The Tragedy of the Church of Ephesus
The sermon emphasizes the importance of returning to our first love and devotion to the Lord, even if we have strayed.
Watchman Nee addresses the tragedy of the Church of Ephesus, emphasizing that they have left their 'first love' for Christ, which signifies both the initial time and the highest quality of love. He draws a parallel to the prodigal son, illustrating that the best love is what God desires from us. Despite their departure from devotion, there remains hope for restoration, as the Lord invites those who have strayed to return to their first love and rekindle their passion for Him.
Text
"But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love." Revelation 2:4
The expression "first love" refers not only to primacy in time but also in quality. The story of the prodigal son's return home tells us that the father called for "the best robe" to be brought to replace the penitent's rags. This is the same word. The first love is the best love.
The tragedy in this church at Ephesus was that it had left or moved away from that devotion which gave the Lord the first place in their affections. There was, however, a hope. It is not always possible to recover what has been lost, but it is always open to us to return to a position from which we have strayed. The Lord calls each of us who has wandered to come back to the experience of loving him best, to return to our first love.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Tragedy of Leaving First Love
- A. Leaving the first love is not just a matter of time, but also of quality
- B. The first love is the best love, as seen in the story of the prodigal son
- II. The Cause of Leaving First Love
- A. The church at Ephesus left its first love and gave the Lord a secondary place
- III. The Hope of Returning to First Love
- A. It is possible to return to a position from which we have strayed
- B. The Lord calls us to come back to the experience of loving him best
Key Quotes
“The first love is the best love.” — Watchman Nee
“The Lord calls each of us who has wandered to come back to the experience of loving him best, to return to our first love.” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- We must recognize when we have left our first love and make a conscious effort to return to a position of devotion and affection towards the Lord.
- It is possible to return to a position from which we have strayed, and the Lord calls us to do so.
- The quality of our love for the Lord is more important than the quantity of time we spend with Him.