CWC - Alt Epistle Pentecost 12 - KBKuschel
Revelation 3:1-6
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches
Foretell the future???? See into the future?????
IA 1 How many of you like or liked to play hide and seek? What made the game fun? Actually finding place where you couldn’t be found. With whom is it impossible to play hide and seek successfully? Jesus. Why? Because He knows exactly where we are in life at all time. Jesus says that to the people in Sardis and to us in the words before us today. {1} I know your deeds.
2 Let’s consider some deeds of the people in Sardis and of us. People gather regularly to hear the Word of God. People celebrate the Lord’s Supper together weekly. When asked, the members of the congregation indicate they believe that Jesus is their Savior. What Jesus taught is taught in the classrooms to children and adults. The members talk to God frequently. The people live moral lives, doing what is right for the people around them. What is your evaluation of this group, which could be us? Good Christian group. Or the evaluation could be a sentence from the verses before us today: Jesus says: {1}“you have a reputation of being alive.”
3 These same people have no desire to get closer to Jesus and to hold onto His blessings of forgiveness, holiness and eternal life more tightly. They don’t really trust in Jesus as their Savior. They don’t bother to participate in the classrooms where Jesus’ teachings are taught. Their minds are not engaged when they talk to God. Their morality has no connection with what Jesus did for them. What is your evaluation of them now? Jesus says:{1} “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”
4 That is a very strong statement. Did you notice there is no mention of specific or general immorality? There is no mention of specific or general false teaching. So what had happened to bring about their spiritual death? Apathy and indifference. “I don’t think the words that I am hearing are important. I don’t think the bread and wine that I am drinking are special. I don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. If I have time sometime, I will listen to Jesus intently. When I have some needs, I will talk to Jesus earnestly. Living a moral life is obligatory if this world is going to be a good place to live in.” Jesus says:{2} “I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.” They looked complete on the outside. They were not complete. Jesus is missing. Spiritually dead.
5 Apathy has another result. Jesus says: {3}But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. “I don’t think what Jesus says is important. I don’t really believe what Jesus says. I forget about His promise to return on Judgment Day. His return happens. It is a shock to me that He has returned.”
B1 What is Jesus’ response to apathy? He shouts out. {2} “Wake up.”“Repent.” He wants all to be saved. He doesn’t want people sliding away from Him. What stops the slide? 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard. We have the truth. Jesus died to wash away our sins. Jesus lived to cover us with His holiness. Jesus rose so we can live forever. Being reminded of those blessings on a regular basis is the only thing that will convince us that Jesus is important and that what He says is worth listening to. Jesus says, “Hold onto it.” {3}“Hold it fast.”
2 What is Jesus’ response to apathy? {1}“To the messenger of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. Jesus responds to apathy by communicating with us through His written Word. In that written word we are reminded that He holds each congregation and its pastor in his hand. In other words He has personal concern for all of us. He loves us. He isn’t apathetic toward us.
. 3 What is God’s response to apathy? “To the messenger of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. Jesus responds to apathy by dispensing the Holy Spirit with His seven gifts into our lives through His written Word. With the Spirit active in our lives, we are reminded of Jesus’ love and His actions for our salvation. That destroys apathy.
Lord Jesus, as I look ahead, I see that apathy is very possible for me. Please continue to make me aware of the danger of losing what I have. Through Your Word and Spirit empower me to actively hold onto Your truth.
IIA1 What do you see when you look in the mirror? (Put in your own details) I see a 72 yr old male. 6 ft 1 inches. 175 pounds. White beard. Thinning hair. Weathered face.
2 What do you see when you look into another mirror? God’s Law. I see a person who doesn’t do a very good job of keeping God first in my life. I see a person who doesn’t use God’s name properly all the time. I see a person who doesn’t use God’s word properly all the time. I see a person who doesn’t like to be told what to do by authority figures. I see a person who always doesn’t appreciate God’s gift of life as much as I should. I see a person who often views my sexuality selfishly. I see a person who doesn’t use his money to love others as much as I could. I see a person who lashes out with words. I see a person who sometimes is driven by wants.
3 What do you see when you look at yourselves through the eyes of Jesus? A person whose sins have been washed away in the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for the whole world. A person covered with the holiness which Jesus, really God, lived as a real human being for the very purpose of providing it for the whole human race.
4 What do you see when you look at yourselves through the eyes of Jesus? A person who is living out life as a companion with Jesus. A person, who because of the attached holiness of Jesus, is worthy to be part of the family of Jesus. How do I know that is what Jesus sees? He says so. {4} “They .... walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.”
5 What do you see when you look at yourselves through the eyes of Jesus? I see someone who hasn’t become a victim of apathy and indifference. Somebody who is excited about worshiping Jesus every week. Somebody who is awed by the reception of Jesus’ body and blood. Somebody who eagerly studies the Bible with brothers and sisters at Bible classes. Somebody who actively benefits other people as Jesus has loved them. How do I know that is what Jesus sees? He says so. “4 Yet you have ......people....who have not soiled their clothes.”
B1 What do you see when you look ahead? I see somebody whom God has empowered to conquer Satan’s temptation to only look at the present. I see somebody whom God has empowered to conquer unbelievers’ temptation to only look at the things around me. I see somebody whom God has empowered to conquer my own selfishness. That is what Jesus sees too. How do I know? He says so. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white.
2 What do you see when you look ahead? I see somebody who is going to be a part of God’s family forever. I see somebody who, even after the physical body has died and decayed once, is going to live forever both body and soul. That is what Jesus sees too. How do I know? He says so.{5} I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life,
3 What do you see when you look ahead? I see somebody whose body is going to be reconstituted on Judgment Day. I see somebody who is going to be made complete again on Judgment Day with both a body and a soul. I see somebody standing before God’s judgment throne. I hear God saying, “Come you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world..” Is that a correct vision of the future? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. How do I know? Jesus says so. {5} I will acknowledge you before my Father and his angels.
6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. LORD Jesus, keep my ears open and listening to what the Holy Your Spirit says to me through the Bible so that I keep seeing what You see when You look ahead: me with You in perfection forever.
What do you see when you look ahead?
I. Short term: We will be actively holding on to the truth.
A. Danger: lose what we have
1. God knows what is going on in our lives (Hide and seek)
2. Outward actions
3. Not based on relationship with Jesus
3. Apathy leads to spiritual death
4. Apathy makes Jesus’ return unexpected
B. Solution: Return to the Word
1. We have the truth
2. Jesus gives personal message of care and concern (holds 7 stars)
3. Jesus dispenses Spirit (7 spirits)
II. Long term: We will be with the LORD in perfection
A. Present situation
1. Look in mirror of God’s Law
2. Covered with Jesus’ holiness
3. Worthy to be part of God’s family
4. Not soiled with apathy
B. Future
1. Overcome
2. Names written in book of life
3. Acknowledged by God on Judgement Day