Jesus' letters to the seven churches in Asia are a roadmap for struggles in the 21st Century church. To the church in Ephesus He had one thing against them: They had left their "first love." What does this mean? Why is love so important? What might have happened to their "first love?" and what is Jesus' exhortation to that church?
2. Revelation 2:1-7
1 “To the angel of the church of
Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the
seven stars in His right hand, who
walks in the midst of the seven
golden lampstands: 2 “I know your
3. Revelation 2:1-7
works, your labor, your patience, and
that you cannot bear those who are
evil. And you have tested those who
say they are apostles and are not,
and have found them liars; 3 and you
have persevered and have patience,
4. Revelation 2:1-7
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
5. Revelation 2:1-7
first works, or else I will come to you
quickly and remove your lampstand
from its place—unless you repent.
6 But this you have, that you hate the
deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also
hate.
6. Revelation 2:1-7
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes I will give to
eat from the tree of life, which is in
the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
9. “Where is the blessing that I knew
When I first met the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus and His word?”
William Cooper, British Poet
and hymn writer
10. “When my love to Christ grows weak,
When for deeper faith I seek,
Then in thought I go to thee,
Garden of Gethsemane.
John R. Wreford hymn
11. You have left your First Love
• Why is “LOVE” so important?
14. “Without a motivation of love: love
for God, love for Christ; the Christian
life will be a burden to be borne
instead of an experience to be
enjoyed.”
Tom Holland, Entreating the Erring,
p.63
16. …though I have the gift of
prophecy, and understand all
mysteries and all knowledge,
and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove
mountains…
24. And now abide
faith, hope, love,
these three; but
the greatest of
these is love.
25. 1John 4:8
He who does not love
does not know God,
for God is love.
26. You have left your First Love
• Why is “LOVE” so important?
• What happened to the “first love” of
the Ephesians?
• Struggle with evil men?
27. Revelation 2:2a
“I know your works, your labor, your
patience, and that you cannot bear
those who are evil.”
28. Evil people act like:
• They have the good life
• God’s people are missing out
• Sensual pleasures bring lasting joy
• Possessions give security and joy
29. You have left your First Love
• Why is “LOVE” so important?
• What happened to the “first love” of
the Ephesians?
• Struggle with evil men?
• Struggle with false teachers?
30. Revelation 2:2b
“And you have tested those who say
they are apostles and are not, and
have found them liars;”
31. Acts 20:28-30
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and
to all the flock, among which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers, to
shepherd the church of God which He
purchased with His own blood. 29 For I
know this, that after my departure
32. Acts 20:28-30
savage wolves will come in among you,
not sparing the flock. 30 Also from
among yourselves men will rise up,
speaking perverse things, to draw away
the disciples after themselves.
33. 1Timothy 1:3,4
3 As I urged you when I went into
Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you
may charge some that they teach no
other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables
and endless genealogies, which cause
disputes rather than godly edification
which is in faith.
34. You have left your First Love
• Why is “LOVE” so important?
• What happened to the “first love” of
the Ephesians?
• Struggle with evil men?
• Struggle with false teachers?
• The “works of the Nicolaitans”
35. Revelation 2:6
But this you have, that you hate
the deeds of the Nicolaitans,
which I also hate.
36. Revelation 2:15
{to the church in Pergamos)
Thus you also have those who
hold the doctrine of the
Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
37. “The exact origin of this sect and the
character of its beliefs are open to
dispute; but there seems to be
agreement as to the fact that they
allowed and practiced positive
immorality on the ground of spiritual
38. liberty. Such false ideas of freedom
from the law, of the right to ‘continue
in sin, that grace may abound’ early
invaded the Christian church.”
Charles R. Erdman, Revelation of
John, p.47
39. You have left your First Love
• Why is “LOVE” so important?
• What happened to the “first love” of
the Ephesians?
• Struggle with evil men?
• Struggle with false teachers?
• The “works of the Nicolaitans”
• Lack of patience with struggles
40. Revelation 2:3
…and you have persevered and
have patience, and have labored
for My name’s sake and have not
become weary.
41. Hebrews 10:36-38
36 For you have need of endurance, so
that after you have done the will of God,
you may receive the promise:
42. Hebrews 10:36-38
37 “For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will
not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”
43. Hebrews 12:1,2
1 Therefore we also, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before
us,
44. Hebrews 12:1,2
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.
45. You have left your First Love
• Why is “LOVE” so important?
• What happened to the “first love” of
the Ephesians?
• Struggle with evil men?
• Struggle with false teachers?
• The “works of the Nicolaitans”
• Lack of patience with struggles
46. You have left your First Love
• Why is “LOVE” so important?
• What happened to the “first
love” of the Ephesians?
• Exhortation
47. Revelation 2:5
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.
48. 1Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in
vain in the Lord.
49. You have left your First Love
• Why is “LOVE” so important?
• What happened to the “first
love” of the Ephesians?
• Exhortation
