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Awakening the spiritual dead – Part 1

By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
11 September 2022   |   4:00 am
The Lord Jesus Christ has always found it necessary to speak to the whole Church from His heart. Here, He had already spoken to the churches in Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira and Smyrna.

Kumuyi

The Lord Jesus Christ has always found it necessary to speak to the whole Church from His heart. Here, He had already spoken to the churches in Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira and Smyrna. Now, He brings His message to us through the church in Sardis. “These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars. I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.”

Christ’s conclusion of the message to the church in Sardis does not apply only to them, but also to the whole Church. He said: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” He was talking to the Church of the first century, the churches of every generation and the churches at the time of His coming. He will come again, suddenly, unexpectedly and assuredly, to make those who died in Christ to rise and to meet those of us who are still alive in the rapture to heaven. Thus, at a time like this, when we await the coming of the Lord, which can happen at any moment from now, He wants us to have the appropriate attitude to the word of God.

Despite the unity, fellowship and togetherness of the church in Smyrna, the Lord addressed them collectively, as one spiritually “dead” congregation of souls. The “angel of the church” represents the minister, leader, pastor or shepherd of the church. The “seven Spirits of God” refers to the seven aspects or descriptions of the Spirit of God. It also refers to the fullness, perfection and completeness of the Spirit. The “seven stars” stand for the ministers and angels of the churches. There are three things to note

First, the deception in spiritual deadness (Revelation 3:1; Romans 8:6-8; 7:9-11; James 2:17, 20, 26; Titus 1:16; 1 John 3:13-15). The absence of the Spirit of God or the life of Christ in an individual shows the person is spiritually dead. “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” There are people who compare spirituality with religiosity. Because they are religious, they deceive themselves and think they are alive, whereas they are spiritually dead. People who profess to have faith and the life of God, but do not have the action, character, comportment and lifestyle of a believer are spiritually dead.

Second, the description of the spiritually dead (Revelation 3:1; Ephesians 2:1-3,12; 1 John 5:11,12; Luke 15:13,24; Proverbs 21:16; Jude 1:12-16). People who are dead have their consciences, heart, spirit and inner man deadened. Even though they commit sin and trespasses, they do not feel any guilt. The Spirit of God does not penetrate to make them feel the sensation of guilt for their transgressions.

They are “dead in trespasses and sins.” Because they walk, think, act and conduct their lives like everyone else “according to the course of this world,” they think they are alright. They are dead spiritually, but do not know. The devil controls and makes them to do the evil they ought not to do. He muzzles the mouth of their conscience that it cannot say anything about what they do. This is “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Those who come to the church to fellowship, but do not have the life of Christ in them are ungodly and spiritually dead

Third, the Deliverer from the second death (Hebrews 2:14, 15; Matthew 4:16,17; Luke 1:74-79; Ephesians 5:14; Revelation 2:11; 20:6,14,15). Christ is presented as the Deliverer from all kinds of death. He delivers us from spiritual death, second death and eternal death (total separation from God). He is our Deliverer because He has died for us and has tasted death for every man. Therefore, He calls us to repentance and gives eternal life to those who hold on to, believe, abide and remain in Him.

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