Rekindling Our First Love for God

 

Summary

In my recent sermon, I addressed a critical issue that affects many believers: the subtle and often unnoticed drift from our first love for God. This drift is not a sudden departure but a gradual movement away from the depth of love and passion we once had for Jesus. It's a phenomenon that can happen to anyone, even those actively participating in church life and spiritual practices.

I began by discussing the importance of self-reflection, urging everyone to consider whether they have experienced this drift in their own lives. I referenced Jesus' words in Matthew 15:7-9, where He rebukes the Pharisees for honoring God with their lips while their hearts were far from Him. This scripture serves as a mirror for us to examine our own hearts and ask if we are merely going through the motions or if our love for God is as deep as it once was.

I shared the story of the church in Ephesus, as told in Revelation 2:1-7, where the believers were commended for their hard work and endurance but were also admonished for having lost their first love. I connected this with the book of Ephesians, where Paul writes extensively about the love of God and the importance of being rooted in that love. Over time, the Ephesians drifted from this love, prompting the Holy Spirit to address it through John's letter.

I explained that drift can happen due to various factors, such as distractions, aimlessness, negative influences, or simply doing nothing. Drift is a natural part of life, but it always takes us away from God, not towards Him. To illustrate this point, I shared a personal anecdote about drifting in the ocean without realizing it until I was far from where I intended to be.

The solution to this drift is found in the story of The Prodigal Son from Luke 15. The son's journey of recognition, repentance, and return serves as a blueprint for us. We must recognize our spiritual condition, repent by changing our mind and direction, and return to the Father, who eagerly awaits us with open arms.

I concluded with an invitation for an altar call, not for salvation but for believers to acknowledge their drift and take a step towards realigning their hearts with God's. This moment was an opportunity for us to respond to God's gentle call to return to our first love.

Key Takeaways:

- The drift from our first love for God is a gradual process that can affect even the most devout believers. It requires constant vigilance and self-reflection to ensure that our hearts remain aligned with God's. This alignment is not about perfection but about maintaining a passionate pursuit of God's presence in our lives. [49:33]

- True repentance involves more than feeling remorse; it is about a transformative change of mind and direction. When we realize we have drifted, we must not only feel sorrow but also make a conscious decision to return to God. This return is an active step, not a passive wish, and it is essential for restoring our relationship with the Father. [29:23]

- The story of The Prodigal Son is not just a narrative about a one-time return to God but a cautionary tale about the ongoing risk of drift in our spiritual lives. We must see ourselves in both the younger and the older son, recognizing that drift can happen both far from home and within the Father's house. [33:42]

- Our love for God is meant to be deep and rooted, not shallow and fleeting. The church in Ephesus was once known for its love, but over time, it became shallow. We must strive to understand the breadth, length, height, and depth of God's love and let it be the foundation of our lives, preventing our love from becoming shallow. [09:34]

- Drift can occur when we become complacent, distracted by the world, or lose our sense of purpose. To combat drift, we must actively engage with our faith, prioritize our relationship with God, and be mindful of the influences in our lives. By doing so, we can stay on course and grow closer to God each day. [21:42]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Revelation 2:1-7 - The letter to the church in Ephesus.
2. Matthew 15:7-9 - Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for honoring God with their lips while their hearts are far from Him.
3. Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son.

#### Observation Questions
1. What commendations does Jesus give to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-3 before addressing their main issue? [02:22]
2. According to Matthew 15:7-9, what is the main criticism Jesus has against the Pharisees? [15:06]
3. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), what are the key steps the younger son takes to return to his father? [25:31]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that the church in Ephesus was praised for their hard work and endurance but criticized for losing their first love? How does this relate to the concept of "going through the motions" in our faith? [03:30]
2. How does Jesus' rebuke in Matthew 15:7-9 serve as a mirror for self-reflection in our own spiritual lives? What does it mean to honor God with our lips but have hearts far from Him? [15:06]
3. In the story of The Prodigal Son, what does the son's journey of recognition, repentance, and return teach us about the process of realigning our hearts with God? [25:31]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Have you experienced a drift from your first love for God? What factors contributed to this drift, and how did you recognize it? [12:48]
2. The sermon mentioned that drift can occur due to distractions, aimlessness, negative influences, or simply doing nothing. Which of these factors do you find most challenging in your own life, and how can you address it? [21:42]
3. True repentance involves a transformative change of mind and direction. Can you identify a specific area in your life where you need to repent and return to God? What steps will you take to make this change? [29:23]
4. The story of The Prodigal Son highlights the importance of returning to the Father. Is there a specific action you can take this week to draw closer to God, such as spending more time in prayer, reading the Bible, or serving others? [30:02]
5. The sermon emphasized the need for constant vigilance and self-reflection to maintain our love for God. How can you incorporate regular self-reflection into your spiritual practices to ensure your heart remains aligned with God's? [49:33]
6. The older son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son stayed home but still drifted in his heart. How can you ensure that your participation in church activities is driven by genuine love for God rather than mere duty or routine? [33:42]
7. The sermon concluded with an invitation for believers to acknowledge their drift and take a step towards realigning their hearts with God. What practical steps can you take this week to respond to God's gentle call to return to your first love? [35:34]

