Revelation 3:19
[19]As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
The persevering obedience of faith in Christ, was the race set before the Hebrews, wherein they must either win the crown of glory, or have everlasting misery for their portion; and it is set before us.
By the sin that does so easily beset us, understand that sin to which we are most prone, or to which we are most exposed, from habit, age, or circumstances. This is a most important exhortation; for while a man’s darling sin, be it what it will, remains unsubdued, it will hinder him from running the Christian race, as it takes from him every motive for running, and gives power to every discouragement.
One cause of this indifference and inconsistency in religion is, self-conceit and self-delusion; “Because thou sayest” What a difference between their thoughts of themselves, and the thoughts Christ had of them!
How careful should we be not to cheat our own souls! There are many in hell, who once thought themselves far in the way to heaven.
Let us beg of God that we may not be left to flatter and deceive ourselves.
The following description reveals what is in the hearts of those who use self-conceit and self-delusion as an answer to our Father’s warnings, because in their minds they believed they were righteous, and their walk was righteous.
Luke 13:25 KJVS
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Luke 13:26-27 KJVS
Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. [27] But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
Revelation 3:6
[6]He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches
Outward things appeared well to men, but there was only the form of godliness, not the power; a name to live, not a principle of life. There was great deadness in their souls, and in their services; numbers were wholly hypocrites, others were in a disordered and lifeless state.
Our Lord called upon them to be watchful against their enemies, and to be active and earnest in their duties; and to endeavour, in dependence on the grace of the Holy Spirit, to revive and strengthen the faith and spiritual affections of those yet alive to God, though in a declining state.
Whenever we are off our watch, we lose ground. Thy works are hollow and empty; prayers are not filled up with holy desires, alms-deeds not filled up with true charity, sabbaths not filled up with suitable devotion of soul to God. There are not inward affections suitable to outward acts and expressions; when the spirit is wanting, the form cannot long remain.
In seeking a revival in our own souls, or the souls of others, it is needful to compare what we profess with the manner in which we go on, that we may be humbled and quickened to hold fast that which remains. Christ enforces his counsel with a dreadful threatening if it should be despised. Yet our blessed Lord does not leave this sinful people without some encouragement
Hebrews 12:5
[5]And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Children of God, stop coping with God start standing with God. How careful should we be not to cheat our own souls!
There are many in hell, who once thought themselves far in the way to heaven.
Robert
TRUMPETER'S CALL 
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