Where is your Mind-Set?

Where is your Mind-Set?

Profile: The Church of Sardis

Rev 3:1-6 -- 1 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. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

(King James Version)

How did the Church of Sardis arrive at the point that John described >> Start at the Beginning

Follow the Seed

Everything starts with a THOUGHT and really, a SEED.

There is always a Root-to-the-Fruit we see in the lives of individuals, families, and of CHURCHES...

We develop IDEALS based on what we learn and experience in life.

From those ideals, we form BELIEFS about what is true and trustworthy to us.

When we attach FAITH to those beliefs, they become CONVICTIONS — shaping our identity and how we live.

These statements are theologically and philosophically neutral!!!

You’ll see what I mean as we get into who the church at Sardis was.

While it was John who wrote the Book of Revelation, it was Paul who established the Church at Ephesus.

Ephesus was one of seven churches in Revelation-3 that John wrote letters to

In each of his letters, he basically told them about themselves

*Read* from Rose Book of Maps and Timelines

What Paul established in Ephesus

He established the Church of Ephesus

The back-story...

Ephesus was like command-central for Paul’s ministry in the region where the 7 churches existed

He wrote the book of Ephesians to the Church at Ephesus

He was in PRISON

John was in EXILE

What’s my problem??

What he first planted (Ephesus) was to produce fruit “after its own kind”

That was the intent of the SEED.

Seed should produce after it’s own kind - That’s the nature of seed

The issue is that it’s often mixed with Tare (Wheat and Tares parable)

Remember, Tares were normally sown intentionally in Biblical times

When the seed of the Word is planted in good ground, it bears fruit.

However, when seed is compromised, you get 7 Churches not all operating in-step with

And one - Sardis - a “Dead Church”

I’ve said this before but it bears repeating, “The Church doesn’t have to be PROGRESSIVE to be relevant”

We just have to be CREATIVE!!

And really, a “progressive” church is actually a REGRESSIVE church

It’s counter-intuitive and counter-productive

We need to be aware of “Progressive Christianity”!!

The emphasis: Social Justice and Activism

Nothing wrong with it, but the WORLD is shaping the agenda!

The sad part is that the narrative is shaped by what man deems as relevant

And it’s usually short-lived

There’s no basis to stand on -- definitely not Bible

The fight is “justified” by the mind of men

We don’t need to think so outside the box that we end up out-of-sync with the Word

We just need Holy Spirit to lead our initiatives.

This ensures we remain in the confines of the Word

Back to Paul...

Where did the seed go bad?

We ask this about our children sometimes

Just like in Paul’s case - Sometimes we Plant, we Sow, we Encourage

1 Cor 2:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. (KJV)

Yet... Another comes along to “Water”

And... that “another” may NOT come with the same heart

So that the Father gets the increase

Instead, Division is introduced

Earlier in this chapter, Paul spoke of what happens when the focus is not on the ONE who sent us to do the work of the Kingdom.

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Going back to the Church at Sardis

Good seed was planted by Paul, but...

IDEALS were developed

BELIEFS were formed

FAITH was attached and new CONVICTIONS shaped the Identities of this church

And this became “Culture” for the people of Sardis

And yet, there’s more to the story...

Comfort and Death

Sardis is a City that was notable in many ways because of the economy and many of the things they produced

They were rich in gold and alloy, wool, and were known historically to mint the first coins.

They were militarily situated

The “Church” can look the part but have NO LIFE.

“I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write

We can do all the stuff that churches do, but be a DEAD church!

Our desire should be to touch the heart of our Father

This isn’t a people-focused ministry!

This is River of Life “Kingdom” ministry

The church at Sardis needed leadership, a Fear of God, and a true revelation of Christ

They could have flourished, all while adhering to the Word

Beloved I wish above all things, that thou mayest prosper

Death is a close cousin of Comfort

Comfort can be a close cousin to death

We can't get so comfortable that we forget we have an Enemy.

Just because America is in peace time and not wartime, doesn't mean they drop their guard

NO! They still staff military bases, and they still Disciple new recruits.

And they’re not stationary

There’s hardly a place on the globe where America doesn’t have a presence

Embassies and Ambassadors

Government can’t be idle

Idle governments are overthrown

You can't be an idle soldier!

My dad was up at the crack of dawn doing PT - to stay in shape.

If he didn't make PT, he had to answer for it.

What good is an unfit soldier??

I remember him being gone for at least one week out of the year and they would train.

War-games and simulations

Church in the West

If we as the Church are not mindful, America could become Sardis

Modern day Turkey was Asia Minor

Once a hotbed for Christianity

Population >> 87 Million - majority Muslim

Now... 0.2% - 0.5% Christian (400-500K)

Once a physical fight (wars and genocides)

Now it’s subtle and blatant

It’s much more of a philosophical and theological war being fought

Will you be in the Remnant?

Rev 3:4 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.

It is of utmost importance and urgency that we set our minds on things above.

What’s taking place on this horizontal field called Earth will have us OFF!

You know how a church gets off?

As much as I'd like to say, “As the leader goes, so goes the people”, there is no mention of a specific leader in scripture of the church of Sardis?

Why is this important? Because at the end of the day, God is going to say, “What say ye?”

This is a line-dividing inquiry that the Father will present before you, throughout your life!

Just as your life is choice driven, NOT a single person will be blamed for your choices, good, bad, or ugly. Donnie will!!

I believe the church we see now - and I'm talking about the Church that preserves the integrity of the Word AND Ministers the Word without compromise, IS the Remnant Jesus is coming for.

Everyone will have to give an account

I’d rather do so WITHOUT blood on my hands

I don’t believe for a second that those are not representing the interest of the Kingdom are doing so out of ignorance - Naw, they know

And they’ll have to give an account!

Some are so far gone that their norm has become what they deem an accurate reflection of what God intended them to do in the first place.

Everybody is supposed to do something

But everybody is not supposed to do something just because it’s a God thing

Just because it’s a God-thing doesn't mean I’m supposed to do it!!

Revelation 2:5 -- Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

The 4-R’s (John Maxwell)

Reflect: Think back and remember the original vision and goals.

Repent: Decide to change. List what you must discard and prioritize.

Restore: Begin to restore one top priority at a time, each week.

Recognize: Remember that God holds us accountable. He rewards fruit, not activity.

In the coming weeks, we will be teaching a series of messages on who God is as the I AM, The Christ - what the first coming of Jesus meant to the world, what His second coming should stir in us, The Holy Spirit - and what His impact should be in our lives, as He lives within us, and YOU - specifically, our advantage as members of Body of Christ. I want to paint a picture of what God thinks of YOU.

If I have one mission moving forward shepherding this Church, it’s to ensure the integrity of the Word, promote personal accountability, (ME) being accountable, and challenging you to be Kingdom until Christ comes.