Return to Your First Love

Study

Revelation 2:1–5 NKJV

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

John 15:1–5 NKJV

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

‘Left your First Love’ = ἀνίημιc; ἀφίημιi; περιαιρέωd: to stop doing something, with the implication of complete cessation—‘to give up, to stop, to quit.’

‘Remember’ = recall to mind.

Thoughts:

You can do all that is in verse 2 to 3 and still not love Jesus.

How is it possible to do all those thing for God and not love Him at the same time?

This is Jesus talking to the Church which gives it even more relevance for today.

In John 15:1-5 Jesus makes it perfectly clear that it is impossible for us to bear good fruit if we do not abide in Him.

Return to Your First Love (Sermon)

Share my testimony of my breakdown in December 2017.

I was invited to preach at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Rockhampton.

I was tired and just wanted to rest and cry.

The first night at Rockhampton was the night that changed my life.

It was the night that Jesus showed me how selfish I had become in my life.

From that night on, God was about to do a transformation in me that well past the place where it should have happened, the begining.

I share this with you as it is something that I feel so many of us are guilty of doing, We are trying to be really good christians, but not loving Jesus.

We are striving to please God, but not trying to love God.

Today I would like to share with you the steps I put in place that has seen God change me from the inside out.

In doing so, God taught me three big lessons that I will share with you.

God is not concerned with how busy you are, He just wants you. (Rev 2:2-3)

Change has to start with you. (Rev 2:4-5)

I cannot bear fruit unless I abide in Christ. (John 15:1-5)

So what is true genuine Christianity?

It is having an intimate personal relationship with Jesus.

It is your willingness to know God more and more.

It is bearing fruit from God out of an intimate relationship with Jesus.