The Church in Ephesus Pastor Daniel Ethridge | Liberty Live Church

♪ And I'm going far ♪ ♪ I'm waking up to you kingdom ♪ ♪ Come on going far ♪ ♪ Dancing through the gates ♪ ♪ I hear my father say, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ I hear you say, well, well ♪ ♪ Oh, I hear him sayin' ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ There is a table is set for a king ♪ ♪ All are invited to pray and believe ♪ ♪ There is a table is set for a king ♪ ♪ All are invited to pray and believe ♪ ♪ I'm saying, there is a table is set for a king ♪ ♪ All are invited to pray and believe ♪ ♪ There is a table is set for a king ♪ ♪ All are invited to pray and believe ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I'm waking up to you kingdom ♪ ♪ Come on going far ♪ ♪ Yes, I feel my brother sayin' ♪ ♪ Oh, I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ What a lover ♪ ♪ I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ What a lover ♪ ♪ One time ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Oh, I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ What a lover ♪ ♪ I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ What a lover ♪ ♪ I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ What a lover ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ Well done, well done ♪ ♪ I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ Well done, well done ♪ ♪ I hear you sayin' ♪ ♪ What a lover ♪ ♪ Well done ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ (audience cheering) (gentle music) ♪ How we need ♪ (gentle music)

♪ Our spirit of the living God ♪ ♪ Purer finds, purer finds ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ And all that we need ♪ ♪ All that we need ♪ ♪ All that we need ♪ ♪ All that we need ♪ ♪ All that we need ♪ ♪ All that we need ♪ ♪ All that we need ♪ ♪ All that we need ♪ ♪ All that we need ♪ ♪ Is to discover all our own ♪ ♪ Your face, Lord, all our own ♪ ♪ Sing to fill us all our own ♪ ♪ Washes clean over and over ♪ Won't you purify your church over and over? How sanctify your church over and over? Purify your pride over and over. The sanctify your pride over and over. A spirit of the living God over and over. We need you, we need you, we need you, oh, oh, oh. Not just for money, but over and over. Not just for money, but over and over. We need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you. We need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you. We need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you. Oh, a spirit of the living God. We need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you,

we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, we need you, (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music)

(soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) (soft music) Good morning. To Liberty Live Church, we are so glad you decided to join us. (soft music) Today's your first day at Liberty, we'd love to meet you. So, text connect to 40371, tap the seat back in front of you, or visit us at one of our next step centers after the service today. We can't wait to meet you. (speaking Spanish) (speaking Spanish) (speaking Spanish) (speaking Spanish) (speaking Spanish) (speaking Spanish) Because of your generosity, lives are being changed right here in Hampton Roads and around the world. When you give, you partner with us to help change lives, communities, and the world for Jesus Christ. You can give through our website, tap the seat in front of you, or through an envelope at your campus today. Thank you for investing in all that God is doing through the work here at Liberty. You know, God is moving in so many incredible ways here at Liberty, from kids to students to young adults to senior adults. There are so many ways for you to find community, discover your purpose, and grow deeper in your relationship with Jesus. So right now, let's look at some exciting things coming up. (music) Don't miss what's happening all throughout the week.

So follow us on social media and connect with your campus Facebook group. Thanks again for being here today, where it's not just church, it's life. (music) Don't miss what's happening here at Liberty. (music) Don't miss what's happening here at Liberty. (music) Don't miss what's happening here at Liberty. (music) Good morning Liberty. What a great day to be in the house of the Lord. We are so glad to join us here for church this morning. You could be anywhere right now, but you're choosing to be here with us online for church this morning. And it's going to be awesome. We're so glad you're here and we love you. That's right. And we would love to meet you. I'm Jenny. This is Kyle. And if you introduce yourself in the chat, let us know where you're streaming from. We might get a shout out. You might get a shout out. And if it's your first time, let us know you can scan this QR code right here on the screen. And we'll send you a free gift. Yes, we will. We would love to do that for you because we're one big family here at Liberty Live Church. And we want you to feel like you belong here at Liberty. So, speaking of, you belong in groups. Groups is a great place to get connected. Today kicks off our fall group semester. We've got groups that happen all over the world, really. If you tune in online or if you meet in person at one of our groups off campus or at one of our campus locations. this location. So if you go to our group find our liberty - That's a great way to build community. We have online groups that meet all across, so if you can't come to one of our camps locations,

there's options for that. - That's right. - That's right. That's right. So like we mentioned earlier, we want you to drop your name in the chat in your location, because here's why. I got some shout outs for you today. - Do you got some shout outs. - I got some shout outs. 'Cause y'all have been typing away. Tyson from United Kingdom. Victor from Chesapeake. Hey, if you've never been to our green bar campus. - Yeah. - Check out some names in this chat that you should be going to one of our campuses. Obviously, if you really can't, you understand. - Yeah, we understand. - But get to one of our campuses again. - That's right. It's exciting. D.U.L. from Williamsburg, and Ada, join us for the first time from Lancaster. Pennsylvania. - Pennsylvania. - As they say. - Pennsylvania. - Lancaster, Pennsylvania. - That's right.

- We are one big family all across Hampton Roads, all across the United States and all across the world. And we're so glad you're here. We're kicking off a brand new sermon series. Pastor Daniel is going to be bringing the word this morning. - Yes. - Thanks for joining us, and we'll see you later. - Good morning, sir. Are you grateful to serve a guy? This word remains the same age after age. This fabric is like this one. (upbeat music) Come on, sing it. (upbeat music) ♪ There's a little point to my view ♪ ♪ And your way is the only way for me ♪ ♪ There's a narrow road that looks tonight ♪ ♪ But I want to be honest ♪ ♪ There's a narrow road where the mercies are here ♪ ♪ Is your good or your promise ♪ ♪ I'll take you, watch your way ♪ ♪ If you said it, I believe it ♪ ♪ I've seen how good it works ♪ ♪ If you started your complete ♪ ♪ I'll take you, watch your way ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Come on, this is love ♪ ♪ And the chaos that they don't like ♪ ♪ Well, I know ♪ ♪ And I've seen it in my life ♪

