Text: Luke 15:11-24
Memory verse:
”“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!“
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A brother residing in a foreign country got so frustrated having failed his driving test three times. Since he had been driving in his home country for many years before he relocated, he felt so shocked to have failed a driving test in this country. He couldn’t believe it, so he rushed back to repeat the test and failed again. After failing the third time, he decided to pause to have time to reflect on why he failed these three times. Having done a thorough self-review, he repeated the test, and interestingly, he passed it this time.
Like someone once said, “A lesson not learnt will be repeated”.
The church of Ephesus is the first of the seven churches that John wrote to. Despite the earlier commendation, she didn’t receive a pass because she left her first love. Having given the assessment of her spiritual state, Jesus counseled, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen …” ‭‭(Rev‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬). This charge contains three steps to take to be restored from her present state of complacency. Let’s consider one of the steps today, which is to remember where you have fallen. Festivals, signs, and altars were instituted in the Bible days to help men remember the earlier works of God and the dedications they made (Gen 9:15-16; Num 15:39-40).
God said to the church, “Remember “from where you have fallen”. They were commanded to go back in their minds to an earlier time when they had the right motivation and fellowship with Christ. You must remember how you received and heard the word (Rev 3:3). You must remember how you received and believed the word as the truth and not as the word of man (1 Thes 2:13). You must remember how you obeyed with the whole of your heart (Rom 6:17). You must remember how you believed and rejoiced with joy inexpressible (1 Pet 1:8). You can’t recover what you have not realized that you lost. You must remember the glory and opportunities you have lost. In our text, the lost son finally came to his senses and said to himself, “My father’s workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death!” (Luke 15:17 CEV).
Friends, no one can recover what he has not remembered that he lost. Have you realized that you lost anything?

Prayer points
1. Father, please bring all Your children who have settled in complacency to their senses and to the remembrance of where they have fallen, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please stir the nest of all your prodigal children and trigger a longing for You in their hearts, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. A lesson that is not learnt will be repeated.
2. Remembering is the first stage to recovering.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng