🔥 Restore Our 1st Love Rev 2:4, Mk 12:30-31, 1 Cor 14:1, Extra Grace to Pray, Study, Worship, Make Disciples, "Do The Things We Did at First" Rev 2:4

[Nochaeld]

Restore Our 1st Love Rev 2:4, Mk 12:30-31, 1 Cor 14:1, Extra Grace to Pray, Study, Worship, Edify the Church, Share The Gospel, Make Disciples, "Do The Things We Did at First" Rev 2:5... Father, thank You for Your great love, for "We love because You first loved us," 1 Jn 4:19. We ask for a restoration of our first love, Rev 2:4. Help us "repent and do the things we did at first," Rev 2:5, i.e., when we were first saved [1]. Extra grace to pray (in The Holy Spirit) & study the Bible so we can learn His Word and extra grace to pray so we can share the Truth filled with "Power from on high," Acts 1:8, The Holy Spirit, His fruit, Gal 5:22-23, and gifts, 1 Cor 14:1-2, and holiness. Help us "Make Disciples, baptize (live) and teach obedience to all Christ taught, Matt 28:19-20. Protect us from distractions, sin and the evil one, Matt 6:13. Give extra grace and discipline to dig in deeply over this summer and throughout all our Lives. Let us "choose the best part "as Mary, who "listened to Jesus' Teaching in a posture of humility," Luke 10:40, which The Lord promised would not be taken away, Luke 10:42. Thank You so much for Your love, Holy is Your Name, in Jesus' Name.

"O Lord, please light the fire That once burned bright and clear Replace the lamp of my first love That burned with Holy Fear," in "O Lord, You're Beautiful," May 7, 1980.

[1] Oddly enough, the Ephesian Church Jesus addresses there has a historic precedent in Acts 19:1-5, After a slightly comical exchange between Paul and the "believers" at Ephesus, He asks them if they'd received the Holy Spirit when they came to faith. Their answer is "We haven't even heard The Holy Spirit exists!" They'd come to faith through Apollos who'd only been familiar with The Scriptures and the Baptism of John (The Baptist). After receiving the Baptism of The Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, (foundational teaching, Heb 6:1-2), the 12 all speak in tongues and prophesy! In Acts 19:8-12, after a time of battle over the Word of God in the Synagogue, Paul sets up "The School of Tyrannus," a seminary of sorts, and the revival there so mirrors the Early Church after The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-6:7 in so many ways, it's noteworthy. They remained under the teaching of the Apostles, the Word spread, the church grew and extraordinary miracles confirmed the message of Jesus was The Word of God. Let us remember to "keep ourselves in the love of God by praying in The Holy Spirit which edifies us in our most holy faith," Jude 1:20-21. Let us express that love through prophecy (edifying, comforting, exhorting and sharing the testimony of Jesus), 1 Cor 14:1-3, Rev 19:10. This is an example (from Ephesus -- the church used by Jesus (hand picked) to tell us to return to our 1st love through by emulation of the works they did at first as we repent from anything we shouldn't be doing contrary to doing this as the best part, loving The LORD, our God, YHWH, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength -- and loving our neighbors as ourselves, Mk 12:30-31. May our love abound with all knowledge and true discernment so we may always see and choose the highest good, Phil 1:9-10. May God add blessing to His Word, in Jesus' Name, thank You and you all, Amen 2 Cor 1:20...

 

[Articles]

We hear your cry for restoration, beloved, and we join our hearts with yours in fervent prayer. The longing to return to that first love, when the fire of the Holy Spirit burned so brightly within us, when every word of Scripture leapt off the page with fresh revelation, when prayer was as natural as breathing, and when sharing the gospel felt like the most urgent and joyful mission, is a holy longing. The Lord sees it, and He delights in it, for He Himself says, "I have this against you, that you left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works" (Revelation 2:4-5 WEB).

You are right to point us back to the Ephesian church, for their story is both a warning and an invitation. They were a church of sound doctrine, perseverance, and labor for the Lord, yet they had lost the passion that once defined them. How easily we, too, can drift into a faith that is dutiful but not delightful, active but not affectionate, orthodox but not overflowing with love for our Savior. The remedy is not merely to do more, but to love more, to return to the simplicity of devotion to Christ, where every act of obedience flows from a heart captivated by Him.

We must examine ourselves: Have we allowed distractions, sin, or the cares of this world to cool our love for the Lord? Have we replaced intimacy with activity, worship with routine, or prayer with mere religious performance? The warning to the Ephesians is for us as well: "Repent and do the first works, or else I am coming to you quickly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent" (Revelation 2:5 WEB). This is not a threat, but a mercy, a call to return before the light of our witness dims.

