WHY THE CHURCH SUFFERS TODAY  Revelation 2:1-7

Introduction: Christ knows and observes their state; though in heaven, yet he walks in the midst of his churches on earth.  The sin Christ charged this church with, is, not the having left and forsaken the object of love, but having lost the fervent degree of it that at first appeared. Christ is displeased with his people, when he sees them grow remiss and cold toward him. Surely this mention in Scripture, of Christians forsaking their first love, reproves those who speak of it with carelessness, and thus try to excuse indifference and sloth in themselves and others; our Saviour considers this indifference as sinful.

1-THEY MUST REPENT

2-THEY MUST BE GRIEVED AND ASHAMED FOR THEIR SINFUL DECLINING, and humbly confess it in the sight of God.

3-THEY MUST ENDEAVOUR TO RECOVER their first zeal, tenderness, and seriousness, and

4-THEY MUST PRAY AS EARNESTLY, and

5-THEY MUST WATCH AS DILIGENTLY, as when they first set out in the ways of God.

THE CHURCH SUFFERS TODAY…

I.                    BECAUSE OF ITS UNFAITHFUL CHURCH MEMBERS

A.     Proverbs 25:19--Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

B.     Hebrews 10:25--Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

II.                BECAUSE OF ITS UNBENDED KNEE

A.     Matthew 9:38--Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

B.     Luke 18:10-14--Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee  stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, give tithes of  all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon  his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

III.             BECAUSE OF ITS UNPAID VOWS

A.      Ecclesiastes 5:4,5--When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

B.     Numbers 14:33-35--And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

IV.              BECAUSE OF ITS UNBRIDLED TONGUE

A.      James 1:26-27-- If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his  own heart, this man's religion is vain.

B.     Prov.11:13--A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

V.                 BECAUSE OF ITS UNCONCERN FOR THE LOST

A.     Psalms 142:4--I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

B. James 2:1-6;8,9 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay  clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or  sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil   thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?  But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.