Revelations 2:1–7 (NIV)
1"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands: 2 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. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for My name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

What does the seven golden lamp stands represent in verse 1? They represent His presence. What is the other thing that a lamp stand or a candle stick represents? It represents the illumination, revelation. That is powerful isn't it?

Verse 2 and 3 tells us that this was a working church. Now you would look at that church on the surface and you would think, "Man, give me that church, there is a whole church of doers there." But God wanted them to repent for not loving people authentically.

Verse 4 is dealing with the church for losing its first love because now it is just functioning. Here was a church that started off in great love. Have you ever seen a church like that: people are functioning; there is no real love and care or intercession for each other? There is a seduction there yet there is no getting down and weeping for somebody and just getting into the closet and praying a brother or sister through and really loving them in the spirit to see them strong and established in the Lord and in the power of His might.

The tree of life in verse 7 is revelation, hidden manner and He said that He will remove the lamp stand, which is the presence, the revelation; that presence where you just start weeping before Him and you just start loving Him and all of a sudden He starts to lead you in prayers for other people. Powerful isn't it?
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