I thought about titling this “Another Lover” but I didn’t want a bunch of spammers hitting me with their garbage. So I went with “Split” as in “Split Personality.”
Be assured I am not making fun of anyone who is or has dealt with a “split personality.” I have counseled some and it is no picnic whatsoever. It is a genuinely troubling illness which is not funny in the slightest. I use the term/title because of the words used by Jesus of the church at Ephesus: “You have left your first love.” Where once a flame burned for Jesus now the ember is dying out. While the church was busy defending the faith and holding to true doctrine firmly, they were also losing their love for Jesus.
We can also get that way. People who will defend the faith to the hilt, even dying for it. People will take a stand against evil, but more often than not do it because they always have.
Gone is the fervor.
Gone is the “hot love” for the Savior.
Gone is the love for others that once motivated them to act.
Things are different now. Sometimes they are for me. Sometimes they happen in a church that is all about “saving the Gospel” but forget to love those they are supposed to be reaching.
As you can tell, the next sermon series is simply called “7” and will be about the 7 churches in Revelation 2 & 3. I’d appreciate your prayers for me and the church as we make our way through these two chapters. Thanks.
You hit the nail on the head brother. I think some think it’s to child like to talk about Jesus. You know the old mature thing…lets talk doctrine, struggles, which bible you read, church programs and even the preacher but God not Jesus. I have found myself there at times, dwelling on other spiritual things and not on Jesus. It’s possible to fall in love again with Him, I have several times. God convicted me about this several months ago because my word for this year was knowledge, learn more, gain more spiritual knowledge. But what God has done during this part of my life is take me deeper into Him, not wider. My world view is pretty wide and also my spiritual world, but deeper. So my prayer has changed for myself this year, go deeper Betty and surprisingly my knowledge has increased about Him. I love when I am gaining deeper truth about something I have known for years. I am working with this young women who most of the time only needs a hug from me. That hug speaks more to her then my words. She is not saved. Preach on brother , preach on.
Tackling the tough stuff! Good for you, Bill. Praying for you and all of yours. Have a great Labor Day weekend.
Preaching on Revelation? Wow! Now that in itself is a challenge, Bill. I will definitely keep you in prayer.
Blessings!
Hi Bill,
Are you preaching on it tomorrow? I have been reading through Colossians,Philippians, and Thessalonians lately and have been struck by what a shepherding heart Paul shows in there. He is ready to go the long haul for people, and he is continually talking about loving them so much that he shares with them not only the good news of Jesus but “our very lives too.” I like how he talks too about praying that this love for each other (and God too, I’m sure) would grow and grow and overflow. I don’t know if I’m making sense, just thinking through your thoughts here, agreeing, and seeing continued ramifications of them in my own life with the people around me too.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com