Spiritual Zombies
Revelation 3:1-6
“Spiritual Zombies”
Introduction: The names of the cities give some clue to the character of the Church Age:
Ephesus.... “Desirable” (Apostolic to 100 AD)
Smyrna.... “Bitterness” especially in death (100-313 AD)... persecution and martyrs
Pergamos... “Thoroughly married” (313-590 AD) thoroughly married to the world.
‘Christianized’ the Roman Empire...rise of the papal system...Nicolaitans
“peopleconquerors”
Thyatira... “Continuous sacrifice” (590-1517) Dogmas of the church...determined
man’s spiritual destiny...Eucharist, Indulgences, Purgatory,
Transubstantiation, Inquisition
Sardis... “The Rest or Remnant” (1517-1790) October 31, 1517 Luther posted his
“95 Thesis”After 100 years there was little evidence of divine life.
Protestantism fell into similarpatterns of the Roman Catholic Church, but
there were pockets of life.
Sardis was a real place...33 miles south of Thyatira. It was one of the oldest cities in Asia dating back to 1200 BC. Its best days were behind it; and they lived in the past. It was a fortress like city set on an embankment 1500 ft. high. It LOOKED TOTALLY IMPREGNABLE! The almost perpendicular cliffs looked unscalable. This led to a false security. The city was overrun and captured 3 times. They had become careless and failed to watch at critical times. NOT UNLIKE THE CHURCH AT SARDIS!
In Rev. 3:1-6 Jesus is directing His attention to that religious person into which divine life has never been implanted. You play the “Church Game” but have you ever been saved? Are you a Spiritual Zombie?
I. THE PROBLEM FOR SPIRITUAL ZOMBIES 3:1,3b
II. THE PRESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL ZOMBIES 3:2,3a
III. THE PENALTY FOR SPIRITUAL ZOMBIES 3:4,5
Are you a Spiritual Zombie? Are you dead and don’t know it?
I. THE PROBLEM FOR SPIRITUAL ZOMBIES 3:1,3b
A. Their Accuser 1a
*All of your activity for God hasn’t fooled the Holy Spirit.
*However dead you are He can make you alive!
*Place yourself into His hands.
B. Their Actions 1b
*They lacked reality.
*What started out as a movement became a monument.
C. Their Alternatives 3b
*If you don’t follow My formula, it was a sign they were professors not
possessors.
*These are not believers, BUT make believers.
Are you a Spiritual Zombie? Are you dead and don’t know it?
II. THE PRESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL ZOMBIES 3:2,3a
5-Fold Prescription:
A. Be Watchful
*Look into your real spiritual condition.
*Be honest with God.
B. Strengthen
*Shore up what you have.
*They started, but never finished.
C. Remember
*Return to the basics.
*How did you receive? Grace not Works!
D. Hold Fast
*Hold tight to what you have! What do we have?
*God’s Provisions…God’s Promises…God’s Power…God’s Presence…
E. Repent
*Turn around.
*Change directions.
Are you a Spiritual Zombie? Are you dead and don’t know it?
III. THE PENALTY FOR SPIRITUAL ZOMBIES 3:4,5
A. Defiled...Their Garments Are Defiled
*The zombies holiness and testimony were dirty.
*All our righteousness are as filthy rags.
B. Destitute...They Won’t Walk With Jesus In White
*He doesn’t want good people, He wants perfect people!
*We can never be good enough.
C. Defeated...They Aren’t Overcomers
D. Devoid...They Won’t Be Clothed In White
*The believer wasn’t a part of the processional that led to sexual impurity.
*One day they will be robed in white…no sin!
*The Blood, though your sin be red like crimson it shall be white as snow.
E. Deleted...Their Names Will Be Blotted Out
*These blanks in God’s book of the living were never saved.
*Revelation 20:11-15…there isn’t a ‘new name written down’.
*Blood bought saints are never erased.
F. Denounced...They Won’t Be Confessed By The Son
He that hath an ear to hear…LISTEN!
Has the blood been applied??