♪ There's a narrow road that looks tonight ♪ ♪ But I want to be honest ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ There's a narrow road that looks tonight ♪ ♪ But you're putting the waters ♪ ♪ I'll take you, watch your way ♪ ♪ If you said it, I believe it ♪ ♪ I've seen how good it works ♪ ♪ If you started your complete ♪ ♪ I'll take you, watch your way ♪ ♪ If you said it, I believe it ♪ ♪ I've seen how good it works ♪ ♪ If you started your complete ♪ ♪ I'll take you, watch your way ♪ ♪ I'll take you, watch your way ♪ ♪ 'Cause you've always been faithful ♪ ♪ You've always been good ♪ ♪ Now listen to me, listen to me ♪ ♪ You said one, you said you love ♪ ♪ Who never gave up ♪ ♪ Yes, you said you're crazy ♪ ♪ It's always enough ♪ ♪ Yes, you said you're hard ♪ ♪ Who never forget or forsake me ♪ ♪ You said one, you said I'm safe ♪ ♪ And you called me yours ♪ ♪ We said my future is all of your hope ♪ ♪ 'Cause you've never failed ♪ ♪ So I know that you'll never fail me ♪ ♪ We'll call me yours ♪

♪ 'Cause you said you love ♪ ♪ We'll never give up ♪ ♪ Yes, you said it to crazy ♪ ♪ It's always enough ♪ ♪ You said you're hard ♪ ♪ Who never forget or forsake me ♪ ♪ You said you called me yours ♪ ♪ You said my future is all of your hope ♪ ♪ You said you've never failed ♪ ♪ So I know that you'll never fail me ♪ ♪ I'll take you out your work ♪ ♪ If you said it I will be ♪ ♪ You don't see it one, I've seen how good it works ♪ Thank you after all If you set me up with me I'll see how good it works If you start in your completely I'll take you as your way I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your way I'll take you as your guide I'll take you as your guide I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide

If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good

I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good

I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good

I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good

I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good

I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide If anything comes, you've been good I'll take you as your guide they said, "You know what, we don't need to wait. We are right because of what Christ has done in our life." And so this morning, as a family, they want to follow the Lord and Believer's baptism. Jonathan is such a privilege to get to baptize you, my brother, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We're buried with Christ and His death, and we're raised to walk the newness of life. (congregation applauding) And Erica, likewise, based on your profession of faith,

as Christ as your Savior, it's my privilege to baptize you, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We're buried with Christ and His death, and we're raised to walk the newness of life. And Tessa, are you ready? Put your feet up underneath there, good job. (gentle music) Put your nose. (gentle music) Tessa, it's my privilege to baptize you, just like your mom and dad have just done, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We're buried with Christ and raised to walk the newness of life. Great job, guys. (congregation applauding) I'm sure I want to introduce you to Selena. Selena was saying, in a kind of similar sense, that, well, the Lord's been working on her heart, and she said there's never been a time that she's not felt closer to Jesus than now. And she said that last week during our baptism Sunday, she felt the Holy Spirit is heavenly leading her to say, "You need to follow the Lord and believe His baptism." (congregation applauding) But she said, "You know, I'd like my family to see it, "and they're there here this morning to support her as well." So Selena, I'm gonna have you go ahead and sit right here. What a privilege it is to see your faith,

and to baptize you, in the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. We're buried with Christ and His death, and we're raised to walk the newness of life. Great job. (congregation applauding) In church last, but not least, is this young man, Mr. Brason. Brason wasn't on the schedule this morning, but he came in-- He's dead right here for here, okay? He's dead right there. He came in this morning, he said, well, his mother said, "He's been asking every day, night and day, "I need to get baptized." He said, "He was having a bath the other day." And he asked, "Mom, can you baptize me this morning?" I said, I said, "Brason, why do you wanna trust-- "why do you wanna follow Jesus in baptism?" He said, "Because I love Him so much, "and because I want others to know that I love Him." And I said, "Well, that's the reason to do it." And so go ahead and sit down here and plug your nose, and put your feet under the door. Okay, Brason, based on your profession of faith, it's my privilege to baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We're buried with Christ in His death, and we're raised to walk the newness of life. Great job.

Let's keep worship in our faithful God. ♪ And all my life you have been faithful ♪ ♪ And all my life you have been so, so good ♪ ♪ Every breath that I have made ♪ ♪ Oh, I must know of the goodness of God ♪ ♪ Oh, my life you have been faithful ♪ ♪ Every day that we see Him ♪ ♪ Oh, my life you have been so, so good ♪ ♪ With every breath that I have made ♪ ♪ Oh, I must say of the goodness of God ♪ ♪ Your goodness is running out for me ♪ ♪ It's running out for me ♪ ♪ Your goodness is running out for me ♪ ♪ With my life laid out to live enough ♪ ♪ I give you everything ♪ ♪ Your goodness is running out for me ♪ ♪ It's running out for me ♪ ♪ It's running out for me ♪ ♪ Your goodness is running out for me ♪ ♪ Oh, my life you have been faithful ♪ ♪ Oh, my life you have been faithful ♪ ♪ My Jesus ♪ ♪ My Savior ♪ ♪ Love is not like you ♪ ♪ All of my days ♪ ♪ I want to pray ♪ ♪ The wonders of your mighty ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ My comfort ♪ ♪ My shelter ♪

♪ Time for refuge and strength ♪ ♪ Let every breath ♪ ♪ All that I am ♪ ♪ Never cease to worship you ♪ ♪ Shout to the Lord, oh the earth ♪ ♪ Let us sing ♪ ♪ Power and majesty ♪ ♪ Praise to the King ♪ ♪ And mountains bow down ♪ ♪ Never cease the road ♪ ♪ At the sound of your name ♪ ♪ And I sit for joy of the world ♪ ♪ By your head ♪ ♪ Wherever I'm running ♪ ♪ Forever I'll stand ♪ ♪ Nothing compares ♪ ♪ To all this life I give you ♪ ♪ Sing my Jesus, my Jesus, my Savior ♪ ♪ Lord, there is not like you ♪ ♪ All of my days ♪ ♪ All I want to praise ♪ ♪ The wonders of your mighty ♪ ♪ Love over comfort ♪ ♪ You might comfort ♪ ♪ My shelter ♪ ♪ Tower of refuge and strength ♪ ♪ Let every breath ♪ ♪ Let all that I am ♪ ♪ Never cease to worship ♪ ♪ You ♪

♪ Shout to the Lord ♪ ♪ Your medicine ♪ ♪ Power and majesty ♪ ♪ Praise to the King ♪ ♪ The mountains bow down and the seas will walk ♪ ♪ Have the sound of your may ♪ ♪ And I stand for joy at the world ♪ ♪ Forever I'll love you forever I'll stand ♪ ♪ Nothing compares to the promise I have ♪ ♪ It is ♪ ♪ So we serve ♪ ♪ Shout to the Lord on the earth ♪ ♪ Tower of majesty ♪ ♪ Praise to the King ♪ ♪ The mountains bow down and the mountains bow down ♪ ♪ Ever cease to worship ♪ ♪ Have the sound of your may ♪ ♪ And I stand for joy at the world ♪ ♪ Forever I'll love you forever I'll stand ♪ ♪ Nothing compares ♪ ♪ Nothing compares ♪ ♪ Nothing compares ♪ ♪ Nothing compares ♪ ♪ Nothing compares to the promise I have ♪ ♪ In your eyes ♪ ♪ Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah ♪ There's a passage in Luke 19 where Jesus begins to make his triumphal entry into the city and the disciples, the people who have watched him do all these miracles as a crowd gathering and they start to chant, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord." This is their declaration.