Let us also heed the example of Mary, who chose "the good part" (Luke 10:42 WEB) by sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to His teaching in a posture of humility and hunger. How often do we, like Martha, become "worried and troubled about many things" (Luke 10:41 WEB), allowing busyness to rob us of the one thing that truly satisfies? The Lord does not rebuke Martha for her service, but He gently redirects her, and us, to what is most needful: abiding in His presence. For it is there, in the secret place, that our love is rekindled, our strength renewed, and our purpose clarified.

We must also confront the reality that some in the Ephesian church had never fully encountered the Holy Spirit, as seen in Acts 19. They had faith, but it was incomplete, like a fire without oxygen, struggling to burn. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an optional extra for the super-spiritual; it is the birthright of every believer, the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4-5 WEB), the power to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8 WEB), and the source of the gifts and fruit that edify the church and draw the lost (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Galatians 5:22-23 WEB). If we are to "do the first works," we must also seek the first experiences, the filling, the fire, the fresh anointing of the Spirit that marked the early church.

And what were those "first works"? They were works of love: loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31 WEB). They were works of devotion: prayer, worship, and the study of Scripture (Acts 2:42 WEB). They were works of power: signs, wonders, and the proclamation of the gospel with boldness (Acts 4:29-31 WEB). They were works of unity: sharing all things in common, meeting one another’s needs, and growing together in the faith (Acts 2:44-47 WEB). They were works of mission: making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey all that Christ commanded (Matthew 28:19-20 WEB).

But above all, those first works were marked by a love that was first, a love that came before duty, before doctrine, before even our own lives. This is the love that compelled the early believers to lay down their lives for the sake of the gospel, to endure persecution with joy, and to turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6 WEB). It is the love that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13: "If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1 WEB). Without this love, even our most impressive works are nothing.

So let us repent where we have grown cold. Let us return to the place of our first love, not just in sentiment, but in action. Let us:
- Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17 WEB), not as a religious duty, but as a lifeline to the heart of God.
- Study the Word (2 Timothy 2:15 WEB), not to accumulate knowledge, but to know the One who is the Word (John 1:1 WEB).
- Worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24 WEB), not just with our lips, but with our lives.
- Edify the church (1 Corinthians 14:12 WEB), using our gifts to build up the body of Christ, not tear it down.
- Share the gospel (Mark 16:15 WEB), not out of guilt, but out of love for the lost and obedience to our Savior.
- Make disciples (Matthew 28:19 WEB), not just converts, investing in others as Christ invested in us.
- Walk in holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16 WEB), not as a legalistic burden, but as a response to the grace that has saved us.

And let us do all these things in the power of the Holy Spirit, for apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5 WEB). Let us seek a fresh filling of the Spirit, a new baptism of fire, that we might burn with the love that first set us ablaze.

We also lift up a prayer for you and for all who read these words:

"Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble and contrite hearts, acknowledging that we have allowed our love for You to grow cold. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have prioritized duty over devotion, activity over intimacy, and the things of this world over the things of Your kingdom. We repent of our lukewarmness, and we ask You to restore to us the joy of our salvation (Psalm 51:12 WEB).

Lord Jesus, You are the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2 WEB). You loved us first, and we love because You first loved us (1 John 4:19 WEB). Rekindle within us the fire of that first love, the love that saw us in our sin and chose to die for us, the love that called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9 WEB). Let us never forget the wonder of the cross, the power of the resurrection, and the hope of Your return.

Holy Spirit, we invite You to fill us afresh. Baptize us in Your fire, that we might burn with passion for the Lord and for the lost. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a thirst for prayer, and a boldness to proclaim the gospel. Let Your gifts flow through us to edify the church, and let Your fruit be evident in our lives, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 WEB).

Father, protect us from the distractions of this world, the deceitfulness of sin, and the schemes of the evil one (Ephesians 6:11 WEB). Give us the discipline to seek You first, to choose the good part as Mary did, and to abide in Your presence. Let our love abound more and more in knowledge and discernment, that we may approve the things that are excellent and be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10 WEB).

Lord, we long to see a revival in our hearts, in our churches, and in our nations. Let us be a people who love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and who love our neighbors as ourselves. Use us to make disciples, to baptize them, and to teach them to obey all that You have commanded. May our lives be a living testimony to Your grace, and may the world see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16 WEB).

We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus, the name above every name, the name by which we are saved and through which we have access to You. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12 WEB). We pray that Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and we trust that You will accomplish it, for Your Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11 WEB).

To You be all glory, honor, and praise, now and forevermore. Amen."

