But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.But I have this against you, that you left your first love.Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.
7 sermons cite this verse
Loose paraphrase, he says, I know you guys are discerning. I know you're hardworking. I appreciate all these things about you, but I have this against you. You have left your first love, so remember therefore from where you have fallen and repent and do the first works quickly. I love that. Compliment, doing this well, doing that well, doing a good job over here, but there's this one area. So let's talk about that. That's the right way to do it. Deposit a compliment before you make the withdrawal of a criticism. Married couples, listen to what I'm saying. Because sometimes it's always critical, critical. He doesn't do this right. She doesn't do that right. Always sniping at each other. When's the last time you complimented your husband? When's the last time you complimented your wife? Remember, again, deposit a compliment before you make the withdrawal of criticism. Otherwise, it's destructive criticism when it should be productive criticism. We need people to teach us and we need people to exhort us. …
… 15 years prior to the book of Revelation. And in Revelation, Jesus writes a letter to the same Christian community in Ephesus. This is what he says in Revelation chapter two, verse four. Nevertheless, I have this against you that you have left your first love. He goes on in the following verses to say, but you do not tolerate false doctrine. You have a good hold on good doctrine, but you're really lacking in the love and the zeal department. The love that we had at the beginning of our relationship, you don't have much anymore. So this is my theory. the problem with Diotrephes was not that he had bad doctrine. I think that he believed all of the right things on paper, but he had none of the right behaviors to go along with it. So he could tick all the boxes on a statement of faith. He'd ace a theology test. But when it comes to walking out that faith, to walking out those solid doctrines, he would get an F. …
… So Revelation chapter 2, verse 1, it says, 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. And you have persevered and have patience and have labored for my namesake and have not become weary. 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. And here in verse 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. Let's pray. Father, we come this morning and God, what Jesus just said there in verse 7, I pray over us this morning. that we would have an ear to hear what you have to say to us. …
Hey, this is Steven Furtick. I'm the pastor of Elevation Church, and this is our podcast. Be sure to subscribe so we can get you these new sermons every week. Hope you're blessed today. So over in the book of Revelation, chapter 2, verse 2 through 5, there's a challenge. And I'm going to try to be disciplined as I preach this one. I got a little bit off my plan at the last one, but this one I'm going to try to just stay right there and preach it, because there's so much there that I believe will help you. But let's turn our attention now to the text, the angel at the church in Ephesus is receiving a message, and the word of the Lord comes. I know your works, verse 2, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, found them to be false. I know you're enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. …
… improving the deeds that you are engaged in. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel who called herself a prophetess and teaches and leads My servants astray. So now they have a woman preacher who's a prophetess who is identified as a Jezebel because she seduced people into immorality and adultery. So now the church at Thyatira is full scale into idolatry and immorality in that they're allowing it to be taught. It's being promoted. And he says in verse 21, I gave her time to repent. She doesn't want to repent of her immorality. So I'm going to throw her in a bed of sickness and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation unless they repent of their deeds. And it is very severe. I will kill her children with pestilence. I'm going to kill them. And all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts, and I'll give to each one of you according to your deeds. …
… I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. remember therefore from where you have fallen repent and do the works you did at first if not I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent yet this you have you hate the works of the Nicolaitans which I also hate he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches to the one who conquers I will grant you eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God. And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write the words of the first and the last who died and came to life. I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are rich. And the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. …
… church, a going, growing, glowing church, but he said this in, in Revelation chapter 2 verse 4, nevertheless I have this against you, you have left your first love. Do you know what first love is? Well, were you ever in love? Well, I can remember first love with Joyce. Uh, what an experience that was. I remember the first time I KISS JOYCE. WE WERE GREAT SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS. THE CHILLS WENT UP AND DOWN MY SPINE. UH, HER POPSICLE WAS LEAKING. SHE PUT HER ARM AROUND MY NECK. SERIOUSLY, I, I'VE KNOWN THIS GIRL SO LONG. BUT YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IS THE TRUTH, NOT RHETORIC. THERE'S A GOD IN HEAVEN. I LOVE HER MORE TODAY THAN I EVER HAVE. NOW I'LL TELL YOU WHY, I'LL TELL YOU WHY, BECAUSE THE HONEYMOON HAS NOT ENDED. SHE'S MORE BEAUTIFUL TO ME AND MORE PLEASING TO ME TODAY than she ever was because I have not lost that first love. Somebody says the honeymoon is that period of time between I do and you'd better. …