Apocalypse is the revelation that the Lord himself appears to the apostle John, already an old man and a prisoner on the island of Patmos, and gives him a message of great importance for the church, that of his time, but in the same way it serves us in the present and it will be of value also for the future.
When we read chapters 2 and 3 of the Apocalypse, we find the 7 letters that were dictated to John for the churches that were planted in the 7 cities of the Roman province of Asia, present-day Turkey. These letters contain specific messages that God sought to give to these churches, but at the same time it is a revelation for the entire Christian church on earth; since then and now.
In Matthew 16: 17-19 when Jesus referred to the church, he left clear indications of the authority we have to reproduce what happens in heaven. Peter’s revelation led Jesus to give an authoritative statement that reveals the identity of the church: we are built on the revelation of the Son of God and, from this impregnable rock that sustains us, we have the ability to reproduce what happens in the world. heaven, because we have the authority. The church is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27), this means that He is the head and we act according to His will on earth and we are His image.
Ephesus (The Passionate Church)
“I know everything you do. I have seen your hard work and patience with perseverance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have tested the claims of those who claim to be apostles, but are not. You have discovered that they are liars. You have suffered for my name with patience without giving up. But I have a complaint against you. You don’t love Me and you don’t love each other like you did at the beginning! Look how far you’ve fallen! Return to Me and do the works you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches; but you have this in your favor: you hate the wicked deeds of the Nicolaitans, just like I do.” Revelation 2:2-6.
When we read the story that appears in Acts 18, 19 and 20, it talks about the relationship of the Apostle Paul with the church of Ephesus and how it was a key city that allowed evangelization in the rest of the province of Asia. Both the Acts account and the Letter to the Ephesians show the passion of this church. It was a church on fire, which had been forged in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 19 begins by recounting how Paul laid hands on 12 disciples who were not yet baptized with the Holy Spirit, and they began to prophesy (Acts 19:6). And then he recounts how everything that happened with the healings and deliverances shook even the economy of the city (Acts 19:11 and 12). The sick were healthy, the demon-possessed were freed, the sorcerers were converted, and the people left idolatry. Luke, the writer of Acts, sums up what happened this way: “So the word of the Lord increased and spread with overwhelming power” (Acts 19:20 NIV).
The first lesson from Ephesus is that God looks for a passionate church. This must be the foundation of the church. Ephesus was marked by these roots, to the point that decades after it was founded, Jesus told it through John: “I have seen your hard work and your patience with perseverance.” And also “You have suffered for My name with patience without giving up.” Hard work and sacrifice are marks of passion.
Hard work
When we understand that the Holy Spirit is wanting to make a radical transformation in our territory we are willing to work hard. This is serving Jesus. Hard work is evidence of consecration and obedience.
The sacrifice
Without paying a price there is no success. Sometimes we are waiting for the Spirit to manifest, but it will never happen if we continue in our comfort.
Maturity is the character of the church
The Ephesians not only had power as part of their passionate life, but maturity. Being passionate is not synonymous with lack of control, but with dedication and commitment. Evidently, we are in front of a church with a formed character and high maturity. There were no divisions, no conflicts, no confusion, and that allowed the growth of this church in a healthy way. Only a mature church can focus on seeking greater revelation from God. That is why Paul wrote to them: “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you may know Him better.” (Ephesians 1:17 NIV). Conflict dulls our spiritual discernment. That is why the Word advises us that whenever we can we are at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18).
Conflicts in the church exist because of unresolved problems in people and lack of spiritual healing. Revelation 2 shows how in this passionate church there were two elements that evidence character: patience with perseverance and attachment to holiness.
Patience with Perseverance
Patience was a fundamental virtue for the growth of the early church, and it should be present in us as well. This allows us to tolerate each other, and also sustain each other over time without throwing in the towel. Let’s not expect progress without patience, because it gives us the necessary perseverance for difficult times.
Attachment to Holiness
The fact that they did not tolerate evil and detested the practices of the “Nicolaitans” (Christians who pushed to sin) and discovered false apostles is a sign of their love for holiness. The church attached to holiness does not trade her values for nothing. We will only know the person of Jesus better if we reject everything that has to do with sin.
The custom the problem of the church
The one who thinks that he is firm, does not have to be confident about his state, lest he end up falling. This happened with the Ephesians. His greatest virtues ended up being a habit. The absence of transformation led by the Holy Spirit ended up turning off the engine that had driven them from the beginning to be a passionate church.
Then Jesus said to them: “…I have a complaint against you. You don’t love Me and you don’t love each other like you did at the beginning! Look how far you’ve fallen! Return to Me and do the works that you did at the beginning.”
What quenches passion in every person, and therefore in every church, is religiosity. How does a spirit of religiosity take place? This happens when we get used to formulas and forget about the person of the Spirit. It is He who imposes the dynamics of a life surrendered to Jesus and, therefore, of the church. If He is not in front, we lose the essence, and we are no longer doing His will as we should.
This church had lost the essence with which it had started. The question for us is: What is our status? Let us keep in mind that the changes guided by the Spirit of God keep us united and we will always have the freshness of a new beginning to move forward with the certainty of coming out victorious.
Hard work, sacrifice, maturity, patience, perseverance and holiness lead us to the victory that will allow us to enjoy the reality of eternity from the present. This promise of victory is for the present and gives us security for the future. (Revelation 2:7)
There is Victory!
Reflection of Pastor David Decena in Online Missions
Translated and rewritten by Rev. Rafael Martinez