Jump Start # 3667

Revelation 3:4 “But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy.”

The troubled church at Sardis could well be a reflection of many places today. A history. A name. A reputation. The thought was that they were alive. But, they were not. God declared them to be dead. A lifeless church. Yet, among them and in this lack of life, energy and passion, our verse is found. There were a few, a faithful few, who were alive. Their garments were clean. They were declared worthy.

And, today, the sad report of lifelessness still lingers. Preachers that do as little as possible, sometimes preaching old sermons on Sunday and spending the rest of the week playing. Deacons who are not spiritual and some do not even attend very often. Shepherds who are out of touch with the flock and would rather talk about ballgames than the spiritual wellbeing of the flock. And, members who are so worldly one is shocked to find out that they are supposed to be believers. Yes, after all these years, and after great lessons and warnings such as found in the text, some continue the same practices that lead to spiritual death. However, when one dies physically, you can be sure, that the family wants the preacher to tell everyone that he was a good member and preach him into Heaven.

Lets focus on that “few” in Sardis. The life in the sea of death. There are lessons to be learned.

First, they were not following the crowd. Most were dead. They were not. Whatever took life, these few were making sure that they were adding life. And, in this, we find hope for us. Rather than waiting for a savior to arise to turn the direction of the ship, do what you can to keep yourself close to the Lord and being alive spiritually. Few attend. You attend. Few pray. You pray. Few invite people into their home. You invite. Few encourage the visitors. You encourage. Few engage in Bible study. You engage by participating, taking notes and learning. Few send cards. You send cards.

You are not following what others are doing. You are doing what you know is right, helpful and encouraging.

Second, it is easy for the few to become discouraged and likewise die. Why try, the few  might say. Who cares, the few cry. But you know the Lord does. You know those who have spiritual life do. It’s hard to be life when all around you is death. It’s one thing if the dead were of the world and just didn’t care or know any better. But at Sardis, the dead were supposed to be disciples. They should have known better. They should have done better. It’s easy to complain about the lifeless members who do not seem to care. But in focusing upon that, it is easy to become what you complain about.

In a dead church, your encouragement will come from Scriptures, not those who are lifeless. It will come from other alive members. It will come from the Lord. It will come from disciples from other places. Keeping yourself going is important. One of the best ways of doing that is staying active and busy in the kingdom. If it’s not there, look beyond to other places. So many of our readers are sending these Jump Starts to others. Many have gotten our Jump Start books and have sent them overseas and to folks in prisons. Doing what you can is essential. As long as water moves, it will not become green and stagnate. The same goes for our spirits.

Third, through all of this, the apostle never suggested looking for another place to worship. Leaving the dead can seem very appealing. They don’t care, so why should I care about them, is a place we do not want to go. Keep praying for those who have lost their passion and focus. Keep doing what you have been doing. Stay with the truth and stay with the Lord.

You and your family may have to have special devotions in your home to keep yourself well fed spiritually. There are so many wonderful tools these days. A person can listen or watch a sermon every day of the week. Blogs, podcasts and many, many ways to keep yourself where the Lord wants you to be.

There was a few in Sardis. How easy it is for us to use broad generalities and declare that there is nothing good in Sardis. That’s not accurate. There were those few. I have found in a recent congregation of about a dozen people, some of the kindest, sweetest and dedicated hearts I’ve seen in a long time. Don’t judge a congregation by the size. Don’t judge the whole by the example of a few.

I wonder if the Lord were still sending letters today, if he would consider you and I to be among that faithful few or would He shake His head in disappointment because we died spiritually a long time ago.

The few—God bless them and keep the fires going.

Roger

Jump Start # 3522

Revelation 3:4 “But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”

The church at Sardis was dead. What the Lord thought about this church and what others were saying about that church didn’t match. They had a name. A great name. Everyone thought that they were alive, but the Lord pulled the sheet over the body of that church. It had flatlined. They were lifeless. However, our verse reminds us that in the midst of that death scene, there were glimpses of life. Some were alive. There was a faithful few that fought death and continued to walk with the Lord.

