基督同时又指出，祂知道他们如何为祂受苦。无论是古往今来，信徒总是要为到效忠于主而付上代价，信徒总是要为到信仰的缘故而遭受别人的攻击。祂亦知道他们如何谨守真理。请读使徒行传十九章19节，看看以弗所的信徒如何在决志之后，便决心将他们旧日相信的行邪术之书焚毁。他们知道这些书籍只会将错谬带进教会。这些信徒都亲自验证所听的道是真理。

但基督继而指出，以弗所教会如今的境况却叫人失望，因为信徒已丢弃或失却了昔日的爱心。每个信徒都有可能陷入这个危机。我们有没有丢掉当初爱主的心呢？我们是否一如既往地愿意遵行祂的心意，和热心事主呢？我们面对的最大危机，不是离弃神的真道，而是对敬拜和事奉变得冷淡和麻木。这正是以弗所教会的问题。

他们为何会变成这个样子呢？因为教会忽略了传福音的工作，再没有热切关心失丧的灵魂。基督对他们说：「要重拾起初的热心，行起初所行的事；为我作见证；让别人看见你是如何爱我。否则我将要从你们中间挪回我的祝福。」

这是非常严厉的警告，对吗？它对我们是否有所提醒呢？

Day 17

THE CHURCH THAT NEEDED REVIVAL

Revelation 2:1-7

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;

3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

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 lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

Message

The first three chapters of Revelation present Christ as Lord of the Church. Here are Christ's words spoken from the throne. He speaks to seven local churches in particular, but there is a wider application which comes to us today.

The condition of each church is lovingly described. The eye of Christ looks beyond what everyone else sees and he speaks to each church as he sees its need.

The Lord says 'I know'. He says it to all the churches. It is a wonderful, yet solemn truth. He knows the devoted service of his children in his Church. There seems to have been some very faithful servants of Christ in the Ephesian church.

Christ said he knew about their suffering too. It costs to stand faithfully for Christ. There are always those who will turn against you. He also knew about the way in which they had stood for the truth. Read Acts 19:19 again and see how this church began so wonderfully in burning the magic books they used for worship. They saw through those who tried to bring any error into the church. These men tested what others said by the Word of God.

But having said all this, Christ said that the church had been a disappointment because It had left or lost its first love. That danger comes to all of us. Are we as much In love with Christ today as when we first came to him? Are we as eager to do his will and his work as we once were? Our greatest danger is not that we might stray away from the truth of God's Word, but that we might become cold and dead in our worship and service. That is what had happened to the church at Ephesus.

Why had this happened? Because the church had neglected its outreach to those who were lost. Christ said, 'Go back to the beginning and do the things you used to do then. Be a witness. Be on fire. Let others see your love for me. Or else I will have to remove my blessing from your church.'

Those are strong words, aren't they? Do they have anything to say to us today?

返回天天天言

第17天

需要复兴的教会

粵語

國語

英語

启示录二章1至7节

1你要写信给以弗所教会的使者，说：那右手拿着七星、在七个金灯台中间行走的，说：

2我知道你的行为、劳碌、忍耐，也知道你不能容忍恶人。你也曾试验那自称为使徒却不是使徒的，看出他们是假的来。

3你也能忍耐，曾为我的名劳苦，并不乏倦。

4然而有一件事我要责备你，就是你把起初的爱心离弃了。

5所以，应当回想你是从那里坠落的，并要悔改，行起初所行的事。你若不悔改，我就临到你那里，把你的灯台从原处挪去。

6然而你还有一件可取的事，就是你恨恶尼哥拉一党人的行为，这也是我所恨恶的。

7圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！得胜的，我必将神乐园中生命树的果子赐给他吃。

信息分享

基督对每间教会发出的信息，都明确描绘出该间教会的境况。基督的眼目不单看见每间教会的表面情况，更看到它们的独特需要。