Revelation 2:1-7
“Have You Left Your First Love?”
A. Scofield gives a four-fold application of each letter:
A. Local churches on that day.
B. To all churches throughout all ages. All seven are seen in each age.
C. Personally applied to each believer, “He who hath an ear to hear let him
hear.”
D. Prophetically...looking back it is possible to see seven church ages of
history.
B. Ephesus was a commercial center with huge warehouses. It was a sporting and
entertainment center. It hosted the Asian Games which rivaled the Olympic
Games and Corinthian Games.
In the city there was one of the seven wonders of the world...the Temple Of
Artemis (Greek) and Diana to the Romans.
C. Into this immoral climate some people got saved and started a church.
Introduction:
A. Do you remember your ‘first love?’ What about that initial love relationship
with Jesus Christ have you left your ‘first love?’ That is what had happened to
the church at Ephesus.
B. In Ephesians 2:1-7... When you have left your ‘first love’:
I. OUR LORD WALKS 2:1
II. OUR LORD WITNESSES 2:2-4, 6
III. OUR LORD WARNS 2:5, 7
Have you left your ‘first love?’
I. OUR LORD WALKS 2:1
A two-fold description is given of the unveiled Christ to this church:
A. His Authority “He holdeth the seven stars in His right hand...”
*I feel it is the minister, the leader responsible to deliver the message.
*He ministers regardless ofpersecution, pressure, pain are held in His
right hand.
B. His Attention “Who walketh in the midst of the 7 churches...”
*He is walking up and down every aisle, reminding us that He is the divine
overseer.
*He is the Master…this is a ‘hands on’ God!
*He is in the center. He is actively seeing the true condition of each of
us.
Have you left your ‘first love?’
II. OUR LORD WITNESSES 2:2-4, 6
A. Their Fruit 2,3,6
1. It Was Standing Up To The Task 2a
*I know thy works.
*I know thy labor.
*I know thy patience (perseverance)
2. It Was Standing Up For The Truth 2b, 6
*And how thou canst bear them which are evil.
*And has tried them that say they are apostles and are not and
hast found themLiars.
*Hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans.
3. It Was Standing In The Test 3
*Hast borne
*Hast patience (endurance)
*Hast labored
B. Their Failure 4
“One thing thou lackest...”
First love…It is the love we had for Jesus when we first came to know Him.
- Love with no strings…
- Love in which no sacrifice is too great.
- Love that was so awesome you had to tell everyone!
Have you left your ‘first love?’
III. OUR LORD WARNS 2:5,7
A. With Words Of Revival 5a
1. Remember
2. Repent
3. Repeat
B. With Words Of Removal 5b
I will remove your lamp stand, except you repent.
*Ultimately the church will not function as a church.
*It may have a name, but there is not light or life.
C. With Words Of Reward 7
Let him hear…
*Do you hear?
*Is God speaking to you of a love that has grown cold?
*Is He speaking to Pennsville?
Have you left your first love?
If so, for what?
Remember
Repent
Repeat…Do what God is asking you to do!