The Church Of Sardis - The Cause of Spiritual Death

[0:00] Thank you for choosing to listen to today's message by Reverend Dr. David Etrie. We know you will be blessed as you seek and serve God. We believe that this message will stir up a desire for more of God even as you listen.

[0:13] Be blessed. Revelation chapter 3. The church of Sardis. We have spoken about the church of Ephesus and the problem of the church of Ephesus was that they had lost their first life.

[0:36] They have lost their first life and the problem of the church of Smyrna was that they didn't have a problem. The problem was the world, they were being persecuted.

[0:52] So they were being killed but they lived. He said, even though you are dying, you live. And the church of Pergamos was the church that had become comfortable with the world.

[1:10] So you don't see any difference between the world and the church. And then we came to the church of Titeria. The church of Titeria hasn't become just comfortable with the world.

[1:23] It has begun to encourage worldliness in the church. It is sponsoring it. Encouraging worldliness. Then we come to the church of Sardis.

[1:37] The church of Sardis has a combination of all this. A combination of all this. Just apart from the difference they shared from or with Smyrna.

[1:59] The church of Sardis, Jesus says that, let's read Revelation chapter 3 verse 1. And to the angel of the church of Sardis write, these things say he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

[2:12] I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive but you are dead. You see, the church of Smyrna were dying. They were being killed, dying, but they lived.

[2:24] These ones were the opposite. They were living. They had the name that they were living, but they are dead. So he said, you have a name that you are living, you are alive, but you are dead.

[2:39] Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die. That means that there was, it's not everything that was dead. There were some remnants.

[2:51] There were a few things amongst them, but because they were in a dead situation, they were also about to die. So he said, be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die for I have not found your works perfect before God.

[3:10] Remember therefore how you have received, how you have received and heard. Hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief and you will not know as a thief and you will not know the hour I will come upon you.

[3:31] Now, this, when Jesus, anytime Jesus talks about him coming as a thief, he's not coming to help.

[3:46] The ones he's telling I'm coming as a thief means that they are about to suffer losses. Thieves don't come to your house and everything is the same. They come to clean the house.

[4:00] Sweep the house of jewelry and may thieves not come into your house in Jesus' name. I said, thieves will not come into your house in Jesus' name. Amen. So he said, I am coming as a thief.

[4:11] It is not every Christian that, to every group of Christians that Jesus is going to come as a thief. It's only those who are asleep and they will suffer their losses.

[4:25] In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 1 downwards, it says that, but concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

[4:35] Verse 2, that I should write to you. For you yourself know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. So he's coming. The day will come as a thief in the night.

[4:49] What's characteristic of the night season? When people sleep, when there's darkness, and when people do things undercover. A lot of bad things happen at night.

[5:01] Many bad things happen at night. So he said, I'm going to come as a thief in the night. That means it's bad news for somebody. My coming is going to be bad news for you because you are going to suffer loss.

[5:14] Look at verse 3. For when they say peace, safety, let's try and make sure everything is working, flowing well. When they say peace and safety, then suddenly distraction comes upon them.

[5:29] As labor pays upon a pregnant woman and they shall not escape. Pregnant woman can't escape labor. And look at the next verse, verse 4.

[5:44] But you, brethren, are not in darkness so that the day should overtake you. So it's not everybody the day will overtake as a thief. Because if the day overtakes you as a thief, it means that you are going to suffer severe losses and damages.

[6:03] Look at verse 5. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. So we are not like, what does verse 6 say?

[6:15] Verse 6. Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. So in other words, even though we are sons of the day, we can enter into sleep as others.

[6:30] Others are actually asleep. But he's saying that because you are not sons of the night, don't join the sleepy ones. Don't join the sleepy ones.

[6:41] Verse 7. For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. A lot of things happen in darkness.

[6:54] A lot of things happen in the cover of darkness. Look at verse, the next verse, verse 8. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

[7:10] Verse 9. For God did not appoint us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus. So, there is a cost to being asleep.

[7:22] And Jesus says that, I'm going to, Revelations again, he says that, I will come to you as a thief in the night for those of you who are sleeping.

[7:33] He says that, therefore, verse 3, remember what you have heard, and then repent, hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

[7:49] You have, so he said, you know, I'm going to come. Then he goes on to say, you have a few names, even in Sardis, who have not defiled their garments.

[8:01] That's a very interesting thing. So there are a few people, not many, there are a few people, so there are still people in that church. Listen, you have to, I thank God that he put me in a church like this.

[8:21] Because there are some churches like Sardis. You will go and they will freeze you to death.

[8:34] Very cold church. Everybody is snoring. As soon as you join them, you also begin to sleep and slam back.

[8:49] Now, in Sardis, you see, those days, the church is like based on the city. So there were no, in Sardis, they didn't have Sardis eternal life ministries.

[9:01] Sardis anointed church. You know, like, powerful, South Sardis branch. No, it was one church. So people who were alive, they didn't even have a choice but to be there.

[9:14] and they were trying to, God said, I have a few among you because they don't have a choice. They would have been in the church of Smyna. But in Sardis, there's no Smyna church in Sardis.

[9:25] It's Sardis. So they found themselves in a Sardis church but they are not dead. And God said, I have a few names, remnants, just like in Jeremiah chapter 14 verse 22.

[9:42] Remnants, just like in Romans chapter 11 verse 13. Remnants, are there Romans chapter 11 verse 13.

[9:54] For I speak to you, Gentiles, in as much as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry.

[10:06] All right, let's go to the next verse. Let me make sure I got that text right. Thank you, Jesus. So let's see if it is 17.

[10:20] But in Jeremiah, sorry, in Jeremiah chapter 14, verse, Ezekiel 14 22, it talks about remnants. Someone say remnants.

[10:33] Remnants. God has got remnants. There is got a few. Ezekiel 14 22, it's got, ye behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will not be brought out.

[10:46] God will always have some remnants. And in London, in United Kingdom, we have to always believe God that we will be among the remnants. There must be a church in London, or there must be a church in London, majority of the members are alive.

[11:09] alive. You are alive unto God. When God wants something to be done, it's you who will come to. When God wants to change a particular community, or God wants to do something, anytime God wants to move, he will always use his people, and guess what?

[11:29] He can't use sleeping giants. He will only use those who are alive. There is a reason why God has placed you where you are. If you are alive, be relevant for God.

[11:42] So, he said, I have a few remnants. What are these remnants? He said, I have a few names, even in Sardis.

[11:53] It's in Sardis, but they are there. Who have not defiled their garments? Garments, I mentioned it last week, you haven't defiled your garments.

[12:04] Now, the word translated in file is also the same as dye coloring. I don't know how many of you have experienced that before, but I experienced some recently.

[12:15] I hardly experienced that. I don't know, Pastor, when I was looking for where that thing came from, I put a few clothes in the washing machine, and there was a particular baby pink that discolored everything, turned everything pinky.

[12:31] a few white stuff had turned there. You know some stuff you can wash them with bright clothes. Blue ones have started looking a bit purplish.

[12:48] Which one? We couldn't find. So I went and bought this stuff from Asda, you have to push to clean. It didn't need your bait. I washed and washed the thin house.

[13:00] changed the color. And the color is strong. All their clothes are strong. My daughter is nice. It's changed. When you see, you'll be sad. What has happened to the garments?

[13:15] They have been defiled. May you not find yourself in a washing machine with sometimes church is like a big washing machine.

[13:30] And the defilement usually starts from the puppets. I'm going to show you what makes a church die.

[13:45] What causes a church to die? Because the church of Smyrna was just 30 years after Jesus had gone. Just 30 years already the church is dead.

[13:57] Sorry, I'm sorry, Sadis. 30 years after Jesus and all those churches were around 30. They already died within 30 years.

[14:09] 100 years, 200 years, 1,000 years later, 2,000 years we are still here. And some died 30 years after Jesus had left. That's a serious one. What caused them to die?

[14:22] And the death, defiled garments means you have discolored your garments. So long as God is concerned, garments are important. As I quoted to you, I showed you last week.

[14:34] Revelation chapter 18 verse 7 and 8. In fact, before we go there, I like this one. Ecclesiastes chapter 9 verse 8. It's such a nice scripture. It said, let your garments, oh my God.

[14:50] Let your garments, garments signifies character, behavior. behavior, your acts, the things you do, your righteous acts, your good acts, garment.

[15:04] So you have to have a white garment, good behavior as a believer. As I told you last week, we are not saved by our good behavior. So according to the objective righteousness, according to 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 30, Jesus Christ's righteousness is what makes us acceptable to God.

[15:24] We have his righteousness. That one you can't do, he did it and gave it to us. So it's called objective righteousness. We are saved by the righteousness of Christ, but we will be judged by our works of righteousness.

[15:37] So the righteousness, that's why Paul said, not having my own righteousness based on the law. So that's not the righteousness. But Jesus then tells us, Matthew 5 20, that except your righteousness surpasses that of the righteousness of the Pharisees.

[15:52] righteousness. So he has spent a certain type of righteousness from us, right behavior, which is our garment. So in Revelation chapter 19, verse 7 and 8, it says that, let us be glad and rejoice, giving glory to him, for the marriage of the lamb has come, and his wife has, the lamb has a wife, and his wife has made herself ready.

[16:22] Now, ready wife, look at the next verse, verse 8. And to her it was granted to be arred in fine linen. Someone say fine linen.

[16:32] Fine linen. Oh, can you help me? Let's all say that together. Fine linen. One more time please. Fine linen. She was given to be arred, fine linen, untainted, unstained, unspotted, clean garments like a bride.

[16:53] The bride is supposed to not have some wrinkles and hot chocolate spilled into it. Toothpaste like some people's morning coat or 90s toothpaste and discolored content.

[17:12] You can't have that for your wedding gown. So, the bride is supposed to appear, watch this, the bride is supposed to appear in garments.

[17:25] Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a man who does wedding party for his son. and invites the people who were invited, Matthew 22, the people who were invited, from 13 or so, the people who were invited didn't come.

[17:42] And so he told his servants, go into the highways and invite everybody to come in. And so when they invited everybody to come in, they all came in and their wedding was set, tables were seated, people were seated.

[17:53] Then the master comes in and he finds a man not appropriately attired. So the master asked him, but when the king came in verse 12, he said to him, friend, how did you come in here without wedding garments?