The lessons from this section are powerful. How does a church die? Many have died right before our eyes. Many have died decades ago and no one noticed. Some still continue through the motions of worship and activity, but they are long gone.

First, death requires so little effort. It takes energy, effort, motivation, plans and determination to live. That is true physically and that is true spiritually. Just stop eating and in time, you will die. There was a cranky old family member who was making everyone miserable by their complaining negative spirit. Someone told this old grump, “You don’t have to take your medicine. You can just go and see Jesus.” Dying requires so little effort. Living takes all that we have.

Second, churches die because error replaces truth. This is happening right before our eyes these days. Walking away from doctrine and believing all that matters is “Jesus,” whatever that means has become the popular tune that too many are listening to these days. A church may have a full parking lot on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean they are alive. They may jump up and down, clap their hands, laugh, spill their coffee, and have the time of their lives, but that doesn’t mean that they are alive. Our verse identifies “walking with Me.” That’s the key. When Jesus stops, many keep going. When Jesus turns, many keep going straight. And, to justify themselves, “Look how many followers I have,” or, “Look how filled our pews are.” That’s not the yardstick to use. Walking with Jesus is.

Third, churches die when members forget who the enemy is. When we turn on one another, and consume each other in criticism and judgmental attitudes, we will quickly die. Shooting the good guys isn’t the answer. The enemy is Satan. We must help each other. The Thessalonians were told to admonish, encourage and help one another. It’s time we made up our minds whose side we are on.

The story from Sardis reminds us that reputation and character are not the same. Reputation is what people think you are. Character is what you really are. In that time, people thought Sardis was alive. They had a name. Jesus knew the truth. Their character was quite different. They were declared dead.

The writer, J.R. Miller said, “The only thing that walks back from the tomb with the mourners and refuses to be buried is the character of a person. What a man is survives him. It can never be buried.” This is why Hebrews pronounces, Abel, though dead, still speaks. Character, that’s what really matters.

How did the few in Sardis remain alive? They were surrounded by death. Lifeless members attempting to worship the living God. That just doesn’t work. And, for many of our Jump Start readers, what is the answer if you find yourself in a dead church? What can I do?

Here are some quick thoughts:

First, you must not allow the death to overtake you. How easy it is to just join everyone else. When we go along with what everyone else is doing, then we become what they are. This means the few in Sardis were active when everyone else was sitting on the sidelines. It means they were still connecting with the Lord, when everyone else had become unplugged. They were growing when everyone else was dying.

So, you continue to invite people into your home and extend hospitality and encouragement, even though you know that no one will do the same. You do what is right. You continue to teach and teach and teach, even when no one else is interested in teaching. You do what is right. You continue to invite, invite and invite, when no one else will do the same. You do what is right. You continue to drop suggestions, ideas and hope, even though you know every idea will be shot down. You do what is right.

Your faith is in the Lord, not a dead church. You don’t have to be dead. The few in Sardis must have looked so different to everyone else. Their eyes were upon the Lord.

The faithful few…make sure you are numbered among them.

Roger

Jump Start # 1806

Revelation 3:4 “But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy.”

I referred to this passage Sunday. It has been something that has stayed with me. It’s something that I have seen and I know the answer, but I still can’t understand it. Sardis is the church that had a name. They were known to be alive. They weren’t. Christ states that “You are dead.” A lifeless church. A dead congregation. Their name didn’t match what they were really like. What others thought about them wasn’t the way it really was. God knows. They were dead. Faith gone. Going through the motions. Few goals. Just keeping house. Little concern. No improvement. No hope. Stuck. Stale. Stinkin’. That’s Sardis.

All except for our verse today. There were a few who were not dead. There were a few who the Lord called worthy. Unlike the rest, they were doing things right. They had hope, faith and joy. They were trying. They put their all into what they were doing. The faithful few.

Here is what’s so amazing about all of this. Most of us have read these verses dozens and dozens of times. We are not comparing the dead at Sardis with Ephesus. Nor are we comparing the dead at Sardis to what was going on at Philadelphia. There was death at Sardis but there was also life. We are talking about what was going on at the same place. The dead and the alive were at the same place, at the same time. We are not talking about a before and after picture. Same time. Same place. Same worship services. Same songs. Same prayers. Same preaching. Same leadership. Same classes. Some were dead and others were dong well. It’s not that the dead were kept from these spiritual things. It’s not that the dead were not fed at all. Everyone in the congregation had the same opportunities, the same chances.

