Intro: Life is loaded with cruel real factors! For instance, there are times when decisions about a loved one's death must be made. There are times when these bodies can become so ill and damaged that there is no hope for life. During those times, numerous families will go with a choice to renounce clinical treatment for their friends and family, in this manner bearing the cost of them the option to pass on. This is not, without a doubt, euthanasia; rather, it is confronting the fact that there are times when you must confront the facts! When recovery and quality of life cannot be restored, the best gift you can give a loved one is to "pull the plug," so to speak, and let them die with some dignity. Naturally, not everyone has this opinion. There are the people who need to keep their friends and family alive to the extent that this would be possible utilizing machines and medication. This also does not denigrate that strategy.)
This holds true not only for the human body but also for churches! Holy places kick the bucket! Churches that once exuded God's glory and power are now thriving on their previous success. There are some churches whose existence is solely supported by the organizational machinery. If somebody somehow happened to stroll by and reassess, that congregation would quietly disappear into blankness.
Such is the congregation in our text earlier today. They woke up, however the Incomparable Doctor felt their heartbeat and announced them to be dead! Jesus is telling this church that if certain signs of life do not appear, He will pull the plug on them and let them go forever.
I would like us to keep an eye on Gilead Baptist Church as we listen to Jesus' words to this congregation. This morning, let the Great Physician examine us and inform us of our true state of life. We may or may not like what we see about ourselves and our church, but no matter what the diagnosis is, there is no treatment until we understand what is going on. It's possible that our perception of our church is false! When we are not, we may believe we are something. Let Jesus reveal our true condition to us and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
I will teach for a couple of moments toward the beginning of today on this idea: Specialist, Is Now is the right time To Reassess? Let's find out if we will survive or if the Lord should pull the plug on us as I do.
I. V. 1 THE Chilly Truth OF THE CHURCH'S CONDITION
A. The Commentator - To decide the personality of the One talking in these sections, we want just glance back at 1:16. We are informed there that Jesus is the one who possesses the seven stars. He comes to this church to inform the members of their predicament. This demonstrates that Jesus is deeply involved in the activities of His churches. He is concerned and He is watching the things that happen. And when He arrives, He will correct all records!
1. He Holds God's Power: The Holy Spirit's abundance is in His hands. This serves as a reminder to the churches that we are to function under the incredible power of the Holy Spirit, not human skill, leadership, or organization. At the point when the congregation strolls in the force of the tissue, we will most likely fall flat, yet when we stroll in the force of the Soul, there will be achievement. Instead of being dead and ineffective, there will be glory, power, and life!
(Ill.) Astonishing outcomes are possible when the human spirit exercises control over the body. For instance, a pianist can sit at a keyboard and produce beautiful music by performing thousands of delicate, precise movements. However, if the pianist sustains an injury that renders the arms paralyzed, the mind will no longer have control over the pianist's hands, fingers, or arms. The human spirit cannot then force the hands to make music, no matter how hard it is tried. Also, when the church's members are led by the Spirit of God, great things can be done. Nonetheless, when He isn't, loss of motion is the outcome and nothing can be achieved for God.)
2. He Holds God's Preachers: This serves as a reminder that even God's men are in the Lord's hands. It is His desire to exercise control over both the membership and the pastor. In the event that the evangelist won't respect God, then the Master can't favor the congregation as extraordinarily as He wants to. Similarly as the congregation all in all should respect the Ruler, so too should the righteous man!
3. "I know thy works!" He holds God's perception. The Lord declares to this church that He is aware of them completely. He is aware of both their successes and failures. He knows their thought processes and their needs. He is aware of his position in relation to their plans. He has complete knowledge of them. God is still aware! He is aware of our activities at Gilead. He understands what He wants us to do. He is aware of both our obedience and our disobedience. He knows why we do what we do. He has a deep understanding of us! He knows our works! ( "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth," says II Chronicles 16:9.
(Ill.) This information ought to make us pause for a moment and reflect on our church's activities. Are our works the sort that please the Master? Do we effectively carry out His will in this world? Does the information He has about us make Him happy or break His heart?)
B. The Reputation: Jesus informs this church of their reputation. Every individual who realizes about this congregation sees them to be alive in the things of God. They have the name that they are a congregation that is ablaze for God! This was certainly not a languid church! They were active and occupied. They had a decent name among the other temples!
(Ill.) Every church ought to be ablaze with devotion to God. A congregation that witnesses and wins souls ought to be present in every church. For the glory of God, every church ought to be a hive of activity. When a church has such a good reputation, it's wonderful. It's even better when it lives up to its name!)
