Help, My Church is Dying!

I knew the patient before she died. It was ten years ago. She was very sick at the time, but she did not want to admit it. There was only a glimmer of hope at best. But that hope could become a reality only with radical change.

She wasn’t nearly ready for that change. Indeed, she was highly resistant to any change. Even though she was very sick. Even though she was dying. I told her the bad news bluntly: You are dying. I hope I said those words with some compassion.

I did feel badly sharing the news. But it was the only way I could see to get her attention. I even told her that, at best, she had five years to live. At the time I said those words, I don’t really think I was that optimistic. I would not have been surprised if she died within the year. But she was not only in denial; she was in angry denial. “I’ll show you,” she said. “I’ll prove you are wrong. I am not dying.” Her words were fierce. Defiant. Angry. It was time for me to leave.

I had done all I could. I left. I was not angry. I was sad. Very sad. Now to her credit, she was right up to a point. She did not die in five years. She proved resilient and survived another ten years. But her last decade, though she was technically alive, was filled with pain, sickness, and despair. I’m not so sure her longer-term survival was a good thing. She never got better. She slowly and painfully deteriorated.

And then she died.

This is Tom Rainer speaking about a church he was consulting...

Rainer, Thom S.. Autopsy of a Deceased Church (pp. 3-4). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Introduction: (vs. 1a)

The important commercial city of Sardis was located about 30 miles southeast of Thyatira, on an important trade route that ran east and west through the kingdom of Lydia. Important industries included jewelry, dye, and textiles, which had made the city wealthy. From a religious standpoint it was a center of pagan worship and site of a temple of Artemis, which ruins still remain (cf. comments on 2:1 regarding another temple of Artemis). Only a small village called Sart remains on the site of this once-important city. John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 938.

Revelation 3:1 ESV

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Star = Pastor/Elder

Seven Spirits of God = the omniscient Holy Spirit is working with Jesus to “know the works” of this church. God knows all about everything! A good reminder for the church today.

And He knew all about this church and He love them and His own reputation enough to give the a very sober wake-up call! He was serious and they needed to get serious ASAP!

What is the Lord serious about? Well, that leads to the main idea of this sermon...

Main Idea: The Lord is Serious about Revival, His Church Must Be As Well!

In order for the church to take revival seriously, there are four actions they must take according to this text...

1. The Church Must Take Death Seriously (vs. 1b)

Lead in… Her own potential death, that is!

Revelation 3:1 ESV

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

The reason for the sad condition in Sardis was that the people were surrounded by the grossest form of pagan idolatry. Apparently, instead of standing out against its ungodly surroundings, the church at Sardis had made peace with the idolatry and had lost its witness. Walvoord, John. Revelation (The John Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries) (p. 78). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

This church was a zombie church! They were the Walking Dead!

Jesus knows Sardis had a reputation of being a church that has it all together, but they are dead.

This is reminiscent of the Pharisees who looked good and religious on the outside and yet were likened by Jesus to a coffin.

Matthew 23:27 ESV

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.

Friends, this church at Sardis appeared beautiful, but was dying! They needed revival! They needed a fresh moving of the Spirit in their midst!

DON’T USE THE NAMES! Christ Community - C3 Exchange

Sardis was on the same path and they needed to get serious about revival, because if they don’t, they will soon flatline and be no more!

Do you know the name Harry Truman? Let me be clearer. Do you know the name Harry Randall Truman? No, he was not a former president. He was a homeowner at the foot of Mount St. Helens in Washington state. In 1980, the volcanic mountain was showing signs of a major eruption. Indeed one expert declared that the chance of a major eruption was virtually 100 percent. Truman’s home was located at the south end of Spirit Lake at the foot of the mountain. He was living in the most likely path of the volcanic flow. He was facing an almost certain death. Governmental officials implored him to leave. Friends told him that his failure to move was tantamount to suicide. Family members begged him to leave lest he die. On May 18, 1980, the massive eruption took place. The lava flowed right in the projected path of Truman’s home. On May 18, 1980, Harry Randall Truman died.

