Returning to Fervent Love for Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Rekindle Your First Love

The church in Ephesus was commended for its perseverance and doctrinal accuracy, yet it was admonished for losing its fervent love for Jesus. This love is not just an emotional feeling but a deep, abiding devotion that should permeate every aspect of life. Without this love, all other achievements are rendered meaningless in the eyes of God. The warning to the Ephesians is a call to repentance and a return to this first love, as the presence of the Lord is what truly defines a church. Without it, a church is derecognized by God, regardless of its size or activities. This message is a reminder to prioritize a passionate relationship with Christ above all else. [07:06]

"But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." (Revelation 2:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to rekindle your love for Jesus, making Him the central focus of your life once again?

Day 2: Overcoming Worldly Distractions

Many churches today have been derecognized by Christ due to their focus on worldly pursuits such as money and reputation. This is a call to overcome these distractions and return to a simple, fervent devotion to Christ. It requires a willingness to bear the reproach of Christ, even if it means being labeled as heretics or rebels by the larger, institutional church. The challenge is to maintain a focus on Christ, resisting the allure of worldly success and recognition. This involves a conscious decision to prioritize spiritual growth and integrity over material gain and societal approval. [11:41]

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one worldly distraction that is pulling you away from a deeper relationship with Christ. How can you begin to overcome this distraction today?

Day 3: God's Faithful Witnesses

Throughout history, God has maintained a witness to the true gospel through small, humble groups who prioritize the teachings of the apostles and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. These groups often operate outside the recognition of larger institutions, focusing instead on maintaining fervent love and devotion to Christ. This is a call to resist the natural tendency towards backsliding and the pull of worldly desires. By aligning with God's faithful witnesses, believers can ensure that their faith remains vibrant and true to the teachings of Christ. [12:27]

"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:26-27, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt part of a small, faithful community. How can you contribute to fostering such a community in your current context?

Day 4: Living by the Spirit

The early Christians, without access to printed Bibles, depended on the Holy Spirit for guidance and revelation. This is a call to cultivate a sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, ensuring that our lives and churches are aligned with God's will. Living by the Spirit involves a dynamic relationship with God, where believers are open to His guidance and direction in every aspect of life. It requires a willingness to listen and respond to the Spirit's promptings, allowing Him to shape and direct our paths. [24:32]

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:26, ESV)

Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to listen for the Holy Spirit's guidance and direction?

Day 5: Embracing Humility and Childlike Faith

Revelation by God is given to those with the spirit of a child, not the wise and intelligent. This is a call to approach scripture with humility and a willingness to learn, allowing God to speak and reveal His truths to us. Embracing a childlike faith means trusting in God's wisdom and guidance, even when it contradicts worldly knowledge or expectations. It involves a posture of openness and receptivity, where believers are eager to learn and grow in their understanding of God's will. [27:51]

"At that time Jesus declared, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.'" (Matthew 11:25-26, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a childlike faith and humility in your approach to God and His Word today?

Sermon Summary

In the letter to the church in Ephesus, there is a call to remember the fervent love they once had for Jesus, a love that has since waned. Despite their perseverance, doctrinal accuracy, and ability to expose false apostles, they have lost the fervent devotion that once defined them. The Lord warns that without repentance and a return to their first love, He will remove their lampstand, effectively derecognizing them as a church. This is a serious defect, as the presence of the Lord is what truly defines a church, not its size or activities.

The message is a reminder that many churches today may be functioning in name only, having lost the presence of Christ due to a focus on worldly pursuits, such as money and reputation. The call is for individuals to have ears to hear and to overcome these distractions, returning to a simple, fervent devotion to Christ. This involves a willingness to bear the reproach of Christ, even if it means being labeled as heretics or rebels by the larger, institutional church.

Throughout history, God has always maintained a witness to the true gospel, often through small, humble groups who prioritize the teachings of the apostles and the guidance of the Holy Spirit over institutional recognition. The challenge is to maintain this fervent love and devotion, resisting the natural tendency towards backsliding and the pull of worldly desires.

The message also emphasizes the importance of living by the Spirit, rather than relying solely on the printed word. The early Christians, without access to printed Bibles, depended on the Holy Spirit for guidance and revelation. This is a call to cultivate a sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, ensuring that our lives and churches are aligned with God's will.

