Our Second Mail
“Check Your Engines”
Revelation 2:8-11; 3:7-13
Meet Two “Below Average” Churches
1. They have lots of FINANCIAL problems.
Revelation 2:9a
9 I know your afflictions and your poverty…
2. They have lots of EMOTIONAL problems.
Revelation 2:9b
9 I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
3. They have lots of PHYSICAL problems.
Revelation 2:10
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days…
4. They have lots of SPIRITUAL problems.
Revelation 3:8
8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
IS THIS YOUR (MY) CHURCH?
1. Christian Schwarz, head of the institute for Church Development in Germany, conducted reportedly the most comprehensive church-growth study ever, drawn from more than one thousand churches in thirty-two countries. His study revealed eight qualities in healthy churches. (These eight qualities are now considered the basis for the NCD, i.e. Natural Church Development)
a. EMPOWERING LEADERSHIP – the more leaders, the better
b. GIFT-ORIENTED MINISTRY – people serve where they are really gifted
c. PASSIONATE SPIRITUALITY – people are on fire for the Lord
d. FUNCTIONAL STRUCTURES – the structure helps rather than impedes ministry
e. INSPIRING WORSHIP SERVICES – people experience the presence of God
f. HOLISTIC SMALL GROUPS – people can connect with each other
g. NEED-ORIENTED EVANGELISM – meeting the needs of unbelievers
h. LOVING RELATIONSHIPS – genuine love for one another
2. As if these are not enough to discourage us, C. Peter Wagner even came up with the idea of “Nine Church Diseases.”
a. ETHNIKITIS – a static church in an ethnically transitioning neighborhood
b. GHOST-TOWN DISEASES – old residents are moving out; no one is moving in (and the church is not even noticing it)
c. PEOPLE-BLINDNESS – can’t see the people (where are they?) or we don’t want those kinds of people here!
d. HYPER-COOPERATIVISM – let’s do everything together and make big sound (kaboom!) but let’s not worry about actual results!
e. KOINONITIS – let’s focus on ourselves (and our good feelings for each other) because that’s the most important thing
f. SOCIOLOGICAL STRANGULATION – where can we put all these people? Besides we might lose our intimacy!
g. ARRESTED SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT – we’re not a small church; we’re small people (spiritually speaking)
h. ST. JOHN’S SYNDROME – going through the motions, pretending to be real
i. HYPOPNEUMIA – where is the Holy Spirit here? Have you seen Him?
3. Measured based on these standards, does your (my) church look healthy enough?
4. I see two problems here…
a. The UNREALISTIC IDEAL – get the best qualities from all the different churches and apply them to your church
b. The FATALISTIC WEAKNESS – identify one or more weaknesses and feel sorry for yourself because you’re doomed
TRUTH:
“All our churches have WEAKNESSES!”
WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT OUR “WEAKNESSES?”
1. He KNOWS it.
Revelation 2:8-9a
8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty…
2. He sees it DIFFERENTLY.
Revelation 2:9
9 I know your afflictions and your poverty -- yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Revelation 3:11
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
3. He wants us to STAY in it.
Revelation 2:10
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
4. He can WORK in and through us in spite of it.
Revelation 3:7-8
7 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
5. He will VINDICATE us because of it.
Revelation 3:9
9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars-I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
6. He will REWARD us in the end in spite of it.
Revelation 2:11
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Revelation 3:10
10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
Revelation 3:12-13
12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
An even more important truth:
“Our weaknesses are actually our STRENGTHS!”
BREAKTHROUGH STATEMENT NO. 2
“MAKE SURE YOUR ENGINES ARE WEAK.”
In other words, make sure you are not glorying in your strengths (that’s the world’s way toward success). Relying on your strengths can lead to pride, which eventually might lead you to success, and that would be your greatest failure. Remember what Paul said,
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
How to make sure your engines are “weak” at all times
1. When you’re tempted to CONGRATULATE yourself, don’t.
2. When you’re tempted to COMPARE yourself with others, don’t.
3. When you’re tempted to COLLECT praises, don’t.
4. When you’re tempted to CRITICIZE others, don’t.
5. When you’re tempted to CALL IT QUITS just because you have weaknesses, don’t.
BREAKTHROUGH STATEMENT NO. 2
“MAKE SURE YOUR ENGINES ARE WEAK.”
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. Have you been tempted to boast about your strengths, personally or as a church? Give some examples.
2. What are your weaknesses, personally or as a church? How do you feel about them before? Now?
3. Evaluate how you’re conducting your ministry right now. Are you working from your strengths or from your weaknesses? What should be the balance, if there is one?
