The ancient city of Ephesus was once a hub of Christian activity, renowned for its steadfastness in doctrine and evangelism. Yet within a few decades, its vibrant flame had dimmed. David Hawking guides us through a reflective study on the factors that contribute to spiritual decay, the importance of maintaining doctrinal purity, and the power of love as a driving force in the church’s mission. Tune in for invaluable insights that underscore the necessity of prioritizing a fervent spiritual walk amid modern distractions.
You know, you would think that the great judgment of people today about what makes somebody a true believer in Jesus Christ is all based on human performance. That’s the way it seems to be today. It doesn’t matter what they really believe. We’re going to tolerate false doctrine in the name of, well, if they live all right. Hey, for the same reason, you can prove your dog is a Christian. He doesn’t smoke or drink or go with girls that do. Come on.
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Thank you.
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Welcome, everyone, to Hope for Today with Bible teacher David Hawking. Today, we’re stepping back into Jesus’ message to the church in Ephesus. This is a church that looks strong on the outside. They were busy with good works. They were standing for truth. But something changed. was missing. They had left their first love. The priorities they had were right, at least on paper, but the neglected priority, the passion for their walk with the Lord, gone. The affection drifting. Sound familiar? Well, David continues this powerful study called Neglected Priorities from Revelation chapter 2 verses 1 through 7 in just a moment. First, though, if this ministry has helped you grow in your faith, maybe confronted you with the truth or strengthened your walk with God, maybe helped you share your testimony, would you consider giving a one-time gift or becoming a monthly support partner of Hope for Today? You see, your support helps us reach more people with uncompromised Bible teaching, clear, strong, and full of hope. That’s what God’s Word does. And it’s what we’re all about here at Hope for Today. Visit DavidHawking.org to give or call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE. That’s in the U.S. Or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And Bible is 242-53. And here’s David.
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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 or lampstands, I know thy works and thy labor and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them who are evil, and thou hast tried them who 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 labored and hast not fainted. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Remember therefore from where thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works. Or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy lampstand or candlestick out of its 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. Revelation chapter 2, verses 1 to 7, the church at Ephesus. It has its roots in a brief visit to the synagogue by Paul, a ministry also by Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew who was taught on the side by Aquila and Priscilla, an encounter with Paul and 12 disciples of John the Baptist, presumably through the ministry of Apollos, a teaching ministry by Paul that lasted for two years in a philosophical school, interestingly, And it also included mighty miracles by the hand of Paul, spectacular miracles, and a mighty revival in the city, which was dominated by the occult. By the way, we know a lot about that today. There was demonism, occultic practice, magical arts, immorality. It was a pagan city from beginning to end. And so the gospel penetrates that place and a church is born. And then it ends up with a serious riot in the amphitheater. Now, also we have a letter that was sent to this church called Ephesians to the church at Ephesus. And there are six chapters in which the whole discussion is about the church, what it is to be like. Three of those chapters are dedicated to giving us the nature of the church, being the fullness of the body of Christ, And three chapters are dedicated to telling us how to walk in this crummy world. And I always think when I’m in the ancient ruins of Ephesus and walking down their beautiful marble paved street, which is still in existence today, the main thoroughfare of Ephesus, I always think as we’re walking down that street of what Paul wrote in Ephesians as he told us to walk worthy of the vocation of wherewith we are called, to walk not as the pagans walk, in the futility of their mind, their understanding being darkened and alienated from the life of God, and giving themselves over to all manner of lascivious practices. I read in there that we are to walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and to walk as children of light, and to walk circumspectly, not as fools as wise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is, to be filled with the Spirit, And this ought to affect wives and husbands and children and parents and employers and employees. And then finally, let’s be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against all the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. All of that all of a sudden comes alive once you visit Ephesus. The message was powerful to a people who were really a minority. The Christian message had hit a pagan, occultic, demonic, immoral city, and it was struggling for survival. And Paul writes a brilliant letter to them inspired by the Holy Spirit and what it is to be a Christian in this rotten, pagan, awful world. And I say nothing much has changed. Amen? We’re still living in a very difficult time. This church took a stand when no one else would. They had to face the battle every single day, and a lot of us need to learn from the church at Ephesus. And that’s why the message in Revelation chapter two is so interesting. How long does it take a church that’s on fire for God, standing for God’s truth, trying to be a witness in a pagan city and environment, a church that sent out many missionaries all over the area. How long does it take that church to lose its vibrancy and leave its first love? We believe that Paul in that ministry was somewhere in the 60s AD. John is writing somewhere between 90 and 95 AD. I remind you that in 25, 30 years, this church is already being evaluated by Christ as having a seed of decay that I like to call neglected priorities. You can do so much that is good and right and be a church that seems to be really on the ball for the Lord, and yet the seed of decay may be right in our midst and we don’t even know it. Let’s take a look at five things. First of all, in chapter 2 of Revelation, verse 1, we have the centrality and control of Jesus Christ brought to our attention. His centrality, he walks in the midst of of the seven golden lampstands. Does it say in the midst of Ephesus only, or their one lampstand? It says in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. He’s walking in the midst of all of them. Back in chapter 1, verse 12, when he turned to look at the voice that spoke with him, he saw seven golden lampstands, and in the middle of them was one like the Son of Man, the centrality of Jesus Christ. And his control, that statement that we learned about back in chapter 1, verse 16, that in his right hand are the seven stars, which according to verse 20, are the seven angels. And here we’re told that the seven angels, the seven stars, are in his right hand. The seven stars are in his right hand. He’s walking in the middle of the seven golden lampstands. The centrality and control of Jesus Christ our Lord is how it starts. It seems to me that neglected priorities are always the result of taking our eyes off of the one who is the head of the church and the one who is in control of all things. The second thing I draw to your attention is in verse 2 and 3 and also verse 6. And that is the commendation which Jesus gives to this church. And he does commend them. He commends them for four things. And we need to understand that. These are four things that we need to emulate. We need to follow. We need to have them in our ministry, in our life. The Lord is telling them, you’ve done a good job here. He commends them, first of all, for their dedication to the work of the Lord. He says, I know thy works and thy labor and thy patience. They were serving the Lord, but with labor and patience. