2006-03-06 First Love

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in IAUA (ee-ah-oo-ah) our Father, Greetings! I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and happy in the service of the Lord. This is the text of a message I may have the opportunity to share in the future as the Lord leads. This is in the format of a short devotional. It can be expanded to a longer presentation by the inclusion of multiple additional reinforcing texts. ----- What I am going to share with you is deeper than the typical inspirational message. I am inspired by these words in Hebrews. Hebrews 5 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. I am offering a bit of solid food for those who are spiritually mature. I apologize to those who are new babes in the Gospel and may find this difficult to chew. Do not be alarmed for in time you will grow. I recall an incident a few months ago at church. It was time for the vespers program to begin. No one knew who was scheduled to lead the program. Someone suggested that I give a presentation. I was shocked and speechless. I had no idea why I would be asked. They repeated the suggestion saying "I am serious". Without thinking clearly, I said "You have no idea what you are asking." I am a very methodical thinker and I do not respond quickly to unexpected situations. I have much to say which I think many are not ready to hear. With careful thought and prayer, I resolved to accept the next offer should it ever come. Revelation contains a message of appreciation to the early church. It also contains a warning. I believe this message has an application to the last church also. Revelation 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; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, 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: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. What is the first love which was left and lost? I have heard it preached that the lost first love was the love for the Messiah. I can agree with this but I believe that this answer is too general. I believe there is a more specific answer. The key to a more specific answer begins in the next verse. Revelation 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. It is probably necessary at this point to calm and reassure those alarmists who might cry out "We believe in righteousness by faith and you are talking about being saved by our works"! We are indeed saved only by the sacrifice of the Messiah. What do we do after we are saved? Consider the words of the Messiah. How does the Messiah describe the evidence of our love? John 14 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. And repeated more forcefully. John 14 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Consider very carefully the meaning of the word "commandments". Some would have you think this means only the "Ten Commandments". A more general and more accurate meaning includes anything that God has commanded. There is another word, "statutes", which has a general meaning which is usually applied to the "Ten Commandments". I believe the Bible teaches there is a specific meaning which applies to God's commands other than the "Ten commandments". I am going to leave this topic to your consideration with an enigmatic and powerful prophetic quote from the last book of the Old Testament. Malachi 4 4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. In closing, I am going to answer a related question that some have asked and many more have probably wondered. Why do I wear tassels? Number 15 37 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes (tassels) in the borders (hem) of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe (tassel) of the borders (hem) a ribband (thread) of blue: 39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe (tassels), that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. 41 I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God. Finally, reminding those who might object that those commandments applied only to the children of Israel. We are spiritual Israel. Galatians 3 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. ----- May we all find peace and unity in the soon coming of IAUShUO (Ee-ah-oo-shoo-oh) Messiah, the Son of God. Frank T. Clark Webmaster at IAUA.name www.IAUA.name Next: 2006-09-01 Knowledge is Power

Revised 2006-09-01