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Some of us would not agree that a church with active ministries,
a charismatic pastor and with many people in attendance could
be a dead church. One measure of an “alive” church
that we use is usually “how many people are coming?” We
have been captured by the world’s idea of success.
It is how many come. Church leaders make decisions by “how
many come.”
We start or drop ministries by how many come. We view success
by the response of others. Based on that criteria evangelism
should be dropped, since few want to do that and even fewer
do. But God has a different standard of success - “being
spiritually alive.”
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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. (NASB) Rev. 3:2
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Wake up!
God warns this church to wake-up. He uses one of five Greek
words for “wake-up.” The other four have meanings
like: “remaining awake while feeling sleepy,”
“to wake-up in the morning,” and “to awake after being asleep.” The
word for “wake-up” that the Holy Spirit uses means “to remain
awake in order to remain alert.” They did not know the church was in a
hospital and about to die.
What should they do? God has the answer.
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Remember therefore what you have received and heard;
and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not
wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not
know at what hour I will come upon you. (NASB) Rev.
3:3
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