Jesus and His church Part 1, Cry for revival prayer-October 7, 2020

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:2-4

The revelation of Jesus Christ about the Church is a reminder of His critical command that you “Watch and pray” to stay zealous and diligent knowing that the master is watching and praying for you also. Think about workers doing the right thing when they know the boss is watching. And how drivers will avoid breaking traffic rules because police officer is on guard.

? Your thought, words, and action should matter if you know or believe that the LORD is watching your works. Satan always introduces distractions to make you forget that Jesus is watching everything from inside out. You can see the church buildings, activities, and the people, but He is looking at the heart of the people and the abiding faith required to be an overcomer. Therefore, your faith in Christ, depends on what He knows and sees about your activities from your heart out. I know your works He said, but unless you overcome, you cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven.

What Jesus knows and says about the Churches of Asia; applies also to you, me, and the churches today. For example: Vain activities, lack of love, persecution within and without, compromised teachings and action, corrupt communications, false teachings, prophecies, and miracles, lukewarm worship, and spiritually dead religious activities. Nevertheless, Jesus knows also, that some Churches or Christians are standing truthful and faithful to Him. He knows our yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His prophesy about the church is not to condemn but to keep us in the spirit of revival, watching and praying. Because neither the living nor the dead church is closer to heaven until you get there. Remember when Apostle peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” 38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times. John 13:37-38 In plain view Peter could see Jesus, his miracles, love, and raw spiritual power but Jesus was looking at his heart. Peter was caught off guard, denied Jesus whom he loved. But Christ restored and redeemed him, as he would do for you and to all who will repent, to become overcomers.

But why are some believers hot and others cold? Why are some neither hot nor cold in eyes of Jesus or make promises like peter but fail to execute?  My diagnosis is this, chronic spiritual Amnesia. How often we forget the first love or works but focus on material gains, pleasure, and worldliness. What often happens is that, in the moment of distraction we forget the words of Jesus and that He knows our thoughts. He said to the apostles, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Luke 24:38. He asked, 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? …   How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? —but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:9-11 (we worry, doubt and fear because we forget to count our blessings and forget to remember that Jesus is watching and knows your works)  You see, we can easily see and smell the oven baked bread for the belly, while the devil secretly feed us with spiritual bread of sorrows and evil imagination. So that we can forget our first love or how we started with Jesus. As a matter of fact, you cannot grow your faith or be an overcomer, if you fail to remember the word of God and His love for you, whether in good or bad times. Satan, as he did to Jesus, will offer you corrupted word of God to tempt you. If you cannot recall the word of God as Jesus did, devil will disarm you and try to distract you from the path to victory. Jesus said, 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:5 The end goal of every believer is to be an overcomer. But meanwhile watch and pray as Jesus is watching and praying for you. Remember, He knows your works. Therefore, we must beware of spiritual forgetfulness (amnesia). How do we keep focus with Jesus? He gave the answer 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Revelation 3:3 we will continue from here next week. Meanwhile if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can do it now, believe in Jesus today. God bless you.

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