[18:12] Now we, I don't have what it takes to notice your spiritual garments. But guess what, if Jesus shows up right now, he said, hey, where is your garments?

[18:24] This garment is not appropriate for, this attire is not appropriate for this meeting. Why are you coming to church? In bikini. You see what I'm saying? It's not appropriate garments. It's not appropriate garments.

[18:37] You can't come to church with pajamas. Can you imagine your wedding? Your mother-in-law comes with morning coats.

[18:53] And she's the one who's supposed to cut the cake. So Jesus, Jesus said, the master asked, and he says, how come?

[19:07] How did you come here without garment? And the guy was speechless. And you know, he said, bring everybody in. He said it. Go invite everybody. Everybody says, come. come. But so he has paid and taken care of everybody, catered for everybody.

[19:21] So go and bring them. It doesn't matter where you are coming from, whether you are from the streets, whether you are from the ghettos, whether you are from the pub, whether you are from the church, whether you are from the palace, it doesn't matter.

[19:31] Just come. That is what the church does for us. It doesn't matter your background. Jesus' blood and his righteousness covers us all. So he said, come, come, come, because you are part of But then, after you have come in, you still determined, decided to retain spotted garments.

[19:54] So he says that, and then the king said to the servant, bind him, hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer, say outer darkness.

[20:05] Say louder, please. Say that louder, please. Is it possible this person has been invited, he's come in, he's saved, but now put him in outer darkness? Can you be in church, can you be born again, and later on suffer outer darkness?

[20:19] Because watch this, he says that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. It seems to me that Jesus repeated this, Matthew chapter 25, verse 29. Look at it, Matthew 25, 29 says that, for to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

[20:43] Look at verse 30. This is worrying. And curse the unprofitable servant. This is the same thing. Unprofitable what? Unprofitable what? Seven. Now, this story, Matthew 25, verse 14, it talks about the kingdom of heaven is like a man who was traveling to a far country.

[21:00] The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country who called his own servants and delivered to them his own goods. Watch this. So the servants had the same qualification.

[21:10] So they are all in the choir. They are all the same uniform. Uniform, wonderful. So it's like he called choristers.

[21:23] So what you have to understand is that they all qualify to sing. They all qualify. Can you come? Does he qualify to sing with the choir?

[21:33] He doesn't qualify. Why? Not because he can't sing, but he's not attired. So can imagine, can we have all the males in the choir to come for maybe special lunch?

[21:47] Or ticket for lunch? As soon as they come, they'll give you. When he comes, they'll ask you, are you a member of the choir? You'll raise questions because you are not. So now, what I'm trying to say, they are all at the same level. He said he called his servants and then he gave them, look at verse 15, Matthew 22, verse 16.

[22:03] He says, watch this. He said, and then he, verse 15, let's go back to verse 15. I'm sorry. Yeah. So verse 15 said, and to one he gave five and then is that all?

[22:18] To another he gave two and is that all? And to another one, one, to another one, according to his own abilities and then he traveled.

[22:31] And then when he came back in verse 20, so I think it's verse 19, he came, yes, this is a serious one and it's going to happen to all of us. After a long time, the lord of the servants came and settled accounts with them.

[22:47] He came, so let's balance the books now. So watch this, I'm trying to draw attention to the lord of the servants, they are all servants, they all have special place in his heart.

[22:58] He's not like the other one who is not a member, so let's know any of them because they are all servants, but he gave them different abilities and different responsibilities. And then after he has given you responsibilities, you are born again, you have been made a servant, but he's going to come back to settle accounts with you.

[23:13] Do you understand? Because we are all servants of God, but Jesus is going to come back to settle accounts with you. It's good, definitely. Oh, account is going to come back. You gave. He's coming to settle the account.

[23:26] Usually accountants in this country get because of the tax year. Very busy financial year. Everybody must make sure that you are balancing the books and everything before you submit your accounts.

[23:38] You have to submit to companies' house. Submit their accounts. You have to submit. And so he said that you are going to submit accounts. The master came, he said, okay, what have you got?

[23:50] Account. Who is he talking to? What are they? Seven. So they all have equal rights before him. What have you got? He's made five more.

[24:01] And what did he say? Verse 21. Look at that. He said, I like it. He said, watch this. The Lord said to the good faithful servant, you have been faithful by a few things. I'll make you ruler. I'll make you what? I'll make you what? Say ruler over many things.

[24:13] And then he says that enter into the joy of the Lord. Enter what? The joy of the Lord. Go and rejoice with the Lord. Celebrate. And so he enters the joy. He came to this one. Verse 23. He said, you too. Okay, well done.

[24:25] Enter into the joy of the Lord. And then the verse 26. When he comes to this one, he started telling stories. You will not tell stories in Jesus then. You wish it should have been him.

[24:36] He said, honestly. And then he came to set an account with this one. This one brought a whole, see, I'm a pastor. I work with so many people. Some people, when you call them, why hasn't this been done? They will tell you seven things why.

[24:48] Some people always have an answer why they haven't delivered. No employer enjoys working in people who have answers for no delivery. And some of them, their answers bounce back to, they tell you it's because you haven't released enough funds.

[25:03] I'm trying to address a very important doctrinal, theological, major issue amongst Christians. Once saved, forever saved. Can you lose your salvation?

