure word of prophecy.

[10:07] Ah. Is it? That's it. Wow. That's what I mean. That's it. 2 Timothy chapter 2, verse 15. It says, steady to show yourself approved unto God. A workman that needs not to be ashamed.

[10:19] Rightly dividing the world of truth. This is it. Right. Right. So what's the usefulness of a pastor? Who can feed people with Christ out of the scriptures, from the scriptures?

[10:31] So what's the one? What? And gifts. And many people are looking for someone with special gifts to do deliverance. How come you need deliverance at this stage of your life?

[10:43] At this stage of your life. As a believer. As a believer. Right. As a believer. Deliver from the powers of darkness. And which other ones are having you? It's a flesh problem. It's your flesh.

[10:55] Satan hides in the flesh. Actually, he's in the flesh. So what you are struggling with, it is actually you who are cohabiting. No. You are habitation. You are harboring.

[11:05] That's the key word. You are harboring Satan. And he's buffeting you. And you are looking for deliverance. Live in the spirit. And you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.

[11:15] If you can wake up and rise up to a pure Christian living. Being fed and nourished. And edified and strengthened in the word of God. Or with the riches of Christ.

[11:26] If you can't live that life, there's no space demons can be hiding you. That's right. That's right. That's right. You are pretty. Maybe you don't know what you have to pass on.

[11:37] All the dreams and things are. Listen. What I'm trying to suggest to you, you think it's deliverance you need. But it's nourishment you need. That's it. That's it. Magadashakaya.

[11:52] I feel like preaching, you know. He said to the angel of the church. Not to the members of the church. I know that's the pastor's opinion me too.

[12:04] I have. God is not going to communicate to you matters for the church. Most people are out of order. Yesterday when we were.

[12:16] Can I tell you this short story? Yesterday I like holding the Bible, you know. Because I'm a believer. But at least you know what I'm holding. It's nice to see a preacher with a Bible.

[12:33] With all respect to others who don't need the Bible. What did you say? It's our first love. What did you say? It's our first love. What did you say? It's our first love. That's where I'm going.

[12:48] Yesterday. When we had gathered people and the place, the whole town center had become electrified and charged by our excitement in Christ.

[13:00] So, everywhere we were, we are excited about Jesus. No, no. We are unashamedly excited about Jesus. Some of you can't dance in church, but you can dance in other places.

[13:13] You can dance in other places. Wiggling your waist. Like a rubber in a street flowing stream. You can't dance anywhere.

[13:27] When you come to God's house, then you are shy. You are not confident about Jesus. You don't love him.

[13:40] When you love somebody so much, you don't mind how you hold a person in public. Okay, I have to dance them all.

[14:00] And it spelt. . As long as your husband and wife or you are getting closer to marriage, it's okay. Please, let me continue.

[14:19] Let me continue. Wow, my time. Now, watch this. So, we were very confident about we were dancing.

[14:30] People stopped. Yes. I think somebody said, one wise man said, it's somewhere. I've repeated it a few times. That if you set yourself on a light, people will stop to watch you bend.

[14:44] They haven't noticed passion. That's right. People are leaving churches because the churches are passionless. Passionless. Not excited.

[14:57] It has become a community activity. People are not excited. It's about God. The reason why you come so late, usually, regularly, is because you don't have a heart for God.

[15:07] You are not excited. You are not excited. You go for other things early. But when you come to church, you finish stretching all your legs. All your limbs, arms, and then your neck.

[15:19] Then you walk. Revelation 2.1.

[15:32] To the angel of the church. Notice. Then you go for another thing. Then your name is Ephesus. problem. It's not a thing. Do you know that was not the first time a letter was written to Ephesus?

[15:47] That was not the first time. The first time was from Paul. He was in prison. Because chapter 3 said, I, Ephesians chapter 3 from verse 1, I the prisoner of Christ.

[15:58] Ephesians chapter 4 verse 1, I the prisoner of Christ. So he was in prison when he wrote this letter to the church. It looks like when people are away, God can't really reveal them. Because this guy too was on the Isle of Patmos.

[16:11] When people detach themselves from you, isolate you, God doesn't. Most of the time, if God is going to raise you and do something great for you, He will allow people to abandon you.

