The First Love of the True Disciple [podcast]

The Ephesian church had good works and discernment for which Jesus complimented them. Yet, they’d left their “first love” or waned in their love for Christ!

“I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:2-5

OUR words reveal what’s in our hearts.

“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34

The subject of our words reveals the affection of our hearts.

Any person who is overly proud of or who is trusting their church, pastor, favorite minister, or religious curiculum is not following Christ.

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

Those who trust their church or pastor or religious experience instead of Christ, such a person has denied Christ.

This means that such a person is an antichrist – which means they’ve put something else, anything else before Christ, “in place of” Christ.

ANYTHING, ANYONE that one puts before God is an idol. Anything a person refuses to give up for Christ, is an idol. And all idolaters are going to hell according the Holy Scriptures.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;” Exodus 20:3-5

To say you know and love God and yet, you still feel the need to cling to your church, your religion, reveals that you are not yet born again, which Jesus says is a must to enter His kingdom.

 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. … Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” John 3:3, 7 | Born Again? What Does That Mean

In eternity, do you want to be glad you sought the LORD during your days on earth or regret in remorse that you refused to?

Jesus told us that if we put our own parents, spouse, or anyone else before Him, we are not worthy of Him, of His eternal kingdom.

SO many today will talk about their “church,” their pastor, or favorite minister – but not JESUS! Their wolf handlers are indoctrinating and using them as their sales agents! Spiritual adultery. Idolatry.

Who are you confessing?

“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8-9

Will those who cling to mere men, leaders, traditions, or religion be saved? Whatever one refuses to give up for Christ is an idol. Damnation draws nigh.

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

In the eyes of a holy God, an idol is an idol. It matters not what that idol is – the idol being something someone loves more than the Savior. Christ requires that He alone be the “first love” of all who are His (Revelation 2:4-5).

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

God will not share the spotlight with anything or anyone.

“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8

His name is Jealous.

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” Exodus 34:14

Beloved, we must revel in, rejoice in, and magnify the LORD Jesus Christ. His apostle Paul said:

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14

A lot of people are caught up with their “church” but not with Christ! (Revelation 2:4-5)

Of the religionists of His day, Jesus cited them as loving their religion, their traditions, more than Him.

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment (Word) of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mark 7:6-9

To attempt to share Jesus and religion, clinging to religion, is to commit spiritual adultery, to be an idolater, having other gods before the LORD. This is no different than a married person having another lover on the side. Absolutely adultery, worthy of eternal damnation (1 Corinthians 6:9; Revelation 21:8, etc.).

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

To refuse to relinquish, to give up your religion for Christ is to deny Christ and be outside of His kingdom.

In comparison to loving God, our love for others must be like hate. Jesus must be the very “first love” of our lives, above all others (Revelation 2:4-5; Matthew 22:37-39).

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5 

Jesus Christ plus nothing equals eternal life – and to refuse to give up your religion for Christ means you simply have not repented and been saved. You are not washed in His blood and in need of repentance and believing upon Him fully. It’s all or nothing with Christ.

“He that is not with me is against me;” Matthew 12:30

Loving God first, then all others ….

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

If your life is all about yourself, that’s exactly why you’re so unfulfilled, empty, and miserable. Doing things God’s way is always the way, the only way to have His blessing on our lives.

The LORD saved us and left us here to love, worship, and obey Him… and to serve others – not ourselves. Today is your day to repent afresh, to do business with the Lord, to get out of your own world and into the lives of others, spending your energy and resources to fortify them in god’s love and truth. Read Philippians 2 each morning this week and follow Jesus.

LOVE is the governing factor:

“And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, FOR THE LOVE HE HAD TO HER.” Genesis 29:20 

Jacob didn’t mind serving a whole 7 years for Rachel, because he loved her so much. The true disciple doesn’t view serving God as drudgery – because he loves God supremely!

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3

If your view of serving God is drudgery, you are deceived and in need of getting into His Word.

If we love Jesus, obeying Him is joy, just as it was for Jacob as he served a whole 7 years to obtain a lifelong marital relationship with his beloved Rachel (Genesis 29:20).

Disciple of Jesus, read this brief passage of Holy Scripture below and see if God doesn’t recalibrate you toward the mind of Christ ….

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:3-5

Personally, I don’t like leaving home without pouring over and even praying aloud this passage. Something refreshing, something of God, something bless-ed occurs without fail when I do.

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