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Topic: "You have left your first love"
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Good NewsforAll
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Member # 6156
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We have to get back to our first love, or souls will be lost because of anger and strife, and misguided discernment.
1 Cor. 13
The Greatest Gift
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
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The Pharisees tell us what not to do. Jesus tells us what to do.
Romans 10:15 As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Posts: 400 | Registered: Oct 2006
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Good NewsforAll
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Member # 6156
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Jesus had some last prayers before he was betrayed and arrested. This is Jesus' last prayer regarding believers.
John 17:20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Notice that this prayer doesn't implore God to send the believers out to witness. It is asking God to remind the church that, above everything else, it has to become as one and remain as one in unity and love. The word 'one' is mentioned five times and the word 'love' is also mentioned five times in this scripture.
If the Holy Spirit isn't flowing through believers in unison, witnessing falls flat. First of all, our own personal lives have to display a wholeness and purity in order that people can see a exemplary witness within us. If they see Christ within us, they will be attacted by the power of the Holy Spirit through conviction and love, and not by condemnation.
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The Pharisees tell us what not to do. Jesus tells us what to do.
Romans 10:15 As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Posts: 400 | Registered: Oct 2006
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Eden
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very good, yes, this first love is not just to God the Father and the first love to the Son of God Jesus, but also to the first love to the Christian brethren, and, as much as is in us, to the people still outside the church.
Jesus did NOT say as His main commandment to us Christians, "I want you all to always be on the look-out for what your other brothers or sisters are teaching right now". Jesus said that first and foremost we should love each other, even as Jesus loved us.
Be blessed.
Eden
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Good NewsforAll
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Member # 6156
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Rev.2:1-7
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. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “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.”
This is a letter written by Jesus through John to the church in Ephesus. What is this passage of scripture telling us?
Keeping in mind that the the seven golden lampstands are seven churches, Jesus is telling them that he realizes that the churches have worked and labored diligently. The have shown great patience and not giving into weariness. They have done great works to keep the doctrine pure, but Jesus is saying that is not enough.
He is telling them that they have left their first love, their love for Jesus and their love for on another.
John 15:12
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
We can't get so wrapped up in always trying to be right and making sure that everyone follows our doctrine the letter of the law, but forget about love. It is a number one prerequisite according to Jesus.
If we don't remember this commandment of Jesus and don't repent, the lampstand (church) will fall and be taken from its place.
A very sobering message.The churches in Ephesus were in what is known as Turkey to-day. Look at the mess Turkey is in now.
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The Pharisees tell us what not to do. Jesus tells us what to do.
Romans 10:15 As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Posts: 400 | Registered: Oct 2006
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