“And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of the many will be made cold.”
(Matt 24:12, ALT)
These words of Jesus’, as part of his teaching on the end of times, grant the term lawlessness an even greater meaning, suggesting that it is the reason why during the end times many believers’ love for Christ will cool off. In other words – if during these times you do not function within your calling and purpose you will surely forsake your “first love”. To the church of Ephesians (in Rev 2:4) Jesus says, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” In the next verse he makes this remark – “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.”
Day 69&70’s teaching focused on the meaning of this Scripture. To refresh the memory: In the Scriptures revelatory knowledge is symbolized by gold (Rev 3:18), and thus this golden lampstand should be a revelation but also a Presence, within you, of the resurrected Christ (John 11:25), the Anointed. This Light and Life manifests itself through the opening of your spiritual eyes and you functioning within your calling (Eph 1:8). The anointing of God, which allows the golden Lampstand to burn through the seven Spirits of God, is also the seven eyes (Rev 5:6), the fullness of God’s (prophetic) calling for your life, that which Christ as builder of the spiritual temple uses as plummet for building your temple according to his original blue print (Zach 3:9 and 4:10)!
According to Strongs the phrase “from where you’ve fallen” means “to drop away; specifically be driven out of one’s course; figuratively to lose, become inefficient”. Your selfish ambition and waywardness plays into Satan’s desire to see that you fall from God’s grace (Isa 14:12), just like he did. Thus we also speak of Adam’s fall. In Ps 106:26-27 the word fall is thrice translated as overthrow, exactly what Satan aims to do through your lawlessness, to trip you out of your calling. In verse 28 it is then said that “They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.” Baal-Peor, “the god of the gap”, or the “god that breaks through” breaks into the domain which God has called you for. In the process you garner waywardness, which then literally becomes witchcraft (1 Sam 15:23).
Your “first works” are those things that you were called to do before the foundations of the earth were laid, in essence that which Christ has already completed for you, so that you may only walk within his completed works. This is what is spelled out in Eph 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” The word workmanship has the root meaning of poem (poiema), a fabric meticulously woven in great detail (Ps 139:14). You and that which God has planned for you, are one. Through the sin of the Fall and our consistent waywardness it has become removed from us, but now must be united in Christ. Your first works are what God ordained you to be, will be, must do. All things outside of this are dead works (Heb 6:1; 0:14) and lawlessness.
- Sela: Repent before God about your waywardness, dead works and witchcraft.
- Read: Jos 9; Est 2; Isa 25
- Memorise: Isa 25:6-7 (also pray this)
- For a deeper understanding: There is major opposition to the idea that all people have a calling and purpose in Christ. A book such as Warren Smith’s Deceived on Purpose falls within this category. Although much of what he says is true, he does end up throwing out the baby with the bath water. Get your take on this from the Holy Spirit.