[16:23] I have seen abandonment and I'm still going through certain levels of abandonment. It's necessary. It's necessary for your greatness. So don't interpret your abandonment. When people reject you, don't interpret it as God has left you.

[16:36] Because God is too smart to tie your future to someone who left you. Don't be afraid of taking a stand for Christ.

[16:50] In spite of the fact that you face possible rejection. People will abandon you. They will forsake you. David said, When even though my mother and my father forsake me, Psalm 27, I think verse 10 or so.

[17:06] He said, Even though my mother and my father forsake me, the Lord will pick me up. It's very important. When my mother, my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord will take care of me. God will not forsake you.

[17:18] He says that I will never leave you nor forsake you. Go into the world and preach the gospel. He said, No, behold, I am with you always. Matthew chapter 28 verse 9, 20.

[17:29] Yeah, that's 20. We will be always even to the end of the ages. I am with you always. I will never leave you or forsake you. So he says that in Ephesus, Paul wrote the letter to the church of Ephesus.

[17:45] Okay, the church at Ephesus. So that is why it's called Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 1, six letters. Ephesians chapter 2. Ephesians chapter 3, 4 to 6.

[17:56] And Ephesians is one, actually, is the only letter written to a church that was not addressing a problem. In the Bible.

[18:07] All the other ones, Corinthians, they are messing up, so you have to sort a few things out. Corinthians, they like sex and a lot of this. Yeah. So when you are, you are, when you are accused of Corinthianization, that means that a church is ridden with all kinds of sexual activities.

[18:25] So the church is not safe. Yeah, the church, the church is not safe. The church is not safe. If you join a Corinthian church, you are not safe.

[18:37] You are not safe. Never safe. I'm told. So the letter was written to address problems. Right. Galatians address problems with the law. The Judaizers were confusing them that you have to follow the law of Moses before you can be a Christian and all that.

[18:52] It was written to address it. In Philippians, it was written to address all kinds of arrogance in the church and trying to tell, get them to follow things that's apart from Christ. And in Colossians, it's the same thing, ideology.

[19:05] So it says that, don't let anyone deceive you. Philosophy. Philosophy. Colossians chapter, I think two, verse nine or so. You know, don't let anyone, verse eight.

[19:16] Yeah. Let's, we will spoil through philosophy and all those things. And then in Thessalonians, he was addressing problems. In first Timothy and second Timothy, that was written to a pastor.

[19:28] So he was dealing, he was addressing, addressing situations about doctrines and how a pastor should comport himself and all that. And then, so it's most of, but Ephesians was not written to address a problem.

[19:41] Ephesians was written to give an understanding of God's perspective about the church. So Ephesians is a letter that tells us what the church is from heaven's perspective.

[19:55] It's a very important letter. And do you know how Ephesians starts? Ephesians chapter one, by, after he introduced himself and he gave them the blessing, sorry, and he gave God the blessing that who has, verse three, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us for all spiritual blessings in heavenly places according to.

[20:12] Then look at verse four. Let's not read verse four together. Let's go. Just as us. Just as we are saying before the nation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

[20:24] So he chose us that we should be holy and without blame before him. Watch this. Most of the time we mute the in love. In love. That love is talking about the love he has for us which has also produced a love for him.

[20:39] So when he wrote to the Ephesians, he started talking about this whole thing that should happen in the sphere of love. Right. Okay. Christianity happens in the sphere of love.

[20:49] Look at the last verse in Ephesians. Ephesians chapter six verse 24. Look at how it ends. It says that grace be with all those who love. Did you see that? Yeah. This thing is a love thing.

[21:02] It's a love. Grace be to all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with sincerity. Amen. Now that word sincerity also is the same word that was translated in 2 Timothy, I think something like that.

[21:17] 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 10 about who has brought life and immortality. You see? That word, immortality, abolish, immortality is the same word translated as sincerity.

[21:31] So something that is not dying, something that is pure and it says that, oh, death, where is your grave? Where is your sting? And it says that for corruption, shall, can take on incorruption.

[21:43] 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 50 verse 53 somewhere there. Incorruption is the same word, incorruption. Okay? So incorruption, okay, incorruption, sincerity, immortality is the same Greek word.

