Sermon by Pastor. Alwin
Revelation 2:1-3
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary.”
The book of Revelation starts with a majestic description of a very powerful God, Jesus and then it goes on to letters to seven churches. The first letter is to the church of Ephesus in which he commends them for the following attributes, and I believe God expects the same from His people.
- Patient endurance
Jesus commends them saying; “I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake and you have not grown weary.” Jesus said in Luke 21:10-18 that by your endurance we will gain our lives.
Christian life is not a 100-metre race but a life-long marathon which can be only completed by patient endurance. Hebrews 12:1-2 also exhorts us saying; “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
- They do not bear with those who are evil.
They hated the works of the Nicolaitans, which God also hate. Can you hate what God hates?
God hates the sinners, but he also loves the sinners and that’s the reason He sent His only Son to die for them. - They tested this who call themselves apostles and are not and found them to be false. They didn’t blindly follow everybody who claimed themselves to be the man of God. They examined everybody in the light of God’s Word and followed Jesus faithfully.
Let us all strive to do what pleases the heart of God. Let us have patient endurance, learn to hate what is evil and test every person who claims to be an apostle in the light of God’s Word.