[25:15] That's what I'm trying to address. And he came to this servant and he says, after everything, verse 29, he said, you're a wicked guy. Verse 29, you're a wicked guy.

[25:27] And you know why he said, you're a hard man, I'm afraid of you. See, he put the problem, so you're a wicked guy. And he said, the Lord said, to everyone who has, more will be given and he will have abundance, but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

[25:48] You will be gifted, a gifted singer and don't join the choir. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. You be an IT guru and don't bring it to serve God and use it to serve Pharaoh and make money.

[26:03] So, but watch this. This is serious. Look at the next verse. Is it not a servant? He said, and cast this unprofitable what?

[26:15] Seven. No, you God forbid. Cast the unprofitable servants into outer darkness darkness. And he says, there will be gnash. Isn't it not the same thing he said about the one with the wrong garments?

[26:28] The one with the wrong garment. He said, cast him into outer darkness. For there will be, he said, as for the wedding feast, everyone was invited because you are not coming based on what you have paid. You are coming based on what he has paid.

[26:41] His righteousness brings you in. But your righteousness will play a major role as to the coming days. So that means, watch this, that means there are people who are born again, but they will be cast into outer darkness.

[26:58] That's getting interesting. Look, I'm going to throw a bit more light on it. You are born again. I'm telling you, you are born again, and you are doing anything and you say, oh, God understands.

[27:09] Grace, grace has covered me. Grace has covered me. Why did you realize this grace has actually caught you? Grace has not covered you. This grace has held your neck.

[27:23] I don't know who I'm talking to. You think coming to church is just coming and sitting in an atmosphere, and oh, it's nice, I like the jubilee and chandelier.

[27:33] Listen, forget about that. That is irrespective. It's not good anything to do with your eternal salvation. there are serious issues.

[27:47] That's why, why would Christ come and die so that you can sit in a hotel for service? It's a resort. He left heaven. So, what I'm trying to show you is that the outer darkness thing is not for the world.

[28:04] It's for those who have come into the feast. And then, yet, they are in their feast with a soiled defiled government.

[28:16] Their master's dead. No, bring them. Don't worry. I know. See? Bring them. Don't worry. He said that criminal, ex-convict, let him come in.

[28:29] A humanizer, let him come in. Former, no. No, like, don't come in and stay there. Former humanizer. Former addict, he's an addict, yet, but he's ready to receive Christ.

[28:40] Let him come in. He's that, he's a liar, let him come in. He's a thief, let him come in. So we are made up of all kinds of people. He has committed abortion, let him come in.

[28:52] He has cheated on the wife, let him come in. All kinds of people who, when, if, who you really are, your works are displayed here, it will be so, hey, how did you come into church?

[29:05] Yeah, so, no, come, because you are not coming based on what you have paid. That is called, that is called the righteousness of Christ. It's objective, it's given to you, it's righteousness transferred, righteousness, theologians call it righteousness estranos, righteousness, alien righteousness, righteousness outside of yourself.

[29:27] It's not an intrinsic righteousness, it's not a personal righteousness, it's a foreign, sorry, alien righteousness, synthetic, you didn't make it, you didn't have it, it came from outside.

[29:38] So the righteousness by which we are saved is an alien righteousness, it's a synthetic righteousness, but after you are saved, so let them come in, he will come to settle accounts.

[29:52] So he came in and said, how come, not your presence here, but how come you are in the wrong garments? So what does the garment connot?

[30:03] Your behavior, your actions. So, now, he said that Revelation chapter 19, did I say 19 or 18, 19 verse, 8, watch this, verse 8, so verse 7 talks about, let us rejoice and be glad, giving glory to him, for the marriage of the lamb has come, and his bride has made himself ready.

[30:24] And verse 8 says that, and to her it was granted to be arid in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the subjective righteousness, now, the acts of the saints.

[30:39] Your behavior here is what connotes your fine linen. That's why I said I'm going to come like a thief. Because when I come, those who don't have the fine linen, they'll be cast into outer darkness.

[30:53] sacrifice. So, those who say that you can lose your salvation, some of the scriptures, this is some of the scriptures that they stand on.

[31:04] And then they stand on scriptures like, Paul said in 1 Corinthians that, chapter 9, from verse 27, 28, he said, I beat my body and I bring it under subjection.

[31:18] And, when I have free to others, I myself will be disqualified, become disqualified. Some translations say, be a cast away. I think King James also, cast away, outer darkness.

[31:32] So, Paul himself said, I fear, lest I might be disqualified. So, then they said, yes, you see, you can be born again, but you miss.

[31:43] You lose your salvation. You can born again. Definitely, you'll miss the rapture. Come on. The rapture is only for those who are awake and watching.

[31:56] It's only for those. So, there are people, there are two types of Christians. They're watching Christians and they're sleeping Christians. And they're sleeping Christians are those who find themselves in outer darkness.

[32:10] They're watching Christians are those who wake up. they're awake. So, by the time he's coming, we are caught up with him. He'll blow the trumpet.

[32:23] Don't show away, come on. The Bible says, in the twinkle of a line, according to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 16, we shall be captured, taken away. And we'll go and be, that's the first, remember the first fruits?

[32:35] We'll be the first fruits. But, now watch this. after that, the tribulation and things, people will suffer, and then some will be saved during the tribulation because they will not become obedient.

