Message to the Church at Sardis
The work place for many Americans is a dead job, where lowered standards have accepted dead works; so it is easy in a world of low expectations in school, work, industry, retail and in the community for church members to be dead and no longer believe in “The Way.” Jesus said that straight is the path and narrow is the way that leads to eternal life.
Matthew 7:13-14 KJV Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Jesus said that few will find the straight and narrow way that leads to life and the implication here is eternal life. Jesus is “The Way.” There is but one way and it requires being like Christ; being transformed into Christ with Christ living inside of us as a live and driving force unto Godly works by the Holy Ghost.
Revelation 3:1-6 ESV "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (2) Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. (3) Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. (4) Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. (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. (6) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
LOOKING FORWARD
There is a great praise song called Moving Forward, that says, “I’m not looking back…moving forward.” Lot’s wife looked back and it was most likely more than a glance to see what was happening. She apparently yearned to go back and loved the perversion of Sodom more than God’s righteousness. In her heart, she was not willing to complete the mission of her calling and the LORD turned her into a pillar of stone; a monument to failure to complete the calling, yearning for the world instead of the Kingdom of God; a dead pillar of salt as a monument to “dead works.” God could have used stone, but salt is a preserving agent. Her bad example, that pillar of salt may have saved and preserved many passersby who had heard the legend.
Genesis 19:26 KJV But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
If this example was not enough, Jesus said that a person who looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God. Jesus was not that concerned about a farmer plowing crooked furrows; but rather one who had lost his focus on the Kingdom of God; who had lost the vision. When that happens, it is just a matter of time and one’s calling is abandoned; the person becomes dead spiritually and becomes no use to God and the Kingdom.
Luke 9:62 KJV And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Jesus encourages Sardis to, “WAKE UP!” Many in the world of Christendom are asleep or dead. They have been lulled to sleep to believe that sin does not exist and that God will excuse every wrong and sinful behavior. They recite dead liturgies and prayers of confession that ask; “Forgive us for what we have done and what we have left undone;” as if this blanketed 10 second prayer is going to make it past the ceiling once a week and save them. They leave after putting their time in once a week and expect that if there possibly might be a God in heaven and if there might be a heaven and hell; then they have pacified the LORD and secured a ticket to Heaven.
We are to be the temple of the Holy Ghost; a gift from God that comes with repentance and baptism in Jesus’ name. We are to be baptized unto good works in Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
A temple is a dwelling place of God. Our bodies are to be God’s temple which means that the LORD actually lives in us. The Holy Ghost will not live in a body that makes sin a way of life; that compromise away the very separating act that divides man from God. Jesus suffered and died for us to be free from sin. He ascended to Heaven and one of the gifts of His ascension is the Holy Ghost; which gives us power over sin. There is only one formula that the Bibles teaches by which we are saved. Peter preached it in his first sermon:
Acts 2:38 KJV Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Wake up friends! If you are in a dead church that allows freedom to sin; that has no expectations and preaches any thing goes as long as we profess Christ once in our lives; once saved always saved, then you are gambling on your eternity. Find a local apostolic church that that will nurture you unto Christian values and lifestyle; one that teaches repentance and turning away from sin; one that baptizes in Jesus name and that believes in the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Your eternity might be at risk! Act today!
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