Keep Your First Love

From church yesterday (3/17/08):

Word
Those who are forgiven much, love much. But I tell you all who are of the latter rain are of the same covenant. Some are saved by love and some by fear, but I tell you all who do accept Me and walk in My ways have the love of the truth. Do not leave your first love, My people. For many have been taught another gospel and have not held fast to sound doctrine, loving the approval and words of men rather than living in the Spirit. Only My Spirit can lead you into all truth. I tell you hold fast to My words and let no man deceive you.

Do any think that they are greater than another? I tell you, of a truth, the first will be last and the last will be first. Seek to be a servant of others that, in all things, My name is lifted up. Esteem others more highly than yourself that to the weak you may become weak that they may be made strong. Put on humility and in all things be obedient to the leading of My Spirit that My will be done.

Now I speak to you concerning the judgments that will soon come to pass. Put yourself in remembrance of what I have shown you for those things will surely come to pass as I the Lord have spoken it (These past visions/understandings were brought to mind: large storm over Florida Georgia area/volcano erupting in the west, winds overcoming many cities/fires in Nevada, stars/ministers falling/losing their light, riots breaking out in cities, the spiritual timeline with the five things being caught up in the large tornado). I have shown you things to come that you may warn all who have ears to hear and that nothing may come upon you unaware. I tell you, love not this life unto death for many have turned, choosing the pleasures of this life over living a life that is pleasing to Me.

Earlier that morning while at home, Rachel and I read a scripture that was stirring. I believe it is a confirmation of what the Spirit is speaking:

2 Timothy 4:1-5
¹I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. ³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ⁵But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

When asking a brother recently how things were going in the Lord, his answer was simply "putting down the old man." When I asked him how that was going he basically said to me "it can only go one way, because I love God." Those who keep their first love (the love of the truth/Jesus) will never be ashamed. This is how those who are called the sons and daughters of God should believe.

With love in Jesus,
Ryan