The Fire of our Love Diminishing -- Rev 2:4-5. (Preached in Tavistock FPC, Devon, England) The church at Ephesus had an honourable history. It had been planted by Paul who continued with it for upward of three years. Timothy also pastored it for a period and then years later John the apostle laboured there. It was from there, in a time of fierce persecution, that he was banished by the Roman Emperor, Domitian to the island of Patmos. During this time there had been many enemies of the cross opposing the work. I Tim 1/20, II Tim 1/15, 2/17, 4/4. But these had been overcome. This is clear from the words of commendation in this letter, verse 2. But while they had escaped the snares of evil teachers and false doctrine they had fallen foul of another spiritual malady -- a diminishing of their love.