The document outlines four steps for a church in Ephesus to get back on track spiritually after leaving their "first love": 1) Remember what it was like when they first became Christians, 2) Repent for drifting away from their faith, 3) Restore their spiritual works and fellowship to how it was originally, or 4) face being removed from their place if they do not repent. The four steps - remember, repent, restore, or be removed - provide a path for the church to regain their lost passion and closeness with God.
1. How to Get
Back on Track
Ephesus had left its first love.
They needed to get back
There are 4 steps to get back
where they once were.
2. Revelation 2:3-5
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.
3. What Happened?
They had persevered, had patience
Worked for Jesus, not weary
BUT – Left their first love
How did you feel when first baptized?
Has the feeling faded, gone away?
HOW DO WE GET IT BACK?
THERE ARE 4 STEPS
4. 1 - Remember
Remember what you did to become a
Christian
Remember the feeling of forgiveness
Remember how your faith grew
Remember what it was like to be saved,
forgiven, headed to heaven
Realize how far you have gone away
5. 2 - Repent
Realize you have drifed away
Know that it was an error / sin / wrong
Decide to turn things around
Form a plan for change in your life
Determine not to do that again
6. 3 - Restore
Do the first works again
Get back to what you used to do
What you did in the beginning
Faith – Repentance – Confession
Ask for help to make the corrections
Put your fellowship back on track
Put your life back on track
7. 3 - Restore
Restore = put it back the way it was
Make it look like when it was brand new
We can restore cars, houses, boats
We can restore lives, faith, morality
Get your life back where it was when you
were first baptized
8. 4 – OR be Removed
WARNING – DANGER
If you don't follow the steps above - - -
You can die lost
A congregation can cease to exist
The light from our candle can be put out
Local churches can grow / die
They can explode suddenly / fade slowly
Jesus can remove them