THE DEAD CHURCH (part 2) Revelation 3:1-6 June 15, 2014 Dr. Danny Forshee

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1 1 THE DEAD CHURCH (part 2) Revelation 3:1-6 June 15, 2014 Dr. Danny Forshee - God has given Dr. Charles Lowery the ability to communicate in such a way that it blesses you and makes you laugh. Each time I read Lowery I come away with a good laugh. In his article, A Little Child, (from SBC Life vol. 11 number 8 (June-July, 2003), p. 24) he writes about children in general and his grandchildren in particular. He writes, Anyone who thinks children are angels sent from God has never had one. If you don t believe in the depraved nature of children, just put one cookie down between two two-year olds and watch what happens. My grandson, Drew, was playing in our backyard. I looked out and he was throwing rocks in the neighbor s yard. I told him not to throw rocks anymore. I went back in the house, looked out, and he was throwing rocks in the neighbor s yard again. I said, Drew, I told you not to throw the rocks. He said, I know but another man told me I could throw them. Liar, liar, pants on fire. - While he was putting his granddaughter McKenzie to bed she asked him if he and Mimi would have another baby. He told her that Mimi was too old to have a baby. She replied, No, she isn t too old. There was a lady we learned about in Sunday School and she had a baby. I know if she could do it, Mimi could do it. I said, I know, her name was Sarah wasn t it? She said, Do you know her? I had to laugh and say, No, but I did hear that she cashed her Social Security check and bought Pampers. To be honest I can t remember what we finally decided about Sarah and Mimi. What I do remember is, I thought that night about what it s like to come to God with childlike faith. I also wondered if there were things in my life that were dead that God wanted to bring back to life. - In our text today Jesus tells an entire church how they can revive that which had died. Last week we studied the words of our Lord to the church at Sardis. Turn to Revelation 3:1-6 and let us read the text again. And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 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

2 2 will come upon you. 4 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. 5 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. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. - Last week we noticed the Identification of Jesus, the city of Sardis, and the problem in the church. The problem was a three-fold one they were dead, complacent, and corrupt. We also noted the Commendation that Jesus gave to the believers at Sardis. There were a few who maintained their love and loyalty to Christ. - There were three groups in the church according to Dr. John MacArthur, p He writes, The spiritually dead zombies playing church needed to heed Christ s warning of impending judgment. The indifferent believers needed to wake up before it was too late to save their church. And the faithful few could take comfort in the knowledge that their salvation was eternally secure. - Jesus does not give a glowing diagnosis for the church at Sardis. In fact He tells them they are dead. There are individuals, marriages, and churches today that receive the same word from our Lord. What do you do when He who knows all tells you what you already know to be true in your own heart? You heed His advice. That is what we will do today. We will examine our Lord s worlds of exhortation and promise. Please listen carefully today. You may be the one in need or others you know may need to hear this message and you will have an opportunity to share it with them. - The advice that Jesus Christ gives to the Sardians nearly 2000 years ago will rekindle the spark and fan into flame once again that which has died or is near death. But you and I must heed the Lord s words and put them into practice. I. EXHORATION (VS. 2-3) - Jesus gives five words of command to the church at Sardis. Let s look at each one. - A. BE WATCHFUL. (VS. 2) - A good paraphrase is, Wake up and keep on watching. (Present Middle Imperative). This church had been lulled to sleep by the evil one and they needed to awake and be on the alert. They had blended well with the unchurched community, so much so they had become complacent and compromising. - The Sardian people should have known the importance of alertness and watchfulness. Both in 549 and 195 BC the Persians and Antiochus the Great with the assistance of the Cretans respectively captured the city

3 because of the inability to watch. They believed they were invincibly perched atop their acropolis; they felt secure within their seemingly impregnable fortress. Last week we noted how Sardis was surrounded by almost perpendicular rocks, steep, precipitous climbs that provided great protection for the city from outside invaders. But it was to no avail because they did not post the sentinels or stay on the alert and it had cost them greatly. (See Thomas, p ) - How many lives, marriages, families, companies, and churches are on the brink of disaster and bankruptcy all because of continued idleness and neglect? What started out very auspiciously and with great potential is now on the brink of disaster. Take heed. Wake up. Get on the alert and stay on the alert and do not think you are immune or untouchable! You remain in your stagnation and idleness to your own peril. - Last week at the SBC in Baltimore Ashley and I were blessed to represent GHBC. We heard some encouraging and challenging messages. Our favorite report was the one given by Dr. Russell Moore of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He introduced to us the Green Family of Hobby Lobby and Nagmeh Abedini. Her husband is Pastor Saeed who is suffering in prison for his faith. Our religious liberties are under attack and we must be on the alert and pray and speak up for our cherished rights. And JD Grear preached one of my favorite sermons and he said 70% of people in Great Britain will never attend church and the trend will come to the USA in the future. He challenged us to be on the offensive and do not wait for people to come to us but go to them! It made me so proud of so many of you who are taking he gospel beyond our four walls of the church building. - B. STRENGTHEN (VS. 2.) - Jesus commands the church to strengthen or establish what remains (Aorist Imperative). There were a few vibrant souls in the church, but that was enough to spark a revival throughout the church that would spread to the community. Thomas (p. 249) writes, Starting with wholesome spiritual principles and individuals that yet remained in the congregation, the church was to erect once again the impressive spiritual fortress that had once stood in this pagan city. - What a powerful and timeless word of advice from our Lord. First wake up and realize there is a problem, then focus on the good that remains and build from there. We often focus on the negative and we should stop and realize the many wonderful things God is doing in our land and in our church. We have so many of you who are giving, praying, going, and serving and I am most grateful for you. A small army is getting ready for VBS in a couple of weeks. This is gong to be a powerful week of witness and ministry! - C. REMEMBER (VS. 3) - Jesus commanded them to remember therefore (Present Active imperative, keep on remembering) how you have received and heard. 3

