Reviving Our First Love: Lessons from Ephesus

Devotional

Day 1: Generosity as a Reflection of Faith

Generosity is a powerful expression of faith, demonstrating the love of Christ through tangible actions. In times of crisis, such as the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the collective generosity of a community can provide not only physical relief but also spiritual hope. By giving meals and resources to those in need, believers embody the teachings of Jesus, showing that faith is not just a personal journey but a communal responsibility. This act of giving serves as a reminder that our faith should be active and visible, impacting the world around us in meaningful ways. [36:14]

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community is in need today, and how can you extend generosity to them in a way that reflects Christ's love?

Day 2: Maintaining Passion for Christ

Ephesus was a significant center for early Christianity, yet it received a rebuke in Revelation for losing its first love. This serves as a cautionary tale for all believers, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a fervent passion for Christ. Despite a strong spiritual foundation, the church in Ephesus was warned to remember, repent, and return to their initial devotion. This message is a call to examine our own spiritual lives, ensuring that our love for Jesus remains vibrant and that we do not become complacent in our faith. [39:02]

"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." (Revelation 2:4-5a, ESV)

Reflection: What are some practical steps you can take this week to rekindle your passion for Christ and return to your first love?

Day 3: Prioritizing the Kingdom of God

Paul's ministry in Ephesus was centered on the message of the kingdom of God, urging believers to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. This message challenges us to prioritize our relationship with Christ above all else and to actively share the gospel with those around us. The kingdom of God is not just a future hope but a present reality that calls for our active participation. As followers of Christ, we are tasked with living out the values of the kingdom in our daily lives, demonstrating love, justice, and mercy to those we encounter. [45:31]

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize the kingdom of God in your daily decisions and interactions with others this week?

Day 4: True Spiritual Power

The story of the seven sons of Sceva highlights the dangers of using God's name for selfish purposes. True spiritual power comes from a genuine relationship with Christ, not from using His name as a magic formula. This account serves as a reminder that our strength lies in our connection to Jesus, who is greater than any force in the world. As believers, we are called to rely on His power and presence in our lives, recognizing that it is through Him that we can overcome spiritual challenges and live victoriously. [51:46]

"And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled." (Acts 19:17, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you have relied on your own strength rather than seeking the power of Christ? How can you shift your focus to depend more on Him?

Day 5: Reviving Our First Love

The call to remember, repent, and repeat the works we did at first is a powerful reminder to rekindle our love for Jesus. Despite our spiritual heritage, we must remain vigilant in our devotion to Christ, ensuring that our love for Him remains vibrant and alive. This involves a conscious effort to return to the practices and disciplines that initially fueled our faith, such as prayer, worship, and service. By doing so, we can experience a renewed sense of purpose and passion in our spiritual journey, impacting those around us with the love of Christ. [01:08:05]

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." (Revelation 2:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to revive your first love for Jesus and deepen your relationship with Him?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we celebrated the power and resilience of God's word, as we explored the rich history and spiritual significance of Ephesus, a city that played a pivotal role in the early Christian church. Ephesus, once a thriving metropolis, was a major center of Christianity where the gospel took deep root. Despite its rich spiritual heritage, the church in Ephesus received a stern rebuke in the book of Revelation for losing its first love. This serves as a powerful reminder that no matter how strong our spiritual foundation may be, we must remain vigilant in our love and devotion to Christ.

We reflected on the journeys of Paul, particularly his third missionary journey, and the profound impact he had on spreading the gospel. Paul's ministry in Ephesus was marked by extraordinary miracles and a powerful message of the kingdom of God. His dedication to preaching the gospel every day, even when faced with opposition, is a testament to the transformative power of God's word. The message of the kingdom of God is one of hope and redemption, and it is our responsibility to share it with those around us.

We also discussed the importance of being aware of spiritual warfare and the dangers of allowing our love for God to grow cold. The story of the seven sons of Sceva serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of using God's name for selfish purposes. True spiritual power comes from a genuine relationship with Christ, not from using His name as a magic formula.