[21:57] All right? So we can use incorruption there. Those who love the Lord Jesus with incorruption. Nothing corrupts the love. Now, after telling us what the church is, the church is the one new man.

[22:10] The church is, oh, thank you, Jesus. The church is the one new man. The church is the body of Christ, Efficient chapter 1, body of Christ, Efficient chapter 2, the one new man. Efficient chapter 3, the mysteries of the church.

[22:21] Efficient chapter 4, the fellowship in the church, the love, the light, and all that. And then this when chapter 5 talks about husband, wife, the life of the church.

[22:31] After saying all these things, and then chapter 6, the DRG of the church, after saying all these things, he ends by saying that everyone must love God with sincerity or incorruptibility, meaning that these things I've told you about the church, for your love for Christ, for your love in Christ to be very attentive, it must be not fall short of these things I've explained to you.

[22:53] You must love, watch this, you must love Christ in the light of the fact that we are a body of Christ. So when someone steps up to your toe, you must love Christ, that we actually, we are a body. Wow.

[23:06] That's how the love works, with incorruption, with sincerity, with immortality. Wow. So the love thin and efficient is very important.

[23:19] Now, the only way any Christian, watch this, this is a very important thing, the only way any Christian can enjoy or experience Christ is through faith and love. Without faith, you can't experience Christ.

[23:31] Without love, you can't experience, grace actually works by faith and love. So, without faith and love, according to 1 Timothy 1, verse 14, that's a good text.

[23:42] Let's all read it from the screen, if you can. Let's go. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abandoned, with faith and love, which are in Christ. Wow, let's read it out. Everybody, let's go.

[23:52] And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abandoned, with faith and love, which is faith. You can't experience or enjoy Christ without love and faith. It takes faith.

[24:04] What you bring to the table is faith and love. So, tell someone, it's a love thing. It's a love thing. So, back to, don't forget about this love thing, because Ephesians, he spoke heavily about love.

[24:17] He spoke heavily about love. Actually, let me still stay in Ephesians a little bit with love, and I'll leave the Ephesians love matter. Ephesians chapter 4, verse 2, it talks about our love there.

[24:28] Ephesians 4, verse 2, it says that, With all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing, that's Christian work now. Do you know what it means to bear somebody?

[24:39] Do you know what it means to bear with? Sorry, bear with. Every time, we have to call emergency service to attend to your emotional needs. What kind of person are you?

[24:51] Every time, someone has stepped on my toe. Someone has said this. Every time. Are you not growing at all? And really, it is not pleasant to be in relation with people who, every time, every day, you don't know what's coming next.

[25:06] Every time. Every time, like Bumblebee, whining and whining and complaining and complaining and whining and whining. And sometimes, you desire that God set me free from this person. But we are trying to bear with you.

[25:22] We are bearing with you. It's a sign of Christian growth. In church, someone needs to step on your toe. Someone.

[25:33] It's not a must, but it will happen. Because some of you are falling off with your brothers, your sisters, your cousins. You lived for one week. You ended up fighting. Because it's just human nature.

[25:44] But you are still relatives. I actually feel like preaching, you know. Preach. Preach. Preach. So, to the angel of the church at Ephesus.

[25:57] And so, he told them that, sorry, let me finish the Ephesians chapter 4 thing. So, bearing one another in love. And in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 15, it brings the love matter again. It kept coming up.

[26:10] But speaking the truth. Did you see that? Yeah. Speaking what? The truth in love. Speaking what? The truth in love. Some of you who work around me. Speaking what? The truth in love.

[26:21] In love. Yeah. So, in love, in love, in love. Ephesians chapter 5, verse 2. It talks about in love. Yeah. Ephesians chapter 5, verse 2.

[26:32] Work in love. Did you see that? Yes. So, this whole thing is a love thing. And it was the Ephesian church. God was telling this. Writing to the message to the Ephesian church is actually the message to the body.

[26:45] But look at Ephesians chapter 3, verse 16. Wow. Is someone learning something at all? Yes. Is somebody learning something at all? Yes. Isn't it amazing to be in church?