4 4 - The Apostle Paul and his missionary band around AD 55 probably started the church at Sardis about 40 years earlier. What a history one it should constantly remember. - Why is it so important to remember the past? It is good to know your history because it serves as a humble reminder from whence you came. John MacArthur, p. 114, writes They needed to go back to the truths of the Word of God, remembering the gospel and the teaching of the apostles. By this time, Paul s letters were in circulation (cf. 2 Peter 3:15-16) and the rest of the New Testament had been written. - If you know the Lord today take much comfort and encouragement in these words God brought you through in the past and He will bring you through yet again. - D. HOLD FAST (VS. 3) - Jesus commands the believers at Sardis to hold fast (Present Active Imperative). They were to keep on keeping or holding. To what? There is no predicate, so I believe it goes back to vs. 2 the things which remain. Thomas (p ) writes, Here is a call to devote earnest attention to rebuilding on what was left from the earlier days of fruitfulness: keep on giving earnest attention to the need to strengthen the leftover vitality. - Who needs to hear this message from the lips of our Lord today? Hold on, keep holding on to what is right. Sometimes all you can do is hold on. You are not moving forward, but neither are you moving backward. My New Testament professor in seminary was brilliant and humble man named Virtus Gideon. He shared with our class one day about his son that died in his sleep at age 37 very suddenly and unexpectedly. He was a very gifted man, a musician, and Dr. Gideon told our class that the only way he made it through was he tied a knot in the rope of faith and hung on. - Those of you living for Jesus believing the Bible and attempting to do what is right against the time of relativism and secularism hold on Jesus is coming! - E. REPENT (VS. 3) - Again, Jesus uses the imperative mood of command (Aorist Active Imperative). Those in sin at the church at Sardis were to turn away from their deadness, complacency, and corruption and turn to the Lord in service and ministry. - People do not like to hear this strong word about repentance. The unsaved do not like it and the Christian in sin does not like it either. But Jesus gives this strong word for our benefit. When the cardiologist looks at you and tells you to stop smoking or you will die, you may not like the

5 5 doctor s advice, but you do not call him a narrow-minded, archaic imbecile, do you? - God loves us and He who created us knows what is best for us. - If we heed the Lord s words to us and follow Him, He will bless us. II. PROMISE (VS 4-5) - The Lord gives them and us four promises, one is negative and three are positive. Let s looks at these beginning with the negative. - A. NEGATIVE (VS. 3) - Jesus tells them that if they do not watch they will face His punishment. The word translated watch is the same root word from vs. 2. In my Believer s Study Bible (p. 1806) are the following words of commentary on vs. 3 Twice in its noble history this citadel fell to invading armies because the precipitous walls were left unguarded by overconfident defenders. No doubt, those tragedies are recalled in the warnings of v This was not an idle threat, but a sure word of warning of an imminent, punitive and divine punishment to those in the church at Sardis who remained in their spiritual deadness and refused the Lord s prescription for spiritual health and vitality. - B. POSITIVE (VS. 4-5) - Jesus promises three wonderful blessings to those who are overcomers - 1. They will walk with Him in white. - In vs. 4-5 Jesus refers to believers being in white garments. These white garments represent purity and holiness. The Bible refers to the following wearing these white garments Jesus, Matthew 17:2, angels, Matthew 28:3, the two individuals at the Lord s ascension, Acts 1:10, and the glorified church, Revelation 19:8, 14. One scholar (Thomas, p. 257) states, Anticipation of wearing such apparel and enjoying the personal companionship of Christ provides ample incentive for continued faithfulness for the few in Saris who were standing against the tide of apathy that had gripped the majority in the church Jesus will not blot out their names from the Book of Life. - Allow me to share four possible interpretations of this verse with you a. Christians in Sardis who will lose their salvation. This is hardly a good interpretation because the Bible in other places like John 5:24 and John 10:28-30, and Ephesians 4:30 make clear that believers cannot lose that which they never earned their eternal salvation. b. Those whose names that are blotted out are the unsaved members of the church at Sardis. c. This is a strong statement is support of the security of the believer. Jesus promises that He will not blot their names out of the Book of Life. This is a promise not a threat. During John s day they kept the citizen s name on a register. But Jesus promises to never remove His people s name from His Book of Life. d. Some understand it this way everyone s name is written in the Book of Life, but upon death if the person has not committed his or

6 6 her life to Christ their names are erased. While I see validity in the fourth interpretation the one that is the best is the third Jesus will confess their name. - What an awesome promise. Jesus will confess our names before the Father and before His holy angels. Wow. That will be so splendid. - We must remember that this promise, as all these positive promises, is given to the overcomers. Read Matthew 10: Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. CONCLUSION AND INVITATION - Just like in Sardis of old there are three groups of people here at GHBC 1. Saved, overcomers who are walking with the Lord in purity and holiness. 2. Christians who are saved, but not in sweet fellowship with Christ. You know better, and please remember God disciplines His children. Rededicate your life to the Lord today. 3. Unsaved, those who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. You have religion and religious knowledge, but no personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Repent and believe in Jesus for salvation. - Unite with our church. - Missions, ministry.

THE DEAD CHURCH (part 1) Revelation 3:1-6 June 8, 2014 Dr. Danny Forshee

1 THE DEAD CHURCH (part 1) Revelation 3:1-6 June 8, 2014 Dr. Danny Forshee Today we come to the fifth of the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2-3. These seven churches in Asia Minor at the end of