Devotional

Day 1: Guarding Against Spiritual Drift
The subtle departure from our initial fervor for God requires vigilant self-examination to prevent spiritual drift. Recognizing this gradual process is the first step in maintaining a dynamic and passionate relationship with the Divine. It's not about achieving perfection but about persistently seeking God's presence in our lives. This pursuit is a conscious effort to stay connected to our first love, ensuring that our hearts are truly engaged and not just going through the motions. [49:33]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" - 2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV

Reflection: Reflect on your daily spiritual practices. Are they done out of habit or genuine love for God? How can you revitalize your relationship with Him starting today?

Day 2: The Heart of Repentance
True repentance is a transformative process that involves a complete change of mind and direction. It's not merely feeling sorry for our actions but making an active decision to turn back to God. This change is essential for restoring our relationship with Him and requires a heartfelt response to His call. When we realize we have drifted, it's crucial to not only acknowledge our sorrow but to take deliberate steps to realign our hearts with God's. [29:23]

"Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, 'Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips.'" - Hosea 14:1-2 ESV

Reflection: What is one specific way you have drifted from God, and what practical step can you take today to begin your journey back to Him?

Day 3: The Perpetual Risk of Drifting
The story of The Prodigal Son is a powerful illustration of the ongoing risk of spiritual drift, which can occur both far from and within the Father's house. It's a reminder that no one is immune to the dangers of complacency and that constant vigilance is necessary. Recognizing ourselves in both sons helps us understand that we must actively guard against the drift in our spiritual journey, whether we are near or far from our spiritual home. [33:42]

"Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven." - Lamentations 3:40-41 ESV

Reflection: In what ways do you identify with the younger or older son in the story of The Prodigal Son, and how can this understanding help you prevent spiritual drift in your own life?

Day 4: Deeply Rooted in Love
Our love for God is meant to be profound and enduring, not superficial and transient. The church in Ephesus serves as a cautionary example of how a once vibrant love can become shallow over time. Understanding the full dimensions of God's love is crucial for establishing a firm foundation in our lives, which in turn prevents our love from becoming superficial. We must strive to comprehend and experience the love of God in all its fullness to keep our spiritual lives from becoming shallow. [09:34]

"And may you have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:18-19 ESV

Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding and experience of God's love this week, and what impact would that have on your daily life?

Day 5: Actively Engaging with Faith
Drift can occur when we become complacent or distracted by the world, losing our sense of purpose. To combat this, we must actively engage with our faith, prioritize our relationship with God, and be mindful of the influences in our lives. Staying on course requires intentional actions and decisions that bring us closer to God each day. By doing so, we can ensure that our spiritual journey is marked by growth and closeness to God. [21:42]

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." - Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV

Reflection: What distractions are currently leading you away from God, and what changes can you make to your daily routine to refocus on Him?

Quotes

"You don't love me or each other as you did at first... you have lost the depth of love that you first had for me and that's not what you want to hear from God ever." [04:06] ( | | )

"Ephesians 5:15 and 16 it says be very careful then how you live not as unwise but as wise making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil." [05:45] ( | | )

"I wonder if John and Paul are talking to the same people... Paul is writing to in Revelation Chapter 2... to a group in Ephesus... how does what John has to say to them in Revelation connect to what Paul had to say to them in Ephesians." [07:08] ( | | )

"Ephesians chapter 3... your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong... and may you have the power to understand as all God's people should how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is." [08:59] ( | | )

"God is exactly where he's always been, where he's always supposed to be. It's us who've drifted... if you aren't where you want to be with God, it's probably because you drifted." [20:09] ( | | )

"Nobody ever drifts towards God... you are going to drift, drift is a natural aspect of life... you do nothing and you drift but you will never drift towards God." [22:28] ( | | )

"Paul says Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love Incorruptible... John says you let it get corrupted... how did they go from being famous for their love... to 'you have lost the depth of love you first had'?" [11:31] ( | | )

"The father comes running out to meet him... when you take a step God comes running... it's a physical step to represent a spiritual step in our lives." [36:12] ( | | )

"If the depth of your love just isn't what it used to be... you recognize, you repent, and you return... we all need to actually take that step if there's a distraction that has caused us to lose our focus." [30:36] ( | | )

"The preacher says something everybody says amen so you throw a half second late Amen in there too... you're just mimicking the people around you... your Works without love are not enough." [34:53] ( | | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?