"Jesus will unchurch every organization that is unfaithful to His name...Tell me of gorgeous temples, of skillful arrangements, of complete machinery; I tell you that you may have all these in an unparalleled degree, and yet 'Ichabod' may be written on your temple doors!" - Biblical Illustrator - New Testament
"It is indeed sad when the Church is beautiful in face but cold at the heart." - Biblical Illustrator - New Testament
"It is quite possible for all the machinery of a church to be in full working order, while at the same time the spirit of love and zeal which first set it agoing is on the decline." - Pulpit Commentary - New Testament
"The outward forms may be perfect, zeal may be maintained, patience unwearied, orthodoxy untarnished; but if love - the soul's secret energy - be impaired, time only is needed to bring the church to utter decay." - Pulpit Commentary - New Testament
"Outside work and energy will not continue long where love is on the decline. No engine will continue to run long after the fire has gone out." - Pulpit Commentary - New Testament
"It is evident that leaving our first love is very criminal in the sight of Christ."
- Biblical Illustrator
"Nothing but the fervent love of the Bride can satisfy the Bridegroom."
- People's New Testament
"Christ is grieved and displeased with His people when He sees them grow remiss and cold towards Him..."
- Matthew Henry
"Our business, then, is to watch our heart-fires. When the temperature of our love lowers, there is cause for terror."
- Biblical Illustrator
"Immeasurable influences are continually in operation, which would cool the ardor of our first enthusiasm for Christ."
- Biblical Illustrator
"Christly love is the life and sun of the soul; it is the beginning and end of genuine religion (Christianity)."
- Pulpit Commentary
Think for a minute about what is being said here. The church can be so busy with one activity followed by another and yet be in a horrible state of spiritual decline. So many times people take busyness for the "anointing" or the "touch of God." You, as a minister of God, could be feeling self-satisfied because of all the open doors that you have. You are on the go all the time, yet you are only going through the motions. You lost your "fire" a long time ago. You, as a Pastor, could be feeling elated over all the activities that your church offers to the public - making it a "seeker-friendly" - and yet be a dead church where the Presence of Jesus is never experienced. All you have is an organization rather than a living organism.
Where, oh where, is the spirit of love and zeal for Jesus? When will the Pastors or ministers wake up and realize that Christly love - the soul's secret energy - is the only ingredient that will keep the church's "engines" going? When will the Bride - the Church - awake to the fact that the only thing that will satisfy her Heavenly Bridegroom - Jesus - is fervent love in her heart for Him? When will the believer come to understand that the cooling of his heart-fires is a definite cause for terror and alarm?
Who among us comprehends the fact that leaving your first love for Jesus is very criminal in His sight?
O saint of God, does He count you as a criminal today before the Court of Heaven? Have you left your "first love" for Him? Are you simply going through the motions - feeling very dead and dry - spiritually speaking?
Does this describe your life?
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You really don't love the Lord as you once did
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Earthly interests and occupations tie up your time
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You would rather watch TV than read the Bible and pray
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You would rather attend a church dinner than a prayer meeting
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Your Christianity is joyless and passionless
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Jesus is no longer your chief source of delight
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You know the truth in your head but don't practice it in your heart
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Your preaching lacks conviction and divine fire
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Your fire of affection and glowing enthusiasm for Jesus and His Word has died down
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You find yourself doing all spiritual activities out of the energy of the flesh
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You are more concerned about your job, career, or making money than advancing the kingdom of God
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You are overmuch absorbed in business
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You are influenced by unspiritual and worldly companions
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You are plagued with intellectual doubts and lingering, lurking lusts
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You have become prosperous in business - while toiling in the service of Self and offering oblations at the altar of Mammon
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You and your spouse do not pray together any more
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You are more concerned about your children's education than their spiritual state
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Sin is swept "under the carpet" in your home and church
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You don't weep and grieve over your own sins or those of others
There was a church in the Book of Revelation that had everything going for it. According to the outward appearance, it was the perfect church. Every Pastor would have longed for the privilege of calling this body of believers his own. When it came to attendance or spiritual activity, they were very diligent. When it came to fighting error or purging the church of sin, they were disciplinary. When it came to checking false doctrine, they were discerning. Yet, in the sight of God, they were counted as criminals. That church was none other than the church at Ephesus.
Revelation 2:1-4 gives its history - "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."
This church was a working, doctrinal, and separatist church. They labored much for the Lord and kept themselves separated from the world and its philosophies. However, somewhere in all of their activities, they lost their heart in what they were doing. They willfully neglected keeping their heart-fires burning for Jesus. They were active in service, but the true motive for worship was missing.
In spite of their doctrinal purity, they didn't retain that strong and ardent affection for God and the things of God. In spite of their opposing the advancement of error in the church, they cooled off and abated in their heart and fervor for Christ.
God gave them three directives to follow in order to recover themselves from spiritual declension. Revelation 2:5 explains - "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."
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"Remember" - your willing, obedient spirit...cheerful self-denial...fervor in private prayer... attachment from the world...and heavenly mindedness
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"Repent" - be inwardly grieved and ashamed for your spiritual declension...change your spirit, mind, purpose, attitude, and conduct...and manifest the zeal and love formerly evinced in doing good and opposing error
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"Do the first works" - resume your former diligence in watching, fasting, praying, reproving sin, and walking in His sight...rest not until all lost ground is recovered...and revive your first zeal, tenderness, and seriousness
In order for Jesus to remain your "first love," you must keep Him as your Supreme Love. One way of doing this is to always stay totally dependent upon Him as you did when you first got saved. You realized then that you couldn't live a minute without Him. Hence, watch out for a mindset of self-confidence and independence. These will surely cause you to grow cold in your heart toward Him.
When you "lose heart" in all that you do for the Lord, then you have already become a "fallen" Christian. It is imperative that you see this!
"Leaving your first love" is very criminal in the sight of Christ.
We ask you - are you a "criminal" in His sight today? If your heart is not fired up when you spend time in communion with Him or while serving Him, then that is exactly what you are!
If you refuse to "Remember," "Repent," and "Do the first works" - then the only thing left is to Tremble because ruin is inevitable.
May God Bless His Word.
Connie
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
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God bless you for reading.
