Is your name in the book of life? Revelation 3:1-6.
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. Revelation 3:1 (KJV)
Did you know there are many churches that are living, but are dead? Throughout history, churches have rose to great influence only to cool off because the leadership stumbled as they struggled with dogmas and rules. Sardis had many great works, but there was no longer any great work; this is significant for when the Holy Spirit is active, there is great work.
Gods Holy Spirit wants to work in the church to raise up men and women who will serve God in preaching, teaching, evangelism, and administration, but He cannot do so if men run the church according to their own desires.
The first church was a great work of God; featured in the book of Acts we can see how God was free to move, masses of people saved, and the great commission continued to spread through the known world. However, like a crippling disease, the good work became sick when men started to regulate church business and appoint leaders and teachers quenching the spirit of God.
Like dominoes falling, you can look back at church history and see the Holy Spirit of God lifting up off established religion and starting new works. The Greek Orthodox Church fell into dogmas and traditions; the quenched spirit of God then found a new group that would allow God to guide and the start of a new church, the Church Universal or Catholic Church began. Soon that too became bogged down and an offshoot, the Catholic Church.
From the Catholic Church, out shot the reformed church and denominational churches were the result. As years progressed and these churches became dead and the spirit of God started a new work with an outcropping of non-denominational churches. Now in todays modern world, the non-denominational churches that started with such sincerity are becoming more and more bogged down with the rules of men and the Spirit of God finding it harder and harder to influence leadership. Is it possible that like the remnants of past churches, non-denominational churches like the large Calvary Chapel will become like them?
Backing up to the time of this message to the Sardinians, the environment of the church was newly established. In A.D. 17, a devastating earthquake crushed Sardis. The Romans intervened to reestablish the infrastructure and government. Like the rest of the city, the Christian Church was rebuilding too. In this time, they had done great works helping others and many people added to the church.
Just like any church, leadership had to establish ground rules to guide the church. Yet as they tightened up, the Spirit of God was suppressed and life was slowly bleeding from the church. In the eyes of Jesus they were dead and unable to bring life to others. Unable to grow, and becoming like a mausoleum.
Have you ever walked attended a service in a church that was dead? The people perform the same thing, the same way, and plug along doing as told. Few are added and when new life does come through the doors, in time, they fall into the same mire as the rest. Whole congregations exist that are not fulfilling the great commission to go unto the entire world and preach the gospel. They just keep doing their traditional acts in a mindless manor.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Revelation 3:2 (KJV)
No church is beyond help. However to change men must get out of the way and be open to the Holy Spirit to take over the work of the church. Like Jesus, the Holy Spirit may bring the crudest of men to become the leaders. They may be fishermen from the dock, but with these unlearned men comes the power of God.
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. Revelation 3:3 (KJV)
How would you like to die without fulfilling the charge that God has given unto us? How would you like to have that conversation about how your life was meaningless, but you participated in the ceremonies at church? How would you like to recognize that you controlled your own life and shut Him out? Many have died to do just that.
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. 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 3:4-6 (KJV)
Can you see the message? It is possible to have your name in the book of life only to have it later erased. If someone told you that you could live your life sinfully or slothfully and that God forgives everything, then you have listened to the wrong person. How we live our lives is vital for God being able to reach the world and bring us into His kingdom. Each of us must look at what is important and do those things. We must overcome the pitfalls that have trapped so many.
Are you doing what God wants?
www.christianworker.org
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. Revelation 3:1 (KJV)
Did you know there are many churches that are living, but are dead? Throughout history, churches have rose to great influence only to cool off because the leadership stumbled as they struggled with dogmas and rules. Sardis had many great works, but there was no longer any great work; this is significant for when the Holy Spirit is active, there is great work.
Gods Holy Spirit wants to work in the church to raise up men and women who will serve God in preaching, teaching, evangelism, and administration, but He cannot do so if men run the church according to their own desires.
The first church was a great work of God; featured in the book of Acts we can see how God was free to move, masses of people saved, and the great commission continued to spread through the known world. However, like a crippling disease, the good work became sick when men started to regulate church business and appoint leaders and teachers quenching the spirit of God.
Like dominoes falling, you can look back at church history and see the Holy Spirit of God lifting up off established religion and starting new works. The Greek Orthodox Church fell into dogmas and traditions; the quenched spirit of God then found a new group that would allow God to guide and the start of a new church, the Church Universal or Catholic Church began. Soon that too became bogged down and an offshoot, the Catholic Church.
From the Catholic Church, out shot the reformed church and denominational churches were the result. As years progressed and these churches became dead and the spirit of God started a new work with an outcropping of non-denominational churches. Now in todays modern world, the non-denominational churches that started with such sincerity are becoming more and more bogged down with the rules of men and the Spirit of God finding it harder and harder to influence leadership. Is it possible that like the remnants of past churches, non-denominational churches like the large Calvary Chapel will become like them?
Backing up to the time of this message to the Sardinians, the environment of the church was newly established. In A.D. 17, a devastating earthquake crushed Sardis. The Romans intervened to reestablish the infrastructure and government. Like the rest of the city, the Christian Church was rebuilding too. In this time, they had done great works helping others and many people added to the church.
Just like any church, leadership had to establish ground rules to guide the church. Yet as they tightened up, the Spirit of God was suppressed and life was slowly bleeding from the church. In the eyes of Jesus they were dead and unable to bring life to others. Unable to grow, and becoming like a mausoleum.
Have you ever walked attended a service in a church that was dead? The people perform the same thing, the same way, and plug along doing as told. Few are added and when new life does come through the doors, in time, they fall into the same mire as the rest. Whole congregations exist that are not fulfilling the great commission to go unto the entire world and preach the gospel. They just keep doing their traditional acts in a mindless manor.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Revelation 3:2 (KJV)
No church is beyond help. However to change men must get out of the way and be open to the Holy Spirit to take over the work of the church. Like Jesus, the Holy Spirit may bring the crudest of men to become the leaders. They may be fishermen from the dock, but with these unlearned men comes the power of God.
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. Revelation 3:3 (KJV)
How would you like to die without fulfilling the charge that God has given unto us? How would you like to have that conversation about how your life was meaningless, but you participated in the ceremonies at church? How would you like to recognize that you controlled your own life and shut Him out? Many have died to do just that.
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. 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 3:4-6 (KJV)
Can you see the message? It is possible to have your name in the book of life only to have it later erased. If someone told you that you could live your life sinfully or slothfully and that God forgives everything, then you have listened to the wrong person. How we live our lives is vital for God being able to reach the world and bring us into His kingdom. Each of us must look at what is important and do those things. We must overcome the pitfalls that have trapped so many.
Are you doing what God wants?
www.christianworker.org
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15-13
John 15-13
