Back to Your First Love
The Lord warns Christians to prioritize their affection for Him, lest they leave their first love and lose their passion and zeal for serving Him.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the urgent call for Christians to return to their first love for Christ, as highlighted in Revelation 2:4. He warns that mere acts of service, moral living, and suffering for faith are insufficient if they do not stem from a deepening affection for Jesus. Wilkerson draws parallels with David's passionate longing for God, urging believers to rekindle their desire for Him above all else. He encourages the church to recognize when their hearts have drifted and to seek grace to restore their love for the Lord. Ultimately, the message is a heartfelt plea to prioritize a genuine relationship with Jesus.
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"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Revelation 2:4).
I believe this warning to the Ephesian church is intended for every Christian living in these last days. Simply put, the Lord is telling us, "It's not enough for you to be a caring, giving, diligent servant who grieves over sin and preaches truth. It's not enough for you to uphold moral standards, endure suffering for My sake, or even be burned at the stake for your faith. This is all part of taking up My cross.
"You can do all these things in My name, but if your affection for Me does not increase in the process of doing them, if I am not becoming more and more the one great delight of your heart, then you have left your first love. If your affection for Me is no longer a matter of great concern to you, then I have something against you."
Consider David's words: "Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee" (Psalm 73:25). These are strong words, yet David is not saying, "I don't have human love." Rather, he is saying, "There is no one I love exclusively in my heart as I love my Lord. I desire Him above all others."
David also writes, "O God . . . my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is" (63:1). "As the hart [deer] panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God" (42:1-2).
David says, "I thirst deeply for the Lord, the way a deer thirsts after it has been chased. A deer will go past the point of exhaustion to find the water it seeks."
Likewise, Jesus is telling the Ephesian Christians, "You no longer seek Me as the deer seeks. I am no longer the chief object of your desire. You may be willing to do things for Me, but I'm not at the center of your heart anymore!"
Go back to your first love today. Ask Jesus for grace and strength to begin again to guard your affection for Him!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Warning of Leaving First Love
- A. The Lord's warning to the Ephesian church in Revelation 2:4
- B. The warning applies to every Christian in these last days
- II. The Lord's Expectation
- A. Christians must have a growing affection for the Lord
- B. This affection must be the central desire of their heart
- III. The Consequences of Leaving First Love
- A. The Lord will have something against those who no longer prioritize Him
- B. This can lead to a lack of passion and zeal in serving the Lord
Key Quotes
“You can do all these things in My name, but if your affection for Me does not increase in the process of doing them, if I am not becoming more and more the one great delight of your heart, then you have left your first love.” — David Wilkerson
“Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee” — David Wilkerson
“As the hart [deer] panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Prioritize your affection for the Lord by seeking Him with a deep and sincere heart.
- Ask Jesus for grace and strength to begin again to guard your affection for Him.
- Recognize the difference between doing things for the Lord and having Him as your first love.