Lesson 6:Coming Back to Your “First Love” (Revelation 2:1-7)

Based on two books by Tom Holland

“Left Your First Love”What Does It Mean?

• What is “first love”?– It is not “the first love they ever had”– It is “the love they had at the first”– Comparable to “the love” that a couple has “at the first”

• What is “first love” for the Christian?– One’s overwhelming love for Jesus as the Savior – One’s fervent spirit of devotion to the Lord – Dedication, commitment, sacrifice, complete satisfaction

• What does it mean to “leave your first love”?– Fervency of love cools, spirit of devotion fades– Not maintaining the fervent love of earlier days

“Left Your First Love”How Can It Happen?

• Constant struggle with evil (Rev. 2:2a)• Confusion caused by deceptive religious leaders (2:2b)• Contentions of manmade doctrines and traditions (2:6)• “Crosses” of the Christian life (2:3)

“Left Your First Love”What Does It Imply?

• Love is a primary motivator for the Christian in the Lord’s service!

– Love is what motivates to live for the Lord (Jn. 14:15; 1 Jn. 5:3)!– Without a motivation of love (for God and Jesus), the Christian

life will be a burden to bear instead of experience to enjoy.• The importance of love motivation is seen in the “Love

Chapter” (1 Cor. 13).– Conclusion: “the greatest of these is love” (13:13)– Commencement: “have not love” = nothing! (13:1-3)– Love is the motivation for true service and devotion to the Lord

“Left Your First Love”How to Get It Back?

• Remember! (Rev. 2:5)– How much God and Jesus love you! (EPH. 2:4; 3:17-19; 5:2, 25)

• We love Him because He first loved us! (EPH. 6:24 + 1 John 4:19)– The joy of becoming a Christian and living for Jesus!– The relationship you once had with Jesus!

• Repent! (Rev. 2:5)– Turn away from the way of SELF-ish living– Turn back to the way of GOD-ly living

• Repeat the first works! (Rev. 2:5)– Works you did so regularly, diligently & joyfully “at the first”– Agape love is an active, working, doing love