Key Takeaways

1. Return to Your First Love: The call to the church in Ephesus is a reminder to return to the fervent love for Jesus that was once present. Without this love, all doctrinal accuracy and perseverance are worthless. The presence of the Lord is what truly defines a church, and without it, a church is derecognized by God. [07:06]
2. Beware of Worldly Distractions: Many churches today have been derecognized by Christ due to a focus on money and reputation. The call is to overcome these distractions and return to a simple, fervent devotion to Christ, even if it means bearing the reproach of Christ and being labeled as heretics by the larger church. [11:41]
3. God's Witness Throughout History: Throughout history, God has maintained a witness to the true gospel through small, humble groups who prioritize the teachings of the apostles and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is a call to maintain fervent love and devotion, resisting the natural tendency towards backsliding. [12:27]
4. Live by the Spirit: The early Christians, without access to printed Bibles, depended on the Holy Spirit for guidance and revelation. This is a call to cultivate a sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, ensuring that our lives and churches are aligned with God's will. [24:32]
5. Humility and Childlike Faith: Revelation by God is given to those with the spirit of a child, not the wise and intelligent. This is a call to approach scripture with humility and a willingness to learn, allowing God to speak and reveal His truths to us. [27:51]
** [27:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:58] - Remembering the Days of Paul
[06:18] - Perseverance Without Love
[07:06] - The Serious Defect
[07:42] - Call to Repentance
[08:30] - Derecognized Churches
[09:19] - Listening to Paul's Teachings
[10:36] - The Overcomers
[11:27] - Bearing the Reproach of Christ
[12:14] - God's Witness Throughout History
[13:10] - Overcoming the World
[14:00] - The Tendency to Backslide
[15:37] - Preserving Fervent Love
[17:04] - Seeking God's Approval
[18:03] - The Battle Against Money
[21:48] - Making Christ Central
[24:32] - Living by the Spirit
[27:51] - Humility and Childlike Faith

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Revelation 2:1-7
Hebrews 13:13
1 Peter 4:11

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Observation Questions:

What were the commendable qualities of the church in Ephesus mentioned in Revelation 2:2-3, and what was the serious defect that the Lord pointed out? [06:18]
According to the sermon, what does it mean for a church to be "derecognized" by Christ, and what are the consequences of this? [07:42]
How does the sermon describe the role of small, humble groups throughout church history in maintaining a witness to the true gospel? [12:27]
What does the sermon suggest about the reliance on the Holy Spirit versus the printed word, and how did early Christians exemplify this? [24:32]

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Interpretation Questions:

In Revelation 2:5, the church in Ephesus is called to remember and repent. What might this process of remembering and repenting look like for a modern church? [07:06]
The sermon mentions the reproach of Christ and being labeled as heretics by the larger church. How might this apply to individuals or groups today who seek to maintain fervent devotion to Christ? [11:41]
Hebrews 13:13 speaks about going outside the camp and bearing the reproach of Christ. How does this concept challenge the way we view our place within the larger church community? [16:37]
1 Peter 4:11 emphasizes speaking as one who speaks the very words of God. How does this challenge the way we approach teaching and sharing the gospel? [25:36]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your personal relationship with Christ. Have you noticed a waning in your fervent love for Him? What steps can you take this week to rekindle that love? [07:06]
Are there worldly distractions, such as the pursuit of money or reputation, that are hindering your devotion to Christ? Identify one specific distraction and plan a practical step to overcome it this week. [08:30]
The sermon highlights the importance of small, humble groups in maintaining the true gospel. How can your small group embody this principle in your community? [12:27]
Consider your reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance. How can you cultivate a greater sensitivity to the Spirit's leading in your daily life? [24:32]
Hebrews 13:13 calls us to bear the reproach of Christ. Is there a situation in your life where you feel called to stand firm in your faith, even if it means facing criticism or misunderstanding? How will you respond? [16:37]
Reflect on the way you communicate the gospel to others. How can you ensure that your words reflect the truth and love of God, as encouraged in 1 Peter 4:11? [25:36]
The sermon warns against backsliding and the natural pull towards worldly desires. What accountability measures can you put in place to help you stay focused on your spiritual growth? [14:00]

