Penetrating Enemy Lines

Journey Into The Promised Land

Revelation 2:1–7 (CSB)

THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES

THE LETTER TO EPHESUS

“Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Principles For Holy Living

We are meditating on ten principles that will enable you to live in this new dimension of holiness to which God is calling us. The first two principles, which we meditated on yesterday, are to ask God to expose sin in your life and to present yourself to God.

Principle Three: Break unholy alliances: As God exposes sin in your life, you must get rid of it — this is part of the transformation and renewal process that will bring you into this new wave of holiness. If you have formed any unholy alliances with the world, you must break them!

Principle Four: Reject ungodly attitudes: If God reveals jealousy, hatred, bitterness or other ungodly attitudes, take authority over them, rebuke these attitudes, and get them out of your heart.

Principle Five: Cleanse yourself from an ungodly lifestyle: Paul told the Corinthians:

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Your righteousness was secured by the death of Jesus, but you must apply that blood in order for it to be effective in your life. That is why Paul says we must “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.”

Principle Six: Make God’s Word your standard: The Word of God is a lamp to walk by and a mirror to reflect your continual need of cleansing. Reject worldly standards and make the Word of God your standard for living.

Principle Seven: Maintain a sense of purpose: When you have a vision and understand your purpose, it helps you maintain proper conduct and attitudes.

Principle Eight: Be accountable: God holds you accountable for your conduct, relationships, thoughts, attitudes, and finances. Maintain your integrity by being accountable to God, your mate, your boss, your co-workers, and others with whom you relate.

Principle Nine: Renew your first love: Just as sin mars a marriage relationship when a couple loses their first love, so unholiness enters our lives when our love for God dims. Study Revelation 2:1-7 and heed God’s call to the Church at Ephesus to return to their first love.

Principle Ten: Keep your focus on eternity: Weigh each decision, each challenge, and each temptation in light of eternity. Be like Moses, who chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season (Hebrews 11:25).

Make this declaration:

In the Name of Jesus, I break unholy alliances in my life and pledge to cleanse myself from an ungodly lifestyle, make the Word of God my standard, maintain a sense of purpose, be accountable, renew my first love, and keep my focus on eternity.

*Adapted from MCWE email – Journey Into The Promised Land by Morris Cerullo

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