C. The Truth - Paying little mind to what others might have thought about this congregation, Jesus knew reality. He lets them know that despite the fact that everybody thinks they are alive, they are, truth be told, dead! The definition of this word is correct! The church in Sardis lacked "force or power" like a dead man. They failed to accomplish anything." They were dead! Activity occurred, but it was not spiritual in nature. They were conducting business, but they were not bringing anything eternal to fruition. Despite their preaching, neither sinners nor lives were being transformed. They were occupied, however they were working in the energy of the tissue and not the energy of the Soul of God. Their lives were discussed as everyone looked at them. They were declared dead by Jesus, who at the time knew more than anyone else!
(Ill. I wonder what He would say about Gilead Baptist Church's reputation and the truth? Would He say, "You live up to your reputation! Everybody thinks you are alive and doing extraordinary things for me, thus you are!" Or then again, could He say, "Gracious, you have a decent name locally and with other church, however I have felt your heartbeat and I feel no life in you by any means?" What might He share with us today? What specifically is He saying to you this morning?)
I. The stark reality of the state of the church II. V. 2-3 THE Reasonable Solution for THE CHURCH'S Fix
(Sick. This congregation has a genuine issue, yet there is potential for their recuperation! They hear the good news from Jesus that it's not too late to end things! They can live, however there are a few things they should do. To won't do them leaves Him with no decision except for to polish them off for good.)
A. They Are Informed To Watch - They are told to "be careful". In a real sense, this implies that they are to "pursue rest." This church has a long and illustrious history. In any case, they have permitted their previous victories to calm them into a condition of carelessness and otherworldly sleep. Jesus summons upon them to pursue rest. His order is for them to awaken and understand that the triumphs of yesterday are not adequate during the current day!
(Ill. This occurs so frequently in churches that it is absurd. For a church to survive, its founding members will need to work, pray, witness, give, and yield to God. A church will struggle at first. However, as time goes on, more people visit. More cash arrives. Good services are enjoyed and buildings have been constructed. However, something terrible transpires in the midst of these positive aspects. The congregation starts to lose the vision that made them so solid in their initial years. They become content to sit back a partake in the their rewards for so much hard work. Also, unquestionably, we should be grateful for how the Master has helped us, yet there is no time for halting! There is no time to reflect on the past! Our vision ought to encompass both the present and the future. Go around! We are maturing! Who will step in for us? Glance around! We are full, however our vision is no more! Go around! We are happy with what we have and we have lost the fire that made areas of strength for us!)
(Sick. Individuals in Sardis would have seen precisely exact thing Jesus was discussing. Sardis was situated on the highest point of a mountain. It had one entry on the southern side which was the main way you could get into the city in the past times. As a result, all Sardis had to do to keep an eye on the city was place a detail there. However, the guard had fallen asleep on the job on two occasions when their enemies invaded them because they felt safe and believed the hill was impregnable. In 549 B.C. the Middle fighters of Cyrus scaled the railing, and afterward again in 218 B.C. Antiochus the Incomparable caught Sardis on the grounds that a Cretan slipped over the walls while the guards were indiscreet. We will be conquered by the enemy, 1 Pet, if we allow ourselves to sleep because of what we have enjoyed in the past. 5:8.)
B. The Lord Gives This Church Four Tasks to Complete: The Lord gives this church four tasks to complete. Any church that has been found to be lagging behind on Jesus will benefit from these things!
1. Revive: He informs them that not all of them have died. There are still a few things that are still alive. These things are to be restored before they cease to exist. ( Ill. The literal translation of the expression "that are ready to die" is "that are knocking on death's door.") This is a call for them to get worked up again for the things of God! It is an appeal for rebirth!
"For I have not found thy works to be perfect before God," (Ill.) Their "works are incomplete and do not reach Heaven" as a result of this. They have sone things in their middle that are great, however they are works that need restoring before they will have an everlasting effect. It is feasible to be occupied in the things of God but to fail to help God. Our works will never reach Heaven, and the church will not bring God any glory unless they are finished. Revival is what these kinds of churches require! to be sparked into new life and activity for the glory of God by the Spirit of God!)
2. Remember: These individuals are advised to keep in mind their origins and the things the Lord has done for them. They are to recollect the days when they served the Master our of a happy heart and believed more than anything should do His will! They are to recollect what it resembled to stroll in the force of God while the fire of His brilliance consumed in and around them!
(Ill.) Memory can be harmful, especially when it causes us to dwell on past glory and live in the present. However, memory serves a significant purpose if it awakens us and brings us back to the present! Incidentally, what do you recollect about the past concerning this congregation? What do you concerned yourself?)
