ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?

Dearly Beloved, ARE YOU STILL ALIVE? “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God” (Revelation 3:1-2 NIV). Many people reacted sadly to my message last week, “TO LET: FORMER CHURCH”. The reactions came both from the developing world and the western world. A reaction from a recipient in one of the online groups I posted the message mostly touches my heart. According to him, “[My] experience and observation in the UK is not just a western phenomenon alone. It is already here with us in Nigeria.” He went ahead to highlight some of the things that are happening in churches in Nigeria. He enumerated how churches have become entertainment centres where CHRIST is not enough anymore in many churches. To attract people to church events, “jesters or stand-up comedians” are needed thereby making people to come to church empty and leave empty. As time goes on, people will prefer to go to entertainment centres than to go church because entertainment is now taking the centre stage in many churches. This recipient also pointed my attention to the fact that the cross has become old fashion and is absent on the signboards of many churches. Rather, the portrait of church pastor and his beautiful wife is what is prominent on many churches’ signboards. At times, it is the portrait of the general overseer of the church. The pastor or the general overseer has become the centre of attraction in many churches. No wonder, some are fighting now for positions in many churches today in Nigeria. There have been cases assassinations of pastors because of positions in some churches today in Nigeria. To add to his observations, many churches no longer devote quality time to the study of the word of God and discipleship of new believers. The emphasis now is prayer for breakthrough, victory over perceived enemies and other self-centred issues. Holiness, righteousness, the second coming of Christ and the last judgement and other sound biblical teachings have been put aside in many churches. These have made many church goers to half-baked Christians. Many are only religious, they are not spiritual. The conclusion of this recipient is, “May God forbid... Nigerians churches may one day become... TO LET, FORMER CHURCH”. While it is certain that many churches in the western world are dead, many churches in Nigeria are like the church in Sardis. Jesus Christ told the church, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1 NIV). He went ahead to charge the church to wake up and strengthen what remains and is about to die, or else He would come unexpectedly to judge the church. Is your church in this category? Is your church still alive and Christ-centred? What of you as an individual? Are you still alive in Christ, or you just have the reputation of being a Christian? Wake up! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will not be a dying Christian but the Lord should keep you alive in Him. ________________ Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor) +447438782552 BB PIN:58E5054C