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and spoke about their labor of love. The Greek word kapiazo means labor to the point of exhaustion. These people were not just giving lighthearted service to the Lord. They were literally wearing themselves out in the work of the Lord and doing it with joy. And the Lord commends them for their dedication. They had patience. They were able to bear up under some very difficult circumstances in serving the Lord. And he commends them for their dedication. Number two, he commends them for their discernment in the work of the Lord. A lot of us don’t have discernment. I have never seen a day like today in the Christian world for a lack of discernment. It’s unbelievable what people are listening to and what people believe is the truth. And very few are searching the Scriptures daily, examining them to see if that is so. Instead, we’re listening to anybody who can entertain us. And we’re in a serious way in the church of Jesus Christ today. And our Lord commends Ephesus. for their discernment. Let’s look at it carefully in verse 2. It says, And how thou canst not bear them who are evil, and thou hast tried them who say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars. Turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 11. What was true in the beginning of the church in the first century AD is also true today. There are people who apparently want to have the ministry of an apostle and act like they have apostolic authority. In fact, they are lying. They are liars. They are false apostles. In 2 Corinthians chapter 11, we are warned about this. Look at verse 13. It says, “…for such are false apostles.” Deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose ends shall be according to their works.” The Bible tells us we’re being transformed, but what we have there is the word metamorphosis, like a caterpillar is becoming a butterfly. It won’t be a completed process, and the butterfly won’t fly forth until the second coming of Jesus Christ. Then we shall be like him. But understand, the reason why we have a lack of discernment in our day is the same one in that day. But Ephesus had the discernment. What people believe is important. We are saved by what the Bible teaches, not by our own works of righteousness. And the ministers of the enemy can appear to be righteous and wonderful people, and we can be deceived. People say of some false cults, but they’re so dedicated to the family, they seem so wonderful. My friends, we can easily be deceived by Satan. Easily. Turn please to Matthew chapter 7. This is a very serious subject. And since our Lord commends Ephesus for this stand they took, the discernment they exercised, we need to pay attention to it, especially in our day where they don’t endure sound doctrine, but want to heap to themselves teachers with itching ears. They want to be entertained rather than to hear sound doctrine. Matthew 7, 21. It says, Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out demons, and in thy name done many wonderful works. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you. Doesn’t say I knew you once and then I lost contact. It says, no, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. My friends, there are many people who profess to be Christians, but do not possess life from God. We need to have spiritual discernment more than ever before. Look back at verse 15. Beware of false prophets. 2 Corinthians 11, 13. They’re false apostles. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Turn, please, to 2 Peter 2. 2 Peter 2. Our Lord commends these people at Ephesus for their dedication to the work of the Lord and for their discernment in the work of the Lord. 2 Peter chapter 2. And look at verses 1 to 3. It says, but there were false prophets, there it is again, also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who secretly shall bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness… shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you, whose judgment now for a long time lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not. I watched a guy on television a few years back who literally was merchandising the gospel and getting money out of people. It just disturbed me greatly as I watched him. He said, if you send him $100, that God would bless you. If you send him $100. And I thought to myself, well, why doesn’t he send us $100 and see if God will bless him? You know, I just, it just blew my mind. This guy bothered me, and he sent all kinds of trinkets and stuff, and he sent those little things of holy water, you know, to people from the Jordan River. I don’t know if you know this or not, but they fill some of those up with a hose. You know what I mean? I mean, come on. I don’t want to blow your mind, but it’s a racket, folks. It comes from hell, not heaven. I just want to get him out of there. I didn’t want him speaking anymore. And investigations have proven not only his heresies, but his charlatan activities. And we need to understand something. Thousands of people followed him, sent him money, millions and millions of dollars. And he’s a heretic. You say, who is he? I’m not going to tell you. The sad thing is there’s many of them like him. What we believe is extremely important. This church is only 25 to 30 years old, but they have discernment. And the Lord says, God bless you. You have tried men who said they were apostles and found them liars, and God commends them for it. And we need to understand the seriousness of it. I think it’s significant that it’s in the letter to the church at Ephesus, because as we move through the other letters, we’re going to discover a diminishing of discernment. There’s going to be more and more problems in the churches that are going to be exposed by our Lord’s evaluations. 1 John 4, verse 1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God. Because many, here it is again, false prophets, false apostles, false teachers, many false prophets are gone out in the world. Notice, not few, but many. Jesus said in Matthew 24, there’ll be many false prophets and many false messiahs. That’s going to happen in the last days. Many false prophets are gone out in the world. Verse 2, by this know ye the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. 1 Corinthians 12, 3 says, no man can say that he is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. No man can make that kind of commitment. Every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. And this is that spirit of Antichrist of which you have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world. If it was in the world then, what do you suppose we got now? Ye are of God, little children, have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world. The world heareth them. We are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us. He that is not of God heareth not us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. We need discernment, and we need it more than ever.
