So, the Lord tells John to write these things, and He begins with Ephesus: “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My Name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick [out of his place, except thou repent,” Revelation 2, verses 1-5].

You see, a church is a church of Christ as far as—but only as far as—it possesses the qualities of the church you read about in the Bible. When you don’t possess those qualities, the Lord “removes the candlestick.” Put a big sign out in front: CHURCH OF CHRIST, but beware that unless it possesses the qualities of the church of Christ, the Lord may come and remove our candlestick if we don’t rise up against the forces of evil and tell them [people in the Lord’s church and people in the world] about God.

God is the God of hope! He is our only hope! Woe unto them that go down to Egyptto buy the horses to fight their battles! [WoetothemthatgodowntoEgypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not untothe Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! Isaiah 31:1.] Not enough strength there to win the battle [The Israelites sought the strength of men, but did not “look unto the Holy One of Israel,” and did not “seek the LORD.”]. Let’s go to God for our strength.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,” [Proverbs 14:34]. Oh, what a challenge and what a task we have—to rise up and stand against the forces of evil today, while we have a voice and while we can speak up! That’s the challenge to the church today! But, you know, we’ll not think of it as bad news, because it’s out of the challenge of the necessity of doing the thing that great things are accomplished! When we have the boldness and the courage to do for God [to rise up and stand against the forces of evil today for God], God will use us and we will see the victory! That’s the Good News. God will supply our needs. [“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:19]. Our God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, [accordingto the power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:20]. God and Christ Jesus are working on us, but They need us to work with Them. What great news God is to all of us!

Say, my friend, if you are not a child of God, you ought not go home tonight and put your head on your pillow to sleep until you have become a child of God. Don’t wait until you have to cry the cry of the atheist…

“Somebody, somewhere, love me!” “Somebody, somewhere, love me!”