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exhortation to Timothy, “Keep a close
w
a
t
c
h
on yourself and on the teaching” (1 Tim
4:16).
and self-examination. Periodic times of
personal fasting and prayer would help us
keep our spiritual fervour intact.
2) Work Out The Salvation
A) Watch Yourself
1) Wake Up and Strengthen
Apostle John when writing to the
Seven Churches in Asia, exhorts the
believers to wake up from the spiritual
slumber.
Rev 3:1,2 “And to the angel of the
church in Sardis write: 'The words of him
who has the seven spirits of God and the
seven stars. “I know your works. You have
the reputation of being alive, but you are
dead. Wake up, and strengthen what
remains and is about to die, for I have not
found your works complete in the sight of
my God.”
Again in the third verse God warns,
“Remember, then, what you received and
heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not
wake up, I will come like a thief, and you
will not know at what hour I will come
against you.”
When we meditate the Scriptures
from Genesis to Revelation, we find that
many fell because they were not careful.
Starting from Adam and Eve who were not
careful in obeying the Lord, we find even
today many are deceived by the devil. They
are not awake and alert.
The same thing applies to us, if we are
not careful in our day to day life, we will
also get into several troubles. Consider a
driver who drives a car. If while driving he
notices a warning which says, 'Men Are At
Work', but ignores it, he might cause an
accident. Even while cooking in the house,
if we are not careful, the food may become
unpalatable.
Hence we need to be watchful always.
We should not lead a lethargic lifestyle. We
should have constant self-assessment
Phil 2:12 - “Therefore, my beloved, as
you have always obeyed, so now, not only
as in my presence but much more in my
absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.”
In First Corinthians 10th chapter, we
read about how the Lord led the Israelites
in the wilderness. They were led through
the Red Sea and were baptised. They
experienced all kinds of spiritual
experiences - salvation, baptism and also
witnessed several mighty miracles of God.
But the Lord was not pleased with them.
They were overthrown in the wilderness
for their sinful acts. They did not inherit
the Promised Land. This is a warning to
each and every one of us who are living in
these last days.
Apostle Paul warns, “Therefore let
anyone who thinks that he stands take
heed lest he fall” (1Co 10:12).
Many of us boast about many things
by saying, 'I am strong and grown up', 'I
have a lot of spiritual experiences', 'I walk
with God', 'I minister and God uses me.'
But we need to be careful lest we fall.
Even before penning the contents of
the 10th chapter of First Corinthians, we
find Paul writing about personal
carefulness and discipline in 1
Corinthians 9:27, “But I discipline my
body and keep it under control, lest after
preaching to others I myself should be
disqualified.”
Apostle Paul was a dynamic minister.
He had several super-natural
experiences. He was used by God in a
mighty way. He planted churches. He
wrote theological letters. Paul well knew
that all these things do not guarantee a
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