Chapter 6 – Ephesus: The Loveless Church (Tozer)
“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” — Revelation 2:4
They were strong. They were faithful. They were orthodox.
But they were cold.
The church in Ephesus had right doctrine and wrong desire. They defended truth but drifted from passion. They stood against heresy but forgot to kneel in adoration.
Jesus’ rebuke was not about laziness or false teaching — it was about love.
A.W. Tozer said, “The great danger facing the Church today is that she may have programs and activities, but she has lost the presence.”
The Loss of the Flame
Ephesus worked hard. They labored without quitting. They hated evil and exposed false apostles. But somewhere along the way, the fire cooled.
They loved the Word but lost wonder. They knew about God but no longer burned for Him.
Activity replaced intimacy. Duty replaced delight.
Tozer called this the missing heart of worship — the tragedy of being busy for God while being barren before Him.
Jesus, walking among the lampstands, saw the flickering light and said, “Remember… repent… and do the works you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5)
The Danger of Orthodoxy Without Awe
Truth without love becomes a weapon. Doctrine without devotion becomes idolatry.
We can be defenders of truth and still drift from the Truth Himself.
Tozer warned that knowledge of God must lead to encounter, or it becomes pride. “To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.”
The Ephesians had stopped pursuing. They had settled for being right rather than being close.
The modern Church has followed suit. We quote Scripture but rarely tremble. We sing about His presence but seldom sense it. We love the idea of God more than God Himself.
“The Father seeks worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23) Spirit and truth — not one or the other. Both together ignite holy fire.
Remember, Repent, Return
“Remember from where you have fallen.” (Revelation 2:5)
Jesus calls His Church to remember — not nostalgia, but gratitude.
Remember the joy of salvation. Remember the wonder of grace. Remember the moments when prayer was breath, when Scripture burned, when worship felt like home.
Then repent. Not from wickedness, but from coldness. From service without love. From truth without tears.
Repentance restores romance. Love rekindles obedience.
And then return. Not to a feeling, but to a Person.
The Holy Hunger
Tozer wrote, “The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God, and the Church is famishing for want of His presence.”
That hunger is the mark of revival. The love of God must again become our first pursuit — not ministry, not recognition, not results.
Love fuels holiness. Love births worship. Love sustains obedience.
Without love, all else collapses.
Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) Love is not sentiment — it is surrender.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: to dwell in the house of the Lord… to behold His beauty. (Psalm 27:4)
That is first love.
The Lampstand Warning
Jesus’ final words to Ephesus were not suggestion — they were warning. “If you do not repent, I will remove your lampstand.” (Revelation 2:5)
A church can survive without money, without building, even without approval — but not without love.
The lampstand represents presence. When love fades, light goes out.
The fear of the Lord and the love of the Lord are not opposites — they are partners. Where love grows cold, reverence dies. Where reverence returns, love ignites.
“Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28–29)
Reflection Questions
Have I replaced passion with performance?
Do I still hunger for His presence more than His blessings?
When did I last feel the flame of first love?
What must I repent of to rekindle it?
Prayer
Lord, restore my first love.
Burn away coldness and pride.
Teach me to seek You, not just to serve You.
Let my labor be born of love, not obligation.
Fill Your Church again with holy hunger — the fire of worship and the fragrance of devotion.
Let our lampstand burn bright until the day You return.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
