Returning to Our First Love: A Call to Zeal

Devotional

Day 1: The Church's Stray from God

The church today mirrors Israel's past, having strayed from God and indulged in sin. This is a call for introspection, urging each individual to examine their own life to see if they have become lukewarm, pushing Jesus out and relying on their own resources instead of Him. The church, much like Israel in the days of the prophets, has indulged in idolatry and sin, and this reflection is not just about the broader church but also about us as individuals. We must examine our own hearts and lives to see if we have become lukewarm, as described in Revelation 3 regarding the church of Laodicea. [03:23]

Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV): "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."

Reflection: In what ways have you relied on your own resources instead of God? How can you begin to shift your reliance back to Him today?

Day 2: The Problem of Lukewarmness

Lukewarmness is a state that God finds repulsive, and it is prevalent in the church today. We have become comfortable, relying on our wealth and resources, and in doing so, we have pushed Jesus out of our lives and our churches. The call is to return to our first love, to make Jesus the center of our lives once again. This requires a willingness to go through the refining fire, to be purified and cleansed, and to live lives that reflect the holiness and godliness that God desires. [11:01]

Revelation 3:15-16 (ESV): "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you have become lukewarm. What steps can you take today to reignite your passion for Jesus in that area?

Day 3: Vigilance Against False Teachings

False teachings have crept into the church, denying the lordship of Jesus and promoting a lifestyle contrary to the gospel. It is crucial to be vigilant and discerning, ensuring that we are not swayed by these destructive heresies. The return of the Lord is imminent, and we must live in a way that reflects our belief in His coming. This means living lives of holiness, zeal, and love, not conforming to the world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds. [39:16]

2 Peter 2:1 (ESV): "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction."

Reflection: How can you cultivate discernment to recognize false teachings? What practical steps can you take to ensure your beliefs align with the true gospel?

Day 4: Living in Light of His Coming

The return of the Lord is imminent, and we must live in a way that reflects our belief in His coming. This means living lives of holiness, zeal, and love, not conforming to the world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds. We are called to be vigilant and to live with a sense of urgency, knowing that our time is limited and that we must make the most of every opportunity to live for Christ. [47:02]

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 (ESV): "For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."

Reflection: What changes can you make in your daily life to live with a greater sense of urgency for Christ's return? How can you prioritize holiness and love in your interactions with others?

Day 5: Rekindling the Fire of Zeal

We must rekindle the fire of zeal for the house of God, being consumed by a passion for His people and His work. This requires a personal relationship with Jesus, making Him our number one love and priority. It is a call to return to our first love, to make Jesus the center of our lives once again, and to live lives that reflect the holiness and godliness that God desires. [28:21]

Romans 12:11 (ESV): "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can rekindle your zeal for God's work this week? How can you make Jesus your number one priority in your daily routine?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, I shared a heartfelt message that has been weighing heavily on my heart, focusing on the state of the church today. Drawing from the book of Lamentations, I expressed my deep concern for the church, both the visible and the so-called remnant. The church, much like Israel in the days of the prophets, has strayed from God, indulging in idolatry and sin. This reflection is not just about the broader church but also about us as individuals. We must examine our own hearts and lives to see if we have become lukewarm, as described in Revelation 3 regarding the church of Laodicea.

Lukewarmness is a state that God finds repulsive, and it is prevalent in the church today. We have become comfortable, relying on our wealth and resources, and in doing so, we have pushed Jesus out of our lives and our churches. The call is to return to our first love, to make Jesus the center of our lives once again. This requires a willingness to go through the refining fire, to be purified and cleansed, and to live lives that reflect the holiness and godliness that God desires.

Furthermore, I highlighted the importance of recognizing the false teachings that have crept into the church. These teachings often deny the lordship of Jesus and promote a lifestyle that is contrary to the gospel. We must be vigilant and discerning, ensuring that we are not swayed by these destructive heresies. The return of the Lord is imminent, and we must live in a way that reflects our belief in His coming. This means living lives of holiness, zeal, and love, not conforming to the world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Key Takeaways

1. The church today mirrors Israel's past, having strayed from God and indulged in sin. We must examine our own lives to see if we have become lukewarm, pushing Jesus out and relying on our own resources instead of Him. [03:23]
2. Lukewarmness is repulsive to God, and it is prevalent in the church today. We must return to our first love, making Jesus the center of our lives and being willing to go through the refining fire to be purified and cleansed. [11:01]
3. False teachings have crept into the church, denying the lordship of Jesus and promoting a lifestyle contrary to the gospel. We must be vigilant and discerning, ensuring that we are not swayed by these destructive heresies. [39:16]
4. The return of the Lord is imminent, and we must live in a way that reflects our belief in His coming. This means living lives of holiness, zeal, and love, not conforming to the world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds. [47:02]
5. We must rekindle the fire of zeal for the house of God, being consumed by a passion for His people and His work. This requires a personal relationship with Jesus, making Him our number one love and priority. [28:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction and Struggle with the Message
[01:25] - A Weep for the Church in Ruin
[02:27] - The Visible and Remnant Church
[03:36] - Learning from Israel's Prophets
[04:20] - Reading from Lamentations
[06:21] - The Church as a Source of Blasphemy
[07:19] - The Symbiotic Relationship of Pulpit and Pew
[09:20] - Revelation 3 and the Church of Laodicea
[11:01] - The Problem of Lukewarmness
[13:17] - The Comfort and Wealth of the Church
[15:09] - Jesus Standing Outside His Church
[17:38] - The Cry of Desperation
[20:03] - The Church's Lack of Awareness
[22:12] - The Purifying Fire
[25:26] - The Need for Spiritual Sight
[27:20] - The Call for Zeal and Repentance
[30:19] - Jesus' Call to Individuals
[32:34] - The First Love
[35:24] - The Reality of the Lord's Return
[38:00] - False Teachers Among Us
[41:26] - Denying the Lordship of Jesus
[44:19] - The Consequences of Denying His Return
[47:02] - Living in the Light of His Coming