[26:57] Yes. Isn't it amazing to be in church? Yes. Isn't it fantastic? Yes. It's fantastic. Yes. Yes. Now, Ephesians. Sorry.

[27:08] I want to read from my Bible. All right. Before someone comes to accuse me, you keep saying, lift my Bible, and you will never open the Bible. Every time.

[27:23] Why is your Bible? Every time. But when you're preaching, you don't even make us open our Bible. You just put it on the screen for us. Okay. So now let's all open. Ephesians chapter 3.

[27:39] Ephesians chapter 3, verse 16. It says that, that he will grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might through his spirit in the inner man.

[27:49] Watch this. Verse 17 is where the thing is. That Christ may dwell. This is, watch this. He was writing this to Christians. This is very interesting. This message, this letter was to Christians.

[28:02] And he was telling them that that Christ may dwell in your heart. But Christian means that Christ is in your heart. Yeah. But that word dwell, the Greek word is katoikio, which means that feel at home. That Christ may katoikio in your heart.

[28:25] That he may, you know, when I visit your house, I can't feel at home because I can't go to, I can't go to some places. When we come to your house, it's not everywhere we can go.

[28:37] Yeah. Yeah. But when your, when your best friend or whatever, the one you are open to, it can go anywhere. They feel, in fact, actually they have your key, they can walk there anytime, sleep on, the only thing they can use is your toothbrush, but they can sleep on your bed.

[28:57] I mean, Christ may dwell, katoikio, dwell means katoikio, which means that he will feel at home. Be in your heart and be at home. Some of us, you know, you're a Christian.

[29:08] Christ is in you, but it's not at home. Ask somebody, is it not possible you are the one they are talking about? That Christ may dwell, Christ may dwell, watch this, watch this.

[29:31] Where does he dwell? In your heart. All right. So he says that, that verse 17 again, Ephesians 3, that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love.

[29:43] He used two terminologies. Rooted, botanical terminology. Grounded, architectural terminology. Wow. Buildings are not rooted.

[29:55] They are grounded. That's architectural. That's right. Trees are rooted. So it's like he's talking to you, I'm telling you to be rooted. That means I'm addressing you like a tree. And the first Corinthians 3, 9 talks about we are the house boundary of God.

[30:10] We are God's farm. Or we are God's house boundary. Or we are God's field. We are God's field. And God's building. All right. So he used the botanical terminology, being rooted, and at the same time, being grounded as a building that is growing.

[30:27] The house of God is the only building that grows. Trees grow. Buildings don't grow. But the house of God is the only building that grows. All right. But being rooted and grounded.

[30:38] Watch this. And the sphere of our operation should be in love. So you, as a Christian, you are supposed to be rooted and grounded in love. Love.

[30:50] When I talk about love, I'm not talking about nicey, nicey feeling about people. I'm talking about the love you have for God. 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verse 22, it says that, If anyone does not love the Lord, he says, let him be a cursed.

[31:11] We are supposed to love Jesus. He called us into a love relationship. Something is about to come back. I'm holding it back because I'm going somewhere. We are called into a love relationship.

[31:23] Love. Say love. We are called into a love relationship. So there's nobody who is born again. And if you are genuinely born again, a love for God, for Christ, didn't spark in your heart.

[31:36] If that thing hasn't sparked, you are not born again. It's a certain feeling that cannot be expressed. You feel so deep about God.

[31:47] It's deep in your heart. I've got a joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Down in my heart. It's a deep joy. The Bible calls it joy unspeakable. Deep joy.

[31:59] But as you walk and you grow in Christ, it can dwindle. It can diminish. And you get busy with a lot of other things like good work, going out to do outreach. But your love for God, for Christ, has diminished.

[32:12] So you can be very busy resisting false doctrines. But we diminish love. You can be very busy identifying people who don't teach the right.

[32:24] False apostles. You can tell. This one is a false apostle. We reject you. This one is wrong teaching. We reject you. You can be doing the works of God, but there's a problem with your love. And as long as the love factor begins to diminish, decline begins to set in.

[32:47] Christianity, this is a good one. Christian love thrives on love and faith. Christian life, it thrives on love and faith.

[32:58] The reason why you are struggling to forgive is because you are low in love. The reason why you are struggling to bear with one another is because your love. La vomita. La vomita is solo.

[33:15] Love. Both for God and his people. For I has not seen nor ear what God has prepared for those who love him. And so, love. Now, he says, watch this.

[33:27] That you'll be rooted. Put it back. Okay, sorry. Verse 17. That God will drive your heart by faith. You'll be rooted and grounded in love. Watch this. Verse 18. May be able to comprehend with all the sins what is the width, the length, the depth, the height.

[33:43] Watch this. And to know what? The love of Christ. What I used to read, I used to think or to know God. And I realized he's talking about you have to have a certain dimension, insight into the love of Christ and work in it.

[33:56] He said that you will know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. Knowledge surpasses. It goes beyond just human knowledge.

[34:10] Watch this. That you will know what is beyond knowing. That's what he's saying. It surpasses knowledge. But he says you should know it. Based on all. Say with the saints.

[34:21] If you look at verse 17, look at verse 17. That Christ may dwell in your heart. Being rooted and grounded in love. Go to the verse 18. That may be able to comprehend with all sins.

[34:32] So it's not you alone. It's always with others. The more you relate with others in fellowship, the more you are likely to grow and appreciate the love of Christ. Love can never be expressed in isolation.

[34:47] If you have love, you must express it to somebody. You need some other person before you can say, me, I love people. Or me, I'm a man of love. I'm a woman of love.

[34:57] There must be something. Maybe you are talking about you love yourself. And that thing they say, Christ never told us to, he said, love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus never told us that love, he said, love your enemy, love your neighbor as yourself.

[35:11] So they say, they tell you, you have to love yourself first. Excuse me, you already love yourself. It's true. That's true. Nobody hates, he said, he says, for Ephesians chapter 5, love your wife as your own self.

[35:25] For no man hates his own body. No man. But Jesus never said, love, love yourself first so you can love. He said, love your neighbor as yourself.

[35:36] Because God knows that we all, that's how human beings are. You won't put yourself on fire and say, I'm enjoying this. No. You see the way you love yourself? Yeah. Ouch.

[35:47] You love yourself. In fact, he gave us, you know what John 3.16 says? But this one you won't forget. That's why I mentioned John 3.16. First John 3.16. He said, by this you know, by this we know love.

[36:01] Because he laid down his life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Die for others. That's the Christian. He did it so that we can also do it. Are you listening to me?

[36:11] He did it so we can't do it. Don't say, oh no, I can't love others more than myself. You already love yourself so much. He says that you'll be able to comprehend with the saints, with the depths, the breadth, the heights.

[36:27] Okay. Go to the next verse. Verse. That you will know the love of Christ, which surpasses all knowledge. So that you may end up being filled with the fullness of God. Knowing the love of Christ.

[36:38] So this was written to the Ephesian church. There were people who were in love. They resisted opposition. They were, oh, oh my God, this is good. When you are a man and a woman of love, you can endure for Christ.

[36:53] You can endure for Christ. You go through things which others won't go through. And you say, hey, ask for me, I won't allow anybody to teach me. I will never allow anybody to talk to me like that. How do you allow anybody to?

[37:04] And he said, it doesn't matter because I'm doing this for Christ. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. So it's okay to suffer for Christ, but endure. So the Ephesian church was like that.

[37:15] But something happened. Now, I actually have not explained. Maybe I'll do that next week. So Revelation said, this letter sent me to the seven churches. Now, these seven churches, things I need you to know quickly about these seven churches.

[37:28] These seven churches were actual churches that were in the city or these cities were actual cities. They were not some fictitious cities or imaginary cities. They were real cities which were in Asia.

[37:41] So you could go and it's like a geographical center. They had a real existence. And so the letter that was written to them had two dimensions.

[37:54] It was written to them to address situations that they needed to know, the church needed to know in that city. So it was existential in nature. In other words, it was written to them so that they can listen and act on it.

[38:08] So all the churches, Ephesus, Smyna, Pergamon, Tytara, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

[38:20] All these churches in these cities were real churches who were in the cities in Asia. Second thing I want you to notice is that every one of them, their name was reflective of their state.

[38:31] Very interesting. So the meaning of Ephesus. Ephesus is delight. So Ephesus was the church God delights in. Now watch this. Number three.

