The Careless Church
Jerry N Watts
Revelation 2:1-7
Our journey through the Revelation demands that we walk in the footsteps of Jesus as He walks among the churches in the Revelation which serves to remind us that He is still walking among HIS churches today. Chapters 2 and 3 give us a picture of just how Jesus walks among his churches. Seven churches of Asia, all needing a word from their Lord.
Today, we look at the church in Ephesus. This one, I call the ‘‘CARELESS CHURCH.’’ They are not ‘careless’ because they ‘careless’ or ‘don’t care’’ but rather, because they didn’t take care, lost their focus, and didn’t pay attention to their heart. They inadvertently allowed their spiritual focus to become blurred and spiritual heart to be deceived.
For me, the Church at Ephesus is somewhat of a sad story. By the world’s standards, they were great and had everything going for them. Their history was impressive. Paul planted the church, he left Aquila and Priscilla there to lead it, Apollos came there as a strong leader, then Paul himself, not only returned, but literally made Ephesus the center of His missionary efforts. He remained there between 2 and 3 years, pouring Himself into this church. In Acts 19, these people repented, confessed, and even burned their books about their past religion. They were not going back! JESUS!
It was to the Ephesians that Paul penned one of his greatest works, the letter to the book of Ephesians. To say it again, to all in that day, Ephesus was a GREAT CHURCH. In the face of great persecution, they stood tall for the gospel and had fallen in love with this Jesus. He was their first love, the center of their lives and attention, and they were ‘all in’. But with all that, something had changed (read)
Did you catch verse 7? ‘‘Let anyone (everyone) who has ears to hear, LISTEN.’’ This is my prayer. Jesus gave and continues to give Himself to us that we would do the same, that we would ‘hear,’ ‘listen’ AND RESPOND. Sure as w ...
Jerry N Watts
Revelation 2:1-7
Our journey through the Revelation demands that we walk in the footsteps of Jesus as He walks among the churches in the Revelation which serves to remind us that He is still walking among HIS churches today. Chapters 2 and 3 give us a picture of just how Jesus walks among his churches. Seven churches of Asia, all needing a word from their Lord.
Today, we look at the church in Ephesus. This one, I call the ‘‘CARELESS CHURCH.’’ They are not ‘careless’ because they ‘careless’ or ‘don’t care’’ but rather, because they didn’t take care, lost their focus, and didn’t pay attention to their heart. They inadvertently allowed their spiritual focus to become blurred and spiritual heart to be deceived.
For me, the Church at Ephesus is somewhat of a sad story. By the world’s standards, they were great and had everything going for them. Their history was impressive. Paul planted the church, he left Aquila and Priscilla there to lead it, Apollos came there as a strong leader, then Paul himself, not only returned, but literally made Ephesus the center of His missionary efforts. He remained there between 2 and 3 years, pouring Himself into this church. In Acts 19, these people repented, confessed, and even burned their books about their past religion. They were not going back! JESUS!
It was to the Ephesians that Paul penned one of his greatest works, the letter to the book of Ephesians. To say it again, to all in that day, Ephesus was a GREAT CHURCH. In the face of great persecution, they stood tall for the gospel and had fallen in love with this Jesus. He was their first love, the center of their lives and attention, and they were ‘all in’. But with all that, something had changed (read)
Did you catch verse 7? ‘‘Let anyone (everyone) who has ears to hear, LISTEN.’’ This is my prayer. Jesus gave and continues to give Himself to us that we would do the same, that we would ‘hear,’ ‘listen’ AND RESPOND. Sure as w ...
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