7 Churches of Revelation: Ephesus 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

Order is important in the Word of God. In a list, the first is often foundational to the message as a whole. The letter to the church at Ephesus is the first of the list. Its message is foundational to all the other 6 letters. Interestingly enough, “Ephesus” means overseer. Perhaps the Ephesus church was the apostolic overseer for the churches in Asia Minor.  

Revelation 2:1-7:  "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, `These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.''  

In the letter, the Lord recognizes the good things that were happening in Ephesus. The believers tested the messages that came to them. They were unwilling to receive false doctrines. They were patient and did not weary in doing good. They recognized the false doctrines of the Nicolaitans who had embraced the ways of the world.  

However, the Ephesian Christians had left their first love. In Galatians 5, the first fruit of the Spirit listed is love and love is foundational to all the others. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.’ 

What a powerful message for the Church through the ages. We can be doing and saying all the right things, but without love, we accomplish nothing.  

We one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord. 

We one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord. 

And we pray that our unity will one day be restored. 

And they’ll know we’re Christian by our love.