[38:42] So number one, there were real places and the churches were going through situations that were being addressed at that time. Even though it was being addressed at that time, what was being addressed had a prophetic dimension for the rest of the churches till Jesus came.

[38:54] All right. So it was predictive. It had prophetic dimension. And number two, number one, there were real places. Number two, it was being addressed and issues were being addressed and their names reflected what they were going through.

[39:09] And number three, which is also very important for us to appreciate, that in spite of the fact that problems were being addressed, their names were synonymous to what they were going through.

[39:20] Jesus spoke to every one of them. Before he spoke to them, he described who he was. So, you know, I saw the man with eyes and all that. Everyone, before he speaks to them, he said, this is who.

[39:31] He describes himself based on the particular need of the church. So he didn't describe himself with all the descriptions, the adjectives. He described himself. So when he's going to talk to a church, he talks to them from a particular angle of who he is because of their particular need.

[39:46] Does that make sense? It's very important to understand that. So these churches existed and letters were sent to these churches. First of them is Ephesus. And much more.

[39:57] The other thing I also want you to know, the number four point is very, this is very important. These churches represented the entirety of the Christian church from the time Jesus left to heaven to the time he's coming.

[40:12] So it's seven aspects of the church. The church of Ephesus was the church that was, after Jesus left, the early church, to the end of the first century. And the church of Ephesus, they went through a lot of persecution.

[40:25] They went through a lot of hardship. They went through a lot of difficulties. And yet they maintained their doctrine. They maintained their works. And so that's the church of Ephesus. Now, then you come to the church of Smyna.

[40:36] The church of Smyna was the extreme suffering church. They suffered so much. And then the church of Pergamos was the church that was married to the church, to the world. After Constantine came in, in the early part of the first century.

[40:48] Next week, I'll try and go there. So it's actually, watch this. What Jesus wrote to the local churches, where all church history unfolded, before the history happened. So if you want to know church history, that's what we are dealing with now.

[41:01] In Revelation, the seven churches. Jesus began to talk about what the churches went through and the state of the church so he comes. Does that make sense? Now, let me finish on Ephesians. So he said, this Ephesians chapter 2, verse, let's look at verse 2.

[41:18] Oh, sorry. Revelations. Please forgive me. Revelation chapter 2, verse 2. But at least, he grabs them. That's why you have to listen to the message over and over again.

[41:30] God, to the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things say, says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstand, verse 2.

[41:41] I know. He starts by saying, I know your works. God said, I know your works. I'm aware of the things you are doing. Hey.

[41:52] Hey. He said, I know your works. I know your works. Not only your works, the way you are going out doing outreach, the way you are constant in church, the way you keep serving faithfully.

[42:07] He said, yes, I know your works. I know your labors. Your labor, the way you are dedicated to the things. I know your labor. I know your patience. And that you cannot bear with those who are evil.

[42:19] I know you are doing well. I know you have tested those who are, see, who said they are apostles and are not. I know you have done well. I give you thumbs up.

[42:30] I know what you are doing. You are doing so well. I know that. And I have found them to be lies. Verse 3. And you have persevered and have patience and have labored for my name's sake, for my name's sake.

[42:43] And you have not become tired. I know. I know. I know. I know. I know. Say, he knows my works.

[42:55] He knows my works. He said, I know your works. It's very interesting, brothers and sisters. Before I move on to verse 4. When it comes, listen to, don't miss this one.

[43:08] When it comes to, you know the church is the body of Christ? So when you talk about the body, it's a matter of the life of Christ. So a body must have life. Okay?

[43:20] As I said earlier, Ephesians chapter 1, it says the church is a body. Now, when you talk about the church is one new man. I taught this recently. One new man. It's about the person of Christ.

[43:31] But when you talk about, according to John 3, 29, the church is the bride of Christ. The church is the bride of Christ. When we talk about the church being the bride.

[43:44] Pastor, listen to this. When we talk about the church being the bride of Christ, it's a matter of love. When you talk about the church being the body, it's the life. The church being the new man, it's the person.

[43:55] But when you talk about the church being the bride of Christ, then you're talking about love. Because you can't have bride without love. When you mention bride, okay, Jeremiah 2, 2. Hi, hi, this is good.

