THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS
                                                   (Rev. 2:1-7)

               1. ADDRESS TO THE ANGEL OR MESSENGER.  Rev. 2:1.

                   A. Message applied to the church in general.
                   B. Words of the text are meant to set forth the church and
                       its servants.

               11. A DESCRIPTION OF THE SPEAKER.
                    A. Holdeth the seven stars in His right hand.  Stars are the
                       angels or messengers of the church.
                   B.  Walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.
                       Candlesticks are the churches.  Rev. 1:20.
                   C.  "I know." The only one who really knows. jno. 2:24; Heb.
                       4:13.

              111.  THE CHURCH AND HER WORK.
                   A.  The church to be a light-Light is silent and gentle, but,
                       oh, so mighty.  Two things needed in burning:
                       1. To be lit.
                       2. To be fed.
                   B.  The members to have a character and influenced work,
                       as a society, not merely as individuals.
                   C.  Candlesticks are the churches; therefore, they are to sup-
                       port the light.
                  D.   Should be radiant, cheering, silent, penetrating, beneficent,
                       revealing.

             IV. WHAT WAS RIGHT WITH  THIS CHURCH? Vs. 2, 3 6
                  A.   Must work. Phil. I-1:12; jas. 2:14-26.
                  B.   "Thy patience," steadfastness. Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 15:58; 16:
                       13.
                  C.   Should not fellowship the evil. II Thess. 3:6; 1 Cor. 5:6, 11;
                       Matt. 18:17.
                  D.   Tried them which say they are apostles. Thus, doctrine is
                       important.  I Tim. 4:16; Matt. 15:9.
                  E.   Hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, but not the people.

             V. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THIS CHURCH?
                   A. Had left their first love.  Love had waned, had not turned
                       to hate.  Matt. 22:37; I Cor. 13:13. (Backward progress-

.                       like ball descending-at first slowly, then gaining speed,
                       faster and faster).
                   B. Did not take heed to themselves.  I Tim. 4:16; Acts 20. (At
                       first all things new-sin gone-tender and teachable.  Pri-
                       meval paradise of the soul).

             VI. ADMONITION,
                   A. "Remember." Learn to remember and forget; remember
                       what first love did for you.
                   B. "Repent." Acts 8:22.  Also pray.  Do thy first works.

             VII.  THREAT (Vs. 5)-"WILL REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK."
                      Candlestick supports the light.  No church can do without love.  Ex-
                      ample: Parents love children.  Do not hold grudge.

           VIII.  PROMISED REWARD TO THE OVERCOMER.  Vs. 7.
                   A. "Eat of the tree of life." Mentioned for the first time since
                       Gen. 3:24.
                   B. If hunger and thirst after righteousness, shall be filled.
                       Matt. 5:6.