Have We Abandoned our First Love?

[Christsfreeservant]

Introduction to the Seven Letters in Revelation

This is the first of seven letters that Jesus Christ sent to seven specific church congregations in seven different cities. Since the book of Revelation is regarding the times of the end, and it is intended for us, the body of Christ, and so much of it is written in symbols and in metaphorical language, it is believed that these seven churches either represent the church down through the generations, ending with Laodicea, which represents the church in this present age, or that all of them represent the church at any given time and in any given location throughout church history, as they apply.

So, as we go through this study of the seven churches, I pray that each one of us will pay close attention to the wording and that we will examine our own hearts and lives to see where we are in the scheme of things and where the Lord may be pointing to things in our own lives which need to change.

Now, in four of the seven letters, Jesus had both something positive and something negative to say about these church congregations, each were most likely the collective body of Christ in each city and thus they probably did not all meet together in the same exact locations. In two of the letters he spoke positively to the churches, and in only one did he have nothing good to say, but all was negative, and that is the church of Laodicea which many believe represents the church in our generation today. And I concur that it does represent the majority of what is called “church” today.

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.​

​

“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 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. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God’” (Revelation 2:1-7 ESV).​

So, the church in Ephesus collectively represented the body of Christ who were dedicated to opposing all that was evil and to testing those who call themselves apostles but who were not apostles (could include prophets, preachers, teachers, pastors, and evangelists today, i.e. any who call themselves servants of the Lord and ministers of the gospel, who we are to test). They were those who were enduring patiently and bearing up for his name’s sake, and they had not grown weary. So they were committed to the truth of the gospel and to refuting the lies of the enemy, it appears.

But they had abandoned their first love. Either they had abandoned Christ himself or the love they had for him at first. So, what does that mean in this context? It would mean that Christ was no longer first place in their lives. He was not #1. He was not the one that they went to for everything. So, although what they were doing were good things, yet perhaps now they were doing them more in their flesh or as a matter of religious practice, but that they were not solely depending on the Lord Jesus to empower and to guide them in where to go and in what they were to do and to say.

And that is possible to do, to get into routines and then to just follow those routines without really inquiring of or depending on the Lord for what we are to do and to say, and for where and when we are to go here or there. In other words, it is possible for us to go ahead of God and assume that we should do such and such, because we believe it is the right thing to do, when that might not be what he wants us to do at that time or with those specific people. And so we need his guidance and direction. We need him to lead us specifically in what to write/say, and to whom and when and where, etc.

So, the Lord is saying to any of us who might be operating out of habit, rather than as being led by the Holy Spirit, that we need to repent, to turn away from doing that, to back up, and to take time to inquire of the Lord and to see what he wants us to do instead of us just assuming what is right or wrong when it may not be his timing or what he wants at all. And so if we go without his direction, it could end up backfiring and blowing up in our faces. For it is not the Lord we are serving if we are going it alone without letting him lead us in where to go, in what to say, and in what to do.

And he may then remove us from the ministry to which he has called us because our ministry depends on him leading us and him empowering us and him opening and closing doors for us. So, we must be his servants who let him lead us, and who then follow him in obedience in doing what he says.

But the Lord still commended them for hating the works of false preachers and teachers and doctrines and philosophies and teachings. And we do need to be people who discern the lies from the truth and who are speaking the truth and not the lies, and who are exposing the fruitless deeds of darkness for what they are. For this is what we have all been called to do. And we all need to be listening to the Lord, to what he wants to teach us, and then we must conquer all that is contrary to his will by following him in obedience. And then we have the promise and the hope of eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

 

[Laodicean60]

Laodicean is my name and I believe the boomer generation has ushered in the end times. Satan's spirit has infiltrated the powers to be-for so many years because of tribalism and ignorance. If you follow the money you'll find the devil's system. The antichrist ain't God so he'll need money to rule the world. During Covid, I knew something was wrong when they tried to fear me into taking the vaccine. I got on YouTube and to my astonishment I found that cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a host of other metabolic issues are preventable and reversible. Talk about killing, stealing, and destroying and it comes from the food. I wonder where the FDA is in all this. In 2022 I found out from financial people that we went to war with Saddam over the petrol dollar, not WMD. That is when my head popped out.

I started reflecting on the last twenty years and found I was distracted by tribalism by fighting the gays and some protesting abortion clinics and above all hating on the Democrats when my own party helped spend us into oblivion. A lot of us are too ignorant to know the danger of debt and the sad thing is Republicans run on debt but haven't done anything about it in the last twenty years. Look at how much we are spending on these wars.

Why don't Christian organizations stand up to the lies of the media, the deception of corporate governmental complexes, and the WEF where the heart of satan resides? I believe we forgot the Great Commandment by not loving our neighbors and serving them. We forgot the book Ephesians. I would donate to any church or organization to fight the system

I personally think that we wouldn't be this close to total annihilation if we held the media and our government accountable. As the old saying goes A house divided can not stand.

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Laodicean is my name and I believe the boomer generation has ushered in the end times. Satan's spirit has infiltrated the powers to be-for so many years because of tribalism and ignorance. If you follow the money you'll find the devil's system. The antichrist ain't God so he'll need money to rule the world. During Covid, I knew something was wrong when they tried to fear me into taking the vaccine. I got on YouTube and to my astonishment I found that cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a host of other metabolic issues are preventable and reversible. Talk about killing, stealing, and destroying and it comes from the food. I wonder where the FDA is in all this. In 2022 I found out from financial people that we went to war with Saddam over the petrol dollar, not WMD. That is when my head popped out.

I started reflecting on the last twenty years and found I was distracted by tribalism by fighting the gays and some protesting abortion clinics and above all hating on the Democrats when my own party helped spend us into oblivion. A lot of us are too ignorant to know the danger of debt and the sad thing is Republicans run on debt but haven't done anything about it in the last twenty years. Look at how much we are spending on these wars.

Why don't Christian organizations stand up to the lies of the media, the deception of corporate governmental complexes, and the WEF where the heart of satan resides? I believe we forgot the Great Commandment by not loving our neighbors and serving them. We forgot the book Ephesians. I would donate to any church or organization to fight the system

I personally think that we wouldn't be this close to total annihilation if we held the media and our government accountable. As the old saying goes A house divided can not stand.

The primary problem is the human heart and disobedience to the Lord. The church needs revival.

 

[Laodicean60]

The primary problem is the human heart and disobedience to the Lord. The church needs revival.

Yes, We also need to take the devil's blinders off and look for information instead of being informed by what is pleasing to our ears and that includes politics. Peace

 

[Dan2255]

Introduction to the Seven Letters in Revelation

This is the first of seven letters that Jesus Christ sent to seven specific church congregations in seven different cities. Since the book of Revelation is regarding the times of the end, and it is intended for us, the body of Christ, and so much of it is written in symbols and in metaphorical language, it is believed that these seven churches either represent the church down through the generations, ending with Laodicea, which represents the church in this present age, or that all of them represent the church at any given time and in any given location throughout church history, as they apply.

So, as we go through this study of the seven churches, I pray that each one of us will pay close attention to the wording and that we will examine our own hearts and lives to see where we are in the scheme of things and where the Lord may be pointing to things in our own lives which need to change.

Now, in four of the seven letters, Jesus had both something positive and something negative to say about these church congregations, each were most likely the collective body of Christ in each city and thus they probably did not all meet together in the same exact locations. In two of the letters he spoke positively to the churches, and in only one did he have nothing good to say, but all was negative, and that is the church of Laodicea which many believe represents the church in our generation today. And I concur that it does represent the majority of what is called “church” today.

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.​

​

“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 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. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God’” (Revelation 2:1-7 ESV).​

So, the church in Ephesus collectively represented the body of Christ who were dedicated to opposing all that was evil and to testing those who call themselves apostles but who were not apostles (could include prophets, preachers, teachers, pastors, and evangelists today, i.e. any who call themselves servants of the Lord and ministers of the gospel, who we are to test). They were those who were enduring patiently and bearing up for his name’s sake, and they had not grown weary. So they were committed to the truth of the gospel and to refuting the lies of the enemy, it appears.

But they had abandoned their first love. Either they had abandoned Christ himself or the love they had for him at first. So, what does that mean in this context? It would mean that Christ was no longer first place in their lives. He was not #1. He was not the one that they went to for everything. So, although what they were doing were good things, yet perhaps now they were doing them more in their flesh or as a matter of religious practice, but that they were not solely depending on the Lord Jesus to empower and to guide them in where to go and in what they were to do and to say.

And that is possible to do, to get into routines and then to just follow those routines without really inquiring of or depending on the Lord for what we are to do and to say, and for where and when we are to go here or there. In other words, it is possible for us to go ahead of God and assume that we should do such and such, because we believe it is the right thing to do, when that might not be what he wants us to do at that time or with those specific people. And so we need his guidance and direction. We need him to lead us specifically in what to write/say, and to whom and when and where, etc.

So, the Lord is saying to any of us who might be operating out of habit, rather than as being led by the Holy Spirit, that we need to repent, to turn away from doing that, to back up, and to take time to inquire of the Lord and to see what he wants us to do instead of us just assuming what is right or wrong when it may not be his timing or what he wants at all. And so if we go without his direction, it could end up backfiring and blowing up in our faces. For it is not the Lord we are serving if we are going it alone without letting him lead us in where to go, in what to say, and in what to do.

And he may then remove us from the ministry to which he has called us because our ministry depends on him leading us and him empowering us and him opening and closing doors for us. So, we must be his servants who let him lead us, and who then follow him in obedience in doing what he says.

But the Lord still commended them for hating the works of false preachers and teachers and doctrines and philosophies and teachings. And we do need to be people who discern the lies from the truth and who are speaking the truth and not the lies, and who are exposing the fruitless deeds of darkness for what they are. For this is what we have all been called to do. And we all need to be listening to the Lord, to what he wants to teach us, and then we must conquer all that is contrary to his will by following him in obedience. And then we have the promise and the hope of eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

Understand the word love and everything Christ told us. He said this that love me keep my commands and are loved by my Father. What were his commands? Some say it the Ten Commandments but listen to these two scriptures.
John writes if a person says they love God but hates his neighbor is a liar the love of God is not in him.
1John 2
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Then we have this scripture.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
And finally we have 1John 2 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
If you understand these scriptures you will understand what Christ meant when he said they left their first love.