How is it that some at the same time and in the same congregation can be dead, while others are doing well? This is what’s hard to understand. We are not talking about some who were under privileged and never had the same opportunities as the others did. They did. Something didn’t work for them. Death and life within the same congregation. That has to be a concern for those that preach. That has to be a concern for shepherds in a congregation. How can some be doing well while others are dying?

First, we may put too much emphasis upon congregational worship. Sure there existed the same songs, same prayers and same preaching, but something inside these hearts was not the same. While some worshipped, grew and pleased the Lord, others, died. We point fingers too often to the type of songs, the style of the preaching, the topics of study—trying to find a reason and a blame why some die. Be careful with that. For at Sardis, you have some who were doing well.

Second, our faith must be lived beyond the walls of the church building. Congregational worship is very important but what about our private worship? What about our faith and walk with the Lord Monday thru Saturday? Ours is not a faith that can be turned on and turned off. It must be in us. Christ must be our life. The death of anything comes about because of disease and a lack of attention to what is necessary. If you don’t water a house plant, it will die. If you don’t feed your pet, it will die. If your pet becomes ill and you don’t take it to the vet, it likely will not do well. The same with children. The same with us. The same with our faith. Faith dies when we ignore it. Faith dies when we no longer feed it. Faith dies when we allow it to be overtaken by the cares of the world and the errors of Satan. Did these dead at Sardis discuss Christ outside of worship? Did they pray at home? Did they make choices based upon their faith? Did they fellowship with other Christians? Did they do the very things necessary to grow faith? It doesn’t matter who is preaching, Sunday worship isn’t a multi-purpose vitamin that gives me 100% of my daily spiritual requirements. That’s not the purpose of worship. If that is all I’m giving my soul, then I am slowly starving spiritually. Do things spiritually. Help others. Read and study and share with others. Have wonderful discussions outside the church building about Christ. Use your faith. Walk by faith. Feed your faith.

Third, our faith doesn’t die quickly. A person doesn’t lose their faith by a blowout. It’s generally a slow, slow leak. There are signs. It’s there if you notice them and want to notice them. Less talk spiritually. Less interest spiritually. More sleeping during worship. Less prayers at home. Less wise choices. More worldly talk. More worldly friends. Days filled with the here and now and less on the eternal. Superficial things dominate. A little leak. In time, that leak gets bigger. Now, the one with the dying faith starts complaining about things among brethren. He is moving away and is feeling guilty, so he points out their flaws to make himself feel better. They aren’t friendly he says. The sermons are boring. The classes don’t do much for him. He doesn’t want to be around other Christians. More and more he finds that he has more in common with work friends and neighborhood friends than he does with those he is supposed to be in fellowship with. He is dying and he doesn’t even see it. He puts on a good show. He’ll still be at worship on Sunday, but worship is not what he’s doing. He has less and less in common with those who are spiritually alive. He’s moving the opposite direction. They are pleasing the Lord and he is disappointing the Lord. They are growing and he is dying. Not much to talk about these days. Not much to do together. Death and life—and all in the same congregation.

Fourth, what can be done? God provides the answer here in the context of Revelation 3. Nothing is said about finding another church. Nothing is said about changing preachers, getting new elders or a zillion other external things that we most often apply to an internal problem. God has the answers. He always does. Three things that surround the letter “R”.

REMAIN: Wake up. Strengthen what remains. Take care of that which is about to die. Complete your deeds. Take action. Do something. I have on several occasions seen a person take their final breath. I watched my mother as she died. I have been there for others. We sit. We watch. We wait for death. Physically, we understand this. Spiritually, we too often do the same. We watch a marriage die. We watch a family fall apart. We watch a faith slip away. There are things that can and should be done. Strengthen what remains. Don’t pull the plug on that faith. Shore up what you can. Get into the book and study God’s word. Get serious. Faith is built and sustained by the word of God. Get that Bible into your heart and soul.

