5 Things Jesus Noticed In this Church

There are many things to notice when you first come into the church.  The color of the carpet and the flowers on the table.  Hopefully, you did not miss the smiling faces that greeted you and above all, the awesome presence of the Lord.    But if I were to tell you, there's a letter from Jesus that is waiting to be read for the church this Sunday, would your preparation and your presence be anything different?  

The church is more than the songs that you sing and the sermon that you hear.  In Revelations 2-3, Jesus shows us how the church looks like behind the scenes.   Here is a commentary on what Jesus particularly looks for in a church. 

There are seven churches in these two chapters and Jesus begins with the church in Ephesus in Revelations 2:1-7.  Throughout these letters, Jesus follows five to six reminders, and here are a few of what Jesus notices with the church of Ephesus.  

1.  He commends them (v.2-3).  Jesus is proud of his church he loves his church so much that he bestowed on them the glory of the Father, the highest honor one can ever have (John 17:20-23).  He commends the church of Ephesus for their (a) good works - i know your deeds, (b) pure doctrine - you have tested those, and their (c) perseverance in the midst of persecution - endured hardships.  Take joy church, your labor is not in vain!  At the end of this all, Jesus will commend you for your hard work with these words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:21).

• Assess your church and ask what are the things that are working well that are helping people and honoring God.  Give God the glory in these.  

2.  He condemns them (v. 4).  There is no perfect church and Jesus notices what is hidden from the eyes of men - people's hearts.   Jesus said, and yet I hold this against you:  You have forsaken the love you had at first.  God is married to his church and places great value over this covenant (Exod. 34:14) and He expects a warming of love every day (John 15:9-10).  This church however has waned and needed to be called out (Prov. 4:23-27).  

• Because your church is not perfect, what is God calling out from your midst? 
• What safeguards can the church use to keep them from doing things that are not from the heart?
• On a personal note, what are those that you have done in the past that you need to do again for Jesus? 

3.  He corrects them (v.5).  God calls out the church not to shame them but for them to experience complete redemption.  Here Jesus tells the church (a) to remember how far they have fallen (b) to repent and turn around (c) and to restore to do the things they did at first.   To remember means to look at the past, to repent means to look at within, and to restore means to look at what can be done in the future.   

• Assess your church and ask which areas are need to be improved or need to be scratched and why. 

4.  He cautions them (v.5c).  A church that doesn't listen to the rebuke of God will pay the price.  He says,  I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place - unless you repent."  Jesus who is loving is also holy and just.   Falling in love with Jesus over and over is the key to keeping the light shining through the church.   

• Judgment begins in the house of God (1 Peter 4:17).   What are things the church is guilty of doing that remove their light before the world?  
• Determine steps on how to help people when they are disciplined.  Identify how to make church discipline a redeemable experience.  

5.  He consoles them (v.6-7).  Within the stern warning comes a reminder that God loves his church and encourages to continue doing three important things.  First, he tells them to continue in (a) their hate to the deeds of the Nicolaitans - those who espouse infidelity and unfaitfulness (b) second, to continue to hear what the Spirit says - to be discerning and be biblical, (c) and finally, to continue to overcome so they too will eat the tree of life in God's paradise.  The church's faithfulness now will yield to tomorrow's eternality.   

• Write a statement that can help your church move forward in doing the good it is doing.  

The next time you come into your church, ask what are the things Jesus would commend or condemn.  Your church matters most to God.  I hope that every time your church gathers, you think of it like Ephesus - there is a letter from  God waiting for you to open and read.