Rev 2:1 "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"
This letter was written to the leadership (angel) of the church of Ephesus. Our Lord comforted them that He has complete control of all church leaderships (stars) and also His presence in the church (lampstands).
Rev 2:2-3 "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; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.
This church looks like the perfect church of God that is full of righteous works, despises evil, exposes false apostles and heresies, zealous and with great patience doing His commands.
Rev 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 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.
Regretfully, this church has forgotten its first love. First love is that peaceful and blissful moment when we first believed and accepted Jesus as our Saviour.
It was only decades ago at Pentecost, that Christians filled with faith in God, love for one another, and full of the Holy Spirit, sold everything they had and gave to the Apostles for helping the poor and needy brethren.
Acts 4:33-35 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
How did they lose their first love?
Acts 5:3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
Unless Christians keep His words and crucify the flesh, Satan can deceive them just like how he had duped Ananias.
I Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Doing the Work of God
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
Our most important work is to believe who He is, in our daily life. Is He still your Provider when you are troubled and is deeply in need? Is He still your Healer that you trust? Or do you depend only on health food and medical advice, making prayers undesirable? Is recognition and honour so important?
Repent and do the first works.
Brethren, we may be serving God zealously and sacrificially, but when we lack faith in the work He had done for us, then we have failed to fully trust Him. Let our beliefs in Him be perfect, so that with truth, we can overcome the wiles of Satan.
Rev 2:6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
The deeds of the Nicolaitans were to mislead Christians into heresies that destroyed their faith in Jesus and His words.
Heresies will deny, reject or contradict the:
1. Attributes of God (Almighty, truth, love, faithful, cannot sin nor lie)
2. Divinity of Jesus
3. Word of Jesus
4. Teachings in the Epistles
5. Gospel of Jesus
6. Message of the Cross
Occults, cults and heretic practices will trespass one or more of the above truth.
Rev 2:7 "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."
All those who have repented and have overcome the devil's wiles and deceptions, can enter into the New Jerusalem (Kingdom of heaven) and partake the fruit of the tree of life.