Sunday Re-cap (6th Aug 2006)

First Love by Pastor Samuel Hari

Our THEME scripture: Eph 3:10

What does it mean to be a SAINT?

Rev 2:1-5

1. Ephesians Church-good works, good programs, persevered, not weary.
2. However, ONE thing God had against them; they had a lost their first love.
3. We can have EVERYTHING without having that ONE thing. Without that ONE thing we can lose EVERYTHING!
4. There must be intensity, extreme passion for Christ.
5. Do we have our first love? If not, where has it gone?
6. We cannot serve without our first love; next to impossible.
7. No amount of motivation gets us to serve unless we have our first love.
8. We will get tired and eventually die down. We need an encounter with God.
9. Before we can repent and submit and obey, we need to have our first love.
10. We are caught up doing instead of being. We are human BEINGS and not DOINGS.
11. When someone has an encounter with God ie. First Love, we don’t need to keep convincing them i.e. about tithing and giving, doing evangelism, prayer.
12. No 1 priority, get our first love BACK!

How do we lose our first love?

1. After too much of doing and doing, we cross that line and find that our first love is missing.
2. Some never had an encounter with God. Symptom-they need to be prodded and prodded. They cannot understand those who are passionate with God.
3. Cares of this life, deceitfulness of riches, etc. (Matt 13:18-23: Read parable of sower).
4. Disappointments, offenses, unforgiveness, bitterness, discouragement. We need to guard our hearts with ALL DILIGENCE (Prov 4:23)

Let’s reestablish our covenant with God.

1. How? Go back to the places of remembrance. Remember the times God met us in the past. As the patriarchs set up altars. Remember the altars. They constantly reminded themselves and their children about God’s testimonies.
2. Don’t look for excuses and don’t blame anyone.
3. What kind of environment have we set up around us, in our home and church.
4. Keep confessing the word until we get a revelation. Fast and pray and read the Word.
   Let’s devour the WORD.
   
   Do not try to serve God any longer without that First Love!
   
   A saint is not just one who has life but also has life more abundantly! Jn 10:10
   
   It’s not our service that makes us get our first love BUT it’s our FIRST LOVE that makes us and KEEPS US wanting to SERVE!
   

Prayer
LORD, I need an encounter with you again. My family needs an encounter with you again. I need that excitement that I had when I first met you. In Jesus Name, Amen.