We understand Jesus now is exactly who he says he is in the Pharisees. They don't like it. The Jewish leaders, they look at Jesus and they say, "Jesus, rebuke your disciples." Tell them not to say that and Jesus looks right back at them and said, "If they keep quiet, the rocks will cry out." You're not going to steal the praise from Jesus. In fact, I'm not going to let the rocks steal my praise that Jesus deserves. If he's been faithful, give him praise. If he's moved mountains in your life, give him praise. I believe Jesus wants to do exceedingly and abundantly more in your life than you can ever ask or think and you've come to just the right place this morning to posture yourself for exactly that. I can't wait to dive into God's Word. I believe he's got something for you whether you're in this room or whether you're watching online. None of it's an accident. God has a specific word for you this morning. So here's what I want you to do. I want you to high-five free people around you and get your attention to the screen and get ready to dive in. [Music] Well, good morning and welcome to Liberty. I'm so excited you're joining us every location all around the world to our military men and women serving all across the world, to our missionaries, to those in correctional facilities, to those right here in Hampton Roads. We love you. We're so thankful you've joined us for church. Is anybody excited to be at church today? We're starting a brand new series called Seven Letters to the Churches. Seven Letters to the Churches.

I want you to take your Bibles in turn to Revelation chapter two. A lot of people know how John wrote the book of Revelation with this prophecy of the things to come. But many people don't realize it starts out with a series of letters to actual churches in Asia Minor. In his day and his time, he wrote directly to real congregations and over the next seven weeks we're going to look at all seven letters to the churches. And this week we'll start with the first church, the church in Ephesus. As you're turning there to Revelation chapter two, I'm so excited this morning there is a core group meeting at the Fairview Heights location and in just a few weeks they'll be celebrating grand opening in Portsmouth. Yeah. Come on, rejoice with them. And I want to invite all of you to the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, September the 12th at 10 a.m. And that'll prep us for grand opening on September 13th, 9 and 11 right there in Portsmouth. If you know anybody on that side of the water, invite them to be there. Let them know you'll meet them there. And it's going to be an incredible grand opening Sunday at Fairview Heights. I just love our campuses. And the last few days we have been on a tour of our own campuses. I don't know if you know that. We've been doing campus vision nights. And on Friday night I was at the Greenbire location. It was like family reunion. The place was packed. It was so good to see everybody. And last night we were at Harborview campus and Pastor Grant's bringing the vision of the church to every single location. Tonight we'll be at the Smithfield location.

Come on, Smithfield. I want to see you there. We'll be there. In fact, last night I took my kids and a Wellesley told me this morning in the first service, two years old, he said, I want to go to the last night church. I said, buddy, that's Harborview. We go to Hampton. He said, I like the last night church. So Harborview, y'all won't overwhelm us. You won't have over. It feels like us it feels like home And I'm so excited to be at Smithfield tonight pastor will be bringing the message there tonight And I don't want you to miss it for our other locations in in the month of September We're gonna be at York River at Hampton and at Gloucester same kind of deal a Friday Saturday Sunday night and whatever location you attend I want you to make it to a vision night doesn't matter if it's your location or another one I saw people from every campus last night at Harborview And I don't want you to miss where God's leading our church and what he has for us going forward Are you in Revelation chapter 2 yet? Revelation chapter 2 the first letter is to the church in Ephesus the church in Ephesus. I want us to read it together Revelation chapter 2 starting in verse 1 Right to the angel of the church in Ephesus Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and he walks among the seven golden Lamps stands. I'm gonna be honest with you. I don't have time to preach how beautiful this text really is I Could do an entire sermon on that one line Because the one who holds the seven stars and the one who walks among the seven golden Lamps stands is Jesus Christ himself and John wasn't unfamiliar with who Jesus was in fact. He was one of his closest friends So when the glorified risen Lord Jesus showed up in front of John with this prophecy

He knew who he was But he's getting a revelation of him. That's greater than anything he had seen on this earth So he's told you something about God and you should go read this Jesus is the one who holds the seven stars Jesus is the one who walks among the seven golden Lamps stands why because Jesus is the light of the world and I would love for you to go study that yourself amazing truth from God's word This is what Jesus says to those in Ephesus verse 2 I know your works your labor and your endurance and that you cannot tolerate evil people You have tested those who called themselves apostles and are not and you have found them to be liars I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name and You have not grown weary But listen to this I Have this against you you have abandoned the love you had it first Remember then how far you have fallen Repent and do the works you did at first otherwise? I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent I want you to pray with me Jesus I'm asking that the same spirit that inspired this letter to the believers in Ephesus When now open our minds on heart to see your truth and to receive your word We need you to do and only you can do I'm asking you to keep this word fresh on my mind and heart for this hour. Give me every single word That those listening need I Pray that your spirit would fill me Like never before to preach your word. I pray as I always pray that my preaching would not rest in the clever or cunning words of men but in power and in demonstration of the spirit of God so that our faith might rest in your spirit I Pray that you give me the passion to preach like a dying man to dying men. I Pray you give us the wisdom to receive what you have to say Do it all for your name's sake in your glory in Jesus name. We pray everybody said Amen

Amen, I'm so excited about this word and honestly I'm excited to preach it because unlike the other letters that we're gonna look at I've been to Ephesus before I took this picture Come on somebody. I mean, I'm not a photographer, but this was easy to capture And when we went on the on the Paul's missionary journeys I'm gonna be honest. It wasn't my Love all the people that were there. Okay. Some of you I see you It was not my favorite trip though, and I'm gonna tell you why it wasn't my favorite trip Because every site we went to Is not preserved so you're like standing in front of this modern-day mall or like shopping So I mean like anywhere in Hampton Roads right now, and they're like right here is Where Paul got off the boat and shared the gospel and you're like looking at a H&M like huh It's just hard to capture what's actually there until you get to Ephesus. And when we traveled to Turkey, when we got to this city, I've outlost my mind, 'cause I'm like, this is the place. Nobody's messed it up, nobody has destroyed it. There's not modern buildings anywhere inside. It feels like actually what they would have experienced that day. The architecture is mind-blowing. Some of the greatest architecture of the world's ever known. And really, we know more about Ephesus than we know about almost any other place mentioned in the seven letters, because it was the hub of the world in that day. It was a cultural hub. It was a literal trading place. So that port was really essential for a lot of different groups to come together.

