Pastor Ike Graham and Nancy
PRESIDENT’S CORNER – Pastor Isaac Graham
As we focus on the seven churches of Revelation 2-3 for the 2026 CGBCI Conference, we begin with the church at Ephesus. If you did not get to listen to this message at Conference in July, it will be available on the CGBCI website (cgbci.org). A chart of the seven churches is also available for your study in preparation for the 2026 Conference.
Have you left your first love? That was the problem of the church at Ephesus just about thirty years after it was founded. We would probably think of ourselves and our Fellowship as the church in Ephesus was described by Jesus. Look at Revelation 2:2. That church was…
• Dynamic – “your deeds” ……………………..They were active and energetic.
• Dedicated – “your toil” ………………………..They labored for the Lord.
• Determined – “perseverance” ……………..They didn’t quit
• Disciplined – “cannot endure evil men” They weren’t hornswoggled
• Discerning – “put to the test…” …………..They took truth seriously
BUT (notice Revelation 2:4), “you have left your first love.” Jesus doesn’t say that you “lost” it; He says that you left it. Jesus says to us, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…” (verse 7). Are you listening? We tend to minimize what God emphasizes. We are into works; God is into heart. We want to show the Lord our list; God asks us where our heart is. If this were a list of ten things and Jesus says, “There is a huge, big-time problem,” how will we respond? “Lord, come on now! I got nine out of ten! It doesn’t get much better than that!” Jesus says, “The engine is missing.” Sure, the car looks great. Shiny new paint job, new tires, refurbished interior, full tank of gas, fresh oil change, but the engine is missing. Are you and I really ready to own up to a giant sin that we have? We are excuse makers. We patronize God by telling Him all the things that we do for Him and that’s why we can’t do this one thing that we know that we should. Besides, God will understand. After all, nine of ten is good! We put ourselves in charge and call the shots. How is this an intimate relationship with the living Lord Jesus Christ? I want to hear, “Well done!” when I meet the Savior; NOT “Well, somehow you got it done.” Focus now on Revelation 2:5 for the solution. If we don’t, then we may not last on this present earth until the rapture comes.
CHILDREN’S CONFERENCE – Pastor Terry Reese