DEAD FLIES IN THE CHURCH
(When the Fragrance of Christ is Replaced With the Stench of Compromise)
SEEING THE BIG PICTURE
TEXT
Ecclesiastes 10:1
“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour…”
PROLOGUE: THE CHURCH WAS MEANT TO BE THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
We were not put here to be popular.
We were put here to be holy.
“For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 2:15
“Be ye holy, for I am holy.” — 1 Peter 1:16
But when flies fall into the ointment, the perfume sourens.
And the church that stops smelling like Christ starts smelling like the world.
The devil could not destroy the church from without,
so he polluted it from within.
I.) DEAD FLY #1 — A GOSPEL WITHOUT REPENTANCE
The first corruption was subtle:
Remove the sting of truth.
Call sin “struggle.”
Call conviction “judgmental.”
Replace “REPENT” with “HEAL,”
replace obedience with affirmation.
“They heal the wound of My people lightly, saying Peace, peace, when there is no peace.” — Jeremiah 6:14
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” — 2 Timothy 3:5
“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” — Luke 13:3
“Faith without works is dead.” — James 2:26
The problem is not that sinners come to church…
the problem is that sinners come and are never told to change.
We preach comfort to people God is calling to contrition.
We offer forgiveness without forsaking.
We have pulpits that bless what God still calls abomination
and then wonder why the jar stinks.
“Be holy in all manner of conversation.” — 1 Peter 1:15
“Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; purify your hearts.” — James 4:8
A gospel with no repentance is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is a fragrance sprayed over a corpse.
II.) DEAD FLY #2 — COMPROMISE WITH THE WORLD
After repentance disappeared, HOLINESS disappeared.
“Know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” — James 4:4
“Come out from among them, and be ye separate.” — 2 Corinthians 6:17
“What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” — 2 Corinthians 6:14
We dim the lights like nightclubs
and call it worship.
We entertain the flesh
and call it outreach.
We replace altars with stages
and tears with applause.
“They mingled among the nations and learned their works.” — Psalm 106:35
“Her priests have polluted the sanctuary.” — Zephaniah 3:4
We don’t convert the world anymore —
we imitate it.
But the church is not called to blend in —
it is called to stand out.
“Ye are the salt of the earth… but if the salt hath lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?” — Matthew 5:13
When salt loses flavor, it is discarded.
When ointment loses fragrance, it is useless.
III.) DEAD FLY #3 — CORRUPT & CELEBRITY SHEPHERDS
Once the gospel was softened
and holiness abandoned,
leadership became infected.
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep.” — Jeremiah 23:1
“They feed themselves and not the flock.” — Ezekiel 34:2
“They love the chief seats… to be seen of men.” — Matthew 23:6–7
We built brands, not altars.
Platforms, not prayer rooms.
Influencers, not intercessors.
The church began admiring charisma instead of demanding character.
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” — Galatians 5:9
“Like people, like priest.” — Hosea 4:9
And when the shepherd loses his fear of God,
the sheep lose theirs too.
“If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare for battle?” — 1 Corinthians 14:8
The church smells rotten
because the pulpit stopped calling men to wash.
IV.) THE RESULT — A CHURCH CHRIST IS ABOUT TO WALK AWAY FROM
“I have somewhat against thee…” — Revelation 2:4
“Repent… or I will remove thy candlestick.” — Revelation 2:5
“Judgment must begin at the house of God.” — 1 Peter 4:17
He does not remove the building.
He removes the anointing.
The ointment remains —
but it stinks.
There is still activity —
but no authority.
There is still crowd —
but no presence.
There is still noise —
but no fragrance.
V.) THE FINAL WARNING — GOD WILL NOT ANOINT WHAT HE CAN NO LONGER SMELL
“Ichabod — the glory is departed.” — 1 Samuel 4:21
“Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” — Luke 6:46
The worst judgment on a church is not closure —
it is God letting it continue without Him.
VI.) BUT MERCY STILL STANDS AT THE DOOR
“Be zealous therefore, and repent.” — Revelation 3:19
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you.” — Malachi 3:7
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.” — 1 John 1:9
The fragrance can be restored.
The ointment can be purified.
But the flies must be cast out.
EPILOGUE
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:
be zealous therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.”
— Revelation 3:19–20
This is the last hour for the American church — not to grow —
but to clean the jar.
The world is not our problem.
The rot in the jar is.
When the flies go…
the fragrance will return.
INVITATION
