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First reading : Rev. 2 : 1 – 7.
Song from Hymn book: SS&S Sacred Songs and Solos 757:
Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness.
The problem of our world today is that many are departing from the good things which they were used to doing. Even most Christians, who started to do well, have departed from their first love.
They have backslidden, while still attending church activities.
Let us go to the book of Revelation 2 : 1 – 7.
The angel to the Church in Ephesus was given to write:
2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2 : 2 – 4).
Many have done well in many respects, but have left their first love. Many have pursued other material things far above the love of things of the kingdom of God.
Half measure is not full measure, because something is missing.
The church was asked to repent from where they have fallen and do the first works or else He will come speedily and remove their candle stick.
2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:5).
A church without the candlestick is a dead church. It ceases to be a light to the world and in herself moves about in darkness.
Many times we talk of other faiths taking over Turkey. Any church in our nation can get to the position of Turkey except they repent. Turkey was in the midst of the seven churches in Asia, who were reproved or commended in the book of Revelation.
Remember that the letters to the seven churches are a typology of the different manners of the church at that time, which are possible repeat in modern churches as a denomination or as separate individuals within denominations.
They were asked to repent and do their first works. This is a repeat slogan today.
Many are repeating this matter and there is nothing to deny from saying that some individuals and even whole churches are moving to the direction of Turkey.
I had written a book which is published in Amazon online reading, titled “Rejection by God”, ( Rev. Prof. Paul Chukwukere Nnaocha, if you want to search in Amazon.com), where I gave an expository of this tendency. God loses nothing by the mere fact that some are lost.
God’s kingdom population cannot go down, be cause some are rejected, do not forget that fire brand believers are always coming in the increase. Somewhere in scriptures, we are warned never to allow anyone to take our crown. Hold fast that which you have.
You.must avoid being a cosmetic christian, because God’s plan to save His own is eternal.
Jesus spoke of first works:
6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6 : 33).
Not all seek the kingdom of God, as a priority. The kingdom of God is pursued through righteousness, as the first love. Some have pursued material prosperity and various lusts, in place of the first things they knew how to do perfectly well.
When the way of God is no longer burning in our hearts as the drug addict yearns for drug, we have lost our first love.
The church is no more as powerful as it were and we find ourselves helpless before infidels, who hate our God and even ask if Christians are relevant.
Let us come back from wherever we have fallen and do the first works. Christians are relevant in any generation, you cannot cover them. No matter how you cover a cock with a basket it will crow when it will.
Note this again:
2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: (Revelation 2 : 2).
The church today identifies people who claim to be great men of God, or who are called the children of God, but some are not doing the correct things, even though highly branded.
We have many apostles, so to be called, who are liars. How are they truly powerful?
And Jesus warned us to beware:
7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7 : 15)
The devil showed Jesus all the good things of this world and promised to give them to him if he will bow down and worship Him ( Mt. 4:8).
So many have preferred the things of this world in place of the kingdom. They have left their first love and in this state still go about answering christians.
A man can be a Christian in outward appearance, but is not serving God, but the appetites of his heart, have become gods to him.
Is God indeed a priority in such a man?
Anything else we do while not depending on God, has taken away from us our first love. Let us beware.
Let us return to the Lord, so that we can stand in power, against all the odds facing our Faith in Nigeria. Let us confess our sins of departing from our first love and pray.
The prayer of a righteous man availeth much, James 5 : 16.
Strong prayers can storm Sennacherib, the Amorites or the like of them against the folk of Christ. We need just one weapon “RETURN TO OUR FIRST LOVE”
Prayer : Give us a mighty revival in our land that all Christians may return to You, so we may experience the great power to do the work of righteousness. which will return us faithfully to.loving You, oh! Lord, Amen.
Miracle Valley Sermon 17th July, 2022.
Email : outreach.mvgm@yahoo.com.
Website : www.mvgmng.org.