Do You Need a Wake-up Call?

Topics:

I. Wake-up to the Spirit of Jesus!

*The church in Sardis had become slack in the spiritual battle!

1. "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up'" (Revelation 3:1, 2a).
2. We can only live the Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit!

• We pray in the power of the Spirit (Romans 8:26, 27).
• We preach in the power of the Spirit (1 Peter 1:12).
• We worship in the power of the Spirit (John 4:24).

• We Live and Walk by the power of the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).
• We Witness in the power of the Spirit (Acts 1:8).
• We are to be Filled with the power of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

II. Wake-up to the Verdict of Jesus!

*The church in Sardis needed to rekindle their passion for Jesus!

1. "Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent" (Rev. 3:2, 3a).
2. "Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you" (Revelation 3:3b).

III. Wake-up to the Purity of Jesus!

*The church in Sardis still had a faithful remnant devoted to Jesus!

1. "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" (Revelation 3:4).
2. "He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and 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" (Revelation 3:5, 6).

Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, April 14^th, 2024

Life group flow and discussion questions

"Do You Need a Wake-up Call?"

An important Guideline of Life Groups: We all need a wake-up call now and then as a spiritual reality check. How can you graciously encourage one another in your Life Group to do a spiritual inventory of their walk with Jesus?

Getting Started:

1. What parallels did Jesus make between the history of the city of Sardis and the condition of the church in Sardis?
2. Have you ever experienced a dramatic "wake-up call" physically? Have you had a spiritual wake-up call?

Discussing Truths:

1. Why is being filled with the Holy Spirit so important in being an overcomer (Galatians 5:16-18; Romans 8:2, 6-11)?
2. How can a person have 'a reputation' of being alive spiritually, but actually be spiritually dead?
3. How does Jesus confront the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:15, 27, 28)? Why are some churches in danger of the same hypocrisy?
4. What do you think would be the verdict of Jesus in writing to Church of the Woods, or to your personal life?
5. Do you think Jesus can resuscitate a dead church? A dead marriage? A dead career? A dead relationship? What's our responsibility in those kind of wake-up calls?
6. Are there churches that you know of that once were alive, but now are dead?

Now What? Application:

1. Is there something dying in your relationships that needs a wake-up call? Make and intentional choice to put Jesus in charge of your attitude, actions and change.
2. Take inventory of your spiritual health and do a thorough assessment of your vitality (Study 2 Corinthians 13:5).