[44:06] Jeremiah 2, 2. Jeremiah, look at it. He said, go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem. Say, thus he has the Lord. I remember you. The kindness of your youth. The love of your betrothal.

[44:19] I remember your love. Because you were my bride. Give me the NIV. I think the NIV will say it in the interest. Go proclaim to the hearing of Jerusalem. I remember the devotion of your youth.

[44:31] How as a bride, you love me. How you love me. You love me and follow me. Through the desert.

[44:42] Through the land. Not so. Hard times you still love. As a bride. The bride loves the groom. We are the bride of Christ. He says, give me your love.

[44:53] Bible says, in the last days. Parallel times shall come. People shall be lovers of themselves. But are lovers of God. 2 Timothy chapter 3.

[45:04] Verse 2. Before verse 4. Verse 2 talks about. For men will be lovers of themselves. Lovers of money. Boasters. Proud. Hater. But lovers of themselves. Look at verse 4.

[45:14] Look at verse 4. On the traitors. Headstrong. Haughty. Lovers of pleasure. More than lovers of God. It's a sign of the end times.

[45:27] They love pleasure more than God. But why should the church love other things more than God? Pastors. Don't let us love crowd more than God. Amen.

[45:38] Don't let us love the prosperity of our churches more than God. Don't let us do that. You are coming for a wedding. And you love your suit more than the bride.

[45:52] You love the one singing. The music they are singing. You like the setting more than the bride. You are not. You are a fake groom. Yes. Yes. Oh, the bride is coming.

[46:05] And they say the groom is there. She's not even happy. Can we board it? As for it. Oh, everybody clapping for her. And then it goes. And then the groom. Let me just tell my family for everybody to sing. And then after the wedding, you don't see her around the groom.

[46:15] She's just doing her own thing. Because now I'm married. You see, you are phony. You are fake. And that's what is happening to the church. He said in Matthew chapter 24 verse 12.

[46:27] You will love this. Matthew 24 verse 12. Listen to this. He says that, and because of lawlessness, because lawlessness were abound, the love of many will grow cold. Lawlessness here means iniquity.

[46:40] Sin is increasing. So many people, your love is growing cold. I came to call you to your first. Your love is growing cold.

[46:54] That's why anything at all takes your attention from Jesus. Sin is increasing. Sin is increasing. Sin is increasing. Your love is growing cold. Your love is becoming just orthodox and mechanical. That's why you are busy.

[47:06] He said, I know your words. You hate those who are liars. I realize I can be busy looking for scriptures to preach, but my heart towards God can be called my love.

[47:18] We are bright. Bright first of all, let's think about the love for the groom. He said, because iniquity shall abound. I abound. The love of many. Are you one of the many?

[47:29] Are we one of the many? Are we one of the many? The love of many shall grow. And in the last days, they'll be lovers of themselves more than lovers of God. Sorry, lovers of pleasure. More than lovers of God.

[47:40] Lovers of party. More than lovers of God. Lovers of fans. More than lovers of God. Love. Love. No wonder I asked Peter, do you love me more than these things?

[47:59] Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. So the Ephesian church was a church which understood love. And that's why they were able, so the first early church, that's why they were able to do the things they were doing.

[48:14] He said, I know your works. Revelation chapter 2 verse 2 again. I know your works. And I'll show you later, next week. All of them, he told them, I know your works. Every one of the church, he said, I know your works.

[48:27] And then he told them to repent, like Ephesians. He told them, repent. Repent. Repent. How can someone, look at this. I know your works, your labor, your patience, that you cannot bear those who are evil, that you have tested those who said they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars.

[48:46] I mean, what, this is good way, good. I know your works. No, that's three. You have persevered. You are trying. Even though others have given up, you haven't given up.

[48:59] You haven't given up. And have labored for my namesake. Next week, I'll talk about namesake, if I get a chance to. Namesake. How they beat them. The Bible says that Paul has received letters from Jerusalem to come and look for all those who call on their name.

[49:14] They counted themselves, they were happy that they have been counted worthy to suffer for their name. The name. The name. The name. He said they will reject you for my name. Here, at the church of Ephesus, he said for my namesake.

