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Rediscovering Agape Love: Ephesus & the First Love Revelation

Explore the poignant story of the Church at Ephesus in Acts and Revelation, delving into the abandonment of their first love for God and the solution through repentance and remembrance. Discover the timeless lesson of maintaining love and obedience to God in the face of challenges.

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Rediscovering Agape Love: Ephesus & the First Love Revelation

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  1. The First Love Revelation 2:4

  2. The Church at Ephesus • A brief visit & promise (Acts 18:19-21) • The beginning of the church (Acts 19:1-10) • A later meeting of Paul and the elders (Acts 20:16-38) • A letter written to them (Ephesians) • Recipients of a letter in Revelation (Rev. 2:1-8)

  3. The Problem at Ephesus • They had “left your first love” • “Left.” Thayer says, 1) “to send away”, 2) “to permit, allow, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person”, 3) “to leave, go away from one” • “First.” Thayer says, 1) “first in time or place”, 2) “first in rank”, 3) “first, at the first” • “Love.” Agape, the highest form and expression of love in the Scriptures. Beyond affection and fondness

  4. Disappointing in light of previous remarks (Eph. 4:24; 5:1, 20-21; 6:6) • What was the first love? • Is it: • Hospitality to strangers? • Affectionate care of the poor saints? • Concern for the flock? • The maintaining of church discipline? • Interpersonal relationships between brethren?

  5. They had abandoned their love for God • Based on Matthew 22:37-40 • When this is abandoned, obedience is eliminated (1 Jn. 5:3)

  6. The Solution and Our Lesson • The solution (v. 5) • Remember • “The lever of repentance is memory” (Harkrider) • The prodigal son (Lk. 15:17-21) • Repent • Godly sorrow leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10) • “…repent, turn to God, …” (Acts 26:20, NKJV) • Return • Do the “first works” as when you faithfully served God • Be determined to do His will (Acts 20:32)

  7. Our lesson • Heed the warnings and examples in God’s word • Avoid developing an “evil heart of unbelief” (Heb. 3:12) • A worse end (2 Peter 2:20-22) • Observe the things commanded • Jesus demanded this (Matt. 28:20) • Perseverance counts (Rev. 1:3) • Dividends are eternal (Rev. 22:14)

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