[32:49] But during the, sorry, the millennial reign, because you see that enter into the joy of the Lord. And it says that they'll give him more. And in Luke, it says that those who have been faithful later will be made to reign over many cities.

[33:06] Some will reign over. So, when are we going to reign? Is the millennial reign when Christ is going to come back to rule and reign? According to Revelation chapter 2, verse 26, 27.

[33:19] Please. Verse 26. And he who overcomes and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give the power over the nations. Okay?

[33:30] So, two things. You enter into the joy of the Lord. Okay? You enter into the joy of the Lord and then you also reign with the Lord.

[33:41] So, the first one enter into the joy of the Lord and those who overcome are entitled to reign. Look at verse 27. Reign and he shall rule with a rod of iron.

[33:52] They shall be dashed down. That's the nation. But look at Revelation chapter 20 verse 4. Revelation 20. And I saw thrones and they, not him, this throne is not a throne of God.

[34:09] I saw thrones and they sat on them and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who have been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of the Lord and had not worshipped the beast and his image and had not received the mark on their forest or on their hands and they live and reign with Christ how long?

[34:41] And Jesus says some will be made to reign over ten cities over many cities so you have been faithful in five cities reign over ten cities we shall reign look at verse 26 it's not verse 6 look at verse 6 blessed and holy is he who has part of the first resurrection over such the second death has no power but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him thousand years now this is the joy of the Lord those who will not reign with him will be cast into outer darkness and that is where there will be nursing of teeth there will be nursing and we there is weeping and nursing of teeth I was working so much I thought it's all about money I should have let that boy go I thought he would marry me and I didn't even take crisis look at me I saw my garment so I was thrown out of the wedding supper of the land and there weeping and regret one

[35:44] I heard a man of God say this years ago he said when you die and those of us will be in heaven as soon as you get to heaven the first five seconds you said wow I should have done more when I was on earth the first five seconds you will be shocked I can only imagine this then you realize why did I waste all my life for things that I left behind why did I chase skinny rabbits this is what Christians must wake up to know I think it's just about receive breakthrough the charismatic church has made it especially certain portions of the charismatic church have made it all about gain bread and butter receive a husband receive a wife you are coming to pray for the husband the guy who you want to marry you already you are messing up with him and you are in the choir and it doesn't really bother you it's different when someone's foot is caught in something they are praying

[36:59] God will not say because your heart is good you are praying you judge you based on your work and you are defiling your garments I have a few amongst you who have not defiled their garments you are defiling your garments watching pornography have you don't want me to say it I'll go and settle account with God let me say it because you may not be happy with me but at least I want him to be happy with me for him to say well done that good and faithful and don't be here and don't know to him he says that and

[38:18] I will not blot his name out of the name of the book of life so that means if you say I will not blot his name the name is already written Jesus said don't be happy demons are bowing to you Luke chapter 10 verse 20 but he said rejoice because your names are written in the book of life Revelation chapter 13 verse 8 it talks about names written in the Lamb's book of life and all who dwell on the earth will worship him whose names have not been written in there are names that are registered written in the Lamb's book of life Revelation chapter 20 verse 12 the Lamb's book of life your name must be written Revelation chapter 20 verse 12 what does it say in fact last week I told you verse 11 and

[39:19] I saw a great white throne a great white throne verse 12 look at verse 12 and I and I saw the dead small and great standing before God and books were opened and books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged according to their works by the things which were written in the books according to what how were judged according to what they are they are works by the things so your works are being recorded forgiveness you will get by works recorded they are works they will be judged according to their works by the things that are which in the book look at verse 15 this one is very scary years ago when I got born again I used to preach to my friends and anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire now this is not where there will be national weeping the lake of fire is the final believers whose names are written in the book of life will not be cast into the lake of fire

[40:38] I am trying to explain something believers whose names are written in the book of this is not the outer darkness this is not what Paul meant when he says that lest I will be disqualified because once you are born again you are a child of God that qualifies you to your name is written in the lamb's book of life so why did he say that if you overcome I will not blot out your name the name that is going to be blotted out you see there are three stages of the church life the first stage is when you receive redemption forgiveness of sins justification and then sanctification you are born again that's redemption that's first stage we are born again we have it and that qualifies us for us living not reigning but living in being part of the new Jerusalem so once you are born again your name is written in the book of life they will not cast you into the lake of fire you are a millennial reign of

[41:41] Christ and the millennial reign of Christ is going to be the time of punishment for the believers who did not know the master's will you know what is him who knows his master's will and did not do it so you are not losing your salvation but you are losing your placement in the millennial reign and you be in the outer darkness there will be nursing and weeping nursing of teeth and weeping in the outer darkness for a thousand years when some of us will be reigning and then after the thousand years we have everybody has learned and then we all come and be part of the new Jerusalem that makes sense so now when you say I've lost out your name it's talking about the names those who are going to be in the thousand year reign if you don't overcome you won't qualify to reign in the thousand year you will qualify for outer darkness but if you overcome then your name will not be blotted out you will be part of the millennial reign of Christ wake up don't think that well

