Overcoming Displaced Love

OVERCOMING DISPLACED LOVE REVELATION 2:1-7 I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." Revelation 2:3-5 THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS: Jesus' words to these seven churches is that they make every effort to ___________________ & receive His promised reward. The city of Ephesus was culturally influential. This made the church at Ephesus a _________________ outpost for the Gospel. The church at Ephesus was vibrant and dynamic. They were... * Fervent in their ___________________. * Orthodox in their _________________. * Patient in ________________________. Looking for a church home? This is one you'd want to join! "BUT..." A SURPRISING CONDEMNATION: The church at Ephesus had ____________________ the love for Jesus that they had at __________. "You've left your first love." OVERCOMING DISPLACED LOVE REVELATION 2:1-7 I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." Revelation 2:3-5 THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS: Jesus' words to these seven churches is that they make every effort to ___________________ & receive His promised reward. The city of Ephesus was culturally influential. This made the church at Ephesus a _________________ outpost for the Gospel. The church at Ephesus was vibrant and dynamic. They were... * Fervent in their ___________________. * Orthodox in their _________________. * Patient in ________________________. Looking for a church home? This is one you'd want to join! "BUT..." A SURPRISING CONDEMNATION: The church at Ephesus had ____________________ the love for Jesus that they had at __________. "You've left your first love." Secondary things _________________ the primary thing (love for Jesus) and the primary thing became secondary. Have ministry outcomes displaced the __________? Are we so busy serving Jesus that we've stopped loving Jesus? Has doing things "for" Jesus kept us from intimacy "with" Jesus? THE CONSEQUENCE & CURE: Jesus threatens to turn _______ the lights in a church that continues in a state of displaced love. It's a really big deal! Have the competitors for "first place" in your heart displaced your love for Jesus? Be careful. It happens __________________. Jesus offers a three-fold cure for displaced love. 1. __________________. Memory is the handmaiden to revival. 2. ______________. Express sorrow and change your thinking. 3. ______________. Repeat the works (not the feelings) you did when you first started following Jesus. TO THE ONE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR... God's Spirit is speaking to our church today. The question is whether or not we're going to _______________. How will you respond to what the Spirit of God is saying today? Secondary things _________________ the primary thing (love for Jesus) and the primary thing became secondary. Have ministry outcomes displaced the __________? Are we so busy serving Jesus that we've stopped loving Jesus? Has doing things "for" Jesus kept us from intimacy "with Jesus?" THE CONSEQUENCE & CURE: Jesus threatens to turn _______ the lights in a church that continues in a state of displaced love. It's a really big deal! Have the competitors for "first place" in your heart displaced your love for Jesus? Be careful. It happens __________________. Jesus offers a three-fold cure for displaced love. 1. __________________. Memory is the handmaiden to revival. 2. ______________. Express sorrow and change your thinking. 3. ______________. Repeat the works (not the feelings) you did when you first started following Jesus. TO THE ONE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR... God's Spirit is speaking to our church today. The question is whether or not we're going to _______________. How will you respond to what the Spirit of God is saying today?