Clothed in White
Lampstands in the Darkness: The Identity of The Church • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 2 viewsThe church is put on alert to wake up from a lethal slumber, to hold on to what remains. In the awakening they are clothed in white but in the slumber there is eternal death.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Dead Asleep
To this point we have accounted for the church whose leader is sold out to the world to the church whose members have sold out and we reach a church that has not heeded the words of the Lord.
A deeper look and it appears we are seeing a progression from one church to another. This one hits home.
In typical fashion as I prepare a sermon I am directly impacted by the study. The last three weeks are no different.
To know that we are called is not enough, to know that we are chosen is scarcely enough, but to know that we are wanted or desired leads me to this point, each of us will have to count the cost.
Some of us will count the cost and hide from our calling
Some of us will count the cost and put aside to do what we want to do first
Some of us will runaway from our calling in fear
Some of us will hear the call count the cost but will find ourselves distracted to the point of being too busy
STILL Some of us will hear and answer the call no matter the cost.
The implications are severe as we consider what it means for the church body.
Some congregations have been lulled to sleep their leadership is sold out, the congregation has been given over to the lowest bidder, failing to be awakened the church is in danger of losing everything… it isn’t fast asleep it is Dead Asleep.
Only in The Awakening Are We Clothed in White.
Only in The Awakening Are We Clothed in White.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Churches with a great reputation but are DEAD
Note they are not given a commendation
Living a dualistic life… one foot in and one foot out
Challenges what some believe is the ability to not lose your faith
The unpardonable sin...Blaspheming the Holy Spirit
It is impossible for those who have been enlightened… and have fallen away… the loss of grace
Revelation of Christ
Revelation of Christ
Revelation 3:1 (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...
Jesus presents Himself as the True Church
Return to Ephesus speaks of the nature of HIs role with the church.
The Church Belongs to Him
No Commendation for Passivity
No Commendation for Passivity
Revelation 3:1 (ESV)
... “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Intimate Knowledge
Ephesus your works
Smyrna your tribulation
Pergamum your dwelling place
Thyatira your works
Sardis your works
Remaining letters from Thyatira on reference the work
conditions and reasons
Reputation
Dead.... Dead…
Many churches have this condition.
many members does not mean they are alive
they refuse to worship
they refuse the whole word of God
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
There are people who are slumbering and dont know their salvation is not assured.
Exhortation to Awaken
Exhortation to Awaken
Awaken from Slumber
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
Importance in the Repetition
Warned of what happen if we stay asleep
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.
the Church body asleep the robber has decimated it from the inside out
Leadership would not change
congregants would not listen
Its no longer the enemy it is the Lord Himself
They are so asleep they wont know but its the Lord who stand against them
Ephesus was warned of the removal Sardis is living the removal
Gal 1 tells us that we should not be swayed to believing a different Gospel… we cannot say we are awake if we are falling for an erred gospel this is why Jesus speaks so strongly against false teaching
Protection for the People
Protection for the People
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.
Even in the Judgment God Protects Those Who Love Him
These tells us that we should not be swayed to believing a different Gospel… we cannot say we are awake if we are falling for an erred gospel this is why Jesus speaks so strongly against false teaching
Worthy= high degree of comparable worth or value.
Promise of Being Clothed in White
Promise of Being Clothed in White
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.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
We Cannot Dress ourselves in white HE does it… measured by their perseverance
These He will not remove their name from the book of life… what remains is just salvation
the inverse speaks of the rebellion in which people can lose their salvation
If your are found in this condition awaken and repent...
Draw on the church
But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”
It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
And have mercy on those who doubt;
save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
in the very real present your work in the Holy Spirit is to hate the clothing stained by the flesh and to win others
some may only ever attain salvation but you were called to so much more.