THREE THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE A CHURCH TO DIE
TEXT: Rev 3:1b "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."
INTRO: Jesus said the Church at Sardis was dead! I see two meanings here, there could be more. First, this probably means this local Church lost it’s influence in the local community and the True Church moved on! Second, death means separation, and it could, therefore, mean that the local Church at Sardis was separated from the Living Christ.
That local Churches can die is reinforced in Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. The candlesticks were explained to be the churches in Chapter 1 verse 20.
In this message written to the Church at Sardis, we can see at least 3 things that will cause a Church to die. Remember as we look at this passage, we are the Church and we must beware of the warning given us here.
I/ FAITH WITHOUT WORKS
To the Church at Sardis Jesus said: Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Rev 3:2
And James writes under the influence of the Holy Spirit: Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? James 2:22
a. At Sardis, the Churches works were not perfect (complete) because they were not accompanied by faith. Good works are the result of a changed life or a life of faith. They go together, if you are really a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ, then you will have fruit (works).
Mat 7:16-20 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
b. I like to hear testimonies about changed lives, because a tree that has life, has fruit. We do not
change ourselves, nor do we bear fruit by ourselves. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Fruit bearing is evidence that we are in Christ, or rather that Christ is in us.
c. Both Jesus and James are saying; Stop fooling yourself that you are a Christian! If you have no
works or no fruit, you may be dead! Which would mean you are separated from the Living
Christ. You say, I just have not yet completely surrendered to Jesus, Well then Surrender!
You say, I’ve not yet made Him Lord, Well then make Him Lord! You say, I have not died to
Self, well then die! Whatever it takes, but start letting Jesus have control of your life or you
will never bear fruit.
II/ WORSHIP WITHOUT WASHING
Rev 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
a. At Sardis, most of the members had defiled their garments. This is also true of Churches today!
The problems comes when there is no washing or cleansing. 1 Jn 1:9 tells us how to take a Christian bath. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When was the last time we earnestly and honestly searched our hearts, confessing our sins to the Lord?
b. To often we have grieved or quenched the Holy Spirit of God so there is no Quickening power in
our lives or of the Church. Isaiah writes in Isa 1:15-16 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
c. We don’t need more money, or more programs in the Church, we need more broken-ness, more
confession, more repentence. Speaking of broken-ness do you remember what Jesus said about Jerusalem? Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
One day in Spain, we were passing out tracts and trying to witness to the people in the streets, and they "would not" hear us. On the second day we were much discouraged, and sat on a park bench. Then I looked over at a lady from Argentina who was working with us, she was weeping
and praying. The next day we had our first converts, and the following day, every one we talked
to accepted the Lord. It was the broken-ness, & the confession of our inability, and faith in Christ’s ability that made the difference.
III/ LOVE WITHOUT SACRIFICE
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
a. At Ephesus the Church had left her first love. Why do people who say they are Christians, leave
their first love? Let’s look at the parable of the Sower; Mark 4:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
Jesus explanation was: Mark 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Had the Church at Ephesus, become so involved in the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things that they left their first love? Had they left off serving Jesus Christ, to serve themselves? This makes us ask ourselves the question, what is the love
Jesus was talking about? Well what did Jesus teach us about love?
b. Jesus taught us that love costs something. Remember John 3:16? "For God so loved that He gave" What is love without sacrifice? You tell your wife that you love her, but never spend any time with her, never let your love cost you something and see what she thinks about your love.
You look at a good mother who really loves her child, does she sacrifice for that child, you better believe it. Think of what it cost God to love us! Think of how we hurt God with our sins. Does
He stop loving us because the pain costs Him to much? When will it not cost God to love mankind. I say love without sacrifice is dead!
c. David understood this when he said 2 Sam 24:24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will
surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. What has it cost you lately to be a Christian?
What did Jesus mean when He said in Mat 22:37-39 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
d. God knows "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Luke 12:34
Where is your treasure? Is it in the Church, is it in the hours you have spent serving the Lord?
What is it that you have done that is important to you? How about Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. When you are laying on your death bed, it will not matter how much money you have
in the bank, what car you drive, or the square footage of your house. What will matter is have
you loved others and have you loved God.
e. It is a sacrifice to spend time reading and studying your bible so that you may know what is the
Will of God. It is a sacrifice to spend time with your family and your church. But another way
to spell love is "time". You see time is the most precious thing we have, spend it on others.
Love without Sacrifice is dead!
INVITATION:
Jesus said, I come to give life and life more abundantly! We must ask ourselves the questions:
1. Do we have Faith without works?
2. Worship without Washing?
3. Love without Sacrifice?
If we do not and others around us in Church do not, then maybe our Church has a name that it lives, but God knows that it is dead or dying.
Ask yourself what Jesus would say about your Church if it was included in the messages to the
Churches in the book of Revelation?
Just as the broken-ness of the lady from Argentina, allowed Christ to work through us, so can your life make a difference in this whole Church