[42:42] I'm trying to do righteousness God is not rewarding see you see what some of this prosperity gospel extreme emphasis has done to people thinking that they are doing something for God they are doing God a service by serving they are doing God favor by being in church they are doing God favor by living righteous life and so some say I've even left righteous life there's no I haven't seen any benefits in my faith no no no listen listen it's not for benefit on earth when you live righteous and you walk with God God listen the Holy Spirit will guide you once he's with you and he'll guide you into profit and so you will not suffer unnecessary losses all right you won't suffer unnecessary however the main ethos of our Christian work is not the benefits we get on earth why should we be faithful and die here why should you allow yourself to be martyred if the benefit is here then you have lost out no the real benefit is there it's the second coming

[43:52] Bible says that I have fought a good fight of faith I have kept the faith I have finished my faith 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verse 7 and it says therefore there is laid for me a crown of righteousness verse 8 which the righteous judge shall give to me upon his appearing and not to me alone 2nd Timothy chapter 4 verse 8 not to me alone but to all who love is appearing 1st John chapter 3 verse 1 behold what manner of love is this that the father has given to us that we should be called the sons of God and he said the world does not know us why because the world does not know him and he says that for anyone who has this hope in him but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him and he said for everyone who has this hope in himself purifies himself just as is pure so your purity has a lot to do as well with the hope of his coming because you know you are going to give account when people are only watches that is the problem

[44:54] I find with the morning day I don't even know whether I can call it charismatic because we have made people to feel that it's all about physical acquisition physical aggrandization physical breakthroughs comforts on earth and so people come and all their targets there are people here who are in church because you want to marry that's why you are in no Jesus is coming pastor that's why you sleep when I'm preaching pastor the things I'm going through Jesus is coming when you come we can all see you'll be fine but now I need to pay my bill you also say Jesus is coming but what about when you finish paying your bill when you finish paying your bill is that all you are not living to pay bills you are living to prepare for him and as you live for him he will make sure for my

[46:01] God shall supply on your list according to his riches and glory because as you even as you are living righteous on earth and you are building an account and from out of your account he will begin to bless you and take care of things that are essential on earth for you so you you are not born again to suffer again you are born again Bible says Romans chapter 5 I think verse 17 to reign we shall reign in Christ in life we shall reign we will reign in life through one the one Christ Jesus we will reign so you are born again to reign so Satan cannot just come anytime to your house come anytime to your territory and be throwing blows at you and harassing you that is not permitted I see you overcoming I see you having victory but the point I'm making whilst we are having victories on earth you have to be careful we don't lose sight and now begin to focus just everything that we are getting here it's all about here it's all about here that's not the Christian message the Christian message is about what is coming it says that the blessed hope the glorious appearing of the Lord our Lord and Savior

[47:16] Jesus Christ 1 Peter chapter 1 the glorious hope the blessed hope right so he says that he will not blot your name so in those days they didn't write with the kind of ink we had they used to write with a certain pen you can scrap it you know when you buy phone card or top app so your scratch card your name is like that on the book he said if if you don't overcome I will scrape your name out you are comfortable defiling and tainting your dress your gown he said I will blot your name you can't reign with me sleeping is dangerous for the Christian not physical sleeping spiritual slumber let me quickly add as I promised you what makes the church slumber what is the cause for spiritual death what is the same thing what is the cause for spiritual death before then what are the signs that a church is sleeping when a church begins to sleep a dying church or the dead church is concerned about traditions is concerned about forms is concerned about welfare is concerned about tolerance is concerned about social ills is concerned about material things is preoccupied with systems organizations it doesn't proclaim the gospel it does not uphold the scriptures a dead church or dying church these are the signs not proclaiming the gospel wanting everybody to come to church to feel free accommodating sinners comfortably no

[49:15] I ask for this one I am telling you that I don't believe that sinners should be in church and stay in church and feel comfortable in church permanently the pastor said how come you are here what is your garment sinners can come but don't stay sinners in church the puppets must be hot enough to burn the fornication out of you to burn the sin in you what kind of preaching are you preaching pastor which doesn't call people to repentance what kind of preaching is this they are not promising them prosperity in their unrepentant state it's dangerous professional more practice it's dangerous read the bible in the book of us the first message they preach it's ended up in repentance the second message repentance

[50:17] Paul preached repentance they preached and they said if Jesus said repentance will be preached in his name why are we preaching and not calling people to repentance listen revelation it says that repent it's there it's there it's there I'm telling you it's there revelation chapter 3 the thing you are talking about verse 3 remember therefore how you have received and heard hold fast and repent the first letter to the church of Ephesus sorry revelation chapter 2 verse I think 4 he said repent repent else I'll come and remove your candlestick from its place repent the church must preach repent Jesus is still preaching repentance from heaven why have we stopped preaching he said you can come come in it's open to all but once you come in and some of us are born again and you know there's repentance to do those who are right when they hear God they take an action simple you can't say they know

[51:20] God is same but God speak to the ear ain't listening I'm not changing I'm not changing the pastor at least has to find something to preach he's telling us it's finished you are going I'm continuing my life I just come to church because my mom's as you always go God is not mocked whatsoever a man so shall him I'm calling you to repentance all of us anything in your life that does not glorify God ask a Christian I'm not talking to those who are not believers if you're a Christian repent I challenge your claims of Christianity I challenge your claims if you're a Christian your heart will be cut when the word of God comes your heart is soft towards God if you're a Christian that's one of the major sides of a Christian you have a heart towards God your heart is soft towards God like the way your heart is soft towards your baby oh my girl that's my girl because you have a heart for them if you're genuinely a Christian you have a heart for God the way your heart is