Sermon Clips

"Remember from where you have fallen. Do you remember where you were in the days Paul was here? I'm just paraphrasing that. You remember those three years when Paul was with you. Where are you today? Yeah, you still have a lot of toil and perseverance, and you don't tolerate evil men, and you test false Apostles. You have perseverance and you have endured for my name's sake. You have not grown weary. All that is wonderful, but you don't love me fervently like you did when Paul was around." [00:05:40]

"If you don't repent, I'm going to remove the lampstand, which means I'm going to derecognize you as a church. There are hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of churches in the world today that Jesus Christ has derecognized. I know it. I've listened to a lot of that preaching. I've heard a lot of them. I've been to a lot of places in many countries. The Lord has derecognized them. The pastors are after money, the preachers are after money. They don't have the same standards." [00:08:42]

"Is there somebody who has a year to hear? Is somebody here still willing to listen? Maybe somebody had the notes of what Paul gave, the messages Paul gave. They didn't have videos, but they could read those messages that Paul gave when he was there from those 2,000 messages. Maybe some of them had probably taken notes of it and passed it on to the younger people and may have said we want that." [00:09:00]

"Throughout the years, little groups have come out. It's been a tremendous encouragement to me to see how throughout God has never left himself without a witness. That's the word we read in scripture. He will not leave himself without a witness. There has always been, throughout these 2,000 years, a witness to the true gospel. And it's not in these big institutions with Steeples and chairs and, I mean, crosses and all that." [00:12:14]

"The tendency in human nature is towards backsliding. It's not towards heaven; it's towards the Earth. It's like gravity. Gravity doesn't lift you up; it's pulling you down. You have to fight it. If you want to swim, you can't relax for one minute in the pool or in an ocean. You'll drown if you don't fight gravity all the time. If you're in the middle of the sea, you stop fighting, you'll drown." [00:13:57]

"Preserve your church in Purity. Your increasing in numbers counts for zero in God's eyes. Don't be excited that your numbers have grown. The church in Ephesus got excited that we are now 500 people. What does it mean if the Lord says that fervent love you had for me is gone, that simple devotion to Christ? That's what we got to preserve, not only in the church. The church will be preserved if you preserve it yourself." [00:14:50]

"Money is the biggest enemy of God. Jesus said that. So I tell you, I fight that battle myself. I have all my life from the time I quit my job. Even when I was in the Navy, I said, Lord, I want to fight against money because I earned so much as a naval officer. I don't want to love it, and one day when I quit the Navy, I gave everything away for God's work and quit with zero in my bank account." [00:18:09]

"Make Christ Central in your life and keep listening to messages that challenge you towards Devotion to Christ. Most important explanation, Doctrine, and all. Why did I often think of this? Why did God leave the world, the Christian world, without printed Bibles in everybody's hand for 1,500 years after Christ? Have you ever thought of that? What an advantage is we're talking about different translations." [00:21:48]

"Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from God's mouth. They don't even have a Bible because he's not talking about the printed word there. Proceeds, present continuous tense, the word that not proceeded from the mouth of John or Mark or Matthew, that proceeds from the mouth of God. Now that is the Holy Spirit. What those early Christians had was the Holy Spirit." [00:23:57]

"Revelation by God is given to infants or those who have the spirit of a baby, not the mind of a baby. It says in 1 Corinthians 14, don't be children in your understanding. No, we don't want to be children in understanding, but in our heart, in the head, we must be men. The heart, where Revelation comes, we must be like children." [00:27:51]

"Unfortunately, I was born intelligent. I did well in the military academy. What do I do? Can't I get Revelation? You said it's hidden from the wise and intelligent. The Lord said you have a greater opportunity to deny yourself and become a babe than that dumb person who already knows nothing. You have to fight a battle to become a babe, and that will strengthen you." [00:28:35]

"God can use a word like that to bless a person. I've never forgotten that God can speak, and I say, Lord, I want you to speak to this intelligent man. Make me like a babe when I come to scripture. This is how I discovered the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Clever people have so many arguments. This is how I began to speak in tongues. Clever people have so many arguments." [00:30:00]

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Returning to Fervent Love for Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Rekindle Your First Love

Day 2: Overcoming Worldly Distractions

Day 3: God's Faithful Witnesses

Day 4: Living by the Spirit

Day 5: Embracing Humility and Childlike Faith

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Returning to Fervent Love for Christ

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