Lack of Evidence

Revelation 3:1–6 KJV 1900

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and 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. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 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, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

2 Timothy 3:5 KJV 1900

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Intro:

In court cases a lack of evidence can severely undermine a case, creating reasonable doubt that challenges the pursuit of justice. Without solid proof, convictions become less likely, and the truth remains obscured. Lack of evidence can essentially put an end to a person's legal case. The person who does not have evidence cannot win his case. Each party to a case has a specific burden. For example, in a criminal case, the prosecutor has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. The defendant, on the other hand, has the burden of either proving an affirmative defense or introducing a reasonable doubt. These burdens must be met for a party to prevail or win his case

What causes a lack of evidence in the Christian? What does that mean?

Lack of evidence is usually caused by one of the following or a combination of them all

Lack of prayer

Lack of involvement in Church services

Lack of Bible STUDY, not just reading Gods word, but KNOWING Gods word.

Apathy towards spiritual things

God help us with things that would cause us to have lack of evidence of the Holy Ghost. Help me to lay down any thing that would keep me from being closer to you. That would prevent a dedicated surrendered life to you.

Soft teaching has created soft beliefs on the nature of the Holy Ghost and its importance.

What do I mean by this? This quote sums it up pretty good by Rienk Kuiper:

A self-satisfied church is either dead or dying.

Rienk Bouke Kuiper

We have become so “satisfied” with everything this world has to offer and all the amenities, and all the shiny things, the money, the business, the job. We have become so self-satisfied that we have said in essence, I will serve this because its easier, or it makes me feel better.

Let us not be self satisfied with our own devices. With our own thoughts, and desires and ideas. Surrender it all to God, you wont regret it!!

Influence of the world. “its not cool to be spiritual”

The world has infiltrated the Church, including the holiness churches, in lots of different ways. Under the guise of organization and “professionalism” we have created such a Church culture of “professionalism” that it makes it odd to step out and walk around the alter, that it makes it odd to lift your hands and worship God, that it makes it odd to shout, that it makes it odd to obey what the Spirit of God is dealing with you about!

Do not misunderstand me, but I have a feeling that the Christian Church today is dying of dignity, dying of decorum. Services are beautiful, and perfect, but where is the breath of the Spirit?

The Christian Warfare, 284

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

we have become so absorbed with our image. With our great awe inspiring churches and our “I am too dignified for that” attitude that there is a lack of evidence in this generation!!!

Youll lose your case due to lack of evidence

I would like to give you a warning tonight. A lack of evidence as a Christian is a fearful thing. We can live our lives to the fullest extent that we want. We can make every decision we want. Spend every dollar on whatever we want. Sacrifice all of our spiritual fuel on the alter of deeds, and of dignity and of professionalism so to speak. Just to die at the age of maybe 90, maybe 80 who knows, and stand before almighty God and have no answer for him when he asks us, what were you doing with all that time? What were you doing when I pricked your heart to pray and you ignored it? Why did you keep selling yourself short? Why did you make it more difficult on yourself?

Dr Larry Peyton wrote:

Almost all churches go through “lifecycles” - they start with a MAN, a visionary leader has a passion to to accomplish a God-given Vision -- then they become a MOVEMENT. At this stage the people are nearly 100% committed. They spend time together at each other’s homes and in Bible studies.

Then they become a MACHINE - They’ve reached a higher level of attendance. Because of their size, they can begin to do things they could only dream about before. However, at this point the commitment of the group dips to about 50%. They still have the vision, and a dream, but the intensity has diminished. They focus simply on keeping things going.

Then they become a MONUMENT - At this stage, the congregation still does things to increase growth, but they begin to talk less about the future than they do about their past. They’ve reached the point where they work at maintaining their past reputation. They do things because that’s the way they’ve always done them. At this stage, the church is often cursed by power struggles. Commitment level dips to between 10 to 30%. -- Then they become a MAUSOLEUM - this is the one we would most commonly identify as the “dead church.”

People have drifted away or died. Attendance levels are at the lowest levels and new people - when they show up - are normally viewed skeptically; they are not welcomed, because they might change things in the church. Or to put it another way, churches go from INCLINE to RECLINE to DECLINE.

We may depend upon it as a certainty that where there is no holy living there is no Holy Ghost.

J. C. Ryle

975Prayer is the autograph of the Holy Ghost upon the renewed heart.—31.505

Charles Spurgeon

5795 The Holy Ghost destroys my personal private life and turns it into a thoroughfare for God.

Oswald Chambers

So, I ask you this tonight. Why or what is causing you to have lack of evidence in your life.

I want you to take a long look at yourself. I want you to ask God, search me, know me. Anything that you would not want in my life. God I surrender it to you.

You can make it to heaven without the Holy Ghost, we all know that. But why? Why do you continue to sell yourself short? Why do you continue to tell yourself I cant do that?

Oh God create in us a sense of urgency for the manifestation of your spirit in our lives.

Kill every ounce of apathy that we may have towards you and serving you. Help me to crucify the flesh that would war against the spiritual things that you have for me!

Romans 8:13 KJV 1900

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

James 1:22–25 KJV 1900

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

How many times have you done that what vs. 23 and 24 says. Youve came to service after service. You hear God knocking on your heart, saying there’s more for you, yet you leave out that same door you came in leaving what God has offered you laying on the altar, maybe with a glance back. But then you go on, you move on and you forget what manner of man God is calling you to be.

Closing:

So what will it be tonight? Will your case be dismissed due to lack of evidence.

God give us the power of your precious Holy Ghost. Baptize us oh Lord!!