What do you see in your mind’s eye when you hear the words “first love?” Is it the first person you kissed? Is it your first boyfriend or girlfriend? Is it your husband or wife? All of these examples are physical representations of someone you have felt a type of love for. But, we are created in the image of God. Our God is a spirit. (Genesis 1:2) Only humans are created from that Spirit. (Genesis 1:26-27) If we are made in His image and likeness, then at our very core, we are spirits. Would not then, our first love, a love originating from God’s unconditional love, actually mean we should be longing for a relationship with His Spirit?
The Apostle John gives us the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In chapter two, Jesus speaks to the seven churches, the Ecclesia. The first church He speaks to is Ephesus, which was surrounded by a city that worshipped the Roman goddess Diana.
“Nevertheless, I have somewhat against you because you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove your candlestick, out of his place, except you repent.”
Revelation 2:4-5 KJV
First works here means the first in time, the principal works, of business, employment, that which one undertakes to do; any product whatever, and anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, or the mind. Candlestick in the passage seems to mean the light, which shows the body which way to go, the illuminator.
Jesus goes on to say,
“He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
A Spirit of Love
So, if we are spirits, we must place spiritual things first. Jesus even says, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says.” Believers must first have faith and seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Then, the principal thing is to listen for the Holy Spirit on which direction to take and allow our First Love to lead us and guide us on this journey. Whatever we set our mind to do should directly result from what our assignments are as ambassadors of Heaven. Since the Church is the Body of Christ, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us into all Truth. And how can we do that?
This is the example I was given to put it in layman’s terms. When we consume any content (words, video, audio) from other creators, even artificial intelligence (AI), we fill the void where the Holy Spirit who carries Truth wants to reside. Remember, we are spirit, and content is created out of spirit. Here’s an example: Can you see a person’s imagination? No. Only God knows if that person’s thoughts are good or evil. So, we must not believe everything we consume, but try the “spirits” whether they are of God because many influencers are false prophets. We must get into a relationship with the Lord and ask for discernment through the Holy Spirit.
How do we know if the content we are consuming is full of truth rather than lies? Only those spirits that confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh and is of God. (1 John 4) If the content is not produced by someone, or in the case of AI, something that will confess this Truth, then that content is being produced by a spirit of Antichrist, not the Holy Spirit.
Test the information you are consuming daily. Above all, are you listening for our First Love, the Holy Spirit, and consuming the Bread of Life, the Word of God, seeking His Kingdom? Then, test what other content you are consuming and ask God for discernment because there will be false prophets. Is the content from an entity that will publicly claim Jesus Christ is Lord? Or, are you listening to worldly influencers that have a spirit of Antichrist present?
We must turn back to our First Love, to God’s Spirit, and allow Him to illuminate the way forward.
Blessing and Honor,
Angela Errett
Feature Image: Bigstock.com | Unless otherwise attributed, scripture quotations are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION of the Bible.
