YOUR FIRST LOVE
Written in 2009
by Tony Alamo
aka Bernie Hoffman
The seven churches in Asia symbolize the many clusters of born-of-the-HOLY SPIRIT churches of today, of the past, and of the future. In the book of Revelation, chapter two, JESUS tells believers the areas in which they are doing well, but also points out their weaknesses so that they will repent, for we must become perfect.1
There is a class of professing Christians who think they are saved, but they are not saved. They believe they can sin, and think GOD will still receive them into Heaven. They are totally deceived. “Once saved, always saved” is one of the most devilish doctrines.2 If we are saved, we are “THE SONS OF GOD” (John 1:12, Romans 8:14), “A NEW CREATURE” (2 Corinthians 5:17), “A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD” (1 Peter 2:9), and PERFECT. We must be perfect to be members of “THE BODY OF CHRIST” (1 Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 4:11-13, 5:24-27).
GOD’S grace is not an excuse to live a sinful life. JESUS said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin [not of the LORD]” (John 8:34). “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the SON of GOD was manifested, that HE might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
The LORD JESUS spoke to the Apostle John while he was exiled on the island of Patmos for preaching the Gospel, and JESUS instructed him: “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith HE that holdeth the seven stars in HIS right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks [the seven churches of Asia in Turkey at that time (Revelation 1:20)]; 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: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for MY name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 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 [church] out of his place, except thou repent” (Revelation 2:1-5).
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of GOD; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of MY mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of ME gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:14-19).
The LORD JESUS was asked what the first commandment of GOD is. “And JESUS answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The LORD our GOD is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:29-30). The LORD requires you to make HIM first and foremost in your life. There can be no compromise with the world and its lusts. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the FATHER, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of GOD abideth for ever” (1 John 2:16-17).
JESUS stated, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
JESUS warns us all, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the MASTER of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, LORD, LORD, open unto us; and HE shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in THY presence, and THOU hast taught in our streets. But HE shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from ME, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of GOD, and you yourselves thrust out” (Luke 13:24-28).
The book of Hebrews states, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the HOLY SPIRIT, And have tasted the good WORD of GOD, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the SON of GOD afresh, and put HIM to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:4-6).
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the SON of GOD, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the SPIRIT of grace?” (Hebrews 10:26-29).
The WORD of GOD is very clear. Once you have repented of your past sins and become born again of the SPIRIT of GOD,3 you must turn away from sin and walk in holiness, keeping GOD’S commandments.4 The blood JESUS shed was the sacrifice HE made for you to be forgiven of your past sin.5 The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD will live inside of you and give you the power and wisdom to walk uprightly.6 You can do all things through CHRIST! (Philippians 4:13).
Do you understand that you will go to Hell if you think you’ve done lots of work for the LORD, but then decide you can kick back, relax, and not continue doing the will of GOD, especially as you’re seeing the world going to Hell in a hand basket, knowing that you are living in the last of the last days?7
The LORD says that HE “will remove your candlestick [your church] out of his place, except thou repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans [the false, worldly churches which are Satan’s], which I [JESUS] also hate. He that has an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT saith unto the churches [hear what the HOLY SPIRIT IS SAYING TO YOU—all churches]; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of GOD” (Revelation 2:5-7).
In other words, JESUS is saying if you don’t repent by getting back to your first love with all the zeal you once had, and with the fear of the LORD8 you once had, you will not be able to eat from the TREE of LIFE, which means you will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. You will have fallen away, and will be rejected by the LORD JESUS CHRIST!9
The LORD desires “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27). The book of Proverbs says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
The Apostle John said, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the FATHER, JESUS CHRIST the righteous: And HE is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2). Strive for perfection. If you have failed on this path, repent and keep going. You will find mercy when you confess and forsake all sin.
The Apostle Paul said, “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. 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” (Romans 12:1-2).
JESUS says, “Come unto ME, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take MY yoke upon you, and learn of ME; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For MY yoke is easy, and MY burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Get back to JESUS and make HIM first in your life as your LORD and SAVIOR before it’s too late! Commit your life to the only true GOD now by saying this prayer:
Prayer
My LORD and my GOD, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner. 1 I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the SON of the living GOD. 2 I believe that HE died on the cross and shed HIS precious blood for the forgiveness of all my former sins. 3 I believe that GOD raised JESUS from the dead by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT 4 and that HE sits on the right hand of GOD at this moment, hearing my confession of sin and this prayer. 5 I open up the door of my heart, and I invite YOU into my heart, LORD JESUS. 6 Wash all of my filthy sins away in the precious blood that YOU shed in my place on the cross at Calvary. 7 YOU will not turn me away, LORD JESUS; YOU will forgive my sins and save my soul. I know because YOUR WORD, the Bible, says so. 8 YOUR WORD says that YOU will turn no one away, and that includes me. 9 Therefore, I know that YOU have heard me, and I know that YOU have answered me, and I know that I am saved. 10 And I thank YOU, LORD JESUS, for saving my soul, and I will show my thankfulness by doing as YOU command and sin no more.11
After salvation, JESUS said to be baptized, fully submerged in water, in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT.12 Then study the King James Version Bible, and, for your benefit and the benefit of others, do what it says.13
CHRIST and GOD the FATHER now live in you through the HOLY SPIRIT. There is a way you can receive a fuller portion of the divine nature of GOD in you. The more the divine nature of GOD lives in you, the more you will be able to stand against the temptations that have so easily moved so many millions of Christians away from salvation. Pray for the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT.14 For instructions on how to receive the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT and to receive more of GOD’S holy nature, ask for our literature or call. For without holiness, no man shall see GOD (Hebrews 12:14).