[52:25] I doubt if you're really born again repent repent repent the first when Jesus came to start preaching in Matthew chapter 4 verse 17 is it Matthew Matthew verse 17 I was saying he came and started preaching and then and that time Jesus began to preach and to say he's opening preaching repent John the Baptist he's opening preaching repent Peter when he finished preaching they were cut to the heart they said many brethren what shall we do Peter said repent Paul said repent Peter said it again after they healed the crippled man said repent and bring forth works fruits of right let us see that you have actually repented let us see there must be different works different people say no no I don't do that again we've got some deal this is a powerful deal the cocaine man is waiting the drive man say no no

[53:26] I'm changed I don't you can't excuse me don't call me again that's a repentant person there's no I used to you have been born again there's no I used to I used to do this you are born again but there's no I used to I am still the same I'm preaching look at somebody tell the person repent watch this you listen listen you have come to kneel down God you haven't repented you don't want to repent I thought you God has to speak to us you are coming to claim from God but you don't care relating to God you don't care about that oh we have turned church into a shopping center the preachers come with promises because we want to keep you in church we are like customer service personnel we want to preach nice sermon so that everybody feels nice and then

[54:43] I went for a pastor's conference and they said you don't have to be preaching too hard because people are going through a lot already so when they come to church listen it's worse than hell it's not worse than hell what they are going through let let let me let me start the junctions point them from because they are suffering and they are going to continue in hell so let me at least you've suffered enough don't go and continue in hell or outer darkness a Christian like you guess what you'll be cast into outer darkness I'm talking to you you know yourself I'm talking to you I'm talking to you unless you repent instead I'm coming to remove the candlestick from you or I'm going to scrap your name scratch your name out of everywhere we all look like servants but some are servants who are unprofitable servants who be cast into outer darkness so the signs of dying churches we don't even preach the gospel we don't call it to repentance we are more concerned about material possessions we are believing

[55:58] God raising millionaires millionaires and wealth transfer is coming and it has never arrived they are more gold business more gold do you want to know what killed the church the cause of spiritual death for the church is people have given all kinds of different prepositions that it's this it's that there's only one cause one cause of spiritual death for the church is sin and sin alone sin is what killed the church astronomers you know what a light year is some of you know others will know if you don't know just behave like you do a light year is light year is light light light year is how long the speed of a light how long a light can travel within a year traveling at the speed of 186 thousand miles per second that's fast yeah your car even if you do 20 miles or you do 50 miles is very fast and let alone 186 thousand miles per second in a year so it will travel it took one year at that speed to cover that span that's the light year okay so when you shine a light here it's very strong light how far it can go after traveling for a year some of the stars astronomers have discovered that some of the stars are as far as 30 light years so it will take 30 years when the light is shining from one star not all of them 13 stars the far the far the far when light is shown from the star it is coming so before some of you were 25 years old before it is still coming we haven't seen it yet it is coming so that stands to imply there are certain stars if a star dies it died 10 years ago but we see the star still shining it is living but it is dead it is dead already it's taking time to manifest there but up to now because the light shone about several years ago and it is taking time to get here it's coming so we see the light is oh it's shining but it's dead some churches died a long time but the light is still it looks like it still but they have been cut from its source and you know what causes that sin sin sin where sin in in the teachings and sin in the practice next the church remember the church of the teachings of the necolatans the church of

[59:18] Titeria the teachings of Jezebel the teachings of Satan that woman Jezebel was teaching and allowing fornication in the church the teachings so the teachings that accommodate sin and the practice that accommodate sin is what kills the church anything that is not taught in the church in the pulpit whatever is taught is what manifests in the behavior of people teachings behavior sin let me show you I wrote some stuff here so what kills the church sin in the members and in the leaders sin in the there's no church you find sin in the leaders and it's not in the members no no no it can never happen there may be one or two members but it will not be pervading in the church because it's not in the leaders sin in leadership guarantees sin in membership so that is why I can't afford to just live anyhow

[60:30] I failed you before God God must help us that's why you have to pray for your leaders they should walk with God they should walk with God because can you imagine if you are sinning then you're in trouble there are people who can pray for you and at least their life is gone so sin and then error and compromise these are the three major things but mainly it's all about sin error in the doctrines we are teaching the things we are teaching we over emphasize on certain things and marginalize on other important things so the whole meetings and the churches become about something which Christ didn't die for listen let me say this brothers and sisters what kind of teachings we give in the church is important the strength and the health of every church has a lot to do with the teachings from the pulpit if we teach error the church will be full of error certain operates comfortably where there are doctrinal errors sin kills little by little it kills little by little gradually it kills your will that's then it ends up in all kinds of habits it kills your feelings and you become very hardened towards the things of