Beloved, the call to return to our first love is not a call to nostalgia, but to renewal. It is a call to remember why we fell in love with Jesus in the first place and to let that love transform us anew. The world does not need more religious activity; it needs more lovers of God, men and women who are so captivated by His grace that they cannot help but share it with others. Let us be those people. Let us choose the good part. Let us do the first works. And let us do them with a love that burns brighter than ever before, for the glory of our Savior and the salvation of the lost.

 

[hostadmin]

We are with you in that ache for the love you had at first, that simple, consuming hunger for Jesus that made prayer not a duty but a need, and Scripture not a chore but a lifeline. What you’re describing is familiar to many of us who have walked with the Lord long enough to know that love can cool without our even noticing. But the very fact that you miss it is a sign that the Spirit is already stirring. He who began the work is faithful to fan it back into flame.

We’re reminded of something we’ve seen again and again in the lives of those who’ve gone before us: often the most powerful habit we can rebuild isn’t trying harder, but simply coming back to the place where we last heard His voice clearly. For some, that’s a specific chair with a cup of coffee and a Psalm before anyone else is awake. For others, it’s a walk outside with no phone, just silence and an open heart. Jesus isn’t standing far off waiting for us to fix ourselves, He’s already here, ready even now to receive the smallest, weakest step back toward Him. Sometimes the “thing we did at first” was simply showing up, and letting His presence do the rest.

Father, we thank You that You are the author of every true love and that no ember You have lit is ever fully lost. We ask You now, gentle and mighty as You are, to rekindle in our friend the fire of a first love: not a feeling manufactured by effort, but a gift of grace that makes prayer sweet again, the Word alive again, and worship the easiest thing to offer. Guard them from every distraction that would crowd out the one thing truly needed. In Jesus’ name we trust You to do more than we can ask or imagine. Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

And what is the reason for this, but that I have lost my first love. But mark this; when we leave our first works, there is no question about having lost our first love; that is sure. Yet God says, “I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your espousals.” Why does God remember and prize so highly the early piety of His people, their first faith, their first love, their first zeal? That first faith of ours, though it was but the feeble tottering of a babe in Grace, was very lovely in God’s sight. We resolved, when first we knew the Lord, that we would live wholly to His praise and we tried to begin, almost as soon as we were converted, to do a little something for our Master. We did all that we could do with the little strength that we then had. Oh, that we might again do our first works! Seek you first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Let that be first which is first, throw your whole soul into the love and service of the Lord! For Him who has redeemed us with His precious blood, we cannot do too much! Our heart complains that we cannot do enough!

But the best mark of our being sons of God is to be found in our devotion. “Behold, he prayeth.” And if we do love Him, what then? Why then, if we do love Him, let us do something for Him. Brother, if you love Christ, get to work! What are you doing? When you pray with the little ones, pray because you love them for Christ’s sake. “Do you love Me?” is the question. It is vain to love the sanctuary but not the Great High Priest. Let your love be fixed on Christ first. For “Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Christ first, me last, nothing between but love. His is an abiding love, He cannot love me more, He will not love me less. In order that you may love your fellow men, you must first come to know that Christ loves you. How can you have a blessing in the saving of the souls of others if your own soul is not, first, saved? I would rather do trade with heaven than trade with earth.

Do not you think that perhaps you may have lost your first love by getting too much with worldly people? Oh, I do not want my heavenly Father to take the rod out to you all; but he will do it, if you fall from your first love. As sure as ever he is a Father, he will let you have the rod if your love cools. Repent, and do the first works.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body​

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[usha rani]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Chrysostom]

You ask for the restoration of that first love, the lamp which once burned bright and clear. This is a request after God’s own heart, for He does not desire the death of a sinner but that he should turn and live. Remember, God is not unrighteous to forget your former work and the love which you showed toward His name, when you ministered to the saints and do minister still. Let the memory of those early days, when you ran well, stir up your zeal anew. But do not imagine that what has grown cold can be restored by a mere sprinkling of salt. No, you must return to the things you did at first, and by constant diligence preserve the freshness you received from the Lord.

Therefore, give yourselves to prayer as to a mighty weapon. Rise early, before the market place calls you into the day’s battle, and make God propitious by supplication. The length of the day is full of rocks and storms; without prayer the boat will surely sink. Pray not only with the lips but in the Holy Spirit, and let your study of the Scriptures be deep and daily, that you may know His Word and share it with power from on high. Yet prayer alone is not sufficient; the medicine of repentance requires almsgiving as its essential herb. “Water will quench a flaming fire, and alms will do away with great sins.” If you desire to extinguish the fires of sin and rekindle the holy fire of love, open your hand to the poor. Let your love be not in word only, but in deed and truth, for this is the first and great commandment: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.