REMEMBER: Remember what you have received and keep it. Plug up the leaks. Don’t lose any more ground. You know what is right. You know what you once believed. Remember?

REPENT: change. If you continue on the current path, you are headed to the spiritual cemetery. A dead faith will not save you. You can convince yourself that you are doing right by worshipping, but if there is no activity on the inside, it’s not helping you. Repent. Make changes. Make changes in how you worship. Make changes at home. This current path is leading to spiritual death. You will lose your soul. You will be a Christian in Hell. You will be asked, “What are you doing down here?” You won’t have an answer. There is no answer to walking away from Jesus.

All of this comes down to personal responsibility and taking ownership of our souls. The very choices you make will help you or they may lead to more leaks in your faith. It doesn’t have to be death. You are not destined for that. It’s your choice. You have to want to be in Heaven. You have to want to please the Lord. Don’t wait until Sunday. Ask the Lord to help you, TODAY.

Death and life in the same congregation.

Roger

Jump Start # 1618

Revelation 3:4 “But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”

  Our Jump Start yesterday addressed what to look for in a congregation. The point was made that a person may have to drive a while to be part of a thriving congregation. The church close to where they live may not be the best option. That’s great if there is that option. What is one to do if the only option is a congregation that is stuck, lacking leaders and dead? What then? Not everyone has the luxury of living near a city where there are many congregations of various sizes. In many places, the handful of disciples that meet is it.

Our verse today is of great help for that answer. Sardis was one of the seven churches of Asia. By the time Revelation was written, they were going through the motions. They had a name, which meant a reputation. The reputation was good. Others thought well of them. That reputation may have come from the past. Once, they were great. Not now. The reality was that they were dead. Lifeless. We are not given the specifics here about Sardis. Typically, dead faith stays at the church building, even though they didn’t have a building back then. Dead faith doesn’t see things through spiritual eyes. Choices are made, not based upon spiritual impact and consequences. The young marry people who may not be Christians and who may not help them get to Heaven. Little thought is given about their soul, their influence or the Lord. Business deals may not be ethical, honest or decent. Entertainment choices may cross the border of right and wrong. Language is not wholesome. Prayers are few. Searching the Scriptures doesn’t happen. Come Sunday, they gather and mumble a few hymns, eat the Lord’s Supper, endure another sermon but nothing changes. They do not want to change. They are dead spiritually. If they died that way, their souls would be lost. There is little difference between them and the world. There is little warmth, love and care in such congregations. There are no plans in such congregations. Just get through another Sunday so we can do what we want to do. Dead. Dead plants don’t need to be watered. Dead pets don’t need to be walked. And, dead people have no response to what you say and no joy in their eyes. Dead. Sardis was a dead church.

If there was ever a reason to go to another church, Sardis is it. Who wants to be part of a dead church? Yet, all over this country, there are many dead churches. They will not change. They will not try. They simply go through the motions. Stale. Dull. Stuck in the 1960’s. Clueless. Indifferent. Apathetic. Lifeless. Members drop out and no one cares. Same things are done over and over and over and over.

Our verse however reveals that not everyone was dead at Sardis. The church was dead, but there were a few who continued to walk with the Lord. That faithful few was alive. That faithful few were doing things that the dead were not. That faithful few were pleasing the Lord in a circumstance that was terrible.

What do you do if your only option is a dead church? You become like the few at Sardis who were not dead. You keep yourself alive and try to do what you can. What does that mean? Here are some suggestions:

• You do not have to be negative, sour and dooms day like everyone around you. You keep your spirits up. You trust in the Lord. Avoid gossiping about others. Avoid nit-picking. Avoid complaining. Be thankful. Look up, the Lord is good to us.

• You must continue to feed your faith. Your walk and relationship with the Lord is not confined nor defined by the church completely. The church may be dead, but you don’t have to be. This tells us that what happens in the church doesn’t have to happen to you. To keep a faith alive, you must feed it and use it. Have a home Bible study. Invite some of the other few and it may just be a few, it may even be just one, that comes. But lower the nets. Have some depth. Study some great things together. Take a page out of the Gospels and really look at what happened. Notice what Jesus noticed. Make applications. Be practical. Make your study encouraging and exciting.

