Having a reputation for being spiritually alive but being spiritually dead.

Hello Church Family:  One important lesson in church life is the understanding that what we might say is God-honoring liveliness in a church or in our own lives, God may see as empty, hallow, and leading to the spiritual death of the church and us.  And yes, these kinds of thoughts keep me up at night.  Just because one may see a church with thousands of people, millions of dollars, a beautiful church campus, a vast listing of programs and ministries with an influence in the community, one cannot always say, “WOW! Look what the Lord is doing there in that church.”  Yes, sometime that fruit is a blessing from the Lord but many times it is not.  The church in Sardis was exactly this church.  Jesus said to them, “I know your works.  You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

I cannot imagine a more horrifying accusation to ever receive.  Jesus was declaring that the Sardis Church had no spiritual pulse!  They had no spiritual life even though they were doing great things in the community.  Their deeds were approved by the Sardis community but Jesus did not approve of them.  The pagan world of Sardis thought that the Sardis Church was so relevant and doing so much in the community, but God said they were dead, motivated by pride, greed and a desire that they would be known as great rather than that Jesus be known as great.

Now at this point we are always inclined to think what churches would fit into this “dead church” category.  Instead of thinking of other churches that may be guilty of being dead, we must say, ”Is this us as Grace Community Church of Topsail?”  I think we can all agree that the church unexamined is a spiritually conceited church that will end up on the road to spiritual death.  This letter to the Sardis Church is a call to us.  Jesus says, “Wake up! Remember what you have received and heard!” (Rev. 3:3).  What brings a church back to life and sustains life and honors Jesus?  The Gospel.  The Gospel is what the church in Sardis had received and heard and then had dropped and did not pick back up as priority.  Jesus says get back to the Gospel, it will awaken you from your spiritual slumber and create within your church what I desire, holiness.  Jesus says, wake up and be attentive to what matters most, Me!

How about you as part of the body of Christ?  Yes, you are individually your own person but you are also a part of the body of Christ that effects the entire body.  Are you spiritually alive or spiritually dead?  Or maybe you are spiritually sleeping?  Is there any interest in Christ?  Does that interest result in you getting into His Word daily and communicating to Him in prayer?  Does it result in you living more like Jesus today?  Does it result in greater service for Christ in the Church?  Does it result in being noticeably different from the world?  Does it impact your relationships, your marriage?  Once again, Jesus is merciful in how He calls us to repentance, to life in Christ and to amazing promises of holiness, knowing us personally and never blotting us from the book of life (Revelation 3:4-6).  Let us all wake up and strengthen what remains!

Revelation 3:5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

This Sunday we will be meeting in person at the church building if you would like to join us in person at 10am.  And for those who will be staying at home, we will  be live-streaming on our Grace Community Church Topsail YouTube Channel. Push the blue link.  We can also be found at https://www.gracetopsail.com/

We have been having issues Sunday mornings with our YouTube broadcast due to the overloading of the internet at that time.  We are trying several things that will help remedy the situation.  If you do not get a good broadcast at 10am, please check back later in the day or week for a recorded version.  I am very sorry about this.  

I look forward to worshipping our sovereign God, Jesus Christ with you Sunday. - Steve