Rekindling the Flame: Returning to Our First Love for God
- The Chapel Ministry
- Jul 27
- 4 min read
A message of spiritual hunger, bold faith, and renewed devotion by Pastor Jeremy Eastman
In a passionate and timely sermon, Pastor Jeremy Eastman issued a heartfelt call to believers: Return to your first love. In a world filled with distractions, demands, and spiritual fatigue, his message reminded us that the vitality of our faith depends on our willingness to keep the fire of devotion burning. This is not just a call to remember a moment of passion from our past—but to pursue God daily with intentionality, desperation, and boldness.
The Fire That Fades—Unless We Fan It
Pastor Jeremy opened with a truth every believer eventually faces: time, trials, and routine have a way of dulling our spiritual hunger. Like a once-vibrant fire left unattended, our passion can fade into embers if we’re not actively tending it. But God desires more than lukewarm religion—He longs for an intimate relationship with us, fueled by love, trust, and pursuit.
Drawing from Revelation 2:1–5, Pastor Jeremy reminded us of Jesus' rebuke to the church in Ephesus. Though they had remained active in ministry, they had forgotten the one thing that mattered most—their first love. It wasn't that they stopped loving God entirely; they simply let other things take precedence.
“You have forsaken the love you had at first.” — Revelation 2:4
This warning still speaks loudly today. We must never confuse religious activity with spiritual intimacy. What God wants most is our heart.
Hunger vs. Complacency: The Heart of Pursuit
True spiritual hunger is marked by desperation—an unrelenting desire to know God more. Pastor Jeremy contrasted this hunger with the danger of spiritual complacency. Lukewarm faith may look safe and comfortable on the outside, but it leads to stagnation on the inside.
“Desperation may look foolish to the comfortable,” he shared, “but it’s what drives us to the feet of Jesus.”
That kind of hunger pushes us beyond convenience and into communion. It leads us to the secret place, the altar, the Word. It stirs something deep in our soul: a holy dissatisfaction with surface-level Christianity.
Dream Again: Rediscovering God-Given Vision
Referencing Joel 2:28, Pastor Jeremy highlighted God’s promise to pour out His Spirit on all generations. No one is too young or too old to dream again. If the fire has gone out in your heart, it’s time to reignite it—not by hype or emotion, but by returning to God’s presence and remembering His promises.
"Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” — Joel 2:28
Have you stopped dreaming? Pastor Jeremy encouraged both the young and seasoned in faith to listen again for God’s whisper. Whether you’ve let go of old dreams or never dared to dream in the first place—now is the time to believe again.
Peter’s Bold Faith: A Portrait of Pursuit
One of the sermon’s most compelling moments came through the retelling of Peter walking on water. While the other disciples stayed in the boat, Peter dared to take a step of desperation—and encountered Jesus in a miraculous way.
“Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water.” — Matthew 14:28
Peter's boldness didn’t come from confidence in himself but from a hunger to be closer to Jesus. That’s the kind of pursuit Pastor Jeremy challenged us to live out—a faith that steps out of the boat, risks the waves, and refuses to settle for safety.
Practical Ways to Rekindle the Flame
If you’re feeling spiritually dry or distant, Pastor Jeremy offered these practical steps to fan the flame of your first love:
🔹 Pray with Passion – Go beyond routine. Get real with God. Pour out your heart.
🔹 Get in the Word – Scripture is fuel for the fire. Let it speak to your spirit daily.
🔹 Surround Yourself with Fire-Starters – Spend time with people who are hungry for God. Their fire will ignite yours.
🔹 Say Yes to the Dream – Ask God to remind you of the dream He placed in your heart—and be bold enough to chase it again.
🔹 Refuse to Settle – Complacency is the enemy of intimacy. Choose to pursue a deeper, richer, more personal relationship with Jesus.
Closing the Gap Between Where You Are and Where He Is
In 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul tells Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God.” Pastor Jeremy echoed that same charge. If your fire has grown dim—don’t wait for someone else to rekindle it. God has given you everything you need to live a passionate, Spirit-filled life. But you must fan the flame.
“You are as close to God right now as you choose to be.” – Pastor Jeremy Eastman
Final Reflection
The message wasn't just a reminder—it was a challenge. A call to every believer to take responsibility for their own pursuit of God. To rekindle their first love. To reignite passion. To dream again. Because our God still speaks, still calls, and still moves through those who are hungry enough to seek Him.
As you reflect on this powerful word, ask yourself: What’s one step I can take today to fan the flame of my faith?
Let the fire burn again.
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