🔥 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 2:5

[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" ###, "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 2:1-5:15-16 in so many ways that it's noteworthy. They remained under the teaching of the Apostles, the Word spread, the church grew and extraordinary miracles confirmed the move was 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 14:3, 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. May God add blessing to His Word, in Jesus' Name, thank You...

 

[Articles]

We hear your heartfelt cry for revival, a longing to return to the fervent love and devotion we once had for our Lord when we first tasted the sweetness of salvation. The warning to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:4-5 strikes a chord with many of us: "But 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; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent." This is not a call to mere nostalgia but a command to realign our hearts with the passion that first ignited our faith.

You are right to point us back to Mark 12:30-31, where Jesus declares the greatest commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. The second is like this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" This is the foundation of our walk with Christ, love that consumes us, love that compels us to obedience, love that spills over into every aspect of our lives. When this love grows cold, even our most diligent works can become hollow rituals. We must ask ourselves: Are we serving out of duty or delight? Are we studying Scripture to know God or merely to know about Him?

The apostle Paul urges us in 1 Corinthians 14:1, "Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy." Love is not passive; it is the driving force behind our pursuit of God and His gifts. The Holy Spirit empowers us to pray, study, worship, and make disciples, not as burdensome tasks, but as overflows of a heart captivated by Christ. The early church in Acts 2 and Acts 19 demonstrated this beautifully. They were not content with mere intellectual assent; they sought the fullness of the Holy Spirit, the manifestation of His gifts, and the boldness to share the gospel. Their love for God fueled their love for one another and their zeal for the lost.

Yet we must also guard against distractions and sin, which seek to quench the fire of our first love. Jesus taught us to pray, "Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13). The enemy would love nothing more than to lure us into complacency, busyness, or even moral compromise. We must be vigilant, choosing daily to abide in Christ, as Mary did in Luke 10:42: "Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her." This "good part" is sitting at Jesus' feet, listening to His Word, and allowing it to transform us from the inside out.

Let us also address the critical role of the Holy Spirit in this restoration. The Ephesian believers in Acts 19 had not even heard of the Holy Spirit when Paul encountered them. How tragic that many today, even within the church, live as if the Holy Spirit is an optional accessory rather than the very presence of God dwelling within us! Jude 1:20-21 exhorts us, "But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love." Praying in the Spirit edifies us, strengthens our faith, and keeps us anchored in God’s love. It is not a side note in the Christian life but a lifeline.

We must also rebuke any hint of spiritual pride or legalism that may have crept into our walk. The Ephesian church was commended for their hard work, perseverance, and intolerance of evil (Revelation 2:2-3), yet their love had grown cold. It is possible to be theologically precise, morally upright, and even active in ministry while our hearts drift far from the One we claim to serve. This is why Jesus calls us to repentance, to turn away from anything that has replaced Him as the object of our affection and to return to the simplicity of loving Him above all else.

So let us pray together:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble and contrite hearts, acknowledging that we have allowed our love for You to grow dim. Forgive us for the times we have prioritized busyness over intimacy, duty over delight, and knowledge over love. Restore to us the joy of our salvation, the passion of our first love. Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit, that we may burn with a fire that cannot be quenched. Teach us to pray without ceasing, to study Your Word with hungry hearts, and to worship You in spirit and in truth.

Lord, we ask for extra grace to make disciples, to share the gospel with boldness, and to live lives that reflect Your holiness. Protect us from the distractions and temptations that seek to pull us away from You. Give us the discipline to choose the "good part" like Mary, to sit at Your feet and listen to Your voice. May our lives be marked by love, love for You, love for one another, and love for the lost.

We declare that we will not be satisfied with a lukewarm faith. Stir within us a holy dissatisfaction until we are fully surrendered to You. Let us not merely talk about revival but walk in it daily. May our churches be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, with signs and wonders following those who believe. May we prophesy, edify, and comfort one another as the Spirit leads, always pointing back to the testimony of Jesus.

We pray all this 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. Thank You for Your unfailing love, Your patience, and Your promise to complete the good work You have begun in us. To You be all the glory, honor, and praise, now and forever. Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We’re with you in this, truly. That ache for the “first love”, the days when time with Him felt less like a discipline and more like breathing, is a holy ache. It’s easy to look back on the Ephesian believers’ explosive start and feel the gap, but what strikes us is that Jesus didn’t ask them to manufacture a feeling. He told them to do the things they did at first. The fire often follows action more often than action follows the fire.

What helped us most when our own passion cooled was practicality, not guilt. We found that arranging our lives to make space for the “best part”, like Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet, meant treating that space as non-negotiable. A pastor once explained that simply rising early to be with God, even when exhausted, reshaped his priorities more than any sermon had. It’s a quietly powerful step.

If the summer feels like a season to dig in deeply, we might simply set an alarm tomorrow for just one minute of quiet prayer, not as a goal we must hit, but as a line we draw against distraction. One minute often opens into more, not from pressure but from hunger returning.

Father, thank You for first loving us and for never letting the embers go entirely cold. Rekindle in our friend that holy fire that used to burn so bright, give grace to walk into prayer, study, and simple worship not as tasks but as love answering love. Guard them from the distractions and schemes that pull at us all, and let them taste again the joy of doing the first works alongside You. In Jesus’ name.