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Lamentations 2:9-15
Revelation 3:15-20
2 Peter 2:1-3

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Observation Questions:

In Lamentations 2:9-15, what are some of the consequences faced by Israel due to their disobedience and idolatry? How does this relate to the current state of the church as described in the sermon? [04:33]
According to Revelation 3:15-20, what is the condition of the church of Laodicea, and how does God respond to their lukewarmness? [10:21]
In 2 Peter 2:1-3, what warning does Peter give about false teachers, and how does this apply to the church today? [37:23]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between the pulpit and the pew, and what implications does this have for the church's spiritual health? [08:31]

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Interpretation Questions:

What does it mean for a church or individual to be "lukewarm," and why is this state considered repulsive to God? How can this be seen in today's church? [11:01]
How can the church today learn from the mistakes of Israel as described in Lamentations? What specific actions should be taken to avoid similar pitfalls? [03:36]
What are some modern examples of false teachings that deny the lordship of Jesus, and how can believers discern and guard against these heresies? [39:16]
How does the anticipation of the Lord's return influence the way believers should live their lives, according to the sermon and 2 Peter 3:10-12? [47:02]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your personal spiritual life. Are there areas where you have become lukewarm? What steps can you take to rekindle your passion for Jesus and make Him the center of your life again? [11:01]
The sermon calls for a return to our "first love." What practical changes can you make in your daily routine to prioritize your relationship with Jesus above all else? [32:34]
How can you actively guard against false teachings in your church community? What role can you play in promoting sound doctrine and biblical truth? [39:16]
Consider the resources and comforts you rely on. How might these be contributing to a lukewarm faith, and what changes can you make to depend more on Jesus? [12:36]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of living in light of the Lord's imminent return. What specific actions can you take this week to live a life of holiness, zeal, and love? [47:02]
How can you encourage your church leaders to preach the truth boldly, even when it is unpopular? What support can you offer to help them remain faithful to the gospel? [09:20]
Reflect on your personal zeal for the house of God. How can you cultivate a deeper passion for God's people and His work in your community? [28:21]

Sermon Clips

And so the churches has really become a source of blasphemy of of God remember Paul speaks about that because of you his name is blasphemed quoting the prophet in the Old Testament speaking of Israel. Why do the people say why do why do people say as they look at Israel are these the people of God? [00:06:21]

We tend to blame the preachers but the preachers preach what the people want remember Timothy says that they will heap unto themselves teachers having itching ears and as I look through the Old Testament I see that the prophets were simply reflecting the spirit of the people that's what they wanted to hear. [00:07:19]

I know your works that you're neither cold nor hot I wish you were cold or hot and verse 16 so because you're lukewarm and neither cold nor hot I will vomit you out of my mouth this uh the New King James translation and I think it's a very very accurate description of God's intention. [00:09:20]

God finds lukewarmness repulsive he finds it objectionable and and yet here's the problem is that lukewarmness is the state of the church today um it is the state of the remnant church today when I listen to so-called remnant preachers when I look at the lives of so-called remnant Christians. [00:11:01]

We have to get back to the centrality of Jesus Christ we have to get back to our relationship with him we have to get back to the word of God we have to get back to the cross but we we dabbled in all sorts of things because we are because we are comfortable um. [00:13:17]

I enjoy the comfort and the ease and the liberty which uh which we have uh here in America and and uh and all of those who who are attending today find themselves having liberty I enjoy that but it it's it it is no good for us it's not helping us because we are rich. [00:15:09]

The church has no room for Jesus and and uh you know we we know the bottom line verse 20 of this of this chapter of this letter to this church is that Jesus is not even in the church anymore he's standing outside um and and and forgive me if if this is uh familiar territory to you. [00:17:38]

We must ask the question have we become so comfortable and have we got so far away from the from the first of the beatitudes blessed are the poor in spirit blessed are the poor in spirit this is not a message we want to hear today we want to hear about prosperity we want to hear about how well things are. [00:20:03]

We need to be desperate people we need to be crying with all of our heart God I will not let you go unless you bless me I need your blessing and you know God touches him on that day and he doesn't come out of there with a great vision and and being able to say well you know what I met with God. [00:17:38]

The only way that the gold can be purified is as it goes through the fire so how then will this church be purified without fire no I I'm not I'm not going to get into the tribulation that that's not disappoint the point you see because because God can send fire into our hearts and into our lives. [00:22:12]

We need to get the fire going again be zealous be zealous we we we we want to be wise I'm getting older I'm very aware of that and when I was younger I was zealous and foolish now I think I'm wise but have I in the process lost the fire and the zeal for the house of God. [00:28:21]

I believe that part of the problem is that we have lost the sense of the Lord's return now I want to show you the the consequence here so so what he is saying is the Lord is coming we have this on good authority and in chapter three he's going to speak about that again. [00:35:24]

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Returning to Our First Love: A Call to Zeal

Devotional

Day 1: The Church's Stray from God

Day 2: The Problem of Lukewarmness

Day 3: Vigilance Against False Teachings

Day 4: Living in Light of His Coming

Day 5: Rekindling the Fire of Zeal

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Returning to Our First Love: A Call to Zeal

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