Ephesus: Dangers Of Spiritual Decline

by George Prasher, Manchester, England | Category: New Testament Churches Of God | Oct 1999

We return in thought to the Church of God in Ephesus. Last month we traced its origins and marvelled at the power of God's word to overcome the spiritual darkness in the temple city of Artemis. Paul served among the disciples there for about three years - 'with all lowliness of mind, and with tears and with trials which befell' him 'by the plots of the Jews' (Acts 20:19,31). During that period the message spread to all parts of the Roman province of Asia (Acts 18:8-10).

There is no record of Paul returning to Ephesus for any sustained service, but in Acts chapter 20 Luke records a notable meeting between Paul and the elders of the Ephesian Church. He sent for them to come and meet him at the port of Miletus, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost (Acts 20:16,17). He told the elders that they would not see his face again, for the Spirit had revealed to Paul that sufferings and imprisonment lay ahead. 'But I hold not my life of any account, as dear unto myself', he said, 'so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God' (v.24).

We can imagine the atmosphere of the gathering, as men so deeply indebted to Paul for bringing the gospel to them now listened for the last time to his fervent appeal. What was the burden of his message? He first reminded them of the character of his own service among them: 'I shrank not', he said, 'from declaring unto you anything that was profitable... testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ' - Paul the evangelist, so accurately emphasizing two essentials of the gospel, repentance and faith! His undying zeal for the salvation of souls had found full expression during those years in Ephesus. But more than that! As we listen again we hear him say: 'I testify... that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God' (vv. 26,27). Yes, Paul was not simply an evangelist, he was also a church builder. He always had before him the whole counsel of God, the full content of his Master's commission: 'Go... make disciples... baptizing them... teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you' (Mat. 28: 19,20).

As he looked into the faces of these leaders of the Church of God in Ephesus, the veteran apostle had a great yearning for its preservation: 'Take heed unto yourselves', he pleaded, 'and to all the flock, in the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood' [Literal Greek= the blood of His own i.e. by implication the blood of His own Son] (Acts 20:28 RVM). Paul placed this high value on each church of God. He saw it as something very precious to God because it could only have come into being through the price paid by His Son at Calvary. These men had been fitted for leadership in the Church by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's inwrought work had transformed their character into the likeness of their Master, so that as under-shepherds they could represent the tender care of the Chief Shepherd. This high concept of a church of God and its leaders breathes through Paul's message to the Ephesian elders. May the Lord impress all our hearts with these same truths, so that we place a similar value on what Scripture shows God values so highly.

How startled the group of elders must have been as Paul continued: 'I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them' (vv. 29,30). Paul anticipated the sadness of grievous wolves entering from without the Church and tearing the flock. Even among the elders themselves some would depart from apostolic teaching and attract their own independent following. What Paul saw would take place in Ephesus was typical of the methods Satan still uses to seduce the unwary from the truth of God's Word and to multiply groups centred around leaders who have departed from the principles of the faith. Paul continued: 'I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified' (v.32). Still today it is God and the word of His grace which preserve from every false way, and establish us in our loyalty to sound teaching.

The Church of God in Ephesus continued its witness long after Paul finished his course of earthly service. We know this because in the early chapters of Revelation the Lord Jesus gave through John a message for each of the seven churches of God in Asia. In chapter 2 we have the Lord's message to the Church in Ephesus: 'I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them which call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false; and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown weary' (vv. 2,3). Clearly the Lord found much to commend in the Church in Ephesus. The message would probably be sent almost forty years after Paul had spoken to the elders at Miletus. So the Ephesian disciples had evidently overcome many of the difficulties of which Paul warned them. They remained an active Church, zealous for sound doctrine and patient in times of trial. 'But I have this against thee', the Lord's message continued, 'that thou didst leave thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent' (vv. 4,5 margin).

This solemn warning to the Church of God in Ephesus must surely impress our own hearts. It bears home the high importance of love to Christ as the motivation for all our service. Brilliant gift and arduous toil in service have no value to the Lord apart from love. The Church of God in Ephesus was in decline, even in danger of losing recognition by the Lord, all because the

disciples had lost their first love. As we consider causes of decline in New Testament Churches of God may we have grace to consider our own service for Christ, and seek to avoid the dangers which have so often caused disappointment to Him.

George Prasher, Manchester, England | Oct 1999
New Testament Churches Of God