Revelation 2:1-2; I Know Thy Works

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Revelation 2:1-2 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:

Jesus says, “I know thy works and labour”. I know what is going on in your life, what you are doing in your life! This knowledge “oida” is the Greek word for a “fullness of knowledge”, a full and complete knowledge, an absolute knowledge of the situation in Ephesus as opposed to another word for knowledge “ginosko” in Greek which speaks of the progress of knowledge.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

He began with a commendation. Jesus praises them for their works, labouring, a toiling to the point of exhaustion. They have exerted themselves physically and mentally going through hardship in their labour for the Lord! This is a church that is active, a serving church, busy about the Lord’s business. By good works, they were not pew warmers but can be seen at prayer meetings, going on missions, actively serving in the fellowship groups. These are those who put their faith to work, they have a faith that works.

They were not only actively serving but were also patient – they were able to endure trials, thriving under difficult circumstances – And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. You have not capitulated under the weight of the temptations and trials that came your way. As Paul says to Timothy, “a good soldier of Jesus Christ” must be able to endure hardness. To be able to stick it out, they were steadfast in their service for the Lord, abounding in the work of the Lord. That is commendable. That is the word “patient”.

Psalm 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Amen.