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For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. (NASB) 1 John 5:3 When men and women first became Christians in the early church, we are
told that they . . .
. . . were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe . . . (NASB) Acts 2:42-43 But some of the other books in the New Testament such as 1 and
2 Corinthians and Hebrews tell us that the desires for teaching,
communion, prayer, and love for one another did not last. Prayer
was not very important after awhile. Evangelism was not very important
either. At first the early Christians preached Christ with boldness
and willingly suffered persecution. What were the symptoms at Ephesus?
What was missing in their Christian life? While we do not know the symptoms, we do know that the
problem was in their hearts. They did not love Jesus enough. Conclusion. They had a heart problem. Do you have a heart problem?
The way to discover if you have a heart problem is to ask, “What are my symptoms? What is missing
from my life that I used to do for Jesus?” The answer will be different for each of us. Whatever
your symptoms may be, Jesus has told us that the cure for your heart problem starts with repentance
and then doing those things that are missing. It starts by admitting to Jesus that you do not love
Him as you used to! Ask Him to help you love Him.
When we first came to Jesus, we wanted to please Him. He was all that
we could think about. He was all that we wanted. We wanted to do His will. We were in love with Him.
But as time passed the Ephesians started loving other things. Is there anything in this world that
you would rather do than love Jesus with all your heart? The Ephesians had apparently found something
else. Have you? The issue is not what are you doing for Jesus, but are you doing the “first
things?” Are you doing those things that you know that Jesus wants you to do for Him? Are you
in love with Jesus? We are told that Augustine once said, “Lord, have You declared that no
man can see Your face and live? - then let me die, that I may see You.” Augustine loved Jesus!
What are your symptoms? He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God. (NASB) Rev. 2:7
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| Revelation: Prophecy of the Future | |||||