Return To God

Return to God

April 6, 2008 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Move back to our first love.

Focus Passage: Revelation 2:1-7

Introduction:

I. Notice what was good.

a. Their deeds – they were a bunch of do gooders – a lot of churches think that because they are doing good, they are Godly.

b. Their doctrine – they examined what was being said by some and found them to be liars.

c. Their diligence – they persevered without fainting, without failing, and without flaunting.

d. Their disdain – they hated the sins, not the sinners.

II. Notice what was gone.

a. Their devotion – They left their first love.

i. Distractions – busy-ness, work, success, other things.

ii. Dissentions – somebody does somebody wrong and they refuse to forgive.

iii. Desires – people become obsessed with the pursuit of “something”

iv. Discouragement – no one seems to notice what we do and we throw up our hands despair.

III. Notice what was given.

a. A Call to Remember – remember what it was like when you first became a Christian?

b. A Command to Repent – it isn’t enough to reminisce, but to repent of our waning love, of our sinful departure.

c. A Charge to Return – we must return to that fiery passion, that fervency that we “used” to have.

Invitation:

Backward Christian soldiers, Fleeing from the fight,

With the cross of Jesus, Nearly out of sight.

Christ our rightful master Stands against the foe

Onward into battle, we seem afraid to go.

Chorus

Backward Christian soldiers, Fleeing from the fight,

With the cross of Jesus, Nearly out of sight.

Like a mighty tortoise Moves the church of God.

Brothers we are treading, Where we've often trod.

We are much divided, Many bodies we,

Having different doctrines, but Not much charity.

Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane,

But the cross of Jesus Hidden does remain.

Gates of hell should never 'gainst the Church prevail,

We have Christ's own promise, but we think it might fail.

Sit here then ye people, Join our sleeping throng.

Blend with ours, your voices in a feeble song.

Blessings, ease and comfort Ask from Christ the King,

But with our modern thinking, We won't do a thing.