Page 104 - LD215 History of the Church in Africa A4 final

A History of the Church in Africa

remove your lampstand from its place” (Revelation 2:5). To make this
personal, what were the “things you did at first”?

When one studies the history of the church at Ephesus that is
recorded in the book of Acts and in Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, it is
easy to observe the results of a first love. The Ephesian Christians were
characterized by love for the Lord, for their fellow believers, and for
those outside of the Kingdom. They were Pentecostal (Spirit-filled) and
missional in nature, for that was their first love (Acts 19). The church
saw miracles and experienced great growth (Acts 19:11–20); however,
by the time Christ looked at the church at the time of John’s vision
(Revelation 2), it was drifting backward. The believers were still working
for the Kingdom, but their love and zeal had cooled (Revelation 2:4).
Believers in the church at Ephesus were doomed unless they repented
and returned to the passion provided by the Holy Spirit.

The lessons from Revelation 2 and 3 are extremely important. As
the Lord makes clear, correct doctrine is not enough. And although
we may admire hard work and perseverance, something is more
important. While biblical training is essential, it will not move the
church to fulfill its mission until it is combined with the power of the
Holy Spirit and a passion for the Lord Jesus Christ. Arrington and
Stronstad thus conclude:

Nor does a glorious past guarantee a bright future. Great churches
spring from a great passion for Jesus Christ (Psalms 42:1;
Luke 24:32). In such a climate, the gospel is proclaimed (Acts 19:10),
the sick healed, and demons exorcized (Acts 19:12). Sins are
confessed (Acts 19:18) and evil vanquished (Acts 19:19). In short,
the kingdom of God manifests itself in power. (1560)

We can apply the condition of the seven churches of Asia Minor
described in Revelation 2–3 to the church as a whole—past and present.
Paul exhorted Timothy on the value of the Word of God for the church:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Remember
that the Author of the seven letters was Jesus Christ, and He gave John
the revelation for the good of those who would hear it and take to heart
what was written in it because the time was near (Revelation 1:1–3).

::: 94 :::