Monday, June 13, 2016

Clothed in the Righteousness of Christ- We Must Watch!

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and READ the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  We are on lesson number 69. God bless you! ******

Rev 3:1  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; 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.
Rev 3:2  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

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Watch. Be watchful. We have to watch don't we? Time and time again our Savior has admonished us to watch. There has to be a reason for this, a good reason. Isn't it true that if you're being watchful there is a sense of expectation in your life?  A life spent watching for our Savior.  A life spent in expectation of our Savior. A life whose sole endeavor is to live watching for Jesus Christ. Waking up in the morning with the expectation of Jesus. Going to sleep at night with the expectation of Jesus. Watching for Jesus, watching our lives - watching whether or not our own actions are those that our Savior would commend and not condemn. Watching and recognizing the need of repentance in our lives.  Yes, we need to be watchful and if we don't watch, if we aren't watchful we have only ourselves to blame when we are taken unawares.

We have to strengthen the remaining things- things that are ready to die- die without intervention? Isn't it often the way that weak things are known to die?

If God's people don't hold fast through the adversity surrounding them it's easy to grow weak. Imperfection in actions are unacceptable. So much admonition and this isn't something that can be taken lightly.  Strengthening something that is ready to die means what? Keeping it from dying, right? If a person who is sick and near death is given strength it usually means they are recovering, no longer dying. When something not someone, but something is dying don't we do all we can usually to try and keep it from dying? We don't want things to lose life.  If something good within us is alive we have to keep that strong, not let it weaken. If we let our faith grow weak then we are in danger of it dying. Is it any wonder we are told to be watching, to strengthen the things that we do have that can be strengthened, things that can so easily die if we neglect them?

No, the works aren't perfect, and we can't believe God will ever accept anything less than perfection in Christ.

Rev 3:3  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Remember! Hold fast! Repent! Watch!

These are things that throughout history God's people have to adhere to. There will never be a time we should no longer remember all that we've been taught and have received of God. There will never be a time we should loosen our grasp on the faith we need in Jesus. There will never be a time we shouldn't repent, and there will never be a time we shouldn't watch for the coming of our Lord and Savior- never. Foolishness some will say, but it's true. We watch and we keep the hope alive, the faith strong in Christ. If we stop watching for Christ we will not be prepared and like a thief sneaking in and stealing away all that is yours without your ever being alerted to their visitation until it's too late and all your goods are gone- Christ will come and salvation will be lost to those who aren't watching for Him.

Remember! Hold fast! Repent! Watch!

Rev 3:4  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Rev 3:6  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Defiled garments are unsuitable, if we're not clothed in the pure white of Christ's righteousness then we are stained by unforgiven sin, unrepentant sin and we will not walk with Christ. There are few that remain clothed in Christ's righteousness among God's people, few that are trusting solely in Him and not relying on their own filthy righteousness. Only those who are clothed in white will be worthy in Christ.

God's people who overcome with have white raiment, pure undefiled garments and they will have their names in the book of life- Christ will confess our names before God, before God's angels! We want our names confessed by Christ. We want Him knowing our names, knowing us, knowing that we rely on Him and wait for Him, watching, seeking Him and the gift of His salvation.

May the Lord bless us with His mercy. May we be among those clothed in the pure white of His righteousness and have our names confessed by Jesus to God and the angels. In His name!
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More tomorrow on this, there is so much to study. We can't leave out the historical aspect to all this either.  By the grace of God may we only grow closer and closer to Him! In His love so amazing, so wondrous!  Forever in HIM and HIS righteousness!

Amen!

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