The Church That Fell Asleep
Revelation 3:1-6 ESV
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. WAKE UP, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not WAKE UP, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
COMPLACENT // Someone who is very pleased with themselves or feels that they do not need to do anything about a situation, even though the situation may be uncertain or dangerous.
Proverbs 16:18 MSG
First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
The defining attribute of being ASLEEP is that you’re not aware of REALITY.
Perhaps the greatest single weakness of the contemporary Christian Church is that millions of supposed members are not really involved at all and, what is worse, do not think it strange that they are not. As soon as we recognize Christ’s intention to make His Church a militant company we understand at once that the conventional arrangement cannot suffice. There is no real chance of victory in a campaign if ninety percent of the soldiers are untrained and uninvolved, but that is exactly where we stand now. Most alleged Christians do not now understand that loyalty to Christ means sharing personally in His ministry, going or staying as the situation requires.
– Elton Trueblood
Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
The CPR of the Holy Spirit
C - Wake Up in Our CALLING
Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
“The glory of God is man fully alive.”
-- Irenaeus
The CPR of the Holy Spirit
C - Wake Up in Our CALLING
P - Wake Up in Our PRAYERS
“To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”
– Karl Barth
“Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again. Revival brings back a holy shock to apathy and carelessness. Revival is when God’s people return to God and God returns to them, and everyone sees the difference.”
– Winkey Pratney
The CPR of the Holy Spirit
C - Wake Up in Our CALLING
P - Wake Up in Our PRAYERS
R - Wake Up in Our RESOURCES
Revelation 3:4-5 NIV
…They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 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.
Maybe you made a decision to follow Jesus today, or maybe you’re curious what life with Him is all about. Wherever you are on your journey, we invite you to share with us so we can help you discover your next step.