Rainer, Thom S.. Autopsy of a Deceased Church (pp. 21-22). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

This was the path of Sardis and this is the path of any church that refuses to change and be Biblical in all that she says and does.

Review - The Lord is Serious about Revival, His Church Must Be As Well!

The Church must take Death Seriously

2. The Church Must Take Repentance Seriously (vs. 2-3)

Lead in…If a church doesn’t want to die, they must repent. In order for a church to experience revival she must repent!

Revelation 3:2–3 ESV

2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Wake up!! Apparently there was hope, but they needed to be revived!

Your situation is about to go from bad to worse, Sardis! The death of your church is imminent if something doesn’t change. And the thing you need to do is Wake up! Strengthen what remains - Your works don’t cut it! They are not complete in my sight!

Don’t hold a prayer meeting and pray for revival. The key to revival isn’t prayer, it’s repentance! This church needed to repent and do it quickly!

Look again at verse 3

Revelation 3:3 ESV

3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Step 1 to Revival - Remember the gospel! You’ve recieved it and have heard it! Remember it!

Step 2 to Revival - Obey the Gospel!

Step 3 to Revival - Repent!

Repentance = CAR

Confess your sin (1 John 1:8-9)

Affirm God’s forgiveness of your sin (1 Jn 1:8-9) “Forgiving Grace”

Request Jesus’ grace to change (James 4:2) “Transformational Grace”

This church (do not miss this) was responsible to pursue change! If not, there is a promised punishment that will come when they least expect it.

“I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.”

Do you find it hard to believe that Jesus will judge his church? Don’t

He loves His church and is patient with her, but He will judge her.

Remember Ananias, with Sapphira in Acts 5?

Review - The Lord is Serious about Revival, His Church Must Be As Well!

The Church must take Death Seriously

The Church Must Take Repentance Seriously

3. The Church Must Take the Remnant Seriously (vs. 4)

Lead in…God always has a remnant of believers, always! Even in this dying church, there are those who are faithful. And the faithful should be taken seriously.

Revelation 3:4 ESV

4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

Jesus throws a bit of encouragement. He recognizes those that are faithful in the church.

Their garments are not soiled - They are true believers who are no longer clothed in the filthy rags of sin, but they are wrapped in the righteous robes of Jesus Christ!

The promise? They will walk with Jesus in robs of white (which speaks of holiness and purity). Sardis and this church had soiled their garments with sin. They were gross and filthy! But not this remnant, they were white and pure and holy!

What do these robes look like? Not your ordinary white

Mark 9:2–3 ESV

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.

Why will they walk with Jesus? He gives the reason, “They are worthy.”

How are they considered worthy? Because of the Gospel! Because of their faith in Christ.

Worthy is the Lamb

Their worthiness can only come from the One who is truly worthy!

Thank you for the cross, Lord Thank you for the price You paid Bearing all my sin and shame In love You came And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love, Lord Thank you for the nail pierced hands Washed me in Your cleansing flow Now all I know Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb Seated on the throne Crown You now with many crowns You reign victorious

High and lifted up Jesus Son of God The Darling of Heaven crucified Worthy is the Lamb Worthy is the Lamb

There is always a remnant of believers, those who are holy and righteous followers of Christ. It may only be a handful, but the church is wise to listen to them! For they have the way of life!

Review - The Lord is Serious about Revival, His Church Must Be As Well!

The Church must take Death Seriously

The Church Must Take Repentance Seriously

The Church Must Take the Remnant Seriously

4. The Church Must Take the Book of Life Seriously (vs. 5-6)

Lead in…This book of life is repeated many times throughout the bible (Exodus 32:32 for starters, Psalm 69:28; Phil 4:3; Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19) - it’s a very important book! Because, if your name is not written in this book, you will not spend eternity with Christ in Heaven.

Revelation 3:5–6 ESV

5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Here again, Jesus makes a blanket promise to all churches, not just the one He is addressing. And do you see the promise?

