Stay Awake!

Introduction:

-Congrats on 10 years!

-Thank you Pastor Joshua and Pastor Macy for the opportunity

Sleepwalking in Church:

“I hope you didn’t take it personally, Preacher,” an embarrassed woman said after a church service, “when my husband walked out during your sermon.”

“I did find it rather disconcerting,” the pastor replied.

“It wasn’t out of any disrespect to you,” insisted the woman, “Fred has been walking in his sleep ever since he was a child.”

While this story is funny, I believe it illustrates a point of discussion. Across America today there are many churches who once were alive are now sleepwalking. Tonight, I want to take us on a journey through Jesus warning to the church in Sardis and see how you (Crosspoint Church) can stay awake.

Revelation 3:1–6 (NLT)

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

(Pray)

Church of Sardis:

-Asia Minor Region

-Debate who planted the church (John, Paul, or one of Paul’s disciples)

-The church was reaching a pagan region.

How To Stay Awake

1.) Don’t live in the good old days.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NLT)

Don’t long for “the good old days.”

This is not wise.

“Focus on the God-given goal and not the accomplishments.”

(Example: Crosspoint’s Accomplishments)

“Don’t long for what was, but long for what can be!”

2.) Hold Firmly To The Truth.

“Go back to what you heard and believed at first: hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again.”-Revelation 3A

“We must hold on to the truth of the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:1–9 (NLT)

Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

The Apostles Creed:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary

Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended to the dead;

On the third day he rose again.He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church (universal church), the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

"We live in a culture today that wants to tear down the basic foundations of being a disciple for Jesus Christ.”

3.) Be Ready.

“If you don’t wake up, I will come t you suddenly as unexpected as a thief.”-Revelation 3B

Matthew 25:1–13 (NLT)

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

“How do you keep oil in your lamp? Seek the One who provides the oil!”

Conclusion:

“A church that remains alive is focused on Christ and the expansion of the Kingdom of God.”

Commissioning to Crosspoint Assembly of God:

-Pray for the Leaders

-Pray for the Church Body

-Pray For The Surrounding Communities