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First Love

12/31/17
First Love

Revelation 2:2-4
“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!


How do we return to our first love?

  1. We need to come to our senses.

Luke15:17-18
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

  1. Turn around

Mark 1:15
The time has come, “he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

2 Corinthians 7:9
yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to
repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.

3. Do what you did at first


Revelation 2:7
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

1 Peter 1:18-19
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Psalm 119:33-34
Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,
    that I may follow it to the end.
34 
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
    and obey it with all my heart.









All is Calm: Prince of Peace

All is Calm
Part 3
Prince of Peace
Christmas Eve

Luke 12:51 “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”

John 16:33 “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Mark 4:35-38 “As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

Verse 38 “Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

1. You are in the storm with His permission

Verse 35 “ As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”

2. You are in the storm in His presence.

verse 38 “Jesus was in the stern of the boat on a cushion.”

Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

Psalm 23: 4 “Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me.”

3. You are in the storm for His purpose.

a. He might use the storm to get us WHERE he wants us to go.

Verse 35 “he said to the disciples, let us go to the other side.”

b. He might use the storm to make us WHO he wants us to be...

How do I experience the prince of peace in the midst of my storms?

2 things

1. Surrender control:

Verse 38-39 “Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great CALM.”

2. Stay in the boat.

Galatians 6:9  “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

All is Calm: Peace of Mind

All is Calm
Part 2
Peace of Mind

Romans 8:6 “The mind governed by the Spirit is life and PEACE.”

Philippians 4:6-9 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

  1. Your Food

verse 6
“do not worry about anything but pray about everything”

2. Your Focus

verse 8 “Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected”

3. Your Friends

verse 9 “Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.”

1. Do what God asks you to do.

James 1:22 “don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”

a. Think on the right things:

Philippians 4:8 “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”

b. Pray:

Verse 6 “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God.”

c. Do what is wise:

Philippians 4:9 “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.”

2. Give to God what you cannot do.

Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

3. No matter what happens I will trust God.

Proverbs 3:5 “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on you own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

Verse 4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

Matthew 1:18-23 “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us&rdquoWinking.

He did what God asked him to do: Married Mary, raised Jesus as his own
He gave to God with what He could not do: At an early age he dedicated Jesus to the Lord. Luke 2
He trusted God no matter what

All is Calm

All is Calm
Part 1
Peace for my Soul

Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 Solomon asked a question:
"What does a man get for all the toil and
anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest..."

1. When I am tired I let my guard down

Judges 4:17-21 “Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite. 18 Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. 19 “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.20 “Stand in the doorway of the tent,” he told her. “If someone comes by and asks you, ‘Is anyone in there?’ say ‘No.’” 21 But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.”

Luke 21:34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.”

2. When I am tired my emotions are inconsistent.

3. When I am tired I can forget my purpose.

Hebrews 12:2-3 “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

1. Rest is a command.

Exodus 34:21 “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall REST ; even during the plowing season and harvest you must REST.

2. Rest is a trust.

3. Rest is a necessity.

4. Rest is a gift.

Mark 2:27 “The sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath.”

Psalm 62:1. "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him."


Matthew 11:28 “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you REST. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

How do we live this out practically?

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”

1. Be still

2. Know that He is God

Psalms 62:1-2 NCV “I find rest in God; only he can save me. He is my rock and my salvation. He is my defender; I will not be defeated.”