## Regaining Our First Love

## Revelation 2:1-5

In last week's message, we briefly looked at the Lord's messages to the seven local churches of Asia and considered what Jesus might say to us today. Of course we know that He does speak to us.

(Heb 1:1-2) "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, {2} Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"

As Jesus spoke these words to these seven churches, He was speaking to the needs of all churches throughout the ages. Last week I spoke of three specific areas of need that we have as a church. I believe we suffer from a loss of burden, vision, and commitment. Today I would like to address the first area and look to God's Word to see how we can regain our burden for a lost and dying world.

Read: Revelation 2:1-5

I. What is a burden?

A. Dictionary definition.

1. Webster defines it as something that is carried.

2. A load or…

3. A duty and responsibility.

4. The latter usage is the one that is applicable to our message today.

5. We have been given a duty …a responsibility …but are we carrying it?

6. Drive down any highway and you will see debris on the side of the road, sometimes in the middle of the road, because someone lost part of the load they were carrying.

7. The sad thing is that many times they aren't even aware that they lost it.

8. Sadder still, is the one who realizes that they lost it, but do not care enough to turn around and pick it up.

B. Biblical Illustration.

1. In our text this morning we see a church that has lost its burden.

2. The Lord said, "…Thou hast left thy first love."

3. The word "left" means "to leave, forsake, depart."

4. It stresses an act for which one is personally responsible.

5. I believe that this was a gradual departure…

a. They came to put service for the Lord ahead of love, devotion, and fellowship with Him.

(Prov 4:23) "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

b. Their labor gradually came to be merely mechanical, the thing they were responsible to do.

c. But the Savior wants it to be the result of an intimate walk with Him.

d. Like Martha, we can be so busy working for Christ that we have no time to love Him.

e. Labor is not a substitute for love, it should be the result of love.

(1 Th 1:3) "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;"

f. Christ is more concerned about what we do with Him than for Him.

g. To many, the Ephesian church was successful, but to Christ, it had failed.

II. How To Regain Lost Ground.

A. Remember how it used to be.

1. Our memory is a great gift from God.

a. Example of the "Prodigal Son" (Lk. 15:11-24)

b. "...when he came to himself..."

c. He remembered how it used to be at home, he remembered suppertime at home, and all of the other things that he had taken for granted.

d. As he contrasted his memory of how it used to be with how it really was, he realized that he needed to return home.

2. Do you remember "how it used to be?''

a. How it was when you were first saved.

b. The burden of sin and quilt was gone; we had a new life in Christ.

c. We felt close to God, and He was so real to us that we would have done anything for Him.

3. But something happened ...

a. We aren't close to God like we used to be.

b. But now we can't find time to pray, read our Bibles and witness to others.

c. We aren't burdened for lost souls.

d. Our priorities have gotten rearranged.

4. If we can remember "how it used to be" then we are one step closer to getting back to God! [6]

B. Repent from what we are doing.

1. "REPENT" is a command from God.

a. It is not an option, it is not up to individual interpretation.

b. Repentance is a change of mind that always results in a change of direction.

c. It means that we must stop, don't go any further, and turn back to God.

2. Note: "Prodigal Son''

a. "I will…" a change in his thinking.

b. "I will arise and go..." a change in his direction, he was on his way back to his father.

c. "I ... will say...Father I have sinned" a change in his attitude.

d. Not once does he try to justify or rationalize his sin.

e. True repentance never makes excuses.

3. Jesus said, "Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent..."

a. Keep in mind who Jesus is talking to here.

b. This is the church at Ephesus!

c. These were believers who used to please the Lord with their service, but now He is warning them to repent!

d. If we can think of a time when we were closer to the Lord than we are right now, then we need to heed this same warning!

e. If we remember how it used to be, and we repent ... then we are two steps closer to getting back to God.

C. Repeat What We Used To Do "…Do the first works..."

1. What does that mean to us?

2. It means that we should return to the same fervor and zeal for serving God that we had when we were first saved.

3. That may mean that we must fall in love with the Lord all over again.

4. Jesus said, "Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works..."

a. The Lord gives us the way for us to get back to God.

b. This plan will work for individuals, for families, or for churches.

c. However, as usual, God leaves the choice up to us.

d. We don't have to change a thing, we could ignore His warnings and just keep going the way we are.

e. Before we decide, let's consider the cost of such a decision: (v. 5)

Regaining our first love may not be an easy road to travel, but it is worth it. Think with me for just a moment about that prodigal son. He had to put aside his personal pride and not allow what others might have thought to dissuade him from doing what he knew was the right thing. What a great blessing he received when he returned to his father.

He was welcomed home with open arms and a multitude of blessings. This morning, is God spoken to our hearts? Is He showing us our personal need to get back to where we used to be spiritually? Why not do it today? Perhaps you are not a Christian today, Jesus said, "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life". Do you need to come to Jesus this morning and be saved? Whatever the need, the invitation is to come and do business with God today.