Our Divine Life And Death Warfare, Explained By Paul, In The Book Of Ephesians Part Two
THE AMAZING RISE AND SOMEWHAT FALL OF THE EPHESIAN CHURCH
This congregation was one of the most successful among all of Paul's missionary fruits in the New Testament. Paul built a large church that was so successful that they generated other groups based on Paul's teaching of them. Ephesus was the major port city and center of the Asian province within the empire. Paul totally saturated this area with the truth. As mentioned previously, Paul had real impact.
Acts 19:9-10 NKJV 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
The Apostle Paul rented a university auditorium and was able to teach DAILY to large numbers of people, the true gospel in Ephesus. His efforts were so successful that the entire province was awash in the truth. How great was the Apostle Paul's impact in this very pagan city? So much so that it threatened the core of paganism and all of those who profited from it.
Acts 19:15-18 NKJV 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them,... 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
The message was known to everyone and Jesus' name and that of Paul were revered. God was blessing and boosting the work of God thru Paul in a mighty fashion.
Acts 19:19-20 NKJV 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
Books or hand made scrolls were very costly in those ancient days before printing. This is a major sacrifice for a pagan. They probably burned nearly a million dollars in paganism. Wow! The success of this church was so astounding that the pagans were truly frightened.
Acts 19:27-28 NKJV 27 "So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship." 28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"
The entire province like an entire state within America, was evangelized to the core by Paul and this church.
LATER CHRIST WARNS THEM OF THEIR ONE BIG SHORTCOMING
The Ephesian congregation was very spiritual with strong success when it began. They were a model church. Jesus Christ said so and they were the first congregation mentioned in the letters to the seven churches.
Revelation 2:1-2 NKJV 1 "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: 2 "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;
They rejected false doctrines brought by false apostles. They were strong and not easily deceived by all the evil deceptions that existed in that first century. They resisted clever, worldly philosophy and false doctrines of demons.
Revelation 2:6 NKJV 6 "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
The Nicolaitans used Greek philosophy to assert that the physical body was of no importance and was irrelevant. It is based on Gnosticism. This belief allowed one to do sinful things in the flesh, but say your spirit is still pure. The Ephesians were too wise to be trapped into this error and Christ was proud of their stalwart stance. They influenced the pagan world around them and not vice versa.
Revelation 2:3 NKJV 3 "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.
Approximately thirty years or so after the founding of this congregation, Jesus says they had lost some of their original spiritual fire and fervor.
Revelation 2:4-5 NKJV 4 "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place--unless you repent.
How does a church lose it's first love? It happened gradually over the thirty or so years. They began to serve Jesus out of duty and based on routine. The service was no longer based on love and enthusiasm for Christ and the things of God. They served God more out of duty then love. Service was more like a loveless labor , DRY AND BORING for them and for God. Jesus desires a loving relationship, not just a dry dedication to the truth. Why did God say that David was a man after his own heart, because David had such a personal attraction to God and love for Him. He danced with enthusiasm and love before God and wrote a lot of praise music in the Book of Psalms to God.
Psalms 27:4 NKJV 4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.
It was David idea to build the Temple for God, not God's idea and that is how much he loved God. It appears that many of the Ephesians thirty years later, had lost that enthusiasm. Some would overcome and be in the glorious resurrection.
WE ALSO ARE IN A LIFE OR DEATH SPIRITUAL FIGHT TO THE FINISH
Paul warns the Ephesians that we believers are in a life and death struggle to the end with Satanic forces in high places. Paul says God is strong and He wants us to be strong. We are not in an afternoon sports contest that we can walk away from. We either win or lose. This contest is for keeps.
Ephesians 6:10-12 NKJV 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
We are not just in a battle of evil influences, but in a strategy war where we face the wiles of the Devil. The Devil will of course play on our ego and on our covetousness. The Devil will try and exploit any misguided emotions like anger or envy.
Ephesians 4:25-27 NKJV 25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.
We must learn to not give Satan easy openings to drive us away from each other or Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:13-17 NKJV 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Christ inspired Paul to describe seven spiritual weapons for His followers they are:
- The Truth.
- Having Righteousness with help from Jesus
- Carrying the Gospel to world
- Faith in God
- Knowing we have the protection of Salvation
- The Word of God (the only offense weapon)
- Prayer
Remember to never stop praying. Pray everyday for ourselves, the work of God in spreading the gospel and for all brethren and for America. We need prayer for the titanic struggle ahead.
Ephesians 6:18 NKJV 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints....
