Sermon 239

SERMON 239 — A DEAD CHURCH

Text: Revelation 3:1–3
Date: August 30, 1942
Preacher: G. S. Kok

INTRODUCTION

The fifth letter is addressed to the church at Sardis. Sardis had been a proud city built on a hill, where she thought she could dwell securely without danger of invasion by enemies. Yet she soon learned that her strength was not as great as she thought. Enemies found a way to invade, and an earthquake reduced a great part of the city to ruins.Yet the city remained, and even here a Christian church had been established. Nothing is said about how, when, or by whom the gospel was preached there, but the church existed.The church found in this city is in a deplorable condition—so deplorable that we must call her a dead church.Let us look at her, and while doing so ask ourselves: Is that church perhaps Bellflower? Or: Am I perhaps a dead church member?

SUBJECT: THE DEAD CHURCH
DE DOODE GEMEENTE

I. HOW THE LORD COMES TO HER
HOE DE HEERE TOT HAAR KOMT

A. As the One who has the seven Spirits of God.
1. The Holy Spirit in all His fullness.
2. The Holy Spirit has been given unto Him by God the Father.
3. Therefore He has the power to give life.
4. He is fully aware of where there is spiritual life and where it is lacking.

B. As the One having the seven stars.
1. The ministers of the Word.
2. He has charge over the bringing of His Word.
3. He can send them, and also remove them.
4. He comes through them to the churches with His Word.

C. In such a way that it serves both as warning and encouragement.
1. He has the power to take away life and the means of grace as administered by the stars and applied by the Spirit.
2. He also has the power to give life and restore it to those who heed His gracious warning.
3. His self-introduction fits the message He has for this church, which is nearly dead.

II. HOW THE LORD STATES HER CONDITION
HOE DE HEERE HAAR TOESTAND BESCHRIJFT

A. He tells her she has a good name.
1. Her reputation is good.
2. She is spoken of as a church that is alive—a lively church.
3. She no doubt glories in this fact, proud that other churches look up to her.
4. The basis for this reputation is not mentioned:
  a. There is no division among her—peace seems to reign, but it is the peace of the cemetery.
  b. She likely did certain things that seemed outstanding: growth, generous giving, many activities.
  c. A good reputation is wonderful—but not always true.

B. He states that her reputation is not based on truth.
1. A good name is only good if it is true. If a dishonest man has a reputation for honesty, he is dangerous. So also a dead church with the name of a living one.
2. She is not alive at all, but dead. Her being does not match her name.
3. The Lord says plainly: Thou art dead. What matters is not what we think or what others say, but what God says.

C. He shows that this is very sad.
1. How sad to be called a Christian, and not be one.
2. How sad to have the name of church member, but not be one.
3. How sad to be called a believer, but not be one.
4. How sad to have the name “child of God,” but be a child of the devil.
5. How sad to be called a Christian church, and be far from Christian.

III. THE EVIDENCE OF HER DEADNESS
HET BEWIJS DAT ZIJ DOOD IS

A. I know thy works.
1. The works of man are the thermometer of his condition.
2. He knows their true nature—the motives.
3. Works are the fruits; fruits reveal the tree.

B. Something is radically wrong with her works.
1. She is not without works. She likely has many: attendance, growth, almsgiving, preaching, sacraments.
2. But they are not perfected before God:
  a. Before men they seem fine.
  b. Before God they are found empty:
    1. Like an ear of corn whose husks reveal only a bare cob.
    2. Like an outwardly beautiful apple but rotten inside.
    3. Like an artificial orange with no inside.
    4. They are only show—love and faith are absent.
    5. What about our works, our reputation, our motives?

IV. THE LORD’S GRACIOUS WARNING TO HER

A. There is still a ray of hope for part of the church.
1. The greater part may be too dead.
2. But He desires to save what remains of life.

B. He points to the remedy.
1. Watchfulness—awake to the danger.
2. Strengthen and build up what remains. Preach, discipline, get busy.
3. Remember how they received and heard—look back and see the decline since the early days.
4. Repent—confess sin, turn away, return to God.

V. THE LORD’S TERRIBLE THREAT TO HER
DE DREIGING WAARMEE DE HEERE KOMT

A. It is His ultimatum.
1. If she does not heed His warning…
2. He will judge her according to the facts, not her reputation.

B. He will come by surprise.
1. This is not His second coming.
2. It is a coming in judgment, like a thief in the night.
3. They will not know it—they will be asleep in their false security. They will boast of peace, and suddenly wrath will come. The warnings will be heard in preaching, but ignored; then judgment will fall.

CONCLUSION

Sardis is dead and gone long ago.Is there a Sardis among the churches today?Are there people like those of Sardis today? Surely.Is Bellflower such a church?Are you such a member?The saddest thing is that if we truly are like Sardis, we will hardly believe it.Let us search carefully, and if this is our condition, let us repent.