FIRST LOVE, FIRST WORKS

Rev 2:1-5 (NKJV)

The Loveless Church

¹ "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ² "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. ⁴ "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.

My family and I would like to greet the WIN – Al Ain Men’s Ministry a joyful 13^th anniversary this 2010. May the Lord call all men unto His Kingdom for the glory of His name alone. We praise God for Bro. Teody Galit for his untiring effort in leading all the men to their first love, Jesus Christ.

They have chosen the theme “Remember Your First Love” based on Revelations 2:2-5. It is a call to go back to our Lord if ever we have strayed away from His presence. Men today are being challenged to be faithful unto the end. Women by comparison are spiritually far stronger than men. Men find it difficult to worship the Lord with all their heart. Thus the theme “Remember Your First Love.”

In verse 5, however, we are called by God Himself to remember where we have fallen. The question is not whether we have forgotten our first love, the real issue that we have forgotten the very reason why we left our first love. Our first love towards God, I believe, is always there somewhere deep within our spirits. Nobody who is truly born again could ever forget our first love. Backsliding comes not from rejecting our love for Him but by doing secondary works in replacement to our first works. We still love God but our labor for God has substituted our love for Him. The key is to remove the blockage of religious works so that our first love will shine again. Men are often proud of their own achievements but in the process shut out God form our hearts.

The Church in Ephesus was actually commended by God Himself for their works, labor, perseverance and patience. They were working for God which by itself was a good thing. But like Martha, they have fallen from their first love and got involved with too much ministry. That is why God called them to remember where they have fallen. Repentance in this context is not turning away from sin (Jesus never mentioned any sin in the Ephesian Church). It is repentance from dead works. (Heb. 6:1). It is a call to come back to our first works which are done in the power of the Spirit and not on our own. Our first love involves working for Him in Spirit and in truth. But we are doing works for God in the power of the flesh then we in turn have fallen from our first love and substituted it with dead works (good works done in the flesh).

In Proverbs we will read:

Prov 14:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above.

Backsliding is the result of being filled with our own ways, even good works (no mention of sin here either). Repentance is surrendering our good works and doing the first works which God has instructed us to do as a result of a loving relationship with Him. We could come up with various religious programs and plans in the church for the sake of God’s name and still end up backslidden. The only thing that will satisfy our spirits is from Above (GOD) and not from our own selves. We must therefore empty our selves of these plans and programs and pay attention to what God is saying to us today.

Jesus ended His message to the Church in Ephesus with these words:

Rev 2:7 (NKJV)

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." '

Just listen to His voice and we will remember again our First Love.

Finally, in Hosea, God promises to heal our backsliding as long as we will no longer say to the work of our hands, “you are our gods.”

Hosea 14:1-4 (NKJV)

O Israel, return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; ² Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. ³ Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride on horses, nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, 'You are our gods.' For in You the fatherless finds mercy."

⁴ "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him.

Let us not worship our good works. Instead, let us worship God with all our heart, soul, mind and body. Surrender every dream, plans, goals and ambitions, and God will turn away His anger and He will love us freely and heal our backsliding.

Rev 2:5a (NKJV) "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…

Do the first works, then you will find your First Love!

God bless us all today and forever more!

Ps Edward, Sis. Marlene, David John and Sally Joy