Announcements Today: Food and Fellowship after service Anniversary Meeting: – Next Sunday after the service Valentines Day Couple Fellowship – 17 February, after the service Church 10 th Anniversary – 31 March

Food Bank February For the month of February we will be collecting non-perishable food and at the end of the month we will donate all the food to the London Food Bank. Non-Perishable Food – Canned Fish, meat, stew Peanut butter, jam Canned vegetables Rice / pasta Canned soup and canned fruit Macaroni & cheese dinner Baby food / baby formula Powdered or canned milk

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Preserving our First Love Revelation 2:1-7

1 To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My names sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its placeunless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

Introduction Three Common Dangers of the Early Church 1.Persecution (physical) Widespread and systematic during the reign of the Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96) 2.False teachings (intellectual) False teachers and prophets who were trying to deceive even mature Christians 3.Sin (moral and spiritual) Through false teachings and worldliness standards of behaviour are lowered

Introduction Matthew 24:9-12 Jesus: Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

Introduction Ephesus (Selçuk) – Capital of Asia – Temple of Artemis – Paul lived there for three years (Acts 20:31) – Letter to the Ephesians; 40 years old church – Timothy and John also pastored the church

The Revelation of Jesus Revelation of the resurrected and ascended Son of God (1:12-16) – When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. (1:17) Revelation of the Christ walks among the 7 lampstands (churches) (1:12) – It is His church: He founded it and He is the source of its life – He knows it intimately: I know… – He is the Chief Pastor of His people

Christs View of His Church Three Commendations (vv.2-3) 1.Their good deeds & hard work - Active in service, dedicated to training (Acts 19) 2.Their endurance in suffering - Persecuted & boycotted for they rejected Artemis (Acts 19:23-31), and did not indulge in Emperor worship (Rev. 13:17) 3.Their right belief - They tested the teaching and practices of false apostles (v. 2, 6)

Christs View of His Church One Complaint: You have forsaken your first love! (v.4) – What is First Love (for Christ)? Jeremiah 2:2 I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness The love that first brought us to God, when we realized our sin and Gods amazing love in the cross. Though it is so precious, it can be lost!

Symptoms of a Cooling Love No strong desire to spend time with God Private worship and prayer is almost non-existent We feel dry during corporate worship We become judgmental and critical of others We have become greedy and selfish We crave the things of this world more than God and His kingdom

Preserving our First Love 1.Let us See Jesus as a Living Person not a Concept – Knowledge about God does not equate to knowing and loving God 2.Let us not Starve our Relationship with God – Im going to rain down food from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. (Exodus 16:4) – Our moments are bundled into days that we may measure, value and use them rightly. 3.Let us not Grow Complacent – Ive done enough mentality – God never gets tired of desiring to with us (We are His glorious inheritance – Eph. 1:18)

Conclusion Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first work Talk to your friend about your first date with God. What were the things you used to do when you first met Him?