You had the Greeks there, and you had their wisdom, and you had one of the largest libraries in all of the ancient world. That's a picture of it right there. Three stories worth of books, unbelievable. So you have the Greeks there. You have their temples and their gods. There's multiple temples as you walk down the main pathway there. And you have all this wisdom from the Greek people. And we'll get to that in a minute. And then you have the Romans. And the Romans were the leaders of the world at that time. The Roman architecture is extremely notable there. You have one of the largest amphitheaters in the world. Rome is the exception there. And it's just an incredible place to see, to experience. And I just fell in love with it. What a lot of people don't realize is it's such an important place for the early church, because when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, the Jews went to Ephesus. Not just any Jews, I'm talking the lead apostles that followed Christ went there. So let me tell you a few people who dwelt here. Apollos, the young, vibrant teacher. His preaching ministry starts in Ephesus. We know Aquila and Priscilla, who were elders in the church, and they pull Apollos to the side and help him get his doctrine in line.

They live there in Ephesus. Paul went on a missionary journey there, helped establish the church. Then he goes on another missionary journey, but he comes back and lives for three years as the lead pastor of the church in Ephesus. When Paul's done with his ministry there, he passes it off to a man you know well in scripture, Timothy. And Timothy becomes the leader of the church in Ephesus, and perhaps most notably, more than all of them, John the Apostle who took care of Mary, the mother of Jesus, lives and dwell in Ephesus. In fact, many scholars believe that after Jerusalem was destroyed, that Mary was still with him when they relocated to Ephesus. Just incredible, incredible place. And I set that up because this is not a place John doesn't know. Now persecution is gonna increase, unbelievable. Believers are gonna start to be killed, and they're gonna try to kill John, but it doesn't work. And they decide to exile him on the island of Patmos. I've seen that place, incredible place. It's also not touched, it's really a spectacular place. But when he writes this letter, I want you to know this first letter is to family and friends that he knows and loves well. In fact, this is some 25 years after the founding of the church in Ephesus. So I wanna tell you, this is not a long time after the start of the church.

When the church starts in Ephesus, it is unbelievable. You can go read Acts chapter 18 through verse 20, and the revival that they experience is unbelievable. I wanna give you a little taste of it. Many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. Watch this. So they calculated their value and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver. In this way, the word of the Lord spread and prevailed. Let me give you a little taste of what that would be like. Today, it would be the equivalent of $13 million worth of books being burned in front of that giant library that you saw. That's revival. I mean, an entire group of people say, "Oh, no, no, no, we're not following the wisdom "of the world anymore. "Oh, we're not going after all this Greek philosophy anymore. "Oh, we're not worshiping Diana anymore. We're not worshipping all these false gods. I'll tell you who were worshipping. We're worshipping Jesus now. And to put their stake in the crown, they piled up $13 million worth of stuff and burned it in the middle of the city. Hello, somebody? Now that's a revival. And we've been experiencing revival here, have we not?

We called 2026 the year of revival. And in March, if you'll remember, we had a baptism service, over 323 people were baptized. In March, there are ministries that go there. Whole lives never see that in the entire collection of their ministry churches that for decades preach and share the gospel faithfully, never see 300 people baptized. We get to 21 days of prayer the last few months. And I told our staff, I said, "Hey, guys, we've seen over 800 people baptized this year so far. Unbelievable. Seen over 800 people baptized. So I pulled our staff together with all my faith. And I said, "Hey, we're going to do another baptism service at the end of 21 days of prayer." But I mean, if God saves one person, it's worth it. So don't you be discouraged if he saves one, okay? And they said, "Well, how many baptism should we prepare for?" And I said, "Well, you know, in March, we had 70 pre-registered. And we didn't even have 20 pre-registered for last Sunday." So I said, you know, 25, 50, you know, there's a lot of faith I was talking with. [ Laughter ] Everybody laughing was here last Sunday. So I said, "You know, I need 100 clean towels. I mean, should that do it, 100?" And now, and I kept reminding them, now don't be discouraged because if one person gets baptized, it's worth it.

You know, so last Sunday we showed up and we did a baptism. Sorry, I told you not 20 people were pre-registered. Last Sunday, we saw 309 people baptized in one Sunday. [ Cheers and applause ] And I stood down front here and the Lord just rebuked me. The whole time, like I can't do what? You need how many clean towels again? I'm like, "I don't know, more than we got. Somebody go run laundry." You know, just amazing what God did last Sunday. And why am I telling you this? Because when revival comes, you have to prepare yourself for opposition. Morgan Ragsdale did such an amazing job. Student pastor at Greenboro did such an amazing job in 21 days of prayer I'm talking about. When God really starts to move, it upsets the order of the world. Demons aren't gonna be okay when people start getting saved. Society isn't gonna think it's just -- oh, it's just fine. Why? Because you're messing up their way of life. The world is under the control of the enemy. And there's a very real battle. I'm here to tell somebody, I went through hell sideways this week. Yeah, you laughing because you didn't go through it. I'm not kidding. It was terrible. I thought there's so many great pastors at our church, somebody else needs to get up here and preach. And it would have been amazing. You know why I'm up here preaching? Because I came to kick the devil and the teeth.

