TIME TO WAKE UP!
“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. —Revelation 3:1-2
WHAT DOES A SLEEPING CHURCH LOOK LIKE?
1. Just going through the motions.
2. Practicing Christianity without the power of Christ.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOU’RE “FALLING ASLEEP” SPIRITUALLY?
1. No longer spending regular, intentional time with God
2. No longer actively learning the Word of God
3. Not blessing others
4. Not regularly and intentionally listening to the Holy Spirit
5. Not regularly gathering to worship with your Church family
Anytime the primary focus of our lives shifts from God to ourselves, we’re falling asleep.
HOW TO WAKE UP SPIRITUALLY…
1. RECOGNIZE the problem.
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. —Revelation 3:3
2. REMEMBER what Jesus has given you.
3. REPENT of your lifelessness.
4. RENEW & REFRESH your relationship with God.
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. —Revelation 3:4
5. RELEASE yourself to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. —Revelation 3:6
FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
STEP 1 | ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS “YES” OR “NO”
Answer the questions based on the past two months.
Have I been spending regular, intentional time with God?
Have I been regularly and intentionally learning the Word of God?
Have I been regularly blessing others?
Have I been regularly and intentionally listening to the Holy Spirit through prayer or meditation?
Have I regularly attended worship at my church?
STEP 2 | INTERPRET YOUR ANSWERS
If you answered “NO” to 1 question, ask yourself, “Why not?”
If you answered “NO” to 2 questions, you are spiritually nodding off.
If you answered “NO” to 3 questions, you are spiritually asleep.
If you answered “NO” to 4 questions, you are drooling on your spiritual pillow
If you answered “NO” to 5 questions, you are in a spiritual coma and the clock is ticking.