The Apostle Paul calls us Jars of Clay (2 Corinthians 4:7). As followers of Jesus we must allow the Word of God to fill us with it's message of Truth and Grace. In this way, we become a "vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21).

Monday, October 2, 2017

The Lord’s Evaluation of the Church - October 1, 2017 sermon


By Pastor Greg...

An artist has a show at the local gallery.  One huge canvas is black with yellow blobs splattered all over it; the next is a murky gray with streaky drips of purple. A viewer walks over to the artist and says, "I don't understand your paintings." "I paint what I feel inside me," explains the artist.  The viewer leans in close to the artists and, with as much sincerity as he can muster, he says, "Have you ever tried Alka-Seltzer?"
Now, that’s a “creative” way to evaluate art.
Did you know the Lord provides an opportunity for Christians to evaluate their relationship with Him and with other believers?  It’s true.  The Last Supper – the last Passover meal Jesus would share with His Apostles – becomes for us an exercise in self-examination.  We spend some face-to-face time with the Lord, evaluating the depth of our commitment to Him and our love for one another.  So, today, right after our worship service, we will be celebrating “Love Feast.”  It is the name we use to describe this unique service.
When Jesus evaluates your life, you will hear Him speak gently; in tenderness, He points out the things in your life which hinder your relationship with God.  He desires to see you walk blamelessly before God (compare Genesis 17:1).  And this is sort of what Love Feast accomplishes.  It provides an opportunity for an individual to spend some face-to-face time with Jesus, allowing Him to speak to their heart.
Did you know Jesus desires the same thing with a church?  It’s true.  Jesus desires to have some face-to-face time with a local congregation as well.  Sometimes a church loses sight of love or grace.  Sometimes a church develops worldly practices.  Sometimes a church compromises truth or becomes complacent.  These attitudes creep in quietly and unnoticed, so allowing Jesus to evaluate them helps that church refocus on their calling.
In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, Jesus spends some face-to-face time with seven specific churches. These were real churches filled with a variety of Christians.  Some people were Jewish, some were not.  Some had never worshiped any god until they heard about Jesus.  Some had worshiped the many gods of Greece and Rome, yet found the One true God through the message of Jesus.  But, regardless of their background, most of these people truly desired to be a church that honored the Lord.  It’s just that some of them kind of lost their focus.  So, Jesus sends them a letter to help them get their eyes focused on what matters the most; they become a moment of self-examination for the members of those congregations. 
Although these letters were directed to a specific church that was under John’s supervision (he, being the last of the Apostles), we can see in these seven, many characteristics of today’s churches.  Each letter contains a unique description of Jesus, a commendation of the church, a rebuke for the church (except for Smyrna and Philadelphia), instructions on how to correct them, and a promise for those who persevere.
Church
Ephesus
Graceless
Smyrna
Steadfast
Pergamum
Truthless
Thyatira
Worldly
Sardis
Dead
Philadelphia
Humble
Laodicea
Indifferent
Jesus
Among the Lampstands
First and the last
Sharp two-edged sword
Eyes of fire; feet of bronze
Seven-fold Spirit
Holy & true; Giver of spiritual treasures
Sovereign; One with absolute authority
Commendation
Hard work;
Stands firm on truth;
Endures suffering.
Rich in Christian values; Endures suffering;
Loyal to God amid testing and persecution
Love; Faith; Service; Endurance
Regarded as being alive
Faithful with the spiritual treasures they have been given; Perseverance
None
Rebuke
Lack of love
None
Tolerant; Compromising the Truth
Lack of morality; Corrupted by the world;
Dead; Ineffective works; Fruitless
None
Lukewarm; Content; spiritually poor;
Correction
Repent; Serve with Love and Grace.
(A promise) Stay courageous; Do not fear;
Repent; Reject false doctrine;
Faithful are a godly testimony; Judgment for those who have fallen away.
Wake up; Strengthen what remains; Repent; Return to foundational beliefs
(A promise) Spare them the time of testing
Search for true wealth in the Spirit; Allow Christ to cover their sin; Allow the Lord to open their eyes; Allow Jesus into their life.
Promise
Eat from the Tree of Life
Not hurt by second death
Manna (bread of heaven); A new name
Authority over the nations; Rule with Jesus during the Millennium; The morning star
True believers to be dressed in white; Name written in Book of Life;
Pillars in God’s new Temple; Marked as God’s own possession; Citizens of Heaven; Marked as the Bride of Christ
Sit on the throne with Jesus

Today, there are churches just like the one in Ephesus.  They maintain a pure doctrine and live a life set apart from the world.  However, they lack Christ-like love and compassion for those who do not think just like them. 
In our world, we see churches who endure trials and sufferings just like Smyrna.  They too serve faithfully and joyfully in spite of those circumstances. 
There are many churches like Pergamum.  They compromise their morals and God’s Truth; they become tolerant of other religions and embrace those who teach a false gospel.
Churches like Thyatira have completely abandoned the Truth.  These churches resemble the world in word and in deed.  They are led by teachers who guide the church away from truth and into sin.  They seldom mention Jesus, He is not glorified, and God becomes whatever a person wants Him to be.  These congregations function more like a “country club” than a church.  Today, those who hold firmly to the Truth usually leave these kinds of churches, but in the first century, this wasn’t always feasible.
Like the church in Sardis, many churches today are quite active.  They have splendid buildings, but there is no evidence of eternal life.  They grow in numbers, but no one is truly born again. 
 A church today, like the one in Philadelphia, serves the Lord in quiet humility.  They love the Lord, they love the Church, and they love those who do not know Jesus.  They are the congregations who focus on what they can do right where God has planted them.  They change communities one person at a time because Jesus has opened a door of opportunity.  They may not be the largest church or the church with the best facilities, but lives are changed because of these faithful Christians.
The church at Laodicea is typical of a modern church quite unconscious of its spiritual needs and content with beautiful buildings and all the material things money can buy. With Christ on the outside, there can be no fellowship or genuine wealth. With Christ on the inside, there is wonderful fellowship and sharing of the marvelous grace of God. [1]
The reason I share this today is that, if we permit Him, Jesus will use these seven letters to penetrate our own life as a church.  We too are in danger of losing our first love, being afraid of suffering, compromising our beliefs, and becoming much too worldly.  We run the risk of being successful in the world’s eyes, but being spiritually dead in the eyes of the Lord.  As Satan’s influence in this world continues to grow, we may lose hope.  And without constant spiritual evaluation, we may be deceived about our own spiritual health.
So, read these two chapters of Revelation, and then ask yourself what Jesus would say about our church.  I would love to hear your evaluation.  So, please complete the form in today’s bulletin, then place it in the basket out in the lobby.  And together, we can refocus on who Christ has called us to be, and what He has called us to do. 
It’s not too late to change who you are, and it’s not too late for a church to change as well.
But remember, He is coming soon.



[1] Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 942). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

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