I am messing around with nobody. [ Applause ] I'm telling you, it was a hard week. Why? Because God's moving. Will you say, "Why do you say all that?" Because this is something that the believers at Ephesus understood. You know, the moment that this revival takes place, the very next verse after this tells us that Demetrius, who was a silversmith, stirred up the townspeople in a riot. And the town got so carried away that this -- where these columns are is the old marketplace. They rushed down the street of the marketplace and filled that entire stadium on the hillside. Thousands of people. And they begin to shout, "Great is Artemis. Great is Diana." And the whole city went into a riot. Why? Because this gospel that was being preached, that the townspeople didn't want anything to do with their idols anymore. Now, that's the type of revival and the type of opposition that the believers in Ephesus have faced. And now, some 25 to 30 years later, John is exiled on an island, and Jesus said, "Hey, John, I've got a letter just for the believers in Ephesus." Now, listen, he wrote -- And I wonder what God has to say to us today through this letter. Well, there was a lot that they were doing right. So let's talk about what was right.

Jesus says, I know your works, your labor, and your endurance that you cannot tolerate evil people. You've tested those who call themselves apostles and or not, and you found them to be liars. Now, I want you to see this. The first thing he calls out is their work. The first three phrases are tied together. He says, I know your works, your labor, and your endurance. Some of your translations say your work, your effort, and your patience. It's because these three phrases are tied together. Jesus says, I know what you're doing. I know how you're doing it. And I know how consistent you are in it. And the moment I read it this week, I thought about some people in this service right now who are rockin' babies to the glory of God. Their work, their effort, taking care of my toddler so I can get up here and preach. Y'all, he'd be runnin' these aisles if he was in here right now. Well, don't you know the reason we're able to do this every week is because there is an army of volunteers in Liberty Kids, so that we can sit in here and enjoy the teaching of the Word. They're not child care, they're disciples. (audience applauds) They're prayin' over your child, pourin' into your child, hoo, I don't know a group of people that work harder.

And I'm so thankful for those in Liberty Kids. Well, I thought about those at Gloucester this morning. Don't y'all know they have to set up a whole campus before they can even have church? They goin' and turn over to school. It takes two to three hours to even set up before we can have a service there. And don't you know God sees every one of those people getting up 5 a.m., rolling carts off of traits for trailers. And he sees their effort and their consistency. Praise God. Well, he sees all the people who got up this morning came and made coffee before we got here. You know, you don't ever even think about that until the coffee's gone. (audience laughs) I got here one morning in the middle of 21 days of prayer. Some of you are gonna know what day I'm talking about. And the power had been off all night and we didn't have any coffee. I walked in here at six a.m., like, who has coffee? I'm gonna call him the staff. I'm like, can anybody make coffee? And they said, well, the power's been out which can't make coffee. And I thought praise God for all of those people who wake up hours before you get to church, just so you have a fresh cup of coffee and can stay awake while I'm preaching. You better not fall asleep.

They work too hard for you to be awake in this service. I praise God for all of our men and women who serve in the kitchen, week in and week out, so that we can have church. I mean, you almost can come and attend and forget how much, how hard people are working behind the scenes to make it all of our production guys. Can you even imagine what they do to be able to make 21 days of prayer possible? They're up here four a.m., putting in notes that the pastor the night before didn't get until midnight. I mean, that was me, but you know what I'm saying. (audience laughs) Praise God for all those who work. Hey, Liberty, if he was writing the letter to us, would he see your service? And would he be able to say, I see what you're doing, how you're doing it and how faithful you are in it? God created you to serve in his kingdom. He created you for that and yes, we need you. We want to partner with you, but can I be honest? If you don't do it, God will raise somebody else who will. You need this. You need to be serving in the community. You need to be making his kingdom known. Why? 'Cause he created you for that. So he convinced him, he says, I see your work. The second thing kinda messes us up. He says, I see your intolerance.

Now, I didn't make this up, watch this. That you cannot tolerate evil people. Now, we got a problem 'cause our society connects the words love and tolerance and makes them to mean the same thing. Those don't mean the same thing. The word tolerance is used five times in scripture every time it's used. Listen to me, it's a negative connotation. In fact, three of the five times scripture says you tolerate sexual immorality. That's the context. And I gotta tell you, we gotta get back to our definitions because tolerance and love do not go hand in hand. I wanna prove it to you. I love my kids so much. There are things that I cannot tolerate. For example, I can't tolerate them playing in the street 'cause I love them too much for them to get hurt or to die. I'm not tolerating that. If you come and treat my wife bad, I'm gonna have something to say to you being treated poorly, why? 'Cause I love her. What I want you to see is that in scripture, there's actually a connection between love and intolerance. I'm trying to tell you that you have to love the things Jesus loves and hate the things Jesus hates. Well, in this same letter, he gets to verse six and says, you do have this, you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Well, why did Jesus hate the practices of the Nicolaitan? We don't even know who they are today because they were a people who were filled with witchcraft and idolatry and they taught people to worship God through sexual immorality. And Jesus says, no, if you're gonna sexually abuse my people, I hate your works. He doesn't tolerate that. Why? He loves this people too much. And I'm trying to tell you, in the church of Jesus Christ, you gotta love what he loves. And listen, you gotta hate what he hates. And I'm telling you, love for God and love for people, drive us to not tolerate things that destroy his house, things that destroy his people, things that will destroy your life. Why? Because the enemy came to steal and destroy. Jesus said, I've come that you might have life and lies more abundantly. So you're gonna get mad at some of the things we preach around here. But I love you too much not to preach it. And I love Jesus too much not to preach his word. And I'm telling you, he has good plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope so we can't tolerate the enemy's work in your life. I love you too much for that.

And so does Jesus. The second thing, a third thing he says is you have discernment, you know the truth. Look at this. You've tested those who call themselves apostles and are not and you have found them to be liars. He says, you know the truth. Can I tell you that truth is an acquired taste? I love a Krispy Kreme donut for breakfast. It tastes good. I like a little sugar. There's nothing wrong with sugar and make you happy. (congregation laughing) But you know what? Krispy Kreme donuts every morning will not give you sustenance and strength. No, you gotta have some acquired taste for some bacon and eggs. You gotta have some acquired taste for some kale. I didn't even know kale existed 'til I married Claire. (congregation laughing) 'Cause you cut up that little green thing and throw it in stuff. I'm like, what is this? We've got some believers. They love a coffee cup verse. They love something that sounds sweet, something with the little sugar, but it will not sustain your day to day life. And you gotta have an acquired taste

for the depth of the truth of God's word. There's some things in here at first that you say, now, preacher, I don't know about that. And you start studying it and getting into the depth of it. I'm telling you to give you what you need for life and godliness. You need an acquired taste for truth. You know what scares me? If somebody got up here and taught heresy, I'm not even sure half of us would recognize it. You have to get in the word. Every day of your life. We got a new group semester starting today at every single location, groups, parties going on in the gathering area. You need a group, why? To study the depth of the word. To get into the depth of the word. You gotta know the Bible. It was meant to sustain you and give you what you need. If you don't know it, you don't have what you need. And so we gotta move beyond some donuts and get into some depth, some meat of the word. He says, I see your work. I see your intolerance of evil and evil people. I see your discernment of the truth. The last thing he says is I see your endurance. He says, I know you've persevered and endured hardship for the sake of my name. And you have not grown weary.

