Revelation 3:1-6
"You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead" (Rev. 3:1). These are piercing words meant to get the attention of the church at Sardis. Jesus is not pleased with their works and He calls them to remember and repent.
So this church was alive spiritually at some point but has since allowed that passion for Christ to slip away. By appearances though, they're still operating and functional, but their motivation, their passion, what fuels them is no longer living actively for Christ.
So let's think about how we, individually and as a church body, get started down that path from being alive and vibrant to a near death state. What are some things that might cause this? And on the flip side, what are some things we can do to live vibrantly for Christ? Tami W.
P.S. For more on Revelation, tune in to the Back to the Bible program. Or, get the entire Revelation series on CD (includes a free reference guide to keep in your Bible).
Hi Tami,
I've been struggling with the idea of eternal security. This passage seems to speak in some way about that issue. What is Dr. Krull, and your stance on this? Perhaps it's too big an issue to be dealt with in this forum. If so could you recommend some relevent references and/or resources? Thank you and everyone at BTTB for you dedication and responsiveness to a world in desperate need of understanding God's word!
Allan S.
I am really looking forward to people's thoughts on this P4 reading, because I am afraid my church might be like Sardis. I wonder why people bother coming if they are only going to sleepwalk through the service. I think in today's society, a lot of people go to church because they think it is something they ought to do, to be seen in church by other people in the community, but are they really there to worship God?
There are a few things that come to mind - catch phrases; walk the talk; let God be God; let go and let God...be consistent in what you say and do. More than that, though, I think we need to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in the ways God wants us to go, and we need to follow without fear because God is God and He sees the whole picture. The obedience factor gets easier the more we practice it.
Most churches in the western world today are like the church at Sardis: they look as if they're doing so well, they have nice buildings, people in place to help, programs galore, but like Sardisian church, only a few are truly vibrantly alive for Christ. Too many things get in the way - need to make a living, hobbies, activities, etc. - so "church" gets shoved aside.
Discipleship in its truest form is not really practiced. We are a group of people who go to church because of tradition, because of norms in the community we live in, because that's where our friends go Sunday morning if they're not at the local coffee shop, fishing, or golfing, or out with the kids at some event that they just HAVE to be at, or any other "legitimate" reason.
Discipleship, mentoring, and training is left to the "experts" and to those who are deemed more "spiritual" so they get elected to be elders or deacons.
According to earlier in Revelation, we are ALL priests if we are Christians. That means we ALL have the responsibility to teach and to train people to live their lives for Christ AND that training has to include how to carry on that training. It has to be a deliberate decision on every Christian's part.
Most Christians view their "church responsibilities" as bringing a casserole, salad, or desert for pot luck lunches, putting in our "tithes" and offerings, chipping in financially at youth fund raisers and other such banal things that may be useful but are not absolutely necessary. The churches in India and China don't have those things and they're growing exponentially while we have all these things and the churches are dying.
If we would focus our Christian responsibility on teaching and training just a handful of people, mentoring them, training them to do the same, then being there for them as they then do the same thing, and to do it wholly as unto the Lord, the pastor's duties would be totally changed.
Does the western church want this? Not really. They have become too comfortable in their lukewarmness. They will be spit out. We will be surprised at who we'll see in heaven and even more surprised, I think, at who we won't see in heaven.
Many people think worship is just something on Sunday morning. But Jesus says to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul in Luke 10:27.
We must remember to continue to read and obey the Word and be praying God's way (not my Christmas list style!).
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galations 5:12
We are all shaped to serve using our spiritual gifts and abilities.
This Tells me what is important to God, "Man Looks at the outside" and thus the reputation, it is apparent that this Church is doing God's Biddings. But God is saying that the "unseen is important" and is eating away at the foundations of their works, and effectually nullifying them. because "What remains is about to Die" if not Strengthened by Repentance...
A church will always be a church, The engine of the church will always throttle,(Ministries outreach, etc) but if the fuel is any other thing than to sincerely spread the Gospel & Win the Lost while Glorifying God as opposed to deflecting any of that glory to ourselves then something is amiss.
"Yet you still have a few names in Sardis, people who have not "Soiled"
by God is drawing the line as he always does & making a distinction. But by doing this , he is also making an invitation and giving a road map to those who are sleeping to awake & partake in his coming coronation.
All of his divine qualities are on full display in these verses,
his Holiness, his Wrath, His Everlasting Love, Grace, Mercy & Forgiveness.
It is sad to say that my church is somewhat like the church in Sardis and based on what I hear from many persons from other congregation it seems to be similar situation. I cannot understand how people can be in church and when it is time to share the peace persons who have a grouse with another person would avoid the person then partake of the sacrament. I cannot understand how people will pick the priest to pieces because she does not agree that alcohol should be sold at a church function because they feel if we do not sell alcohol we will not make any money.
Sometimes I wonder if people have gone stark crazy.
I pray for ourselves, our priest and recently it keeps coming to mind that whenever this happens I should speak out about it. I am also praying about this that God will guide me if it is that He wants me to, I know He will guide my words. He will tell me what to say if He wants me to do this. Most people are loving and kind and we are blessed that our church is right by the sea. The church celebrated 170 years last year. My prayer is that we all will be one has God intended. May He hear our prayers and lead us.
The thing about the Word of God is...when we truly get into it and seek to understand what God is saying to us, IT CHANGES US! The spirit in us can only be nourished and kept alive and vibrant by what is "spirit." The spirit cannot be kept alive by what is "of the flesh."
We have churches today that skip the teaching of huge portions of the Word of God, because, once preached, there needs to be evidence of changed lives. Without it there is no growth, no passion. A church will be dead.. its people will be "spiritually" dead. They may still be "the church", but they will walk without passion or joy, and they will barely survive, with little spiritual growth..poor spiritual health.
This is just as, in the earthly sense, our bodies are not nourished without good food, and needed nutrients. We may "barely" live, from day to day, but will not thrive with vigor and good health. When we begin to focus on a healthy diet, nutrition, and to exercise our bodies and minds, we see renewed vigor and health. The same is true of our spiritual growth.
The wonderful thing about this, though....is that IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR US TO START TODAY!
Alan S., Please see "Bible Questions" on the Back to the Bible website (www.backtothebible.org). Check out, "Is My Salvation in Christ Secure?"
Alan, this is one of the most thorough and conclusive discourses I've ever seen presented on the subject of Eternal Security for the believer. When I read this, I had been expecting a complete answer to the question (I read all of the "Bible Questions" on the site, as I was interested in Dr. Kroll's answers). There are scores of books on the subject, but Dr. Kroll has absolutely and splendidly answered this question. I was so impressed, that I printed it out, and emailed the link to myself!
I'm betting the ministry of Back to the Bible will send you information. But, check out the "Bible Questions!"
Blessings to all on the P4 Blog.
Jason, well said. I'm happy to say that my church (not that we're prefect by any means) strives to get out in the community to "minister" as Christ would. In fact they offer a great class on finding purpose in life which focuses on finding what ministry God has for you to do.
We are in a battle. I know it and feel the pressure whenever I do get passionate about living for God. It is very difficult for me to speak up for Jesus, except in a classroom. And then I get a tug to be frustrated, angry or bitter at something or someone.. Prayer is my hope and Jesus my salvation.I will join you in praying. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gifts. We are saved by Grace alone. There is no good thing in me but The Lord Jesus who lives in me and saved me. Let there be more of HIM and less of me.