Cross Ministry Blog http://thecrossministry.org/blog/how-to-renew-your-love-for-christ/01.22.2007/#more-60
How to Renew Your Love for Christ
One of the greatest problems in the Christian life is losing our fervent love for Jesus Christ. We can gradually drift away from the wholehearted and fervent love commitment to Christ without consciously realizing what is happening. This is why the author of Hebrews warned us:
“Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still ‘today,’ lest
And one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13)
Losing your love for Christ can be a slow and silent process which goes on unnoticed until the bitter fruits “suddenly” appear. It would be better to set up an “early warning system” which would reveal the process to us than to wake up with the problem upon us.
I.The Problem: A Lost Love (Rev. 2:1-4)
Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
A.You may be very active in church work but still lose your love for Christ (v. 2a).
B.You may live a separated life and have Christian friends but still lose your love for Christ (v. 2b).
C.You may be zealous in defending the truth against all heresies but still lose your love for Christ (v. 2c).
D.You may “keep the faith” in spite of persecution but still lose your love for Christ (v.3).
Conclusion:
Everything externally is properly in place but Internally your love for Christ is gone or weak.
II.How to Discern the Problem: Discern the process by learning the signs of losing your love for Christ. Identify it early and deal with it seriously.
Twenty-five Signs of a Lost Love
1.When you lack concern for the problem.
2.When you switch primary and secondary motives
Primary Motive Secondary Motive
Love to Christ Love for people
John 14:15 Duty to God
John 14:23 Dedication to church
Fear of shame/embarrassment
Guilt feelings/keeping up appearances
(Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.)
3.When you no longer yearn for or delight in private times of communion with Christ.
4.When your thoughts no longer fly to spiritual things when your mind is free but they fly instead to self or sin.
5.When you begin to excuse “little sins” as a matter of personality or situation.
6.When you regret giving your tithes and offerings and begin to cut back due to greed.
7.When you allow bitterness to arise through failed expectations and violated rights.
8.When you gossip or slander and ignore Matthew 18:15-20.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them
9.When you begin to let witnessing opportunities slip by due to feeling embarrassed or “funny”
10.When you hold grudges and “cannot” forgive others.
11.When you feel uncomfortable around spiritual Christians and cannot look them in the eyes.
12.When you associate with “carnal Christians” who, like you, avoid spiritual discussions which search the conscience.
13.When you compete with other Christians for power or recognition.
14.When you “cannot” be transparently honest with others but wear a “mask” of spirituality.
15.When you no longer “feel” God’s love (Rom. 5:5;Jude 21)
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
16.When you do not see specific answers to your prayers.
17.when you pray in generalities instead of praying specifically.
18.When you experience general moodiness, anxiety, depression and insecurity.
19.When you are quick to seek advice from people instead of going to Christ.
20.When you start losing your temper and are impatient with others.
21.When you placate your conscience by “feeling bad” about your lack of spirituality but do not go on to take positive steps of repentance.
22.When you return to the sins of preconversion days.
23.When you feel no compassion or concern for others.
24.When you complain and murmur.
25.When you are defensive when others exhort you about your backsliding.
III.How to cure the problem: Twelve Cures
1.Get right with God by confession and repentance (Prov. 28:13; 1 John 1:9)
Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2.Recommit yourself to Christ (Rom. 12:1-2)
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3.Get right with those against whom you have sinned or toward whom you have been unforgiving and bitter (Matt. 5:23-24; 18:15-17; Eph. 4:31-32).
Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee;
Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
4.Get alone and meditate on the kind of Christian life you used to experience when your love for Christ was fervent: “Remember from where you have fallen” (Rev. 2:5a).
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
5.Repent of what you have become (Rev. 2:5b).
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6.Repeat the activities which grew out of your first love(Rev. 2:5c)
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
7.Read exciting and inspiring Christian books, particularly biographies (Jude 20).
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
8. Confess the problem to the church and ask for prayer (James 5:16).
Jam 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
9. Associate with spiritual people.
10. Fast and pray.
11. Spend time in private worship by listening to Christian music which both inspiries and humbles you (1 Sam. 16:14-23;cf. Col. 3:15-16)
1Sa 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1Sa 16:15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
1Sa 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on a harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
1Sa 16:17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
1Sa 16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
1Sa 16:19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
1Sa 16:20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
1Sa 16:21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.
1Sa 16:22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.
1Sa 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
12. Go and witness to non-Christians (Rescue missions, door-to-door visitation, neighbors, etc.).
Conclusion
Our love to the Lord Jesus must be constantly reaffirmed as the main motivation in the Christian life. We should love Him, for He first loved us!
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