3. Resolve - This congregation is told to clutch the things that are as yet alive in their middle. They are to determine before the Ruler that they won't permit those things to pass on also.
(Ill.) Concentrating our attention on one thing always carries risks. We should not restore one thing while we permit one more to pass on. To do so leaves us in similar condition we are as of now in. We want a complete transformation that keeps the living things and brings back the dead ones!)
4. Repent: In this verse, their sin is brought to light. The church can only turn to repentance when Godly things are allowed to perish.
(Ill.) Many people today are unfamiliar with the concept of repentance. It seems like everyone thinks that doing whatever they want is fine and should be accepted by everyone. Friends, God is not obligated to accept your actions! Before there can be restoration and revival, a person who has committed sin must first repent. A church is the same way. The only thing a church can hope for is repentance when they have allowed themselves to fall asleep. What does repentance entail? It indicates that we reach a point where we experience a shift in perspective regarding our sins that leads to a shift in direction. We turn away from our transgressions and toward God. Repentance is a shift in perspective that leads to a shift in behavior! How long has it been since we as a church and as individuals confessed our sins to the Lord for our laziness, complacency, apathy, wickedness, and other sins?
C. They Are Told to Wait - This church is told that the Lord Himself will enter their midst, take away the things that are still alive, and that church will be completely and completely dead if they do not seriously work on changing themselves.
(Ill. Numerous churches are in that very state right now! At the point when the call to apology came from the Ruler, they overlooked it and He came to them in quick judgment. They continue to function as before now! Services are provided. Preaching is available. Outreach ministries exist. They provide for missions. But they have perished! They are useless! They are merely performing routine tasks! In their midst, there is no life. Jesus has ended their lives and declared them dead!
(Sick. Companions, don't allow that to occur here at Gilead! We should heed the Lord's warning and sincerely apologize to Him! Let us answer His call and follow Him into a brand-new life and genuine revival!
I. The Cool Truth Of The Congregation's Condition
II. The Reasonable Solution for The Congregation's Fix
III. V. 4-6: THE COMFORTABLE REWARD FOR THE CHURCH'S COOPERATION (Ill.) There is still hope despite the dire circumstances in Sardis. In spite of death, there are members of the church who cling to life. Others are capable of repentance and restoration from the Lord. He addresses the two gatherings in these end sections.)
A. V. 4 A Guarantee To The Remainder - The people who are living for the Ruler and strolling in His life are directed to proceed. Their steadfastness to Him will be rewarded. They will walk alongside Him in Heaven on that day when they will join Him there. Why? Since they are commendable! Not on the grounds that they are unwavering, but since they are saved! Their lives have been transformed by His righteousness, and they will spend all of eternity in His presence.
(Ill. Friend, you might still be a believer who is enthusiastic about Jesus. If that's the case, I challenge you to stick with it! You will be protected by God even in the deadness that surrounds you because He is watching. You will join Him in His heavenly kingdom after this life is over. The struggle will have been well worth it!)
B. V. 5: A Promise to the Repentant: Jesus promises those who repent that He will openly confess their names in front of God's throne. Why? "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven," they confessed His name before men as a result of their repentance. Matt. 10:32.
(Ill. Friend, it's possible that you're one of the people who have let the fire in your life die out. Assuming that is the situation, you really want to apologize before the Ruler today! You want to get right with God! He will proclaim your name to the Father as one of His own if you openly confess Him to men. Some of you really want to do simply that at this moment!)
Conc: There will be no more hope after these bodies pass away. We are gone from this world for eternity. Be that as it may, when a congregation passes on, there is still expectation. There can be contrition. Reconstruction is possible. There can be a day of fresh start. There can be genuine recovery!
Jesus is currently keeping an eye on this church. I'm curious about His diagnosis. Is it true or not that we are perfectly healthy? Are we steadfast in God's ways? Might it be said that we are lively and dynamic? Or, are we allowing ourselves to deteriorate into a weak and ill state? Is it true or not that we are thumping hanging on by a thread earlier today? Does Gilead Baptist Church have a chance? Or, is it time to end the relationship?
You alone can respond to that inquiry! After all, you are the church, and what you do will decide whether we run to the winner's circle or are taken to the cemetery.
While I was preaching, our own pulse was constantly being monitored. What is your assessment of Gilead Baptist Church's situation? Will we survive and glorify God, or should we simply pull the plug to end our misery and suffering?
You answer as the Ruler has managed your heart!