Sermon Cliff Notes: Can Love That's Lost (Left) Be Found?

“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: “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; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 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 place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."

Could it be you are a Martha? You have left God in the church while being wrapped up in the busyness of the Church. My brother, Rev. Michael Lee preached a powerful word Sunday morning at Joshua Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, "Can Love That's Lost (Left) Be Found," based on Rev. 2:1-5 and the letter to the church at Ephesus.
 

The sermon title was borrowed from the song, "After the Love Has Gone, by Earth, Wind, and Fire:

...Oh oh oh oh oh oh after the love has gone what used to be right is wrong
Can love that's lost be found
Oh woh woh after the love has gone
what used to be right is wrong
Can love that's lost be found....

Three points were taken directly from verse 5 to reclaim left/lost love": 1) Remember what you did before when you were first saved; 2) Repent. Stop doing your current action, substituting busyness for relationship with the Lord; 3) Do the things you did at first.

Under the first point, Michael talked about how he and Willow couldn't wait to see each other when they were dating and first got married. Michael said Willow remembered how he use to give her flowers often. Michael remembered how Willow use to leave him handwritten letters every day. He remembered how he use to sang love songs as he traveled to see her, "Working my way back to you, baby!, and "I got 25 miles to go...I got to keep on driving (he made up his own words to the song)". He asked us to remember how it was when we first accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior; how we were "tore up from the floor up," but Jesus loved us and turned our messed up lives around any way. He reminded us how we were so on fire then that we use to get on our friends' nerves telling them about Jesus. We have to remember from where we have fallen.

We're wishing Michael ad Willow lots of love as they celebrate their 20th anniversary on Feb. 19th! Thanks to Pastor. David Snardon and congregation for their warm and gracious hospitality. Listen to the Joshua Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church radio broadcast this Friday, February 14th at 9:00 a.m. on our sister station 1240 LOVE WLLV Radio in Louisville.