Jesus and His Church: The Church of the Living Dead

Jesus speaks to His church.

1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this:

He is sufficient by His Spirit.

He is sovereign in His servants.

Jesus examines His church.  (checking the vital signs)

‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

You can have a reputation for life.

You can have a reality of death.

Signs of a dead church

Dead preaching

Dead worship

Dead ministry

Dead hope

Steps of a dead church

Deny the authority of God’s word

Elevate forms and programs over reality, substance in discipleship

Elevate social issues over the power of the gospel

Evangelism and missions are minimized

Jesus instructs His church.

. 2 ‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

Wake up

Work out

Remember

Keep it up

Repent

Jesus clothes His church with white garments.

4 ‘But you have a few ^apeople in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Jesus calls us to listen to the Spirit.

6 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

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