I gotta tell you, as the end times get closer, Matthew chapter 24, Jesus prophesies, it's gonna get harder and not easier. It won't always look like this. I listened to Pastor Grant on the podcast this week. I would love for you to go listen to it. He answered your questions and you asked hard questions. Whoa, I'm so glad that wasn't my podcast. You asked about politics. You asked about sexual identity. You asked about Islam. You asked about all kinds of stuff. Good Lord. And he just was so much grace and was so much debt. Spiritual gifts, speaking in tongues. You need to go listen to it. But as I listened to it, I said, Lord, the enemy's not happy about this. And I'm just telling you Liberty, it will not always look like believers in stadiums. Excited, shouting, singing, it won't always look like this. No, Jesus said, in this world, you will have trouble. And we're trying to disciple and raise up an army of Christ followers that when it gets hard will not fall away. And then if it doesn't always look like this, you'll be able to stand firm. You'll love not your life even unto the death. And you'll serve Jesus faithfully. I want to raise those type of kids.

I want to raise that type of generation. And Jesus says, this church endured persecution. Praise God. Well, you see the list of what they did right. And I'm like, I want to be that kind of church. Oh, if Jesus said we were doing these things right, I'd be shouting. I'm like, yes, and amen. Come on, we need to get this stuff right. And this feels like a great church to me, but the thing that they got wrong, listen to me, undermined all of this. Look at it. What was wrong with this church? He says, I have this against you. You've abandoned the love you had at first. That one thing undermined everything else they were doing right. I don't know if y'all remember what first love was like, but I do. When Zachary got married, my twin brother, I had the better part of a decade to try and figure it out until I met my wife. It was a long decade. I thought, Lord, you already forgot me. I really, in the middle of that, I thought I probably won't get married. I just, I was already pastoring, was already doing ministry out in Greenbrier. And I thought, maybe this isn't what you have for me.

And I went to an event in Richmond, walked in the doors and Claire Blakely was standing on the other side of the room. I was with Spencer Helm, I punched Spencer. I said, I'm gonna marry that girl. And he's, he's a, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, you're serious. I said, yeah, I'm serious. When you prayed for somebody that long, you know when they're in front of you. Come on, that'll help a single person out. Just keep praying. And Claire, I saw Claire and I said, I'm a marrier. Now, I don't have time to tell you the whole story video. That was complicated, but I knew immediately I was in love with her. You say love at first sight. Yeah. I knew. And over the next few months, I acted crazy. 'Cause first love is different, different. I mean, I was driving every night from Virginia Beach to Richmond, two hours, one way just to see her and talk to her. I would call her Face Timer, drive the whole way talking to her, pick her up at the front door, take her on a date, drop her back off, get back in the car and talk to her the whole way home. 'Cause you can't get enough.

I wanted to be with her. I'd text her in the middle of the night 'cause I couldn't sleep and I was thinking about her. In fact, one night in particular, she got home from work late and I had something early the next morning and I said, I can't make it to Richmond tonight. She jumped on the phone and she said, I just wish I could give you a hug before I went to sleep. Y'all, I went sprinting out of that house. I'll say, oh, all the way to Richmond. I'm here. That's first love. Crazy. Out of my mind, crazy. 'Cause I was in love with her. There was no pursuit too much. Do you remember what that was like? Some of y'all found love. You remember what it was? You haven't forgotten. That first love is different. And I love her more. I said this last time and I mean it with everything to me. I love her more today than I even understood I could love her. I love her more right now than I loved her then. But it's real easy to take her for granted day in and day out. And the pursuit looks a lot different. Why? 'Cause she's there 24/7.

We talkin' all the time. I can see her anytime I want to. It's real easy to take her for granted and to lose the pursuit, the fire, the passion of first love. That's what he's talkin' about. You don't pursue me like you used to. You say, no, that's not what the Bible, I'm gonna show you. This is even an Old Testament. Jeremiah 2, verse two, the prophet says to Israel, "I remember the loyalty of your youth. "Your love, many of your Bible say, as my betrothed, "as my bride, as my fiancee. "How you followed me in the wilderness in a land, not..." So the Lord's saying, I remember when y'all followed me through the wilderness and you didn't even know where we were going, but you loved me so much, you wouldn't go anywhere without me. And God says to Israel, then I established you as a people. I brought you into a land. I gave you a way to me. I set up the temple and the tabernacle and I dwelt among you and you took me for granted. You don't love me like you used to. And this is what Jesus said would happen in the end times. Matthew 24, verse 10, he says, "Many will fall away, "but tray one another and hate one another. "Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many, "because lawlessness will multiply, "the love of many will grow cold." I'm asking you, has there ever been a moment

that you love Jesus more than you do right now? You need to get back to your first love. And so Jesus tells those believers in Ephesus what to do about it. I love this verse because it's so practical. I want you to look, verse five, this is what he says, "Remember then how far you have fallen. "Repent and do the works you did at first." He gives them three very practical steps that any person can take today to fall back in love with Jesus. Number one, remember. I just did it with Claire. I still remember what it was like when I was falling in love with her. You know what we're taught to do in marriage counseling? I've done this with some of you. If you've come from marriage counseling before, you take two people in the middle of a divorce, can't stand each other, matted each other, won't look at each other, won't drive in the same car, won't sit on the same side of the room. You know what my first question is? Tell me about when you fell in love. And I'll sit there for the next hour and a half, and I'll watch them laugh. I'll watch them look at each other again. I'll watch them scoot a little closer. Why? Because there was a moment they couldn't get enough

of each other, but they lost sight of who was sitting next to them. That's the very first thing I ask in marriage counseling. I'm asking, do you remember what it was like when you met Jesus? I'm telling you, some of you were in stained glass rooms with high cathedral ceilings. Some of you were at Grandma's house sitting around the kitchen table. Some of you were knell in an altar on shag carpet. I think my tears are still left in some shag carpet. The place I went to Christian school. Some of you were crying in an altar. Some of you were driving down a road. Some of you were sitting in a dorm room in college. Some of you were in a hospital room at the lowest point of your life. And Jesus met you there. And you saw his love for the first time. Don't you remember what it was like? Do you remember what it felt like to fall in love with Jesus? I do. I remember. Some of you, you can't think of anything because you've never had that moment. And if you've never had a moment where everything changed, you need a moment that changes everything. Don't you know the love of God?