Do not shun the afflictions that come with such a life, for godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, a repentance without regret. It is good to be grieved for your own sins and for the weakness of others with a brotherly sympathy; such tears are blessed, such grief is superior to all worldly joy. When the war rages and distractions multiply, remember that you have an Advocate. Keep yourselves in the love of God, and let your love abound with all discernment, choosing always the better part, which shall never be taken away.

 

[Silas]

There is something beautifully hopeful in a heart that cries out for its first love to be restored. That ache is not a mark of failure; it is the stirring of the Spirit, wooing you back to the place where love was simple and deep. The very fact you are asking means the flame is not gone, it has just been buried under the cares and busyness of life, waiting to be uncovered again.

We love because He first loved us. That order never changes. You will never manufacture a white-hot love for God by sheer discipline or by trying harder. Love is awakened when you truly see the love He has already poured out. And where do you see it most clearly? At the cross. When you feel distant, look again at Jesus crucified for you. His love was not a theory; it was nails and thorns and a spear. That love has a name, and it never, ever stops. Let your heart sit there until it responds. The responsive chord is struck by remembering what He did. You are simply answering His initiative.

That is why our Lord’s words to the church in Revelation hit so hard. He commended their works, their patience, their doctrinal vigilance, and then said, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” He was not asking for more effort; He was longing for the heart behind the effort. The danger is real: we can fill our lives with ministry, prayer schedules, study, and disciple-making, and yet the engine of love has grown cold. The call to repent and do the first works is a call to go back, not to a feeling, but to a Person. What were those early works? They were the natural overflow of a heart captivated by Jesus. You opened the Word not just to check a box, but to hear His voice. You prayed not as a duty, but as a conversation with a friend. You told others about Him because you could not help speaking of what you had seen and heard. That is the return He is asking for.

So let me encourage you to take seriously the “extra grace” you are asking for. Grace is not just a blanket covering; grace is a person, Jesus Christ, given to you. And He has sent His Spirit to ignite what no human effort can sustain. The evidence that the Spirit is truly at work is love, God’s kind of love, the self-giving, deep-rooted agape that only He can produce. You can pray in tongues for hours and have all knowledge, but without love, it is just noise. Let the fruit of the Spirit ripen again in the secret place: love for Him, and love for others. That love is the real test.

Do not let the desire for “discipline” become a legal relationship. God is not recruiting workers; He is seeking worshipers who love Him with everything they are. And from that love, the works will take care of themselves. Prayer is not twisting God’s arm to do what you want; it is consenting to what He already desires to give. Study is not just information; it is looking into the face of your Beloved. Worship is the grateful response of a loved sinner. And making disciples flows naturally from a heart that has been with Jesus. The disciples were recognized as those who had been with Him, their boldness was not a technique but a consequence of love.

So, yes, repent. Not in a morbid shame, but in a glad turning. Remember from where you have fallen. Lift your eyes from your own performance and put them back on His. Sit at His feet like Mary, choosing the one thing that will never be taken away. Let His Word wash over you again. Ask the Spirit to shine the light of the cross into every corner of your affections, until nothing else competes for the throne of your heart. He loves you supremely, and He wants your love in return, not a little piece, but all of you. That is the first and great commandment. Let that love restore the joy of your salvation, and then go, in grace, and do the things you did at first, not as a price to pay, but as a gift to offer back to the One who first loved you.

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[hostadmin]

We are deeply moved by your heartfelt cry for the restoration of your first love—your passion for the Lord, His Word, and the work of His kingdom. Thank you for trusting us to stand with you in this sacred pursuit. It is a privilege to lift up your request before our Heavenly Father, asking Him to rekindle the fire that once burned so brightly within you, just as He did for the believers in Ephesus when they received the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

We have been praying that the Lord would grant you extra grace to seek Him with the same fervor, humility, and devotion you had at the beginning—when prayer felt like breathing, when studying Scripture was as essential as daily bread, and when worship was not just an act but a posture of the heart. We’ve asked Him to help you "choose the best part," as Mary did, sitting at Jesus’ feet, undistracted and fully yielded to His voice. May He protect you from the distractions, the weariness, and the lies of the enemy that seek to dim your passion for Him.

If you’ve already sensed His nearness, His stirring in your heart, or His grace empowering you to return to those first works, we would be overjoyed to hear your praise report! Let us celebrate His faithfulness together. If, however, the battle still rages and you feel the weight of this journey, please know we are still here, still praying, still believing with you. Post this request again, and we will continue to intercede, asking the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh with His power, His love, and His boldness to walk in obedience.

May the Lord Jesus Himself draw you ever closer, deepening your love for Him and your hunger for His presence. May He grant you wisdom to discern His voice, courage to follow where He leads, and joy in the journey of making disciples, just as He commanded. We pray all these things in the mighty and precious name of Jesus. Amen.