The overcomer, the conqueror will be clothed in the righteousness of God Himself. We will enjoy the righteousness of God forever - No more sin! No more selfishness! No more pride! No more sinful me! Only His righteousness forever!

But notice the next part of verse 5...

“…and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.”

What a glorious promise! The overcomers name is indelibly written in God’s book. And if anyone could erase it, it is God! But He will not! It is there forever and is the proof of entry into God’s eternal Kingdom!

However, the opposite it true as well. If someones name is not found in this book, well, listen to what John writes in...

Revelation 20:11–15 ESV

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Another chilling promise - Those of our loved ones whose name isn’t in God book of life have a terrible fate awaiting them!

Prophecy is a powerful motivation for EVANGELISM!

And when someone responds positively to God’s gospel call, his name is written in God’s Book of life, never to be removed. But do you notice the other promises?

“I (Jesus Christ) will confess his name before my Father and before His angels.”

Can you imagine? Jesus Christ confessing your name before the Father? Before the Angels of Heaven?

The word “Confess” mean to Acknowledge.

I know what a wicked and sinful person I am. I know what I have done to offend God over the course of my life.

Father? This is Mark, He’s with me!

Hey, Angels! This is my friend Mark, Yeah, I know! He was a mess, but he is covered in my righteousness! Because of me, he is holy and pure! He’s with me!

Revelation 3:6 ESV

6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Do you have an ear? Do you hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches? To you?

Are you born again? Are you saved from the wrath of God? Are you confident that you name is written in the book of life?

Can you see why the church should take the Book of Life so seriously?

If you mother’s name isn’t written in the Book of life, she will be cast into the lake that burns with fire.

If you dad’s name...

your son’s name...

you daughter’s name...

your grandson or granddaughter’s name...

your friend’s name...

you neighbor’s name...

your coworker’s name...

If their name is not written in the Lamb’s book of life, they will be cast into the lake that burns with fire for all eternity!

And if the church ceases to care about this, she will die.

People are not born into the church, they are “born again” into the church.

When a church cares more about its money, buildings, policies and procedures, service times, style of music and other preferences more than souls, she may not be dead yet, but she is well on her way!

We MUST be a church that cares about leading people to Jesus!

Review - The Lord is Serious about Revival, His Church Must Be As Well!

The Church must take Death Seriously

The Church Must Take Repentance Seriously

The Church Must Take the Remnant Seriously

The Church Must Take the Book of Life Seriously

Conclusion

These four actions must be taken seriously in order to prevent a church from dying!

I made the statement earlier that prayer in and of itself will not lead to revival. Repentance is necessary for Revival!

If a church is dying, like to church at Sardis, then they ought to pray AND do the work of repentance!

Repentance = CAR

Confess your sin (1 John 1:8-9)

Affirm God’s forgiveness of your sin (1 Jn 1:8-9) “Forgiving Grace”

Request Jesus’ grace to change (James 4:2) “Transformational Grace”

My wife has diabetes. It’s no fun for sure. But I’m super proud of her because she counts her carbs, weighs her food, exercises faithfully, takes her insulin and goes above and beyond to ensure that she remains healthy for as long as possible.

I’d be lying if I said this was easy for her. It is not. There have been many tears of frustration over the years - but she simply has no choice. If she wants to live a long and healthy life, she has to choose to live a certain way. If not, she won’t!

I’ve seen others with this condition not care for themselves and they are causing their death to come much quicker, and they are not able to serve the Lord as well because of all of their health complications. They are dying slowly and painfully - They could do something about it. But it’s easier not to. It’s easier just to give in to the temptations around them.

It’s the same with the church. She can choose to do the hard work of pursuing Christ, living a holy and God honoring life. Living in obedience to her savior. She can walk in repentance.

Or she can give in to the worldly temptations around her.

One way will bring certain death. One will bring revival.

I want to be a part of a church that is in perpetual revival.

What about you?