Awakening the spiritual dead – Part 2

“...Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent…”

Christ wants us to remember, apply, keep and hold on to His words until He comes. He gives the medicine that would awaken the spiritually dead. One, be watchful (1Peter 4:7; 5:8, 9).

This is about personal, prioritised and perpetual watchfulness. The watchfulness of yesterday is not enough for today, and the one of today is not enough for tomorrow. You must watch over your salvation, the life of Christ and the witness in you.

Do not watch over something negligible and dispensable and ignore your readiness for the coming of the Lord. The devil is not on vacation and does not sleep. Therefore, we must be watchful every time.

Two, strengthen the things that remain (Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 40:31). There are times you find yourself weak, at the brink of life and alive but almost dying. To strengthen the things that remain in your personal life, family and ministry, you need to withdraw from the public: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.” If you find that you are not fully ready for the coming of the Lord, wait on Him.

Three, perfect your works (Revelation 3:2; Genesis 17:1; Romans 12:1, 2). This is not something anyone can do for you. Christ wants us to walk before Him and be perfect like Abraham, such that whatever is imperfect or impure in our lives, we correct.

Four, remember (Revelation 3:3; John 15;w20a; 2 Thessalonians 2:5). “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard…” There are messages of the present-day that are not like the ones we have heard and received. They are messages of the dead, dying church; messages of positive thinking, which do not tell the real truth because recipients are dull of hearing. Therefore, they heap unto them men having itching ears. We must leave the superfluous things and go back to the origin. Bring to mind the word you received on repentance, the conviction of sin and abandoning the way that is evil, the witness of the Holy Spirit in the heart, following peace with all men and holiness, among others.

Five, hold fast (Revelation 3:3; 2 Timothy 1:13,14; Hebrews 3:12-14). In the same way, we hold on to our good name, property, spouse and anything precious to us. We must hold fast to our assurance of getting to heaven, which is more precious. A heavenly-minded heart would not depart from the Lord. More courage, maturity or intelligence does not make one hardened, but “the deceitfulness of sin.”

Six, repent, return and renew your consecration and commitment to the Lord (Revelation 2:5; 3:19-21).

Seven, be ready for His coming (Revelation 3:3; 16:15; 22:12 1 Thessalonians 5:2). When the Lord comes, great will be the joy of those who have made themselves ready, willing and watchful candidates of the rapture. Christ wants us to be refined and abide with the “few” who “have not defiled their garments.” That the church is cold, dead, superficial, not serious or watchful does not excuse our coldness, lukewarmness, deadness and superficiality. In spite of the attitude, lukewarmness and spiritual deadness of others, we must endeavour to be among the few who Christ would commend. There are three things to note:

One, the purity of sanctified, undefiled saints (Revelation 3:4; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 7:25,26; 1 Peter 1:3-5,14-16). The Lord wants us to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Like the faithful few who were purged, cleansed and remained steadfast, the word of God on purging and purification should spur us to go to the Lord on our knees to pray for the experience. We must strive to keep our salvation by having personal, prioritised and perpetual watchfulness. We must allow the word of God to act as a washing agent in our lives. We must allow His blood to cleanse, wash and keep us perpetually holy, righteous and undefiled.

Two, the pledge to steadfast, unpretending saints (Revelation 3:5; Luke 10:20; Exodus 32:32, 33; Malachi 3:16, 17; Matthew 10:32,33). When we are born again, our names are written in the book of life in heaven. As long as we keep to our conversion, consecration and abide with the Lord all the time, our names will remain in the book of life; we will remain conquerors and overcomers. Because of the sins of the Israelites, Moses wanted His name to be blotted out from the book of life. But God did not grant his request because He has a principle. He knows what He does and how He does it. Only those who have backslidden and gone completely into sin would have their names blotted out from the book of life. Those who repent and forsake their sins, and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Saviour will have their names written there.

Three, the promise for spotless, unwavering saints (Revelation 3:5,6; Hebrews 10:23,35-39; 2 Peter 3:13,14; Jude 1:23,24,21,25; Revelation 2:7,11,17; 19:6-9). Christ wants us to be overcomers; He wants us to remain spotless and unwavering. He also wants us to continue consistently in our consecration and service to Him. As we witness to others, we must “keep (ourselves)” from every form of defilement. When we do our part, the Lord will “keep (us) from falling, and… present (us) faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”

• Further Reading (King James Version): Revelation 3:1-6; Revelation 3:2, 3; 1 Peter 4:7; 5: 8, 9; Revelation 3:2; Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 40:31; John 15:20; 2 Thessalonians 2:5; 2 Timothy 1:13,14; Hebrews 3:12-14; Revelation 2: 5; 3:19; 16:15; 22:12; Revelation 3: 4 – 6; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 3:5; Luke 10:20; Exodus 32: 32, 33; 2 Peter 3: 13, 14; Jude 1: 23, 24, 21, 25.