DO YOU REMEMBER HIM? By: Major Frank Materu
Key Scripture: Revelation 2:4-5
"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."
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INTRODUCTION
The voice of God is calling out to His people with urgency and sorrow, asking a simple yet profound question: Do you remember Me? This message is a cry from the heart of God to a generation that has drifted away, pursuing worldly success, self-glory, and personal ambitions while forsaking their first love.
In today’s world, many who once walked in faith have turned aside to chase wealth, fame, and the approval of men. They use the name of God as a tool for personal gain but have neglected the very presence and commands of the One they claim to serve. This message is both a warning and a call to repentance, urging us to return to true devotion and reverence for God.
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YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR FIRST LOVE
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
God laments that many have forgotten Him. They once sought Him with passion and sincerity, but over time, their hearts have grown cold. Success and comfort have become their gods, and the pursuit of material wealth has replaced the hunger for righteousness.
The danger of forgetting our first love is that it leads to spiritual blindness. We begin to rely on our own wisdom rather than seeking God’s guidance. We listen to the voices of men rather than the voice of God.
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THE DANGER OF PRIDE AND SELF-EXALTATION
Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
Many have grown wealthy, influential, and respected, but in their success, they have become proud. They no longer seek God in humility but instead trust in their own abilities. They build their own kingdoms rather than advancing God’s.
Pride blinds us to our need for God. It leads us to believe that we are self-sufficient, forgetting that every blessing and success comes from Him. But the warning is clear—those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who forget God will face judgment.
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THE CONSEQUENCES OF SPIRITUAL NEGLECT
Jeremiah 2:13 "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
When we turn away from God, we replace Him with things that cannot sustain us. We build our lives on temporary foundations that will eventually collapse. Spiritual neglect leads to emptiness, dissatisfaction, and separation from God.
God warns that He will remove the false security people have built for themselves. What they have relied on—wealth, reputation, and influence—will be taken away if they do not repent.
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THE CALL TO REPENTANCE
Isaiah 55:7 "Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon."
God, in His mercy, is still calling His people back to Him. Though they have wandered far, He has not forgotten them. He desires their repentance and restoration.
True repentance requires humility, a recognition of our wrongs, and a turning away from sin. It means abandoning the pursuit of self-glory and returning to a life of obedience and dependence on God.
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SUMMARY
God is calling His people to remember Him. He is reminding them of where they once were and how far they have fallen. Though they have pursued the world, He desires for them to turn back before it is too late.
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CONCLUSION
If we do not return to God, all that we have built will be taken away. If we continue to reject His call, we will face the consequences of our spiritual neglect. But if we humble ourselves and repent, He is faithful to restore us.
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THE CALL TO ACTION
It is time to return to God with a sincere heart. Examine your life—have you placed anything above Him? Have you pursued your own desires rather than His will? Choose today to repent and recommit your life to Him.
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FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
God is not looking to destroy you; He is calling you back because He loves you. His arms are open, ready to receive you. Do not delay—return to Him today!
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SALVATION PRAYER
If you have realized your need for God and desire to return to Him, pray this prayer with sincerity:
Heavenly Father, I come before You today, acknowledging that I have strayed from Your ways. I have pursued my own desires and have forgotten You. Lord, I repent of my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. Cleanse me, restore me, and help me to walk in Your ways. I surrender my life to You and ask that You be my Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and lead me in the path of righteousness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer with sincerity, know that God has heard you and has welcomed you back into His embrace. Now, walk in His ways and remain faithful to Him.
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