The early church, represented by the believers in Ephesus, had a strong love at first and had persevered in the faith (Revelation 2:2, 3). They had suffered for Christ’s name and had not become spiritually tired. The church had also suffered the attack of false prophets and false teachers who tried to infiltrate among the believers. They were diligent to eliminate all false teachings.

When addressing this church, Jesus commended them for many outstanding qualities (verses 1-3). The church was obedient, energetic, untiring, and upheld sound doctrine, yet they lacked something. Perhaps they might have gone too far in uprooting heresy; somehow, there was a spiritual problem in the church described as a forsaking of the first love (verse. 4). While doctrinal purity is important to our faith and spiritual stability, it must not under any circumstances lead to a loveless life or a formal religion. Regardless of other admirable qualities, without love, the soul is withered and void.

The Lord then encouraged these believers to repent, and “remember . . . from whence thou hast fallen” (verse 5). The believers had good deeds, but no longer had the same love for each other and for Jesus as it had been at first. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.

Remember your former condition (stop and recall your love in the past; realize your current position and compare it with how you used to be).

Repent (change your direction, stop doing negative things).

Do the things you did at first (do positive things; repentance is not just turning from wrong but also doing what is right).

Repentance does not merely lead us to stop doing evil things but leads us also to learn to do good things (Isaiah 1:16, 17). The fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8) must appear. “Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. . . . [The sinner] sees the love of God, the beauty of holiness, the joy of purity; he longs to be cleansed and to be restored to communion with Heaven.” 1

What was this “first love” that the Ephesian church had left? In answering this question, we need to go back to Acts chapter 19 and consider the time when the gospel of Jesus Christ first came to the city of Ephesus.

When we look at this passage, we read of the extraordinary miracles that God was performing through the apostle Paul there. The Bible says that, as the news was spreading about the miraculous things God was doing, and of the gospel of Jesus that Paul was preaching, “fear fell on [all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus], and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” (verses 17-20).

These Ephesians loved Jesus because of His saving grace. Their love for Him grew and enabled them to freely abandon their former ways. No more magical arts! No more occult practices! No more witchcraft! From then on, they placed their full love and trust in Jesus and in Him alone. In reflecting true love for Him, they threw away everything else and trusted in and depended solely on Him. They gave their life over to Him and served Him as the great object of their love. Thus they gained victory.

This secret of victory empowered them to be amazingly effective witnesses for Christ. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4, 5). “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12).

Christ opened the mind of His disciples to the scriptural matters concerning His death and resurrection, while commissioning them to proclaim forgiveness of sins to all nations. Then He said: “Ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:48, 49). John’s description of the same encounter includes Christ’s command, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you,” and breathing on them, He added: “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:21, 22).

There is a link between the commission to witness to all nations and the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit to empower the believers for such a commission. It gives us assurance that we are His children. The objective to witness has an inward and an outward expression, much like two sides of a coin.

The testimony says, “One interest prevailed; one subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ’s character and to labor for the enlargement of His kingdom.” 2

Witnessing to all nations consists of both the revelation of Christ’s character and persuasion for the kingdom. The accomplishing of these two tasks is the reason why Jesus poured His Spirit upon the early church, and this is why we need a renewed baptism of the Holy Spirit today.

It is not only by preaching the truth and distributing literature that we are to witness for God. Let us remember that a Christlike life is the most powerful argument that can be advanced in favor of Christianity, while a cheap, unchristian character works more harm in the world than the character of a worldling. Not all the books written can serve the purpose of a holy life. People will believe, not what the minister preaches but what the church lives. Too often the influence of the sermon preached from the pulpit is counteracted by the sermon preached in the lives of those who claim to be advocates of truth.

“When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace takes the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God.” 3

“The mighty power of the Holy Spirit works an entire transformation in the character of the human agent, making him a new creature in Christ Jesus. When a man is filled with the Spirit, the more severely he is tested and tried, the more clearly he proves that he is a representative of Christ. The peace that dwells in the soul is seen on the countenance. The words and actions express the love of the Saviour. There is no striving for the highest place. Self is renounced. The name of Jesus is written on all that is said and done.” 4

A noble life is the most powerful sermon in favor of Christianity. The Spirit of Christ within transforms us into His image. Through the indwelling Spirit, Christ’s church will impact the world for God. A Christlike character leads to a Christlike mission to prepare the world for His return. Then we will see a visible growth daily.