• Invite some to your home. In dead churches, hospitality is rare. You, being one of the few, don’t wait for the others. You get involved and do what you can. Have a few families over. Talk. Share. Laugh. Connect. If you invite one of the dead over, don’t expect to get invited back. Those with dead faith don’t do that. But you do what you can. For some, it may be the first time EVER that they have been invited to another Christian’s home.

• Offer to teach a Bible class. Usually that is shocking in a dead church. No one wants to do anything and it’s the same people that teach over and over. In some places, the only way a woman can get a break from teaching is to have a baby. Otherwise, she is stuck teaching for decades. Tired, worn out, needing a break, that will never happen in a dead church. But you, being one of the few, ask if you can teach. If that is allowed, get down there and gut that class room. Most class rooms in dead churches look dark, damp and are miserable. Brighten it up. Put some imagination in what you are doing.

• Try to influence. Make suggestions where you can. Often in dead churches, those suggestions will be ignored because it means change and only the living can change. But try. Little steps. One step at a time. Don’t flood them with too much. In dead churches, there is always a concern about keeping a mountain of cash in the bank account. Dead churches will never use that money, because there is a fear that something might happen sometime. So money is not spent.

– suggest some preachers to come and preach

– suggest putting together a church bulletin —and you offer to do it.

– suggest a singing night

– suggest a work day to clean things up

– suggest having a class about shepherding God’s people

Those suggestions may die as soon as you say them. But stay with it. Encourage. Be kind. Don’t turn the situation into a you vs. me choice. We are in this together. This is our congregation. Leaders are not used to some who want to do things. You might be viewed as pushy. Be careful. In your hospitality you can plant some seeds. Be willing to be the one who makes the calls, do the leg work, be the driving force. Suggesting dead people do something isn’t going to bring positive results. But with you leading the charge, include them. Ask them. Invite them.

Be patient and prayerful. Don’t expect big changes. You are working with dead people. Little by little you are trying to resurrect faith and life in these people, one by one. If you don’t do these things, you are likely to become dead yourself. You are doing this not just for their sake, but for your sake as well.

Then, so important, every so often, get away and get your spiritual batteries recharged. Find a great church, get on their website to listen to some helpful sermons. Go visit a place and get ideas. Go and get yourself pumped up again. Attend gospel meetings when you can. On business trips and vacations, plan to worship with some thriving congregations. Keep yourself alive.

There were a few at Sardis. They weren’t dead. They were walking with the Lord. You may be just like that where you worship. Don’t get discouraged and quit. The Lord may have you there for that very reason.

I wish that everyone could worship at a great congregation. I wish that everyone would be excited and busy in the kingdom. It’s not that way. Some are dead spiritually. Some are content doing nothing, going no where. It’s their loss. You don’t have to be that way.

One of the few…that can be you!

Roger

Jump Start # 1568

Revelation 3:4 “But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”

Last evening, my wife and our dear friends Bob and Mary went to see the movie Risen. It was well done. If you haven’t seen it, hurry, it’s on the way out of theatres. There is a scene in which the Roman officer is trying to find the missing body of Jesus. He believes if he can find the disciples then he’ll be able to locate the body and stop the rumors of the resurrection and quiet Pilate down. Bartholomew is found and brought before the Roman. He is threatened with crucifixion if he does not reveal where the followers of Jesus are. Smiling, he whispers in the officer’s ear, “They’re everywhere!”

They’re everywhere! How true that is. Our verse today comes from the sad church at Sardis. That church had problems. They had not completed what they should have. They were told to waken up. They were declared dead by the Lord. However, in such an awful spiritual mess, comes our verse. There were some who were doing what was right. I’ve often thought about those “faithful few” at Sardis. It must have been very discouraging for them. Can you imagine worshipping with folks whose faith is dead. Not only are you trying to keep things alive, but you are trying to do what is right and grow your part of the kingdom. You would have little help. You would be fighting an uphill battle. How easy it would be to just quit. But they didn’t. How easy it would be to think no one cares. But that’s not the case. Part of the Revelation story was that this letter was to be circulated among all seven churches of Asia. Each church would read about the others. The faithful at Sardis would learn about the faithful at Philadelphia. The few at Sardis were not alone. There were others, all over the place that were trying to do what the Lord said. As in the movie, the believers are “everywhere!”

