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THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Anne Coles and are based on Revelation 2:1-7
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Acts 19
“To the 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. 2 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. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You
have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Sunday December 7 - Ephesus and the Ephesians “To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write:...” Revelation 2:1
We now dive into the letters to the seven churches in Asia (present-day Turkey), and Jesus’ words to each one. There is so much to be learnt from these messages about Jesus’ personal care and concern for his church, what he values and applauds and also what he warns against. The first of these churches was in Ephesus, then a thriving and populous metropolis, and now an archaeological ruin that attracts foreign tourists!
Ephesus was significant to the world of its day as a religious, cultural and economic centre. The city was the centre for the pagan cult of Diana, whose huge statue dominated the landscape. It was a fertility cult, and temple prostitution gave licence to a wider culture of sexual immorality. The Diana cult also brought much wealth into the city through the gold and silversmiths who made mini-shrines. Paul planted a church, which became known for its spiritual vitality in this unlikely setting.
In many ways Ephesus was like many modern cities. As we consider how this young church thrived under the empowering of the Holy Spirit and the teaching of Paul, we can take heart that God can grow a church in the most unpromising circumstances. And in the light of its present ruined state we need to listen to the warnings Jesus gives too!
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for growing a church in ungodly Ephesus. I pray for your church today, that we would learn to listen to your voice and follow your instructions. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY