WHAT CHRIST IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH (6)
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“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
SERMON TODAY DON’T LET PERCEPTION OF MEN DICTATE YOUR POSITION WITH GOD
DON’T LET PERCEPTION OF MEN DICTATE YOUR POSITION WITH GOD
DON’T LET PERCEPTION OF MEN DICTATE YOUR POSITION WITH GOD
ILLUSTRATION: SLEEPY DWARF
There is a character who has some amazing qualities that all of us would love.
· He is witty
· He is observant
· He is logical
· He is discerning.
Yet in all of these fascinating and tremendous qualities of a young man every young lady would like to bring home to the folks, there is yet another quality:
HE IS ALWAYS SLEEPY
· He is witty, observant, logical and discerning: BUT THAT’S WHEN HE IS AWAKE, WHICH IS NOT MOST OF THE TIME
SARDIS WAS THE SLEEPY CHURCH
NOT SLEEPY OUTWARDLY (IT WAS AN ACTIVE CHURCH)
SLEEPY INWARDLY (IT WAS DEAD, SPIRITUALLY)
THE CHURCH WAS BECOMING JUST LIKE THE CULTURE
Sardis was a city exceedingly fabled for its past wealth and splendor, but it had deteriorated greatly.
Yet Sardis had been attacked and conquered twice because of its arrogance manifested in its lack of watchfulness (3:2-3).
ore than likely, however, they were carnal believers who had made a good start, but had failed to move on, to grow and experience true spirituality. They were active, engaged in works, but temporally dead, out of fellowship with Christ BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT BEEN WATCHING
JESUS, A FEW DAYS BEFORE HIS DEATH, GIVES A WARNING TO THE DISCIPLES
Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.
Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—
And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
SARDIS HAD NOT HEEDED THIS WARNING
Sleepy: meaning that they had adopted the position and the posture of the world and society:
“Fake it good enough so people believe it is true about you”
DON’T LET PERCEPTION OF MEN DICTATE YOUR POSITION WITH GOD
JESUS IS SAYING IN MODERN VERNACULAR: DON’T SLEEP ON ME: DON’T TREAT ME LIKE WITH INSIGNIFICANCE
I. PORTRAY GOD’S FINISHED WORK IN YOUR WORK
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.
Complete: = Perfect: Coming from a heart that has the Lord as the standard
WATCH YOUR WORKS –
A. Remember etc..
B. Quality of your work flows from a heart for the Lord
Genuine love for others
Genuine humility
Genuine heart for the King and the kingdom
“ ‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
PHARISEES WERE CONCERNED WITH BEING SEEN AS RIGHTEOUS - GOD SAW WHO THEY REALLY WERE.
MAN IS IMPRESSED WITH THE EXTERNAL - BECAUSE THAT’S ALL HE CAN SEE
GOD SEES BOTH AND BOTH IS WHAT IS TRUE ABOUT US
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
THAT’S WHY JESUS SAYS IN
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.
STOP LIVING SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE PERCEIVE YOU AS MORE THAN YOU ARE
1. This is spiritual
2. This is in every other way
3. Don’t get trapped in that game because you may seem to win but you will ALWAYS be losing
THIS IS WHERE THEY WERE: THEY WERE CONTENT WITH PEOPLE BELIEVING THEY WERE GODLY ALL THE WHILE, ON THE INSIDE; IN THEIR HEART AND AFFECTIONS - THEY WERE DYING
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.
THERE ARE TWO MARKS THAT LET A CHURCH AND AN INDIVIDUAL KNOW THAT THEY ARE SPIRITUAL DYING:
TWO SIGNS OF DYING SPIRITUALLY:
TWO SIGNS OF DYING SPIRITUALLY:
1. The Worship of its past
1. The Worship of its past
WHEN CHURCHES AND PEOPLE ONLY HAVE PAST EXPERIENCES TO POINT TO WHEN SPEAKING ABOUT THE WORK OF GOD IN THEM - THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DYING
YOUR TESTIMONY IS A WORK IN PROGRESS
IT SHOULD NEVER BE, ONLY WHAT THE LORD DID
BUT WHAT THE LORD IS DOING!
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
How do we get to the end: we are constantly overcoming by the blood (yes) AND by the word of their testimony
THEY ALWAYS WERE TESTIFYING ABOUT THE LORD
THEY WERE ALWAYS TESTIFYING ABOUT WHAT THE LORD WAS DOING IN THEIR LIFE
2. More concerned with keeping traditions than having the heart of God
2. More concerned with keeping traditions than having the heart of God
1. Does not matter what the ungodly or the carnal think
a. 1 Cor 4:
a. Paul d/n care about their judgment (carnal)
b. D/n judge himself (not full or complete)
2. But to live worthy is DOES MATTER what those who are LIVING WORTHY think of you
II. FINISH GOD’S PERSONAL WORK FOR YOU
II. FINISH GOD’S PERSONAL WORK FOR YOU
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.
Complete: = finished:
doing what you are called to do with fruitfulness rather than mediocrity
THIS IS THE SPECIFIC WORK THE CHURCH WAS GIVEN TO DO
BECAUSE HE GAVE THAT SPECIFIC PASTOR A CALLING TO FULFILL
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
SO HERE IS WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT SLEEPING ON JESUS WITH OUR PERSONAL CALLING:
THE WORK YOU WERE GIVEN TO DO IS CONNECTED TO THE CHURCH YOU WERE LED TO JOIN
THE WORK YOU WERE GIVEN TO DO IS CONNECTED TO THE CHURCH YOU WERE LED TO JOIN
When you join a church you join its work. When you join it is because God has brought your unique and particular gift to this unique and particular church so that in finishing it to work you finish your work.
So when you come to a church here is what you must see: the fulfillment of YOUR purpose on earth is directly tied to your working to fulfill the purpose of the church.
Many people are not finishing their work or finding significance on their work because they are not helping to finish the work of Jesus which- is not given directly to individuals but to the church. What God gives to individuals - their personal purposes - is directly tied a d linked to the purpose of the church they are connected with.
This is why church hopping is not good.
B. JESUS IS SAYING IN MODERN VERNACULAR: DON’T SLEEP ON ME: DON’T TREAT MY WORK IN YOU AS SOMETHING THAT IS INSIGNIFICANT
1. TO BE WOKE TODAY IS TO BE SLEEP
a. Some of us know more about Biden’s STIMULUS PACKAGE COMING TO US than we know about the SPIRITUAL PURPOSE THE LORD HAS FOR US for us
b. But you got to be woke the what the Lord has for you and then executing that purpose with the fulness of your might: mental, emotional, etc…
JESUS GRACIOUSLY COMMANDS IN Rev 3:2a-
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.
DO IT OR ITS DEAD
1. The gift not used is the gift that is taken
See parable of Jesus with Talent
Jesus comes often but we miss Him.
a. Remember the sermon where I said Jesus comes in the speaking of the Word? Well He comes also to us in our hearts, conscience etc.,
b. Remember that thought or sense you had that
a. I should be doing more
b. I am not giving this my best
c. I am etc….
That was the Lord “checkin’ in on you
This is what is meant by repentance
Hear the Lord speaking to you, receive it and change your life and actions accordingly
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.
SOME THAT HAVE NOT DRUNK THE COOL-AID OF THE SARDIS (THE CULTURE) AND LIVE COUNTER CULTURAL
WORTHY WALK IS THE LIFE THAT IS LIVING OUT GOD’S PURPOSE
a. The worthy walk is not simply the Life being lived to the Lord with tenacity
b. The worthy walk is the constant and continuous repenatcne when we do not
- Christians were called repenters
- Please understand that repentance is not a punishment it is a grace; a gracious gift of the merciful Father who loves Christians even when we act and behave unchristian
III. FOCUS ON THE END PURPOSES OF THE LORD
III. FOCUS ON THE END PURPOSES OF THE LORD
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.
BUT HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS: EVEN IN YOUR DEAD STATE - IF YOU REPENT: LIFE CAN COME
REPENT: IF YOU MOURN (ARE SORRY) FOR YOUR SIN AND CONFESS IT TO THE LORD - LIFE WILL COME
Oh listen to me:
That ministry on the brink of death - it can live again
The mission on the brink of death - it can live again
That calling the Lord gave you that been dying on the vine of disobedience - it can live again
YOU MIGHT BE ASKING: “HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS? HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE OF THIS?
HEBREWS 13:8 - TELLS ME
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
EZEKIEL 37-
GOD TOOK EZEKIEL DOWN INTO DEATH VALLEY
LED HIS ALL AROUND THE VALLEY - NOT JUST DEATH - DECOMPOSITION
NOT NEAR DEATH: NO LIFE
AFTER GOD SHOWS EZEKIEL THE VISION HE ASKS HIM
And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”
GOD HAS SHOWN EZEKIEL DEATH AT ITS DEADNESS - BECAUSE OF THE SIN OF THE PEOPLE THEN ASKS EZEKIEL CAN THESE BONES LIVE?
NOT A QUESTION OF POWER BUT WILLINGNESS (GIVEN THE GRAVITY AND DEPTH OF THE SIN OF THE PEOPLE)
And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”
“LORD…ONLY YOU KNOW
Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”
Ezekiel says:
Heard the Word of the Lord (Ezekiel 37:4-
Prophesy to the breath Breath (Spirit) (Ezekiel 37:9)-
THEN
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
THAT’S WHY JESUS ENDS EACH LETTER WITH THESE WORDS:
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
WORD IS THE BREATH OF GOD
THIS PASSAGE, PREACHED IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - IS THE BREATH OF GOD TO WHAT IS DYING, DEAD AND DECAYING
IF YOU HEAR IT (RECEIVE IT) GOD WILL CAUSE THE DED BONES TO LIVE
IF YOU REPENT OF YOUR SLEEPINESS
God WILL BREATH ON US THE TRANSFORMING AND TRANSFIXING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND
WHAT IS DEAD BECAUSE OF THE EMPTINESS OF SIN
WILL, BY DIVINE REVERSAL, BE BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE BY THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE SPIRIT
OH YES, HEAR THIS PEOPLE OF GOD; HEAR THIS, THOSE WHO ARE MANAGING DEATH RIGHT NOW:
WHAT WAS DYING BECAUSE OF THE REBELLIOUS INDIFFERENCE OF MY SIN
CAN BE MADE ALIVE BY OF THE REVIVING INITIATION OF MY SAVIOR
THIS IS THE END TIME PURPOSE OF THOSE WHO REPENT!!
THAT’S WHY JOHN BEGINS BY SAYING
“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.
“SEVEN SPIRITS
- SEVEN SPIRITS= NOT THAT GOD HAS SEVEN=
REPRESENTS THE FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT
SOMETHING ELSE: BUT A SPECIFIC SPIRIT FOR THE SPECIFIC CHURCH TO MATCH IT’S SPECIFIC WORK
WHITE GARMENT
NOT THAT IS IS WHITE - BUT HOT PRESS OF HEAVEN
TAKE OUT SPOTS, STAINS, WRINKLES AND MAKE YOUR GARMENT: YOUR SOUL AND LIFE: SHINE WITH NO IMPURITIES AT ALL!!!
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
OH I KNOW
MARRIAGE SEEMS DEAD - BUT THAT BONE CAN LIVE - REPENT AND YOU WILL SEE REVIVAL
MINISTRY FEELS DEAD - BUT THAT BONE CAN LIVE - REPENT AND YOU WILL SEE REVIVAL
YOUR LIFE FEELS DEAD - BUT THAT BONE CAN LIVE - REPENT AND YOU WILL SEE REVIVAL