“The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ.” 5

Peter’s first sermon on the Day of Pentecost brought some 3,000 souls to conviction (Acts 2:41). A second apostolic sermon brought 5,000 to Christ (Acts 4:4)! “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). Signs and wonders accompanied the believers and “multitudes both of men and women” were constantly added to their number (Acts 5:14), even to the point that priests, maybe their former enemies, were becoming “obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).

“God will today endow men and women with power from above, as He endowed those who on the Day of Pentecost heard the word of salvation. At this very hour His Spirit and His grace are for all who need them and will take Him at His word.

“Notice that it was after the disciples had come into perfect unity, when they were no longer striving for the highest place, that the Spirit was poured out. They were of one accord. All differences had been put away. And the testimony borne of them after the Spirit had been given is the same. Mark the word: ‘The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul’ (Acts 4:32). The Spirit of Him who died that sinners might live animated the entire congregation of believers.

“The disciples did not ask for a blessing for themselves. They were weighted with the burden of souls. The gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth, and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day. So it may be now.” 6

With such spirit and motivation living in the early Christians, the gospel was preached “to every creature which is under heaven” (Colossians 1:23). What a powerful witness! The Spirit of Christ animated the whole congregation, for they had found the pearl of great price. Similar efforts put forth today will produce similar results.

These scenes will be repeated and with greater power. What the early Christians experienced on the Day of Pentecost was the former rain, but the latter rain will be richer. The Spirit awaits our claim and response.

“Let Christians put away all dissension and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was ‘the former rain,’ and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant. What is the promise to those living in these last days? ‘Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee.’ ‘Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field’ (Zechariah 9:12; 10:1).

“Christ declared that the divine influence of the Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. But the promise is not appreciated as it should be; and therefore its fulfillment is not seen as it might be. The promise of the Spirit is a matter little thought of; and the result is only what might be expected - spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death. Minor matters occupy the attention, and the divine power which is necessary for the growth and prosperity of the church, and which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in its infinite plenitude.” 7

“Do not say, I will praise the Lord when the Holy Spirit is poured out upon us. How will you know when the Holy Spirit is poured out, unless you walk in the light day by day? You are to go about your duties, advancing step, by step, according to the counsel of the Lord, and you will find that you will have light and peace and joy, and will make melody in your heart unto the Lord. Thus the people of God will mingle their praises with those of the hosts of heaven, and sing songs of thanksgiving with the angels of God.” 8

“Love is not simply an impulse, a transitory emotion, dependent upon circumstances; it is a living principle, a permanent power. The soul is fed by the streams of pure love that flow from the heart of Christ, as a well - spring that never fails. O, how is the heart quickened, how are its motives ennobled, its affections deepened, by this communion! Under the education and discipline of the Holy Spirit, the children of God love one another, truly, sincerely, unaffectedly - ’without partiality, and without hypocrisy’ (James 3:17). And this because the heart is in love with Jesus. Our affection for one another springs from our common relation to God. We are one family, we love one another as He loved us.” 9

“God’s people have a mighty work before them, a work that must continually rise to greater prominence. Our efforts in missionary lines must become far more extensive. A more decided work than has been done must be done prior to the second appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s people are not to cease their labors until they shall encircle the world.” 10

The power of the Spirit in the last days will exceed that experienced of the early church.11

The prophecy of Joel 2 “received a partial fulfillment in the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost; but it will reach its full accomplishment in the manifestation of divine grace which will attend the closing work of the gospel.” 12

Without this experience, the church will not be prepared to warn the world and will not be ready for Christ’s return. Without the breath of God, we are mere frozen children of circumstance.

“The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the daily baptism of the Spirit every worker should offer his petition to God. Companies . . . should gather to ask for special help.” 13

“There are many who long to help others, but they feel that they have no spiritual strength or light to impart. Let them present their petitions at the throne of grace. Plead for the Holy Spirit. God stands back of every promise He has made. With your Bible in your hands say, I have done as Thou hast said. I present Thy promise, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you’ (Matthew 7:7) . . .

“When with earnestness and intensity we breathe a prayer in the name of Christ, there is in that very intensity a pledge from God that He is about to answer our prayer ‘exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20).” 14