That you can be a son and daughter, and so you are. I remember what it was like to fall in love with Jesus. I never wanna get over it. I mean, I did everything to find him. I never wanted to be a preacher's kid, and I was. Couldn't none do it. I told him my whole childhood, I'm never gonna be a preacher. Here I am. But I remember what it was like when I knew Jesus loved me, had given his life for me. Don't you know we love because he first loved us? Do you remember when God changed your life? He says, "Remember and repent." You got to go a new direction. You got to change a few things. You know, it takes a while to get a fire to go out. And it doesn't happen. Listen, it doesn't happen if you keep throwing logs on it and keep stoking it. No, it happens because you throw the wrong things on it and you get it calmed down, you let it go out. And there's stuff that's happened in your life. You didn't grow cold overnight. No, there's some stuff. There's a few people. There's some patterns and routines you're walking in. You stop doing things you oughta be doing. That's my favorite thing about church every week. Every single service I sit in, it just throws logs on the fire of my heart.

I wanna know it more. I wanna grow with him. I wonder what things you need to repent of to get that fire going again. Steps, this is practical, folks. Steps you can take to repent and then return. In fact, he says, "Do the things you did at first." I told you what made those early years with clear, so unique is I would do anything to pursue her. And I wonder if you went back in your mind and heart. Now think about this. To the moment you love God more than you do right now, or you pursuing them differently then. I believe this morning, it's been my prayer, that we could leave and walk with him this week and love him more than we've ever loved him before. (gentle music) This is how serious it is. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. I saw a church this week. One of the top churches in America, a top 10 in attendance. And I saw a news story. They're tearing down the building. Less than 30 years from when it was created. You can't see it now. You say, "Oh, no, this church is amazing." If we forget our first love,

won't be a reason for us to survive anymore. As I watched that news story and I saw them tearing down that building, I believe it's like 10 to 15,000 seats. I said, "Oh, the enemy got ahold of that church "and ruined it." That's what I thought. And the Holy Spirit said, "Nope. "They lost sight of me and I removed their lampstand." You can be a part of services like we were last week. You can have the best preachers in all the world. And I think you do. Your staff is just amazing. We can grow and plant campuses and revive churches. But I'm telling you, if we ever lose sight of love for Jesus, there'll be no reason for us to exist anymore. And God forbid he himself will come remove our light and our lampstand. I'm asking you this morning, do you love Jesus? I want every head to be bowed, every eye closed. Nobody looking around. So it's an important moment of the service. If you've never had a moment where you've just received his love and fallen in love with him, this is your moment. Right where you're at, watching online, at home. And one of our campuses right now. I want you to pray such a simple prayer. Jesus, I believe in you.

I believe you lived a life I could not live. You died in my place. You rose again. Jesus, I believe there's salvation in no other name, but yours alone. So save me. Restore me. I want to follow you all the days of my life. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. If you prayed that and you really meant it, I'm telling you, first love for you can start today. The pursuit of a lifetime. We love the opportunity to walk with you right where you're at online. Please let us know that you prayed that prayer. Write it one of our campuses. You can connect with us through the seat back in front of you. You can always text yes to 40371. We'd love the chance to walk with you as you pursue Christ, but I want you to stand all over this place. I preached this one today so that we wouldn't lose sight of Jesus' love for us and of our love for him. In 2020, I was sitting at my house in Smithfield at the time. That's where Claire and I lived. And I got up to read the word and I was frustrated. I don't know if you've ever been here before, but I was reading it and none of it made sense to me.

And I was discouraged and I was frustrated. I didn't sense the presence of the Lord near. And I just wanted to be with him. And it was during that COVID phase where we were all locked up. I'm frustrated sitting at home. I'm like, God, what happened? What happened to me? I used to love you so much. I used to wake up in the middle of the night and fight to stay awake 'cause I was afraid if I fell back asleep, I wouldn't hear what he had to say to me. I used to get up at Liberty University. I'd go over to this chapel and I would just sit and dwell in his presence. I used to stay after the services had ended and I would stay in the altar because he felt so near. I thought, if I get up and walk out, I won't sense him this close. So I'm having an argument with the Lord about what happened to me. And all of a sudden I had Spotify looping. I didn't know what music was playing. I heard this chorus to a song come on. ♪ You're still my first love ♪ ♪ You're still my only one ♪ ♪ You're still my first love ♪ ♪ You're still my only one ♪ And as that chorus looped, it was like the Holy Spirit said,

"You forsaken your first love." Come back home. And I just sat in my living room and worshiped and enjoyed his presence and savored his voice. And every day of my life, I have tried to keep my heart and mind on that first love for Jesus. Do you still have it? I wanna open the altar all over this place. I want you to make wherever you're at an altar. You can come down, kneel, pray. You can be seated right where you're at. What would it look like if before you left this place, you got back to your first love? Holy Spirit, you're here. And we need you. We've gotten so overwhelmed with work, with ministry, with accomplishments, with accolades, gotten so overwhelmed with the demands of life that we forgot. We lost sight of our first love. And if we didn't have any of this, we would still want you. We want all of you completely, with holding nothing. We're surrendering the things of our life that have separated us from you. (gentle piano music) We're coming back.

