Trending News:

• Satanists are set to give the opening prayer at an upcoming Phoenix City Council meeting.
• Two Florida, Christian football teams, playing each other, were threatened with penalty for praying before the game.
• New TV series “Lucifer” is receiving good reviews by media outlets.

Persecution of the Church and the great “falling away” are clearly evident in the United States of America. This has been allowed to happen because the Church has fallen asleep and lost its first love. What will happen if the Church does not repent?

Here is what Jesus told the seven churches in the Book of Revelation:

Ephesus: thou hast left thy first love . . . Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent . . . To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:4, 5, 7

Smyrna: . . . behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life . . . He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 2:10-11

Pergamos: . . . Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth . . . To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 2:16, 17

Thyatira: . . . repent . . . And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations . . .

Revelation 2:22, 26

Sardis: . . . 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 . . . 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 . . .

Revelation 2:3, 5

Philadelphia: . . . hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Revelation 3:11, 12

Laodicea: . . . because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked . . . repent . . . To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne . . .

Revelation 3:16, 17, 21

Notice the common key words – “repent” and “overcome.” These letters are written to Christians, but notice that the Lord is very explicit – we must repent and overcome in order to see His glorious Presence. We must not let our crown be stolen by the wickedness of this world. If we fall asleep, the devil will steal our faith, and we will not overcome in the last days.

Church, it is time to wake up and return to our first love. Jesus is coming soon!

Say this faith declaration out loud: Father, I repent for not walking closely with You and trusting You to take care of me. I repent for giving more attention to the things of this world than I have given You. I will endeavor to dwell in the Word so that I can overcome all evil temptations in these last days.

Scripture Reading:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:10-18