For taking your time to study remain blessed.
TOPIC: DO NOT GO DOWN WITH A DYING CHURCH. SATURDAY AUGUST 5
TEXT: 2 JOHN 1:7-10
KEY VERSE: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God”. (Revelation 3:2).
Not all of them in the church in Sardis were spiritually dead. There were those who still remained alive but were ready to die. It was a dying church. The call of Christ to everyone in the church is to be watchful, to be alert, vigilant, taking note of the signs and state of spiritual sickness which may result in spiritual death if not taken care of promptly and appropriately. A church may be religiously active but spiritually dead. The pastor in the church is to “strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die with love, warm and inspiring exhortation.” We must endeavor to minister to the dying church in the power of the quickening Spirit. “For I have not found thy works perfect before God” This revelation should stir us up to seek more grace to work and serve God acceptably.
In that dying church where spiritual life was declining, there were still a few believers who had not defiled themselves. It was a great challenge to remain in such a church since there was no other church in the city. But they kept themselves free from the general contamination. They maintained holiness and purity in the midst of sinful, backslidden people; they kept their garment, their robe of righteousness clean and white, unsoiled with all the worldly filth around them. They were vigilant and doubly watchful in such an environment, By prayer and dependence on God's abundant grace, they kept “walking worthy of the vocation wherewith they were called” and were “accounted worthy to escape all things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the son of man.” “He that overcometh…I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.” Whosoever overcomes the temptations of this present evil world, whosoever overcomes “the love of the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” will be found in God's book of life on the great day of final account.
Membership of a denominational church is not a marriage covenant that is for life. If that church is not profiting your soul take your exit before it is too late. It is infinitely better and an eternally higher honour to have our names in God's Book of Life than in the membership register of some backslidden mega church or in the splendid catalogue of princes, poets, warriors, scientists, nobles and statesmen that the world has produced. Blessed are the overcomers whose names are written in heaven.
Thought for the Day: Holy Spirit, cleanse your church and revitalize HOREMOW.
Song for the Day: Send down your power, we pray thee, o, Lord.
Bible reading for the day: Psalm 75-77; Romans 6
#horemow
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