“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God”
Be watchful
The word “be” indicates this church was not spiritually alert. The word “be” means to become. Jesus commands them to be what they were not. They were not spiritually alert. Now He wants them to become spiritually alert.
The contrast to watchfulness is sleepiness. Jesus wants this church to be vigilant about spiritual death among Christians. Laxity and indifference result in spiritual deadness. Christians are to stay awake spiritually so that they do not fall asleep at their spiritual switch. Spiritual alertness is the issue (Matthew 24:43). Remain spiritually alive. Continual readiness and alertness must be the watchword against spiritual deadness.
Sardis reached a point where they thought they were impregnable. The city sat on a hill surrounded by steep cliffs which were very difficult to climb and there was only one narrow path to enter the city. Sardis did fall because of inattention. They fell twice in military conquest. Cyrus, king of Persia (549 BC), and Antiochus III (218 BC) both took the city by scaling the steep walls of her fortress. The city did not stay alert. Christians, like the city itself, needed to stay awake to spiritual dangers.
“Therefore He says:
‘Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light’” (Ephesians 5:14).
Principle:
Christ wants Christians to wake up from their spiritual sleep.
Application:
Christians can decline into spiritual lethargy if they do not stay alert. Whenever we do not watch our spiritual condition, we always begin to decline. We lose ground and revert into previous lower levels of spirituality.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
My name is Kimberly. I had some time to spare before work. God told me to read this passage of scripture. I know that I have experienced hurt in the church and personal things in life as well. I believe that God was talking to me concerning me not being awake like I was. I want to wake up but I know that my heart was really hurt to the point I am afraid of what will happen if I go out into the deep again. All of the events that happened made me realize how out there I was with God. I want to go beyond that place again and I do not want to be asleep anymore! Please be in prayer with me as I get up and get back on the path that God has for me! Thank you.
I have prayed to the Lord for guidance. Last night I dreamed all night about Revelations 3:2. Even though I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died for my sins and I am saved, I am struggling with keeping spiritually awake and making sure all I come in contact with are spiritually awake. I believe the Lord has giving me my instruction through my dreams last night. I will pray and set out in the world, following and helping people be spiritually awake. I am forever grateful God has never abandoned me. He has been patient with me, as a father is with a child. I am humbled before my Lord. I will be a guiding light, and pray the Lord to do his will through me. Amen, and thank you Jesus for saving me!
I too was led to this scripture during my time with The Lord this morning. It convicted me, to be a good steward of the gifts that He has given me. He has reinforced to me, that His command is to pick up the cross daily, deny myself and follow him. The word that was emphasized to me was "daily". Not just a one time thing, but a daily commitment to commune with Him, and offer up my body as a living sacrifice, in simple obedience, and yield to the Spirit. God in His graciousness, left us a blueprint, to keep us alive.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, (2 Peter 1:3-10 NIV)
I was given this scripture today to bring a word to my church tomorrow plz.help me get started I was single out by the pastor for not pledging towards the new church .my wife and I just gave 5ks to help with a banquet?
John, from my viewpoint. It is wrong for your pastor to single you out to give. This is to give under pressure and not from your heart. Go to this study: http://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/biblical-giving/
Hi I need urgent help to awake. This hill seems so hard to climb. I have tried many times.