Scripture Reading: Revelation 2:1-7

If We Leave Our First Love

Intro.

1. All Christians face times of temptation, trial, discouragement, and doubt, Acts 14:22.

2. How we deal with these times reflects our faith, Jas. 1:2-4 (1 Cor. 10:13).

3. What can a person do when he has lost desire to pray and serve God? What to do when we have left our first love, Rev. 2:4-5.

I. LOSING OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST, Rev. 2:4-5.

A. Christ (the Bridegroom) is Our First (preeminent, supreme) Love, Eph. 5:23-24, 30-32.

B. How Could this Happen to the Church like Ephesus?

1. Many commendable things, Rev. 2:2-3.

2. Somewhere along the line, the church’s chief motivation for these good works, their love for Christ, faded (2-3), Jno. 14:15.

3. Their heart was no longer right toward Christ.

II. REKINDLING OUR FIRST LOVE, Rev. 2:5.

A. Remember from Where You Have Fallen, Rev. 2:5.

1. “Recall the former days…,” Heb. 10:32; Gal. 5:7.

2. Remember God’s love, grace, and mercy, Rom. 5:8-11; Eph. 1:3.

B. Repent toward God, Rev. 2:5. Lk. 15:17

1. Godly sorrow (genuine mourning) over our sins, 2 Cor. 7:9-10 (A broken and contrite heart, Isa. 57:15; 66:2).

2. Change your mind toward sin, Rom. 2:5; 1 Jno. 2:15.

C. Return to the First Works, Rev. 2:5 (Lk. 3:8) (change your life).

1. Return to faithful service of God, Rom. 12:1 (cf. 1 Sam. 7:3).

2. Grow in your works of faith, Rev. 2:19 (Heb. 5:12).

3. Exercise endurance, Heb. 10:35-36.

III. THINGS WE CAN DO TO RETURN TO OUR FIRST LOVE.

A. Hear the Wake-Up Call, Eph. 5:14.

1. Wake up, Rom. 13:11.

2. Clean up, Rom. 13:12-13.

3. Grow up, Rom. 13:14.

B. Renew Our Spiritual Priorities, Matt. 6:33.

1. Devoted seriousness to faithful living, Matt. 22:1-5.

2. Personal sacrifices to live by faith, Gal. 2:20.

C. Trust More in the Lord and Less in Ourselves, Jas. 4:13-17.

1. Do away with the self-reliant, self-sufficient, arrogant view of life, and look to Jesus, Heb. 12:1-3.

2. Be humble and deliberately thrown your burdens on Him, 1 Pet. 5:6-7. How? 2 Cor. 12:7-10

D. Worship Regularly and Pray Always, Heb. 10:24-25; Eph. 6:18.

E. Renounce Shameful Things, 2 Cor. 4:1-2 (lit. to “say off;” disown).

F. Accept Encouragement from Others, Gal. 6:2; Isa. 35:3-4 (Heb. 12:12). Accept loving concern from brethren; Be loving to others.

G. Read Your Bible Every Day, Psa. 119:14-16.

H. Bear Someone’s Burden, Gal. 6:2, 9-10 (1 Cor. 15:57-58).

Conclusion

1. Restore the joy of salvation (Psa. 51:12).

2. Remember, repent, and return to loving Jesus with obedient, faithful living, Rev. 2:5.

By: Joe R. Price

Posted December 8, 2020