Get Together – Come Back to Your First Love

Rev 2:1-4 “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 [b]patience, and that you cannot [c]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.

A few weeks ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart about something. I was beginning to allow some bitterness to come into my spirit in relationship to some of the current events that are going on in our nation and throughout the world. He reminded me about something that I have always preached and taught. That what we put in our spirit will dictate how that we relate to God and to others.
One of the things that He had me to back off of was how much of the news that I was either listening to in my vehicle, watching on television, or reading off social media, or the internet. I am talking not only news that I disagreed with, but also news that for the most part I agreed with. Before I go any further, I believe that we are to be informed. We need to be like the tribe of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32 “they had an understanding of the times.”
To be honest I have had some great times in my quiet time each morning and at other times with the Lord. But again, I noticed that when I watched certain things in the media, listened to much to talk radio while I was driving and read everything on social media about what is going on in our current culture, I was going past righteous anger and getting into bitterness and a critical spirit.
The Holy Spirit then brought back to my remembrance that when I first got saved that I listened to nothing, but worship music, and prayed while I was in my vehicle. On the other hand, sometimes I would just be silent and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Again, I do believe that we need to be informed, but with social media the way it is today we can often end up putting things in our spirit that may cause us to become poison drinkers. We can leave our first love although we have not backslidden, or gone into a rebellious sinful lifestyle.
Let us look at some of what Jesus had to say to a church facing extreme persecution. They were facing persecution from the ungodly pagan Roman Emperors Nero and Domitian. They were of sound doctrine. If there ever was a time that we need to be of sound doctrine it is now. They were a patient people. They didn’t tolerate evil. They tested false apostles. They persevered, they didn’t grow weary, and they labored. Everyone of those things are good things and are certainly things that are things any Pastor would love to see taking place in the church.
Jesus is commending them for this. As the greatest leader of all time, He certainly wanted to commend them for these characteristics. And as the greatest leader of all time who loves the church, He certainly wanted to point out to them where they were lacking. They had left their first love.
I think what He is saying is that we can sometimes leave that first love a little bit by a little bit. It is not like we make a conscious decision to walk away. But it is more like something we may place in the water and it slowly drifts away.
Last week as I was taking some time to really seek the Lord in a special way, He spoke that gently to me. He told me to get that music back on in my truck. He told me to use that as a time to commune with Him in prayer and listening. He assured me that He was going to take care of me in this culture that is so hostile to the Gospel and a biblical worldview on marriage, life, and that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
Remember as we are told in Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. When we leave our first love it is so easy to get drawn into fleshly battles. Then we are set up for the enemy to come and discredit our witness for Jesus Christ.
There is good news for us when we repent from things that may cause us to become bitter. There is good news for us when we hear the voice of God and let go of those things that may give us a critical spirit and cause us to view others in a way that will hinder us from winning them to Christ. Jesus had this to say about it in Re 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”‘ That is the tree that we eat from when we are fellowshipping with our first love 24/7 seven days a week. Whether in our vehicle, or quiet time at home, or anywhere else.

Let us Pray
Lord Jesus we know that we have to be aware of the things that are happening in our culture. On the other hand Lord, we know that we can get consumed by reading and listening to so many things that it sometimes crowds out the time that we need to hear from you. Lord help us in any area that the devil may use to get our focus off of you. Help us to enjoy those sweet sweet times when we worship you and when we read your word not out of duty, but out of having a Holy conversation with You. We do pray for our nation. Lord we pray that You would bring a Holy Spirit Awakening to this nation. Revive our hearts and help us to continually fellowship with You our first love.
In Jesus Name
Amen

The Holy Spirit was singing The Goodness of God to me when I woke up this morning. It sure is a blessing when Your first love wakes you up singing to you! Love you all!
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston