Dan Nickerson – March 15th, 2021
(Revelation 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; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. The church in Ephesus was commended from the Lord for several things, things that would make any church body happy if they were to hear these same things from the LORD. I wonder if we as Christians today would even be concerned with what our Lord thought of our performance. The church in Ephesus took a stand against the “Nicolaitans.” Who were they? Well to help us define who they were let’s look at the definition of their name. The word “Nicolaitans,” comes from the word “Nikao” which means to conquer, and the word “Laos” which means the people. Put those together and you have a people that want to be Lord’s over other people to control them. It is thought by some Bible scholars that one of the original Deacons (Acts 6:5) had developed a following of his own. Eventually, he began to lead those people away from the faith either through hierarchy control or through immorality. Whatever the case, what were deeds in (2:6) became doctrine in (2:15), and Ephesus is found standing against them, hating their deeds as much Jesus did.
As much as God knew their works, their labor, their patience, and that they could not bear those who are evil, He knows the same things among His church today. We can be a church where God’s people just meet to congratulate each other on our salvation, or we can be a church body where the saints worship and are equipped for service where we go out into the highways and byways with the gospel. God did not save the church to coast into heaven on flowery beds of ease. He saved us to be active with His gospel until we go home to glory (Ephesians 2:10) (Colossians 1:10). If Jesus was to speak to the church today (us) would He commend us for our labor in the gospel?
God also demands that we live separate from this evil world in our walk, in our talk, in our conduct, really in every part of our lives. This is the only way our light can shine in such a dark place (Matthew 5:16). If Jesus was to speak to the church today (us) would He commend us for being a separated people from the world that hates evil?
God expects us to know His word so that we can know the difference in what is true and false doctrine. Can we put to test true and false teachers with what we know in God’s Scriptures (Hebrews 5:12-13)? To many Christians believe everything they hear without testing what they hear against God’s word. They will listen to preachers and teachers on the radio, they will watch them on t.v., they will participate with them in activity, and they will let them into the ranks of the church without checking to see if their doctrine is correct. Let’s be a church body today that God would say of us…..“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.