Test the Teachers

By

Shelby G. Floyd

August 2, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

The author of the letter to the church of Ephesus is Jesus Christ. (Revelation 2: 1-3.) This letter is a part of the revelation which God gave to Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ gave to an angel, the angel signified to John, and John wrote it down in a book and sent it to the churches. (Revelation 1: 1-2.) A great blessing is pronounced upon those who read, hear and keep those things which are written in the last book of the Bible. (Revelation 1: 3.) John received this wonderful disclosure while he was on the Isle of Patmos. He heard a great voice behind him as the voice of a trumpet, loud, distinct and clear. When he turned to see who was speaking, he saw seven golden candlesticks and in the midst of those golden candlesticks he saw the glorified Christ, like unto the son of man, and he had in his right hand seven stars. (Revelation 1: 9-19.)

 

The Mystery of the Seven Stars and Seven Golden Candlesticks

 

Jesus explained the mystery of the stars and the seven golden candlesticks: “The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1: 20.) The seven angels of the seven churches were the messengers of the churches and were in the hand of Christ; and therefore, should look to him for their support. Since Christ is the author of the letter, and since he walks in the midst of all the churches, he knows and sees all that is going on in the various congregations (cf. John 2: 24-25.) God knows our thoughts and the intents of our hearts. (cf. Hebrews 4: 13.) David said, “Search me, 0 God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139: 23-24.)

 

The Ephesians Tested the Spirits (Wicked Men)

 

There were several things about the church of Ephesus which were right, and Jesus commended them for the right. Their works, labor and patience were ap­proved by Christ. (Revelation 2: 2.) Our work of faith, labor of love and patience of hope is neither forgotten by faithful men of God nor by the Father himself. (1 Thessalonians 1: 30.) Jesus also commended the Ephesian church for testing false teachers and withdrawing from evil men. He said, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.” (Revelation 2: 2.) We are commanded to bear with those who are weak, but we should never condone those who are evil. (Galatians 6: 2.) There were men in the days of the apostles who claimed to be apostles of Christ, even as there are certain men today who say that they are apostles. The church of Ephesus tried them, weighed them in the balances and found them wanting, and there­fore rejected them as imposters and liars.

 

To the Corinthians, Paul spoke of such teachers when he said, “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 of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11: 13-15.) Those who said they were apostles were proved by the Ephesians to be imposters and therefore they would not bear with them, not even for an hour. The word tested means to make trial of; test something for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself; this, the Ephesians did to those who claimed to be apostles coming into their midst.

 

Warn a Divisive Person and Then Have Nothing to Do With Him

 

If we would be commended by Christ, we must not believe every spirit that comes our way, but we must test and try the spirits to see whether they are of God. Everyone who listens to and obeys the apostle’s doctrine is of God, and those who do not are not of God. (1 John 4: 1-6.) Therefore, every child of God is obligated to prove and reprove the unfruitful works of darkness and have no fellowship with them. (Ephesians 5: 10-11.) We are emphatically commanded to note any man who will not obey the word of Christ and have no company with him that he may be ashamed, yet counting him not as an enemy but admonishing him as a brother. (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3: 6, 14-15.) But a factious man who draws away dis­ciples after him is divisive and should be rejected. “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Titus 3: 10-11.)

 

We Must Hate What Christ Hates

 

Jesus also commended the Ephesian church regarding their attitude toward worldly deeds and doctrine. “But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” (Revelation 2: 6.) The Nicolaitans were the teachers of the new morality in the days of the apostles. They encouraged worldliness and sensual living. The church today must take a strong stand against all forms of worldliness. (cf. Jude 4; Titus 2: 11-14.) To be pleasing to God we must not love what Christ hates, neither should we hate what Christ loves.

 

We Must Not Help the Wicked

 

Ahab was the wicked king of Israel. Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up to see Ahab who per­suaded him to join in battle with him at Ramoth-Gilead. Jehoshaphat helped a person who hated God, even though Micaiah, a faithful prophet of God, predicted that Ahab would fall at Ramoth-Gilead. Jehoshaphat listened to all of the false prophets which spoke lies, but Ahab fell just as the prophet had said. After the battle Jehoshaphat returned to his house in Jerusalem in peace, but Jehu went out to meet him and said, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.” (2 Chronicles 19: 2.) No, we should not love that which the Lord hates; neither should we hate that which God loves.

 

We Must Love What Christ Loves

 

The Ephesian church hated what Christ hated, but they didn’t love what Christ loved; therefore, Jesus also knew something about them that was not right. “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” (Rev. 2: 4.)  They had one fault; they had left their first love, which was their first works. (Revelation 2: 5.)  They could overcome this deficiency by remembering their former state from which they had fallen, repenting of their sins and doing the first works. (Revelation 2:5.)  All congregations of God’s people must do this or else he will remove that candlestick!  Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved