Jesus must be the center of the church and its being. We must then be baptized with the Holy Spirit to keep the fire of our first love when we first believed to prevent losing our lampstand, our fire for expanding the Church of God.

The Seven Candlesticks-God Must Be in the Midst of His Church

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles describes Paul’s transformation from Saul, the notorious persecutor of Christians. Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and called him to preach His redemptive promise for Jew and Gentile. Paul became a teacher and encourager to the preachers of the first churches. The books of 1 and 2 Timothy are letters to Timothy instructing him to remain in the gift and calling that was placed on him. After tremendous growth in Timothy’s church, the congregation had begun to wander and leave. Timothy was ready to quit.

Acts 19:2
and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

This question of Paul to the disciples at Ephesus explains why we fall away from our first passion and love.

In Revelation 1, John had an encounter with the Living One in the midst of the candlesticks telling him to send a message to the seven churches. Great churches are great if Jesus walks in the midst of them. 

Revelation 2 has the letter God gave John, the Revelator, to the seven churches. God commended the churches for persevering and having patience through persecution. But He corrected them because they had left their zeal of the beginning of their love for Him. The enthusiasm that caused them to vehemently turn from their sins. 

After the bon fire, burning your past and your bridges, then you must be baptized in the Holy Spirit, the one that came after Jesus to comfort and remind us of all Jesus taught and the love God has for us.

Revelation 2:5
Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamspstand from its place.

Don’t let complacency cause you to lose your lampstand, your fire and passion of when you first found Jesus.

How long has it been since you’ve been stirred and hungry for a move of God? Do we mourn to see people saved and for revival in our churches? Are we burdened for our unsaved?