1. The Figurehead
Matthew Zamudio, Pastor, Windsor Park Baptist Church, Desoto Tx. January 22, 2017. All scriptures are printed verbatim with translations noted. Pew Bible: Page 1216.

Revelation 2:1(ESV)-“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.”

2. The flame
A. Hard work
Revelation 2:2 (ESV)-“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.”

I Corinthians 15:10 (ESV)-But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

B. Endurance
Revelation 2:2 (ESV)-“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.”

Revelation 2:3 (ESV)- “I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.”

C. Good Doctrine
Revelation 2:2 (ESV)-“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.”

Revelation 2:6 (ESV)- “Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
3. The flicker
Revelation 2:4 (ESV)-“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

Word Study: Abandoned-ἀφίημι [aphiēmi]- leave, let go, send away

Hebrews 2:1 (ESV)-Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
5 Evidences That I May Have Left My First Love
(Multiple Sources)

1. When I can go days without having a passing thought of Him.
2. When I do not have a desire to spend time with Him.
3. When I do not have a hunger for His Word.
4. When I do not have a prayer life.
5. When I view the scriptures as restrictions to my happiness rather than the expression of His love.

4. The Fuel
A. Remember
Revelation 2:5 (ESV)- “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”

B. Repent
Revelation 2:5 (ESV)- “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”

C. Return
Revelation 2:5 (ESV)- “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”
Keep working hard for the kingdom.
Endure through the difficult times.
Fight for and defend solid Biblical doctrine.
Fan the flame of love in your heart.

Here Is The Point: As churches and individuals we must never lose our affection for God!