Revelation 2:4-5,

"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."

If we don't repent of a coldness and callousness to Christ, then we lose everything. We can have good works and sound doctrine, but if we're cold to the gospel and unmoved by its power, then it's religion in the flesh, which is the best that humans can do.

No, we need the supernatural spiritual power of FELLOWSHIP. We must walk with God and commune with him. We must enjoy Christ. He must be nearer than all, and more dear than any duty or doctrine. Christ himself must be all.

First, "Remember therefore from where you have fallen." Oh, church, remember Christ! Remember the fellowship of his love, and how the JOY OF FORGIVENESS made you tell others. It wasn't a duty on your calendar; it was the thrill of your soul to be with God's people. Remember how you wanted to preach Christ, and it wasn't about you. You weren't anything, and you didn't want to be seen as faithful or wise. You only wanted Christ magnified, because you loved him and saw yourself unworthy. You wanted someone to weep with you at his feet. You wanted the people mesmerized by Christ, while they forgot all about you.

Remember how prayer was not mere duty, but exciting. You weren't going to GET THINGS, but to get him, whom your soul loves. You loved him, not ministry or holiness or money. You loved him, and every good thing came from that. You lived uprightly and prayed to get him. You witnessed to be with him, and to enjoy his power. Everything was about Christ, and intimate communion had to be yours! You cried out to him, when you felt distance. You believed he'd come back. You hadn't settled into routine. You lived at his feet - woke up with him and slept with him in your bosom. Your bed was green, and nearness brought joy and satisfaction. It was not duty and doctrine, it was Christ himself!

Secondly, "repent and do the first works." Go back to him now. Admit your sins, and be ashamed. Tell him all about your unfaithfulness, and marvel that you could have contented yourself in the externals of religion without heart fire! Marvel that you've forgotten the most important thing.

Luke 10:40-42, "But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me. But the Lord answered her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

One thing is needful, and you must have it. One pursuit, which is Christ in power, is everything to you. It's not a matter of performance. You want to be genuinely wrapped up in his love.

Pursue him first. Tell the Father, Give me Christ or I die. Do not be satisfied with other successes. Life is nothing without the Savior. Let us mourn, until he is back. Let's not content ourselves otherwise.

Go to him by faith, believing that HIS WORK is enough, and his goodness is sufficient. Go with nothing to add, and no contribution to make. Go only with needy faith, and that he'll be good. It's only a matter of time. He will not deny you!

Thirdly, "or else I will come to you quickly and remove your candlestick." He'll do it. He'll take away all that we have, because we were happy without him. He'll show the ministry is hollow. He'll do five things, where he would have done five hundred. He'll close the church down.

Oh, get back your First Love. Let the warning be real to you. Don't rationalize it away. Warnings are how we move with fear, and obtain Christ continually. Warnings are not to be rejected, or he'll send locusts to eat our joy and our peace will wither. Joel 1:12, "The vine dries up; the fig tree languishes. Pomegranate, palm, and apple, all the trees of the field are dried up, and gladness dries up from the children of man."