Jesus, we're coming back to you. (gentle piano music) ♪ You're still my first love ♪ ♪ You're still my only one ♪ (gentle piano music) ♪ You're still my first love ♪ ♪ You're still my only one ♪ ♪ You're still my only one ♪ # You're still my only one # # You're still my first love # # You're still my only one # # God, as we worship you, as we pray # # I pray you would help us remember # # What it was like when you first saved us # # Restore the joy of our salvation # # Re-enide the fire of passion and zeal # # In our hearts # # I pray that you would set us on fire # # For your kingdom # # I pray that we would burn brighter than ever before # # I pray that the longing and fire of first love # # Would never be put out # # I pray we would pursue you like never before # # I pray we would follow you like never before # # I pray that we'd be sensitive to moments to experience you # # I pray that we would hear your voice leading in kindness # # I pray that we would send your presence all around us # # And you're here, and you love us # # And we love you, we love you # # We love you, God #

# So receive our worship # # Receive our praise # # In Jesus' name we pray # # Amen # # # # # # # # # # All passes away # # From our faith's away # # You're still my first hope # # # And the music is # # And all is stripped away # # And I simply call # # # Long and just you bring # # Something that's a word # # That will bless your heart # # # I'll bring you more and finish # # All for a song is # # It's not what you have required # # No, no # # You search much deeper than me # # Through the way of things #

# You're looking into my heart # # # I'm coming back to # # The heart of worship # # And it's all about you # # It's all about you, Jesus # # I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made # # When it's all about you # # It's all about you, Jesus # # It's all about you # # We're here for you # # I'm here for you # # # The key of it is # # Word # # No one could express # # How much you deserve # # # It's all we can for # # It's all I have is yours # # Every single breath # # Oh # # I'll bring you more and finish # # All for a song is # # It's not what you have required # # No, it's not # # No, it's not done # # You search much deeper within # ♪ Do the way things appear ♪ I'm coming back to the heart of worship

'Cause it's all about you It's all about you, Jesus I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made When it's all about you It's all about you, Jesus I'm coming back to the heart of worship 'Cause it's all about you It's all about you, Jesus I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made When it's all about you It's all about you, Jesus It's all about you It's all about you My family, thank you so much for joining us today As we began the new series, the Letters to the Seven Churches We cannot wait to continue in this journey together And with such a good word from Pastor Daniel Hey, if you made a decision today To believe and follow Jesus for the very first time Let us, as your Liberty Online family, say congratulations That's the best decision that you will ever make And we want to equip you, we actually want to send you a free Bible Scan to secure our code, write Bible in one of the boxes And we will make sure to deliver you a free Bible One, to say thank you for joining us today But also, because that is your new playbook for life As you began this new relationship with Jesus I want to close today by reading a great scripture Psalm 37, verse 39, "The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord He is their stronghold in times of trouble

The Lord helps us, He delivers us We can take refuge in Him I want to challenge you, take refuge in the Lord this week Hey, join a group this week, group season just started If you're near campus, join a group Take refuge in the Lord, He will deliver you We cannot wait to see you right back here next Sunday on Liberty Lab Church [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] (upbeat music) (audience cheering and applauding) (upbeat music)

(audience cheering and applauding) (upbeat music) (audience cheering and applauding) (upbeat music) (audience cheering and applauding) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music)

(upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) ♪ Nothing too hard, nothing too hard for you ♪ ♪ Oh there's nothing, nothing too hard ♪ ♪ Nothing too hard for you ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ You're moving here, you're moving now ♪ ♪ Your work is never done ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ You're moving here, you're moving now ♪ ♪ Your work is never done ♪

♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ You're moving here, you're moving now ♪ ♪ Your work is never done ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ You're moving here, you're moving now ♪ ♪ Your work is never done ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ You're moving here, you're moving now ♪ ♪ Your work is never done ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ Nothing too hard for you ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ You're moving here, you're moving now ♪ ♪ Your work is never done ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ You're moving here, you're moving now ♪ ♪ Your work is never done ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ You're moving here, you're moving now ♪ ♪ Your work is never done ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ ♪ You're moving here, you're moving now ♪ ♪ Your work is never done ♪ ♪ Miracles then, miracles now, miracles still to come ♪ (audience cheering) (audience cheering) (upbeat music) ♪ Home is where my life begins ♪

♪ Where my treasure is ♪ ♪ I'm running home, I'm running home dear ♪ ♪ Home is what you have in store ♪ ♪ Where I will see her glory up ♪ ♪ Lord forevermore ♪ ♪ Come on church set ♪ ♪ You're coming, I'm ready ♪ ♪ I'm going home ♪ ♪ I'm making a dream to you ♪ ♪ Can you come up going home ♪ ♪ Dancing through the gates ♪ ♪ I hear love by the same ♪ ♪ Wherever, wherever ♪ ♪ I hear you say it, wherever, wherever ♪ ♪ I hear you say it, wherever, wherever ♪ ♪ I hear you say it ♪ ♪ I'm running home ♪ ♪ Home is where I'm meant to stay ♪ ♪ Where you prepared my place ♪ ♪ I'm running home, I'm running home dear ♪ ♪ Home, I've got two family there ♪ ♪ And I can't wait to see you ♪ ♪ You really want to hear it ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Come on, you're coming ♪ ♪ What, I'm ready ♪ ♪ I'm going home ♪ ♪ I'm making a dream to you ♪ ♪ And then come on going home ♪ ♪ Dancing through the gates ♪

♪ I hear my father say ♪ ♪ Come on, come on ♪ ♪ Wherever, wherever ♪ ♪ I hear you say it, wherever, wherever ♪ ♪ Oh, I hear you say it ♪ ♪ Oh, there is a table is set for a king ♪ ♪ All are invited to pray and believe ♪ ♪ There is a table is set for a king ♪ ♪ All are invited to pray and believe ♪ ♪ I'm saying there is a table is set for a king ♪ ♪ All are invited to pray and believe ♪ ♪ There is a table is set for a king ♪ ♪ All are invited to pray and believe ♪ ♪ I'm going home ♪ ♪ Home ♪ ♪ I'm going home ♪ ♪ I'm making a dream to you ♪ ♪ And then come on going home ♪ ♪ I'm dancing to you ♪ ♪ I hear my father say it ♪ ♪ Oh, I hear you say it ♪ ♪ Oh, I hear you say it ♪ ♪ Oh, I hear you say it ♪ ♪ Oh, I hear you say it, wherever, wherever ♪ ♪ I hear you say it, wherever, wherever ♪ ♪ You see, what a wonder ♪ ♪ One time ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Oh, I hear you say it ♪ ♪ Oh, I hear you say it, wherever, wherever ♪

♪ I hear you say it, wherever, wherever ♪ ♪ Oh, I hear you say it, wherever, wherever ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] Concurifies, purifies. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC]

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] ♪ That I make the world with ♪ One thing I ask for One thing I seek most That I may dwell with you All I want is to be close to you All I want is to be close Jesus Spent all my things Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus

Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus

Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus

Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus

Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus [ Silence ] [ Silence ] [ Silence ] [ Silence ] [ Silence ] [ Silence ] [ Silence ] [ Silence ] [ Silence ] [ Silence ] [ Silence ]