That is an important lesson for us. Some of our readers are in discouraging places. The numbers are small. The leadership is lacking. They are holding on, but they continue to walk with the Lord. All over this great big world are believers. It’s not as Disney says, “It’s a small world,” but rather, ‘it’s a big family.’ When one realizes this, it encourages them and motivates them to keep walking with the Lord. Knowing that there were others, even in cities not that far away from Sardis, would have given the faithful hope that they needed.

Let me share just a few on my list. This could easily be my largest Jump Start of all time, if I went through all the names. But here’s some highlights for you.

• Sweet Dorothy in Paoli who has encouragement built in her DNA
• David from Alabama. He’s a new reader and a new friend. He knows how to throw logs in the fireplace of my heart.
• There is Jay who is always reading and quoting what I write. He is a fan of what I do, but I am a fan of him.
• My preaching friends: Don, Rickie, Kenny, Dee, L.A. My new Texas friend, Leon. I am amazed to be numbered with them. Talent. Faithful. Powerful. Hard working. And friends to the core.
• My kids—all four of them walking with the Lord. All four of their mates are doing the same. On any given Sunday, you’ll might find all three of my sons in the pulpits in three different states. Two of them would be leading singing and one of them preaching. Their mates are all teachers of the Bible and they are busy raising those little families to know the Lord.
• My beloved wife who has an amazing Bible knowledge. She asks questions that I have a hard time answering. She’s amazing.
• My sweet dad, who is rounding third base and heading home. He’s in his nineties and has walked a long, long time with Jesus. He still hears me preach when he can and he always says, “I’m proud of you.” That  brings a tear to my eyes.
• There is Windy from my congregation. A great mom who courageously kicked cancer in the teeth. She is one of my heroes.
• There is Jim, who always wants to see what crazy socks I’m wearing. Solid, dependable and always in my corner.
• There is Dallas, who is always digging and digging in the Bible. He is one who truly lowers the nets.
• I think of my firefighting friend, Josh. Young, strong, faithful. A believer.
• I could just list our church directory. It’s made up of so many incredible people. Near the top would be our six shepherds whose bright eyes light up when they get talking about God’s people and how they want to help them.

When we sing the song, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one,” these are the kinds of blessings that come to my mind. Encouragers. Believers. Those who love the Lord and put a smile on your heart. These are the ones who will show up at hospitals. They bring food to a mourning family. They are in the audience with hearts that want to praise the Lord. They do what they can, where they can.

Satan wants us to be discouraged. He wants us to think we are drying up and withering away. He wants us to believe that there are so few of us that we will never make a difference in the world. Sardis had word about Philadelphia, the church which God never told to repent. A church that was doing what was right. Ephesus would have learned about Philadelphia. Laodicea would have learned about Philadelphia.

Have you thought about those in your life who are believers. They are “everywhere!” Have you given thought to folks all over this world who are doing right. Moms and dads who are raising up a righteous family. Young teenagers who fill the front roll of church. Those who go out of their way to make the Bible alive. Those who have families in their homes. Those who are busy inviting their friends to services. Those young passionate preachers who are pouring their hearts out week after week. Those godly men who shepherd the sheep among them. All over the place, everywhere are godly men and women who walk with the Lord.

Don’t be discouraged. Don’t think “no one cares.” Don’t fall into the trap of believing that there are so few that are doing right. Open your eyes. Look around. Believers are “everywhere!” It’s amazing to be a part of them. Do what you can where you are. Turn on the lights spiritually. So no one does hospitality, you can and will. So no one goes out of their way, you will and can. You, by the very things you do, may be on the list of someone like me, who sees what you are doing and because of that, it sends hope and encouragement to our hearts. Above all, God notices. Even a cup of cold water that is given to another is noticed by Heaven.

Lift your head up. Don’t let Satan get the best of you. Don’t quit. You are part of a big family. Believers are everywhere! You be one of them!

Roger