1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. A Foundation for Prayer
Revelation 2:1-7
Given to John ~ A.D. 96 on Patmos
God / Jesus is the author (1:1, 11; 2:1)
A specific message to the Ephesians with application to all that are in similar circumstances

5. • • •

6. Their Commendation Revelation 2:2-3
Their “deeds & toil” - Acts 19:18-20, 25-27
Their faith & love - Ephesians 1:15
Their intolerance of evil – cf. Rom. 15:14; 1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:15; Acts 20:31
Their testing of false teachers – 1 John 4:1; Acts 20:28-30
Their Perseverance – cf. Ephesians 6:10f

7. Their Failure and Warning Revelation 2:4,5
Jeremiah 2:1-5
Growing love: devoted, sacrificial: 1 Cor. 13
Fading love: self-centered

8. Evidence of a loss of first love for Christ
Diminishing fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22f)
Diminished desire for Bible study, prayer, Christian fellowship
1 John 4:19-20: Do you love others?
John 12:21f: Do you obey Christ?
What is your prayer life like?
Compare yourself to a new believer

9. Restoring Love Revelation 2:5
Remember – Repent – Redo
What was it like when you were first saved?
What changes occurred because you believed the truth about Jesus?
2 Corinthians 13:5; Matthew 7:23

10. Restoring Love Repent
Repentance = “change of mind”
Confession = “to agree with”
Repentance is not just a mental exercise.
It results in change of actions in keeping with the change of mind

11. Restoring Love - Marital
Remember why you fell in love
Repent of what have been doing – apologize & forgive
Redo the things you did when you fell in love
Actions of love lead to feelings of love

12. Restoring Love - Spiritual
Remember what Jesus has saved you from
Repent of your departure from Him – confess & be forgiven
Redo what you did when you first became a Christian

13. Restoring Love – Spiritual Redo
Actions of love lead to emotions of love
Bible study
Prayer
Christian fellowship
Christian service
Tell the gospel to others

14. Commendation & Promise Revelation 2:6
They did not listen & are no more
Are you listening?

15. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