[49:26] What I said, let me leave it so I don't come to it. What I said earlier on, Acts chapter 9 verse 14 and Acts chapter 5 verse 41. And then John chapter 15 verse 21.

[49:38] But he says, for my namesake. And you have not been worried. Then look at the next verse. This is the boring one. Nevertheless, I have something against you. How can you have something against somebody like this?

[49:51] How can Christ say, I have something against somebody who is doing all these things? What have you done wrong then? Why?

[50:02] Jesus. And he says, why? You have, that is the problem. My problem is your love. You have left your first love. Even though you are doing all these things.

[50:13] It's loveless. Or your love is low. He said, that is my problem. And watch this. Because of the decline. Or because of their love that went slow.

[50:25] That's what affected the rest. Every problem in the church stems from low of low in life. Love. Your love affects everything.

[50:37] I know you are trying. You are working. We can see your works. But your love. Your love. Jesus said, I have something against you. I have something against you. He said, this I have against you.

[50:48] He is speaking from Hebrew. He said, this I have against you. Your love. Your love. Your love. Your love. Let's love undergate everything you attempt to do in church and for God.

[51:09] Before you start hijacking the church and everybody, you know, I have done this and no one is appreciating me. Who should appreciate you? You fed your child and you want the children, the baby to appreciate you.

[51:21] I thought you said, I love my child so much. Why are you bullying your child for paying school fees? Why? It's your responsibility.

[51:32] You have no. It's not something. Yeah, the child, the children must remember and honor their prayer, whether they pay or they don't pay. But he said, you have done all these things for my name's sake, but I have something against you.

[51:47] You have left your first love. And the word first love, the word first is the same word that is in John, sorry, Luke 15, 22.

[52:00] He said, bring the best robes. So what the prodigal father said, the father said to his servant, bring the best. The word best is the same as love. So first. The Greek word, the same Greek word.

[52:12] So when he said your first love, it means your best love. You have left it. You have left your best love. And that is the problem I have against you.

[52:23] And then look at the next verse. Verse five. Never delays. Remember, therefore, where you have fallen and repent. Repent and do the first works.

[52:35] Or else I will come and quickly remove, I will come quickly and remove your lampstand from his place unless you repent.

[52:47] Repent. Repent. Repent. Change your ways. Change your ways. 2 Peter 3, verse 9. It talks about God. 2 Peter 3, 9.

[52:58] The Lord is not slow concerning. Watch this. The Lord is not slow concerning promises. As some count slowness. Okay. But it's long suffering towards us. Not willing that any shall perish but all shall come to repentance.

[53:11] He told the church. This church, Ephesians church. The church of Ephesus. Who understood the language of love. They've left their first love. Yet they are very busy. You came for outreach yesterday but your love is cold.

[53:24] You have not missed any of the outreach. You have not missed any service. But yet your love is cold. Say, I know your works. As for your works they are good but your love is bad.

[53:40] Repent. Else I'll come and take, I'll come quickly and take and take away the God. I'll come quickly. first love remember when you got born again the way you can't have enough of church now every little time you are sleeping and you are always in a hurry to leave church I know you have other important things but it's because of the nature of your love where a man treasure is there he has his heart will also be repent repent and return to your first works it's work of love let it not go on record from today that the way you love God is significantly different from when you began now we start to pray you are complaining about everything in church when I was sick no one called me when my boss called me for querying and so even me I don't go to K group again stay stay there think that K group was made for me it's made for lovers who want to grow and be nourished in Christ yes yes yes thank you thank you thank you oh lord oh lord that you will help us to return to our first love oh lord that you convict our hearts that we will feel comfortable in sin oh lord we have erred, we have strayed from our love for you said that the end of the commandment, the end of all this teaching the end of all this is love from a pure heart

[55:44] Lord, help us help us to return to repent and return to our first love so that you don't come and take out the candlestick Father help us we thank God for using this sermon Reverend Dr. David Entry to share this awesome word, if this message has blessed you in any way, please spread the word by sharing it and send us an email to amen at charis.org remember to stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram YouTube and Twitter for regular updates on what God is doing here at Charis Ministries, stay blessed