SPEAKER 02 :
That’s David Hawking, and this is Hope for Today. David’s back in just a moment to close out today’s study time. First, though, Matt Hawking is here, and we’re going to share something we think you’re going to love.
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Matt? This month, we’re featuring a special price on my dad’s book, Babylon, its history and prophecies. It’s a study guide and commentary of scriptures addressing Babylonianism. Normally $15, but just $10 in June.
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Matt, the ancient city of Babylon holds a pivotal place in Bible prophecy, symbolizing human pride and the idolatrous world system opposed to God that Babylon was famous for.
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You know, Scripture declares that Babylon’s ultimate fate is one of sudden divine judgment. The prophet Isaiah foretold Babylon will be overthrown like Sodom and Gomorrah and never inhabited again, a prophecy echoed in Jeremiah. Yeah.
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And in the New Testament, Revelation chapter 17 and 18 pick up on that theme. You know, John describes an end times Babylon the Great doomed to fall under God’s wrath.
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Yeah, as an angel announces, Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen. And a heavenly voice calls God’s people to come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins.
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It’s an authoritative warning that reminds you and me and everyone listening that no matter how powerful the Babylonian world system appears, it is prevalent and powerful today, isn’t it?
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And the Lord’s going to ultimately judge it, urging God’s people to remain faithful and untainted amid a fallen world.
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Well, again, we’re featuring a special price on David’s book, Babylon, Its History and Prophecies. Now, normally $15, just $10 in June. Order at davidhocking.org.
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DavidHawking.org or call us in Canada at 1-888-75-BIBLE. In the U.S., call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE. And Bible by the Numbers is 242-53.
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And your resource purchase today or a donation right now are vital. Hope for today is a listener-sponsored ministry. Please pray for us. And prayerfully consider joining with us in future ministry, proclaiming the gospel and building up the body of Christ. Well, Matt, just before your dad returns, you know, folks, if you ever miss a broadcast of Hope for Today, or maybe you want to hear a message again, you can listen anytime you like at davidhawking.org. And while you’re on the website, be sure to check out our free Hope for Today monthly newsletter. This is a bright, powerful resource with encouragement, ministry updates, and insight to strengthen your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. To request to subscribe, if you will, to the Hope for Today newsletter or to contact us for any reason, call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. Now, if you prefer to write us, the address in the U.S., Hope for Today, Box 3927. Tustin, California, 92781. In Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO, Seven Oaks, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 8P1. Let’s get back to David.
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Thanks for listening to Hope for Today, and I’m enjoying Revelation and teaching it, and I hope you are too. Now, if you missed a broadcast, you could go to our website, davidhocking.org, and pick it up. So, we got a lot of stuff about Revelation, including our book called Understanding the Future. Well, It’s been wonderful for me because we all need to review, review, review. Keep studying the book of Revelation. It’s amazing what you see that you didn’t see the first time you went through it. And so we’re trying to be careful and to take every single word as very important for our learning and admonition of today. If you are a little bit like the church at Ephesus, then the subject of neglected priorities hits you right between the eyes. You have left your first love. He didn’t say you lost it. You left it. You’re drifting away, and it’s serious, and you need to repent and get back on track with the Lord. How about that? Is that where you are? It’s time to do something about it. Why don’t you call on the Lord today and repent of neglected priorities?
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God bless. Well, before we close, we want to offer you a free resource called Revival Now. This is a powerful free download for believers who know they need to return to the Lord. And if that’s you or someone you care about, if you’re feeling dry or frustrated in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, go to our website, davidhawking.org, and right there on the homepage, you can download Revival Now. And by the way, if you missed any part of today’s broadcast, you can catch up anytime you like, again, at davidhawking.org. The most recent programs are available to stream for a limited time. And also, while you’re on the website, take a close look at David’s book, Revelation, Understanding the Future. This is a clear verse-by-verse commentary through the entire book of Revelation, some additional teaching to what you’re hearing here on radio in our Revelation series. And Revelation, Understanding the Future is just $20. You can order that or give a gift to support this ministry when you call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE. That’s in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. You can also give or order online at davidhawking.org. Thanks for standing with us to bring God’s Word to a world that desperately needs biblical truth. Well, join us next time for more in the book of Revelation right here on Hope for Today.