As we navigate our own spiritual journeys, we are called to remember, repent, and repeat the works we did at first. This means rekindling our love for Jesus and living out our faith with passion and purpose. We are reminded that the word of the Lord always prevails, and it is our duty to ensure that every resident in our community hears the message of hope and salvation.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Generosity: Our collective generosity has enabled us to support disaster relief efforts, providing meals and resources to those affected by Hurricane Helene. This act of giving not only meets physical needs but also brings hope in the name of Jesus, demonstrating the tangible impact of our faith in action. [36:14]
2. Ephesus: A Spiritual Hub: Ephesus was a major center of early Christianity, where the gospel took deep root. Despite its rich spiritual history, the church in Ephesus received a rebuke in Revelation for losing its first love, reminding us of the importance of maintaining our passion for Christ. [39:02]
3. The Kingdom Message: Paul's message in Ephesus centered on the kingdom of God, emphasizing the need to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. This message challenges us to prioritize our relationship with Christ and share the gospel with those around us. [45:31]
4. Spiritual Warfare: The story of the seven sons of Sceva highlights the dangers of using God's name for selfish purposes. True spiritual power comes from a genuine relationship with Christ, and we are reminded that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. [51:46]
5. Reviving Our First Love: The call to remember, repent, and repeat the works we did at first is a reminder to rekindle our love for Jesus. Despite our spiritual heritage, we must remain vigilant in our devotion to Christ, ensuring that our love for Him remains vibrant and alive. [01:08:05]
** [68:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:14] - Generosity in Action
[37:35] - The Journeys of Paul
[39:02] - Ephesus: A Spiritual Hub
[40:33] - Santorini Story
[41:51] - Exploring Ephesus
[43:20] - Spiritual Leaders of Ephesus
[44:41] - The Kingdom Message
[45:31] - Preaching the Gospel Daily
[47:00] - The Great Commission
[48:25] - Miracles in Ephesus
[49:49] - Spiritual Warfare
[51:46] - The Sons of Sceva
[54:38] - The Movement of Believers
[68:05] - Reviving Our First Love

Sermon Clips

1. "And so, I'm just saying, Ephesus had strong spiritual leaders in that ministry. Yet, when you get to the book of Revelation, chapter 2, it says about Ephesus that their love had grown cold. Jesus said, beware, in the last days the love of many will grow cold. And so, it's a warning to us that you can drift. You can get far from God. That you can be on fire for God, and yet find yourself cold and indifferent toward the things of God." [43:20] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "When God closes one door, he opens a better door. A better. And he got to preach the gospel every day. What was his message? The kingdom of God. We're to seek first the kingdom of God. All his righteousness, all these other things will be added to us. So our message is King Jesus. He's King of kings. He's Lord of lords. And he's coming again." [45:31] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The Great Commission is going to all the world. It means as you are going and as I am going about every day in Hampton Roads. There are times I talk to people about the Lord and I invite them to Liberty and I invite them to church. And I'm glad to share those stories. But I'm also sad to say there's more people I didn't talk to. And just like God put Paul there so that every resident in Asia would hear the word of the Lord. He put us here so every resident in Hampton Roads would hear the word of the Lord." [46:03] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Now I believe God heals today? Absolutely. Can God do whatever he did? He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. I would just caution you. When the TV preacher says, I'll send you this prayer cloth if you send me X amount of money, I don't think that's what they were doing here. And by the way, that TV preacher is not going to be coming to visit you in the hospital, but your small group will. That's why you need to be in a group. That's why you need to be in community. That's why you need to be a part of the local church." [49:49] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Spiritual warfare is nothing to play with. It's no joke. The same Bible that says there's a God says there's a devil. The same Bible that teaches there are holy angels teaches there are fallen angels. The same Bible that teaches there's a heaven teaches there's a hell. But we, as the people of God, don't have to be afraid of the devil because the Bible plainly says, greater is he that's in us than he that's in this world. And no weapon formed against us shall prosper. If you resist the devil, he'll flee from you. Listen, draw nigh unto God, he'll draw nigh unto you. That's how you resist the devil." [52:36] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "The word of the Lord always prevails. We saw that library. This is still standing today. Multi-story. We went inside of it. And it is unbelievable. It's the third largest library in the world. The largest was in Egypt. And many of the books there, because of their pagan satanic rituals, had to do with satanic worship. And the Bible says that as they became believers that they burned those books. Are y'all following me? And so I want you to know that the occult is real. That witchcraft is real." [55:20] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "I'm just telling you, the reason that we don't dabble in, you know, palm reading and tarot cards and all that stuff is because God didn't work through superstitious practices. And listen, every spirit's not the Holy Spirit. You're going to wind up with a spirit you don't want. Well, I think I'll just keep going. There's some things you need to avoid. You say, I don't know what they are. Well, in Galatians 5, 19, it tells us the acts of the flesh are obvious. Sexual immorality, it's one word in the Greek, porneia, it's where we get the word pornography." [58:09] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "And so I'm telling you to live right. I'm calling not for legalism, but I'm calling for a healthy marriage and healthy home life. They say, I read it this week, one in three Christians do not vote. I'm telling you, you need to register, and that time's quickly coming to an end. And you need to pray, because when you go in there to vote, you take the Holy Spirit and Jesus in there with you. And you need to think. Use your mind. God gave you one. And then you need to vote and live out your faith. Look at the issues. Look at what the Bible says. God is not silent." [01:02:19] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "I tell you, it doesn't matter how much truth we preach. It doesn't matter how many miracles we see. If you lose your love, you lose the witness to a lost world. And I just want to tell you, Liberty, I want us to be a church that works hard. That preaches the message. That stands for truth. But I want to be known as a church that's deeply in love with Jesus. And I want the world to see something different in us." [01:09:38] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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