Revelation 3:1-2; Dead! (2)

One Pastor in America lamented, “It is a sad day in America when people are having to leave church to find God! Most churches today are apostate—using corrupt bibles, singing worldly Christian Rock music, teaching psychology instead of preaching the Word of God, endorsing Godless political leaders, et cetera.”^[1]

This church in Sardis had a name, a reputable name. Perhaps it had a past glory but now her life was ebbing away. She seemed to be living on past glory. Notice that there is no mention of any persecution, it seemed they were at peace with the world.  

Vance Havner, the preacher, observed the 4 states in every spiritual ministry. They all ministries began with, “A man, that became a movement, and then a machine, before becoming a historical monument.” Sardis was reaching the Monument stage. This church was fast becoming a museum.

I remembered while I was working that I was sent to Germany for work and on the Lord’s Day, my colleague and I were looking for a church for worship. We could not find one in the vicinity but there was a building that resembled a church, a cathedral. It was actually a Museum that held the record of the revival of spiritual in the past in Germany but the people there was no spiritual life. We saw a picture the semblance of church life with spiritual life – this is the first thought alive yet dead! And it brings us to a glimmer of hope in that church. That church is dead but there is a remnant there is still spiritual life but slumbering, going, going gone if nothing is done. 

1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have left meseven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. 

Amen.

^[1]http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Believer’s%20Corner/dead_churches.htm