Friday | 28 August 2026
Jesus addressed the presbytery in Ephesus as the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the middle of the seven golden lampstands. Rev 2:1. He is seated upon His throne at the right hand of God. However, He walks among His lampstand churches through the ministry of the seven stars in His right hand. Jesus commended the presbytery in Ephesus for their commitment to Christian living. They refused to normalise immoral or unsanctified behaviour. Furthermore, the Ephesian presbytery did not receive self-proclaimed apostles who travelled as itinerant messengers with their own self-defined ministry. Rev 2:2. Jesus also commended the Ephesian presbytery because they had laboured for His name’s sake and had not grown weary. Rev 2:3.
However, despite all of this, Jesus rebuked the presbytery in Ephesus because they had left their first love. Jesus said, ‘Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly [in judgement] and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent.’ Rev 2:5. First love is the fellowship of Yahweh. It describes the fellowship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one Spirit. First love is revealed by the fellowship of offering in which one lays down life to reveal another.
It is important to recognise that there is a restoration to first love, and an expression of the first works, for an individual son of God, a married couple, a household, an extended household, a presbytery, and a congregation. The first works are the works of our faith obedience as a disciple. The first work for an individual son of God is to present themselves to the presbytery to be discipled in relation to what it means to abide in the name of the Father, the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Spirit. The fellowship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the fellowship of first love.
Further Study:
Revelation 2
References:
Rev 2:1-3
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, “I know your works, your labour, 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 laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary.” ’
Rev 2:5
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.