Christian Living

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“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive,” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

Mankind's biggest problem is not merely that we are sinners in need of forgiveness; our real problem is that we are dead and need to be made alive.

A dear friend of mine named Ed, once said, "We don't need revival...most of us have yet be 'vived!'"

Revelation 3:1-5 describes the "dead" Church at Sardis. Now, as you read on, try really hard NOT to envision a building or a temple where the word 'church' is used for the Church is not the building but it's the people, the ekklesia, in Greek, meaning those who've been "called out."

Here's what the passage says about the Sardis Church: “...I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."

The Sardis Church was apparently attempting to do the works of the ministry on its own strength, by manmade means, without the Holy Spirit. have you ever tried that? Boy, I have! What a miserable way to fail. We can see that there was plenty of people power present in Sardis because Verse 1 says, "... I know thy works ...." The Church was active and organized - maybe they had lots to offer the community and a long list of programs like many of today's churches do. But without the Holy Spirit, they were powerless and their works were lifeless.

That's still true today. It is "the spirit doth make alive," (2 Cor. 3:6).

In short, they were dead, and nothing they accomplished offered any spiritual benefits.

THE DEATH OF A CHURCH

How does a thing die? How is it killed? In some cases, it becomes contaminated. Infected. Poisoned. Likewise with the Church. The world's systems have infiltrated the Church with its subtle and blatantly diabolical ways to where meaningless liturgy has replaced abundant life. Powerless religion has replaced intimate relationship. Truth has been replaced with well-intentioned, even sincere, lies. Societal ills concern her more than the salvation of society. Death creeps in when the temporal replaces the spiritual. Sins of commission and omission are happening everywhere we look - including the ministerial ranks - and the "tolerance" message far outweighs the need for repentance.

Most Christians are not passionate about the Cause of Christ, our very reason for being (there's the Purpose-Driven Life in a nutshell). How can they be? Statistics reveal that we don't have or make time to study the Word of God and that most ministers don't believe it's 100% truth anyway. The prayer meeting, too, has become a thing of the past.

The Sardis Church had "a name that it was alive" (Verse 1) - it enjoyed a glowing reputation in the community perhaps. But God condemned their religious activity because it was born of the flesh, not of the Spirit. Sadly, far too often, the Church is in the hands of "leaders" who neither know God nor love Jesus Christ. For many it is merely a profession. Like the proverbial frog that slowly boiled alive in a pot, never realizing its predicament until it was too late, many churches today appear to be quite lively. But don't be deceived; they aren't always alive. From well-dressed, high-dollar preachers to the well-rehearsed, excellent musicians, ornate buildings and a roster of ministries intended to meet the needs of every age group imaginable, by all outward appearances, these are ministries that set the standard for all others to follow.

Some semblance of the Church at Sardis can be found in every Western culture and probably in your own home town. This is a "church" that is living a lie, "...having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof," (2 Timothy 3:5). There's no reason to persecute a Church like this. The devil has no fear of an organization of this type. Neither the world nor any demon is going to wage war against itself. Sardis was the first fruits of many that can only be described as "the worldly church."

THE GOOD NEWS IS...

The Good News? We serve a God of Resurrections. Jesus said of Himself, "I am the Resurrection and the Life," (Jn 11:25). Only God can bring this sleeping beauty back from her death bed. So, what's His prescription? Five things, according to the warning in this passage:

1. WATCH OUT!
Verse 2 says to be watchful and stand guard against attack. Folks, we're under a barrage as we speak with every breath serving as an act of war. The plan of the enemy? To kill, to steal and destroy. It's time the Church learned about spiritual warfare and the authority we have over all the powers of darkness. Too many Christians confess to me that the devil simply scares them. Friends, he's a defeated foe. The fight has been "fixed" as it were.

2. STRENGTHEN THE THINGS THAT ARE NEARLY DEAD AND REVIVE THEM.
The Body of Christ is to edify, exhort and comfort one another with the POWER of the Word of God. It's been said that, far too often, the Church will eat her young and shoot her wounded.

3. REMEMBER THE THINGS RECEIVED AND HEARD
Remember the joy of your salvation. Remember the testimonies you've heard from others and the faith-building stories of the Bible. Remember to keep your mind focused upon the person of Jesus Christ and His cause.

4. HOLD FAST!
Whenever "hold fast" appears in Scripture, it refers to sound doctrine. There are THREE types of doctrine mentioned in the Bible: the Doctrine of Demons, the Doctrine of Man and the DOCTRINE of Christ and of God. The Lord is encouraging us to remember how we were saved and hold fast to the doctrines of Christ, not those of men nor manmade traditions that "make the Word of God of no effect" (Mark 7:13). Don't get distracted by the world. Don't be influenced by any false doctrine. Christ was telling the Sardis Saints to hang on and not let anything - not even that which appears spiritual - distract them.

5. REPENT!
Repentance comes from the Greek word "metanoia," meaning "to change one's mind." Right after His wilderness experience with Satan, Jesus began His own ministry with that very word. "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!" (Matt 4:17). In Luke 5:32. He declared, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to REPENTANCE." In Luke 24:47, it reads, "...[Jesus said to them] that REPENTANCE and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." And in Mark 1:15 He says, " ..."The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT, AND BELIEVE the gospel."

John the Baptist said "Repent" (Matt 3:2), the apostles said "Repent" (Mark 6:12), Paul said, "Repent" (2 Cor 7:9) and Peter said "Repent" (Acts 2:38).

Many are saying that we're now living in a Post-Christian Age. If that's so, we still have reason to be of good cheer for God can never be found wringing His hands. Perhaps, instead of living on the down-side of the "Christian Age" we are actually now living in a Pre-CHURCH Age...an era that ushers in the powerful, life-giving, victorious Church, the ekklesia, of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps we should repent of having made an ORGANIZATION of this ORGANISM Scripture refers to as "the Body of Christ."

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