Passion (Webster’s Dictionary Definition) – A strong and barely controllable emotion; a state or outburst of strong emotion; intense sexual love; an intense desire or enthusiasm for something; a thing arousing enthusiasm.
You can live the rest of your life with a spouse and marriage you are passionate about!
Revelation 2:1-5
To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Protos Agape, “First Love” – a love that must be first and is driven by will not emotion!
A. Two Important Questions
1. Is there something wrong with Jesus?
Jesus is perfect; his bride just doesn’t understand the principle of lasting passion and its importance.
2. Why is passion (first love) so important in our relationship with Jesus?
If Jesus doesn’t have our first love someone else does – and they don’t deserve it and they become an idol. Whoever has our first love has our passion!
B. The Principle of Lasting Passion
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
You cannot separate your treasures and your heart – they are always together!
- Thesauros, “Treasure” – Treasure; Treasury; Storehouse
- Kardia, “Heart” – The seat of human desires, affections, feelings and passions
Wherever you are investing the treasures of your life, your passions will be there.
C. How to Restore Your First Love
Revelation 2:2-5
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
- Redo The Deeds You Did At First
D. Three Simple Steps to Lasting Passion in Your Marriage
1. Make Your Marriage First (The Law Of Priority)
Genesis 2:24
For this cause a man will leave his father and his mother and cleave unto his wife and they shall become one flesh.
You cannot have passion when there is competition for your attention.
2. Protect Higher Priorities From Lower Ones
Matthew 10:37
He who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
The brutal reality of passion is it forces you to choose who is most important and to invest in the relationship based on that.
Luke 14:25-27
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
Decide that the motivation of everything you do is derived from your commitment to God, your spouse, and your children in that order.
3. Love From Your Will – Not Your Emotions
Make up your mind – I love my spouse, and I am going to invest in them every day regardless of how I feel, and trust God for the results!
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