Revelation 3:1-6 -- The DEAD Church (Part 1)

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore 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 what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but 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 3:1-6

Pastor Danny Forshee.  Great Hills Baptist Church.  June, 8 2014:



Outline:

1. Identification (vv. 1-2, 4)
   A. Jesus
   B. City -- You are protected unless you're arrogant.
        i. Active practice of Emperor worship.
   C. Problem
        i. Dead
        ii.  Complacent
        iii. Corruption - "Only a few have not defiled..."
2. Commendation (vv 2, 4):
   - "A few have remained faithful"

Highlights:

• One night a week for evangelism.

• The Church is basically dead in Europe and is dying in America.

• #1 sign of a dying Church: They no longer look outward; it's all about them.

• Seven spirits - Completeness of spirit.

• The physical conquering due to arrogance and complacency that had occurred twice in the history of the city was now happening spiritually to the Church at Sardis.

• The Church, like the city, was living in the past.

• "People gathered does not a Church make; it takes the Spirit of the Living GOD!!!"

Beginning to unpack last Tuesday's screwy results....

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Proverbs 29:2

Obviously, Tuesday night was a good night for Team Straus and other establishment Republicans down ballot.  On the other hand, Ted Cruz turned in a surprisingly strong performance at the presidential level, and obviously Cruz supporters weren't voting for Joe Straus lieutenants.  So, what gives?!?

We have a hypothesis, though we can't test it without substantially more detailed data: based on a preliminary examination of county level results cross referenced against individual races, it looks like Donald Trump's presence at the Presidential level was good for down-ballot incumbents.

It seems like Cruz supporters voted for conservatives.  Rubio and Kasich supporters voted for establishment candidates.  Trump supporters, meanwhile, voted with the incumbent regardless of which side of the conservative/establishment fence that particular incumbent came down upon.

For example: In Joe Straus' and Pete Sessions' races, the challenger candidates' vote totals seemed to mirror the countywide result for Ted Cruz in Bexar and Dallas counties.  On the other hand, Jonathan Stickland, Matt Rinaldi, and Tony Tinderholt clearly outperformed Cruz.  This is, admittedly, an imprecise measure, but a correlation does seem to hold across across a fairly wide geographical area.

One thing we know for a fact: with turnout off the charts, and massive numbers of new people voting, name recognition was at a premium.  For a number of reasons, incumbents have vastly higher name recognition most of the time.  So there you have it.

Bottom Line: For whatever reason, Tuesday was a good night to be running as an incumbent in a down-ballot race; it certainly appears that Donald Trump bringing record numbers of low-information voters into the process was a big part of that reason.

Patrick delivers ANOTHER warning shot over tuition....

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children."
Hosea 4:6

YOWZA:

PR 03 04 2016 Lt. Gov. Patrick on Letter to University Presidents

What's even more remarkable is that he got Seliger on board:

Tuition Increase Inquiry Letter

Paxton wins significant national award!!!

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28

This is just all sorts of fantastic:

Tonight, it was an honor to receive the “State Elected Official of the Year” Award at the 2016 Weyrich Awards Dinner,...
Posted by Ken Paxton on Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Dan Patrick statement on HB2 at SCOTUS

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well."
Psalm 139:14

Good for him:

PR 03 02 2016 Lt. Gov. Patrick on OAG Argument to SCOTUS to Uphold HB2

Jason Nassour: THE CLOSING ARGUMENT!!!

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Proverbs 29:2

Jason Nassour's final message to the voters:

The Role of a County Commissioner
Jason Nassour talks about the role of a county commissioner, and why he is the best candidate for the job. Election Day is Tuesday and polls open at 7am!
Posted by Jason Nassour for Travis County Commissioner Precinct 3 on Monday, February 29, 2016

Highlights:

• Responsibility to oversee and manage the budget.

• "What qualifies me is the fact that I've spent 20 years, in the courtroom, battling just about every aspect of the county budget."

• "I've got 20 years in every facet of dealing with exactly what the law is mandating we deal with as Commissioners.

Matt Rinaldi's Opponent Throws TANTRUM over Mailer....

"A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back."
Proverbs 29:11

Too funny, from the Dallas-Morning News:

Former state Rep. Bennett Ratliff said mailers from his opponent that make his father out to be a “mobster” go too far.

Each mailer has a photo of a mafioso smoking a cigar or brushing his cheek with the tagline, “To Bennett Ratliff it’s not just politics, it’s the family business.”

The mailers, sent by incumbent Rep. Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, also allege that Ratliff refuses to support the repeal of “Robin Hood” — the school finance plan that transfers money from richer to poorer school districts — because his Ratliff’s father authored the law.

Rinaldi called lobbying and holding government office the Ratliff family business. Ratliff’s brother sits on the State Board of Education and is a registered lobbyist.

....

“I don’t think his father is a target, I think he is a target,” Rinaldi said.

Rinaldi said his opponent refused to support the repeal of Robin Hood and criticized Ratliff for failing to take action in the Legislature to fight against it.

Rinaldi said Ratliff opposes Robin Hood because he opposes school funding systems. If the school finance system were found unconstitutional it would be replaced with another money-draining system, Rinaldi said.

 Read the whole thing here.