[61:58] God it kills your character and so you become twisted you begin to accommodate all kinds of things now you are telling you are living with somebody you are not married to you have a wife and you have another one on the side you go and spend night and you say it's okay God understand it has twisted you have become skinned sin has twisted your character it's one thing falling into temptation it's another thing saying it's okay there are two different things some people are in temptation they are in sin and they don't see anything wrong what's wrong it doesn't matter everybody does it run away from such people because the Bible enjoins us that pursue righteousness second Timothy chapter 2 verse 22 second Timothy 2 22 these are the things you should pursue it's a flee you have to run away from something whilst you are running away from something be chasing something else run away from youthful lust but pursue what righteousness pursue faith pursue love pursue peace not alone you have to check your company with those who call on the name of the

[63:13] Lord out of a pure heart some people it is not worth becoming joining their company even though they are Christians they are not pursuing God out of a pure heart pure purity of heart pure white white I thought the color of heaven is not blue it is white is that what you receive this bless you bless you so that is how sin comes in it comes in little by little little by little that is the source of death is a sin the the science of death is when we begin to tolerate some things we begin to we stop preaching the gospel we stop focusing on niceness tolerance social justice that's all become

[64:13] I'm not saying those things are bad but that becomes our main focus it's like when you are sleeping the church has started sleeping when this has all become now the focus of the church alleviation of poverty welfare praise the lord well I think yeah let me show you this I'll add our end on this but this part of the killing how does sin kill killing power sin okay how do we bring it into the church by receiving unbelievers by receiving false teachers by putting unbelievers in positions of leadership that's how you are bringing this whole thing we celebrate

[65:16] I don't even see why a church to celebrate the constant presence of unbeliever because he has money every time every time because when he comes to church he's going to pack his Ferrari and then when there's time for offering once she comes to church we know that it will have an impact on the offering you are not a man of God you are a business and then some of them we end up putting sinners unbelievers in church leadership that's how those are the things that kill the church we make people leaders without being concerned about their morality being concerned about their spiritual cleanliness and sanity that's how we bring death into the church baptizing unbelievers making them leaders making them the choir leader making them the soprano leader making them the chief organizer but the person is an unbeliever he's an unbeliever he's an unbeliever why are we empowering unbelievers to be in the front line of a holy people that's how we bring we invite death into the church but jesus said if you don't overcome if you don't wake up no he said if you wake up and overcome i will not blot out your name that means some churches oh my why don't are you not grateful that you are in a church that at least we are pursuing life sin kills the church in jesus name i rest my kiss sin kills the church in jesus name did you receive something wow wow well i want to i want i want us to pray because most of us if we are genuine every time the word of god comes it comes to jump start or kick start something you just you can tell that some aspect of your work is sleeping all right you may not even be living in sin but you are sleeping in some aspects of your work you are not alert to the to the voice of god you are not alert to the life of god you are not alert to the move of god that means that you are slumbering or you are sleeping the sleep of death so we want to pray that lord i repent that's how you wake up from your sleep you start by repenting not by god wake me up no he said be watchful so you repent and be watchful and then we can and the holy spirit then helps us because bible says the spirit himself helps us in our infirmities romans chapter 8 26 he helps us paracletus he comes to comes along to how can you be helped when you are not doing anything he helps you when you are doing something when you are waking up when you are coming back alive unto god we are going to pray we want to rise to our feet and pray this time not god deliver me from my court case deliver me from this you are going to pray in the lord i repent show me where i'm going wrong help me to do what i'm determined to do to your glory is it a good prayer to pray sorry please those of you can just rise to your feet and lift up your hands and talk to god lord i repent lord i repent lord i repent from my stubborn heart i repent from my

[69:19] stubborn heart i repent lord i repent i repent nost政iver lord i repent lord i repent lord i repent lord i repent I repent for delaying in obeying what you asked me to do.

[69:48] Lord, I repent for accommodating sin. I repent from my ways. I repent from my sinful ways. I repent from my lazy ways. I repent from my unproductive ways.

[70:00] I repent, Lord. I repent and I ask you to forgive me. Strengthen me to work closely with you. Strengthen me to do your will. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, strengthen me to be found faithful.

[70:13] Strengthen me to be found faithful. Not to be lazy, but to be faithful. To be faithful. To be faithful. To be faithful. To be faithful unto death. Lord, strengthen me.

[70:24] Lord, strengthen me. Lord, strengthen me. Strengthen me that I will not lose my reward. Strengthen me so I will not end up in outer darkness. Strengthen me, Lord.

[70:38] Strengthen me, Lord. Father, we thank you. Father, we thank you for your help. Our help is in your name. You have invited us to this wedding feast.

[70:50] Help us to keep our garments pure. Help us to keep our garments unsported. Help us to keep our garments unstained. Untainted. And help us to keep our garments pure.

[71:02] We thank you for today's message. We can't do it without your help. Oh, Holy Spirit, help us to live a life of sacrifice.

[71:14] A life of obedience. A life of humility. Help us to live a life that puts your kingdom first. We thank you that we will sacrifice anything.

[71:25] Help us to sacrifice anything for the building of the kingdom. We thank you. In Jesus' name. And all shall say, Amen. We thank God for using this sermon.

[71:36] with Reverend Dr. David Entry to share this awesome word. If this message has blessed you in any way, please spread the word by sharing it and send us an email to amen at karis.org.

[71:48] Remember to stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter for regular updates on what God is doing here at Karis Ministries. Stay blessed. Let's see you next time.

[72:12] Thank you.