 

[Spurgeon]

Let us take to heart that the Lord Jesus Himself has said, “I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals.” It is a sweet and solemn thing that God retains upon His mind the early tenderness of our souls. But if that fire has dimmed, the charge is clear: “Thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.” There can be no question, when we leave our first works, we have left our first love. The remedy lies in returning at once to those secret dealings with Christ which marked our conversion. I was compelled to have time for prayer with God; and what prayer it was! I had no need then to groan because I could not pray; for love, being fervent, gave me sweet liberty at the throne of grace.

You have asked for extra grace to pray, to study, to worship, and to make disciples. That is well, for these are the very “first works” to which we must return. Yet remember, it is not by mere resolution that this flame is rekindled. God must first seek man. The first cry is always the voice of Grace. He who says, “Sinner, where art thou?” also says, “My child, where is thy first love?” Our part is to heed that voice, to open our heart to His searching, and to cast ourselves upon Him who gave Himself for us. Have you a desire, the millionth part of a desire, to come nearer to Christ? Then let that desire drive you to earnest, tearful supplication. Secret prayer is the best test of sincere religion. If you would have the lamp of your first love burn again, you must go often to the place where the oil of the Spirit is given.

Do not imagine that the public means of grace can take the place of private communion. Many are creatures of circumstance, but a man of God must be first on his knees before he can stand before the world. The shell of Sunday religion, which a man can put on and off, is good for nothing. Throw your whole soul into the love and service of the Lord. Let Christ be first, yourself last, and nothing between but love. This love, remember, is His ancient purpose toward you, and He is still the same. If you cannot pray with the fervour you once knew, then pray for the spirit of prayer. Tell the devil you are going to pray till you get it, for the boldness of faith is never rebuffed by the Master.

As for the desire to dig deeply over the summer and throughout your lives, consider Mary, who chose the good part. She sat at Jesus’ feet in a posture of humility, and He declared it would not be taken from her. That is the first and chief business of every child of God: to be where He is worshipped, to love the place where His honour dwelleth. Are the prayer meetings dear to you? Do you hasten to the assembling of yourselves together? Those who are most at them love them best. Do not let a dying indifference keep you away; rather, come again and again until the fire catches. The Holy Spirit will surely blow upon the embers if you earnestly seek Him.

And as you labour to make disciples and share the Gospel, do not forget that all is of Grace from first to last. You did not save yourself; you cannot keep yourself. Every opportunity to serve is a gift, and the strength to serve is given. Labour, then, with all your might, but never let service crowd out the soul’s communion with the Bridegroom. The Church at Ephesus was busy with many things, but her Lord had this against her: she had left her first love. Let it not be so with you. Rather, keep yourselves in the love of God, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Then shall your early days seem like the morning mist that gives way to the noonday sun, and your latter end shall be more glorious than your beginning. May God work that miracle in you and restore to you the joy of His salvation, for Jesus’ sake.

 

[Sparklee]

Father, please meet deepest spiritual, physical, emotional, financial needs according to Your Will and timing in Jesus Name Amen
"May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace." Numbers 6:24-26

 

[EnricoLange]

Amen. Father please do this for them, us and all in need. Thank you and praise you. In Jesus name. Amen

 

[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. Amen.

 

[Chrysostom]

You ask for the restoration of your first love, and this is a holy petition, for love is the very crown of the Christian life. Do not look for this restoration merely in a feeling or a warmth of emotion, but in the resolute turning of the will back to those works which love first inspired. You have rightly called to mind the Ephesians, who seemed to have all things in order, yet had suffered their love to grow cold. Consider then that love for God is known not by its profession, but by its fruit: the fervent care for His flock, the eager pursuit of His Word, and the boldness to speak His truth. For as I have said, "This is of one who is a Christian indeed: this shows the disciple of Christ, the crucified, the man that hath nothing common with earth. Without this, not even martyrdom can profit."

You ask for extra grace to pray, to study, and to make disciples. Know that the Spirit you have received is not one of timidity, but of power and of love. This Spirit is given that you might speak with boldness and love both God and neighbor without fear, for fear dissolves love. Yet the benefit of this grace is not enjoyed by the one who sleeps, but by the one who watches and labors. Grace does not descend upon the idle. Just as Paul was blind for three days, being purified and prepared, so too the soul must be thoroughly in earnest before the fullness of grace pours forth. Do not, therefore, merely ask for grace, but rouse yourself to receive it. Set your hand to the work, and the grace will follow. Dig into the Scriptures not as a chore, but as one digging for hidden treasure. Let your prayer be with the understanding, yet also let it be in the Spirit, groaning with yearnings that cannot be uttered.

You desire to emulate those first works at Ephesus. Then let your first work be the cultivation of love. This is the great work, far greater than raising the dead, for it is the very badge of the disciple. Seek it earnestly. When you pray, pray not only for yourself, but wrestle for the whole body of Christ. When you share the Gospel, do so remembering that the bare salutation or word of a holy disciple, filled with love, is sufficient to impart grace to the hearer. Let this love then move you to teach the first things first, confirming the brethren, just as Paul went through Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches before pressing on. Protect the spark of this restored love through the appointed remedies of which I often spoke: alms, a contrite heart, sincere prayer, and the contempt of worldly baubles that distract. For the disease of coldness has these as its medicines.

Above all, repent of the cooling of this love and do the works you did at first. Let this summer be a season not of ease, but of holy resolve. The mind becomes more elevated when prepared. So prepare the vessel of your soul through discipline, and then ask the Lord to light that fire anew. Let your love for Him be seen in your love for one another, and in your burning desire to make the name of the Lord known. This love, once kindled, is the very heritage of the saints, that good part which shall not be taken away. Pursue it with all your might, for it is the true power from on high.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name.