November Blog 2025 Ephesus Revisited

Our family just got back from a fantastic tour of Ancient Ephesus.

It was historically interesting and spiritually challenging and infact as a church we have been embarking on a series on the first 3 Chapters of Revelation. 

Revelation 2: 1-7:

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God

Here was a church with so many positives and so much potential.

Yet as we walked around, it was no longer in existence.

There is a lesson in that for our own church and all modern-day places of worship.

It is right to be doctrinally correct (and is commended in the verses above). It’s great to have discernment and be active in The Lord’s work. However, verse 4 gets to the crux of the matter: “nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”

It does not say ‘lost’ it says ‘left’. Another modern translation says ‘abandoned’. Whatever we do for Christ must of necessity come from our relationship with Christ. It is vital that our hearts beat with love towards Him.

Now that’s a challenge for us here at Breakthrough. Yet it’s a great opportunity to reach out with God’s love in our hearts towards Him and towards others. Then we will be effective for The Kingdom, then we will go on! Friends, let’s reassess, being certain we are drawing close to Him and not drifting away. To know Him is to love Him. My prayer is that each of us will know and love Him more. 

Yours in Christ 

Pastor John