Reviving a Dead Church: Overcoming the Spiritual Challenge

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Understanding the different forms of death - physical, spiritual, and eternal - this insightful content explores the warning to a church in Sardis about their spiritual condition. It emphasizes the need for repentance and renewal to revive a dead church back to spiritual life and vitality.

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CHALLENGE OF REVIVING A DEAD CHURCH

MEMORY VERSE: Be strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God (Revelation 3:2) watchful, and TEXT: Revelation 3:1-6

INTRODUCTION Death is the opposite of life. When a man is dead, there will be no more life in him. A dead man is useless in everything. After death there will be burial, otherwise, the dead body will begin to smell. There are three types of deaths: physical death, spiritual death and eternal death. 1. Physical death: occurs when the spirit goes out of a person. The person can no longer breathe. This is therefore the end of the physical life.

INTRODUCTION CONTD. 2. Spiritual death is different: All sinners are spiritually dead. They are dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). All backsliders (those who turn back from following Jesus after they were once born again) are spiritually dead also. This is because they no longer have the Spirit of God in them.

INTRODUCTION CONTD. 3. Eternal death is the final separation of a sinner from God after death. A dead church is a church where the members are disobedient to God s Word and live in sin without repentance. Such a church may still continue to do religious activities; The members may attend church services and programs regularly, Give money like tithes and offerings, attend prayer meetings, Fast regularly and do special programs, giving money to build new churches and many other religious works. But God does not recognize such church members since they live in sin and no longer make God happy.

INTRODUCTION CONTD. In our Bible passage, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the church, called the church in Sardis a dead church, even though they had a name that they were alive. Every believer today must check himself/herself to know what Jesus is saying about you. The purpose of Christ s message to the church in Sardis was to warn them of the danger of remaining in their backslidden state.

INTRODUCTION CONTD. He wants them to repent of all their backsliding and come back to Him before it is too late. In the same way, Jesus wants all His friends to quickly examine their spiritual lives to know whether they are still standing for Him or not (2 Corinthians 13:5). All backsliders should, without delay, come back to the Lord to avoid going to hell.

INTRODUCTION CONTD. 1. CHRIST S MESSAGE TO A DEAD CHURCH 1. THE STUDY IS SUB-DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS 2. SIGNS OF A SPIRITUALLY DEAD BELIEVER 2. 3. REVIVING A SPIRITUALLY DEAD CHURCH 3.

1. CHRISTS MESSAGE TO A DEAD CHURCH: Rev. 3:1, 2; Eze.3:20 Sardis was one of the cities within the Roman province of Asia. It had been an ancient capital city of the rich and powerful kingdom of Lydia, very close to Thyatira. This church in Sardis at this time had lost her glory. It had become dead in spirit and in works. It had become a backslidden church and Jesus knew. The Lord Jesus Christ has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

1. CHRISTS MESSAGE TO A DEAD CHURCH CONTD. This means that Christ has perfect knowledge of all things. There is nothing we do in the secret at home, school and the church that is hidden from Him. He knows beyond what the ordinary eye can see. He told the church in Sardis, I know thy works, that thou has a name that thou livest, and art dead (Rev. 3:1b). The way He saw this church was not the way the church members thought of themselves.

1. CHRISTS MESSAGE TO A DEAD CHURCH CONTD. They thought that even though they committed sins, still called on His name, sang praises to and prayed in His name, their church was alive. But before Him their sins were naked, and they were dead in sins. In the same way, Christian boys and girls who sing and pray in the name of Christ, yet commit sin secretly, are dead in the sight of Christ. Therefore, let every boy and girl know that there is no eternal security. In other words, there is nothing like once I am saved, I am forever saved, no matter what sins I still commit. Christ was not happy with the church in Sardis; hence, He gave them a serious warning.

2. SIGNS OF A SPIRITUALLY DEAD BELIEVER: Rev. 3:2; Genesis 2:15-17 When a sinner is born again, he/she becomes spiritually alive. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins . Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved (Eph. 2:1, 5). A new convert is made alive as the Spirit of Christ comes into him. Such a believer continues to enjoy fellowship with God, the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ through the Spirit as long as he continues to live a life of obedience to the Word of God.

2. SIGNS OF A SPIRITUALLY DEAD BELIEVER CONTD. If like Adam and Eve, a believer goes into sin by continuous disobedience to the Word of God without repentance, the Spirit of God will leave such a believer. He or she will become spiritually dead though physically alive. He will begin to live a sinful life, a life of disobedience to God. What are the signs of a spiritually dead church or a spiritually dead believer? i. Lack of fellowship or communion with God ii. Loss of joy and peace of God received at salvation

2. SIGNS OF A SPIRITUALLY DEAD BELIEVER CONT D. iii. Loss of assurance of salvation iv. Loss of the zeal to pray he or she becomes prayerless v. Such a believer also begins to run away from regular fellowship vi. No more love for God, for the Word of God and the brethren vii. Friendship with the world viii. Loss of interest in reading and studying the Word of God. If you know you are dead spiritually, come to Jesus today and you will be revived.

3. REVIVING A SPIRITUALLY DEAD CHURCH: Rev. 3:3-6; 2 Chron. 7:14; Lamentation 3:40; Gal. 3:1-3 No matter how dead a church or a believer may be, Christ Jesus has the power to bring such back to life: I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (John 11:25). Our Lord Jesus Christ is loving and kind. He does not want anyone to die in sin and perish. So, He continually calls all backslidden believers to come back to Him. There is a great danger in continuing to live as a dead church or as a spiritually dead believer. The danger is great. If you die in such a condition, you will go to hell-fire. Be warned.

3. REVIVING A SPIRITUALLY DEAD CHURCH CONTD. To be spiritually revived: i. Recognize your spiritual state and the danger of remaining in that state (Revelation 3:3, 16-17) ii. Remember how you started with Jesus and know that God is not happy with your present spiritual condition (Revelation 3:3) iii.Sincerely repent of all sinful ways, lukewarm attitude disobedience to God (Isaiah 55:6-7; Revelation 3:3) and

3. REVIVING A SPIRITUALLY DEAD CHURCH CONTD. iv. Give yourself to prayer, reading and thinking on the Word of God, and be zealous again in the things of God (Jer. 29:11-14). v. Avoid bad friends and bad companies. Do not move with people who are unserious about living holy and getting to heaven (2 Corinth. 6:17-18). vi. Live a life of faith. Believe that God still loves you and He has forgiven you. Forgive yourself also and know that Jesus still loves to be your Friend forever as you obey Him (John 6:37) vii. Preach the Gospel to others and help to restore other backslidden children to the Lord (Luke 22:32) Remember that children who are not born again are spiritually dead. Do not continue in your sinful life. Give your heart to Jesus now and come alive spiritually.

QUESTIONS 1. What is the name of the church that Jesus sent a message to in our study? 2. Christ sees a church whose members live in sin as a dead church. True/False? 3. Jesus advised the church in Sardis to be watchful and to repent. Yes/No? 4. Mention three continuing in sin. 5. What should a spiritually dead person do to be restored to Christ? consequences of

LESSON & THOUGHT LESSON Jesus is not happy with backsliders. He wants them to be restored to Him. THOUGHT I will not stop following Jesus, but I will continue to serve God in holiness all the days of my life.