An Inaccurate Name And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. ( Rev 3: 1) Having the reputation of being alive, yet being dead to God, is having form of godliness, but denying the power thereof (2 – Tim 3: 5). It is, as the spirit says of sensuous widows, being dead while she lives (1 – Tim 5: 6) This is a circumstance where an unacceptable contradiction exists between appearance and reality, between the outward and the inward man. Actually, every person is dead and alive at the same. For those choosing to live by faith, they are “dead to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6: 11). For them, “ the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness” (Rom 8: 11 ) But the condition that is quite different – being dead unto God, yet alive unto sin. The church in Sardis had a name of being alive to God, but were actually dead to Him – two conditions that it are impossible to have simultaneously. When were accepted by God in Christ Jesus, we were “made alive” to God, being delivered from a state of death toward Him (Rom 6: 13, Eph 2: 5, Col 2: 13). In the new birth, individuals are delivered from world, wherein they were “dead”(Eph 2: 1 – 2 ) and transferred into the kingdom of God’s son, where in they are alive sensitive to God (Col 1: 13 ) The church in Sardis, according to Christ’s own assessment, had returned to their original alienated and dead state! Jesus does not say they were nearing death, but that they WERE presently dead! The chord of life between them and heaven had been served, according to their own will. God no longer heard them, and they no longer heard Him! O Sardis! You have mothered many a church! Our generation is cluttered with the spiritual wreckage of dead churches – congregations who live oblivious of Him who is speaking from heaven (Heb 12: 25). Their programs are all in place, and the institutional machinery is well oiled and functioning impressively. Their names are in lights, so to speak and their brotherhood looks up to them. But they are really dead. God is not using them and they are not seeking Him. They are an institutional blotch on the canvas of Divine purpose, attempting to live apart from the Lord Jesus, though ignorantly going so. Jesus is speaking about appearance without spiritual reality. This is promise without performance, and an outward show of strength that lacks both vigilance and assurance. Our Lord spoke of this condition when He dwelt among us. His blistering words to the Pharisees provide insight into the effect such a state has upon the Lord of glory. (Matt 23: 27 - 28) Luke’s Gospel states the condition in arresting words, showing that men did not detect the corruption of these pretended leaders. “ woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it” (Luke11: 44). The church in Sardis looked good, but was corrupt. It appeared to excel, but had lapsed into a state of spiritual death. It wore the name of Jesus , but had incurred His indignation. It existed outwardly, but was void of the life of God. It is particularly important that we consider this church because of the popularity of outward display in our time. Our Lord has spoken to this subject frequently, and with great clarity. First, things that rank high with men are an abomination with God. “That which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God ( Luke16:15 ). we must never forget that natural men, or those who are not born again, are alienated from God. They are not capable of making a proper assessment of things pertaining to God. Their thoughts are foolishness, and they can not please God in their thoughts, words, or deeds (Rom 8: 5 – 8) . It is easy enough to gain a name of being “ Alive” before such people. They are too easily impressed, because they consider only what they see with their eyes. The solemn confession of those who live in the spirit is quite different. We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 – Cor 4: 18 ) . Posted by Pastor Farhad
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:28:47 +0000
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