Revival of First Love
Preparing for the Roaring Twenties Fast 2024
3-Day Devotional
By Sammy Lopez
INTRODUCTION
"Out with the old, in with the new" is a saying we often repeat as each new year dawns. What's done is done, and now fresh opportunities emerge to improve things. However, the reality for those reading this devotional might not align with this hopeful sentiment.
Life's challenges can be like quicksand, trapping us without freedom and stuck in an unending cycle. As followers of Christ, we might find ourselves in a rut of redundancy and complacency. Your walk with Christ today might feel nonexistent and stagnant, leaving you wondering how you ended up in this dry and desolate land. Something in your life has happened or is happening, making you feel disconnected from the will and presence of God.
Jesus addressed this very issue in Revelation 2:4-5.
“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place— unless you repent.”
If you're familiar with Scripture, you've likely read, heard, quoted, and even preached these words numerous times. These words from Jesus not only defined the church of the past but remain true and relevant for the church today.
The purpose of this devotional is to challenge and prepare you for the Roaring Twenties Fast 2024. In the midst of the world's tumult, we as the saints of God, must spiritually ready ourselves for the events of this coming year.
The most crucial aspect of it all is to ensure our consistent communion with God. If that connection is dry and stale, victory in the new year becomes elusive.
It's time to return to our first love! We can embark on that journey together through prayer and fasting, starting January 8th and concluding on the 28th. You are encouraged to begin this devotional three days before the fast begins (Jan 5th, 2024).
The devotional breaks down Revelation 2:4-5 into three parts over three days. Will you accept the challenge of this devotional and join millions worldwide in fasting and praying for revival?
Out with the old, in with the new! Let God's Holy Spirit guide you in this new year and beyond!
For more info on the ROARING TWENTIES FAST 2024 - REVIVAL OF FIRST LOVE click here.
DAY ONE
Revelation 2: 4-5 (NASB) 4 “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place— unless you repent.”
Scripture assures us that "nothing can separate us from the Love of God" (Romans 8:38-39). However, Jesus, addressing the church at Ephesus, expressed a significant concern. He conveyed that he had an issue with them—an unsettling notion that none of us would desire. The last thing we'd want is for Jesus to hold something against us! Sadly, this might be a reality for many of us. However, let’s confront the truth. Is this the current status of your relationship with Jesus? Could He indeed have something against you?
Looking into verse 4, we discover the cause behind Jesus' concern—their abandonment of their "first love." In this context, the term “left their first love” signifies forsaking the primary, most crucial aspect of their communion with Christ. They traded their relationship for something else.
Consider this: What have you exchanged in your relationship with Christ? Friends? Relationships? Career? Compromise? Ministry? Take a moment for introspection and ask yourself this life-changing question: Have I substituted my relationship with Jesus for something else? If so, Jesus may have something against you! He desires the top spot in our lives and hearts. Our spiritual dryness can now be defined.
This has nothing to do with the church we attend or the pastor we sit under. It’s solely about us, having replaced Christ with our selfish desires and ambitions. Jesus didn't leave us; we left Him. As you ponder this scripture today, jot down in your journal or notes the things you may have exchanged Jesus for. Be honest. It's time to call for personal revival by returning to our foremost and most crucial relationship—our relationship with Christ.
Prayer Time: As you ready your heart and spirit for this week's fast, cry out to the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to unveil what needs releasing in your life, so that He may reclaim the primary position within you once more.
DAY TWO
Revelation 2: 4-5 (NASB) 4 “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place— unless you repent.”
One of the things that can haunt our lives or hinder us from moving forward is dwelling on our past. If not cleansed, our past can become a constant stumbling block as we recall the things we’ve done or the things done to us. In verse 5, Jesus presents an intriguing challenge to the Church: "Therefore, remember from where you have fallen..." He urges them to revisit their past and recall two crucial aspects. Firstly, remember the excitement and joy when I first entered your lives. Can you reminisce about the day the Lord saved you? Recall the joy, love, and new perspective on life when Jesus cleansed you from all your sins for the first time. Jesus wanted the Church at Ephesus to revisit that transformative moment.
Secondly, He wanted them to recollect what led to their departure in the first place. "Remember where you have fallen." This is a significant statement, as He’s urging them to confront the issues in their past that caused their spiritual separation.
Can you do that today? Can you summon the courage to revisit your past and identify the factors that brought you to this moment? What caused the rift between you and your Redeemer?
It's time to address your past once and for all! Revival can begin when we confront our sins. Now, let's address them. In your journal or notes, write down the lingering issues from your past and earnestly cry out to the Lord to remove them. How? Look at verse 5 again: "Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and REPENT." The key to your freedom lies in the fruit of repentance.
Are there areas in your life that require repentance? If so, do it now without hesitation. Your liberation from the past and the path to victory are just a prayer away! Confess to the Holy Spirit and repent of your sins so that freedom and triumph can finally manifest in your life today! Personal renewal, revival, and times of refreshing await at the door of your heart.
Prayer Time: Repent from the things you wrote down in your journal and notes. Call out to your Redeemer once again. Also consider having someone pray with you and over you.
“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” James 5:16
DAY THREE
Revelation 2: 4-5 (NASB) 4 “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place —unless you repent.”
One of the most precious gifts bestowed upon us by the Lord is the gift of freedom from condemnation. As followers of Christ, we navigate this life without the burden of condemnation. The apostle Paul articulates this assurance in Romans 8:1, declaring, "Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus." This is not just a promise from the Lord; it's a message of hope and liberation. Thanks to the sacrifice on Calvary's cross and the blessed resurrection, the mighty blood of Jesus covers our sins—past, present, and future!
While there are times we may find ourselves outside of God's will, necessitating repentance, our gracious God allows us to start anew, picking up where we left off. This echoes Jesus' counsel to the Church at Ephesus: "...and do the deeds you did at first." After recognizing the cause of departure and repenting from it, Jesus encourages them to resume the actions, labor, and work they initially were involved in. It's a testament to God's grace that doesn't hold grudges or condemn us! Instead, He urges us to return to our initial purpose He’s prepared for us.
If you've honestly reflected on the challenges of this devotional in the past days, it's time to shed the weight and guilt you repented from. Embrace a return to the purpose God called you to fulfill initially. It's time to live out your calling—this embodies true personal revival. It involves a face-to-face confrontation with our sins, godly remorse leading to repentance, and a fresh start, wiping away the dust of our past. This time, it's within the will of God, swapping old habits for holiness, previous lifestyles for righteousness, and former mindsets for personal revival! Act swiftly! As Jesus warns the Church at Ephesus, "or else I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent."
Make today the day Jesus rightfully reigns in your heart, once again becoming the most significant presence in your life. Allow Him to cleanse, free, release, refresh, and restore the purpose for which He fearfully and wonderfully made you. It's time for the revival of first love!
Prayer Time:
As you gear up for the Roaring Twenties Fast 2024 tomorrow, take some time to pray and discern in your spirit what you'll be fasting. Contemplate giving up something significant, perhaps an ultimate sacrifice like food, social media, music, television, etc. Let your time with God flow without hindrance. Substitute your personal agenda with His will, and anticipate the outpouring of revival in our lives, our church, and our land!