Ephesus - First Love

Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. Revelation 2:1 NLT

The impact of Jesus on people and culture is incredible and is meant to exist in and through His church!

This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: Revelation 2:1 NLT

Jesus alone holds the power and authority to fulfill every purpose He has for His church and people.

I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you can’t tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. Revelation 2:2-3 CSB

Faithfulness to God worthy work and always more a blessing than a burden.

But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Revelation 2:4 CSB

Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. Ephesians 1:15 NLT

Nothing in all the universe matters more to God than His love for us and our love for Him and others.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT

The only way to live in the strength of God’s love is live fully surrendered to it.

Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes, these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. Ephesians 5:3-11 NLT

Life in this lost world has a way of drawing our affection away from God and His love.

Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

Pride is a poisonous passion killer.

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 CSB

Repentance is powerful, not only for the wrong we’ve done, but also for the right we’ve neglected to do.

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7 NLT