The LORD wants you to tell others of your salvation (Mark 16:15). You can become a distributor of Pastor Tony Alamo’s Gospel literature. We’ll send you literature free of charge. Call or email us for more information. Share this message with someone else.
If you want the world saved, as JESUS commands, then don’t rob GOD of HIS tithes and offerings. GOD said, “Will a man rob GOD? Yet ye have robbed ME. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed THEE? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed ME, even this whole nation [and this whole world]. Bring ye all the tithes [a ‘tithe’ is 10% of your gross income] into the storehouse, that there may be meat [Spiritual food] in MINE house [souls saved], and prove ME now herewith, saith the LORD of HOSTS, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of HOSTS. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of HOSTS” (Malachi 3:8-12).
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footnotes:
2. Ex. 32:33, Josh. 24:20, 1 Chron. 28:9, 2 Chron. 15:2, Ezra 8:22, Ezek. 33:12-13, Matt. 5:13, 12:43-45, Luke 9:62, John 15:6, Rom. 11:22, Gal. 2:17-18, Col. 1:21-23, 2 Thes. 2:3, 1 Tim. 1:19, 2 Tim. 2:12, Heb. 3:6-19, 4:1-11, 6:4-8, 10:26-31, 38-39, 1 Pet. 4:17-18, 2 Pet. 2:20-22, 1 John 3:6-10, 2 John 9, Jude 5-6, Rev. 2:4-5, 3:2-3 return
4. Eccl. 12:13, Matt. 19:17, Mark 10:17-21, 12:28-34, John 5:14, 8:11, 14:21, 15:9-11, Heb. 12:14 return
5. Matt. 20:28, 26:28, John 1:29, 3:14-17, 6:51, 10:11-18, 11:49-52, Acts 5:30-31, 20:28, 26:23, Rom. 3:24-25, 5:6-11, 1 Cor. 15:3-4, Gal. 1:3-4, 2:20, 4:4-5, Eph. 5:2, 1 Thes. 1:10, 5:9-10, 1 Tim. 2:5-6, Titus 2:13-14, Heb. 2:9-10 return
6. Luke 10:19, John 14:15-26, 16:7, Phlp. 4:13, 2 Pet. 1:3-4, 1 John 4:4, 12-13, Rev. 3:20 return
7. Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 19:11-27, John 15:4-10, James 4:17 return
8. Ex. 20:20, Deut. 4:10, 5:29, 6:1-2, 13, 24, Josh. 4:24, 1 Sam. 12:24, Job 28:28, Prov. 15:33, 16:6, 19:23, Eccl. 8:12-13, Isa. 8:13, 33:6, Jer. 2:19, 32:39-40, Mal. 3:5, 16-17, 4:1-3, Matt. 10:28, Acts 9:31 return
9. Matt. 10:22, 24:42-51, Luke 12:41-46, Rev. 20:11-15 return
Prayer footnotes:
1. Psa. 51:5, Rom. 3:10-12, 23 return
2. Matt. 26:63-64, 27:54, Luke 1:30-33, John 9:35-37, Rom. 1:3-4 return
3. Acts 4:12, 20:28, Rom. 3:25, I John 1:7, Rev. 5:9 return
4. Psa. 16:9-10, Matt. 28:5-7, Mark 16:9, 12, 14, John 2:19, 21, 10:17-18, 11:25, Acts 2:24, 3:15, Rom. 8:11, I Cor. 15:3-7 return
5. Luke 22:69, Acts 2:25-36, Heb. 10:12-13 return
6. I Cor. 3:16, Rev. 3:20 return
7. Eph. 2:13-22, Heb. 9:22, 13:12, 20-21, I John 1:7, Rev. 1:5, 7:14 return
8. Matt. 26:28, Acts 2:21, 4:12, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14 return
9. Matt. 21:22, John 6:35, 37-40, Rom. 10:13 return
10. Heb. 11:6 return
11. John 5:14, 8:11, Rom. 6:4, I Cor. 15:10, Rev. 7:14, 22:14 return
12. Matt. 28:18-20, John 3:5, Acts 2:38, 19:3-5 return
13. Deut. 4:29, 13:4, 26:16, Josh. 1:8, 22:5, 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:14-17, James 1:22-25, Rev. 3:18 return
14. Isa. 28:11-12, Joel 2:28-29, Luke 3:16, 11:9-13, John 1:29-34, 7:37-39, 14:15-29, 15:26, 16:7-14, Acts 1:1-8, 2:1-18, 32-39, 5:29-32, 19:1-7, Rom. 5:3-5, 15:13 return