Seven, Sardis – David Nasser

Overview:
This week in our series “Seven,” Pastor Nasser covered the church of Sardis. The church of Sardis was a busy church located in a busy city. This church seemed like they were thriving, however, their works were incomplete according to The Lord. Jesus warns this church that their deeds are dead because they are of the flesh and not of The Spirit. Pastor David highlighted seven truths about the Holy Spirit; the person, part, promise, power, protection, purpose, and projection. It is important that we are not caught up in the deeds but desperate for The Spirit. Let our deeds be Spirit-led and empowered by the promised Spirit of God.

Verses:
Revelation 3:1-6: “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Isaiah 11:2: “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”

Seven truths about the Holy Spirit:
Person – The Holy Spirit is a personal being, not an impersonal thing.
Scripture uses the pronoun “He” not “ it” over and over again when referring to the Holy Spirit.
John 15:26: “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. ”

Part – The Holy Spirit is one of the 3 persons of our triune God. We have one God in 3 persons.
Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Promised – The Holy Spirit is promised to every believer at the point of salvation.
Acts 2:38: “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'”

Power – The Holy Spirit is the source of power both in and through our lives.
Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Protects – the Holy Spirit protects and seals us in eternal hope.
Ephesians 1:13-14: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

Purpose – God accomplishes His purpose through the person of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:9-11: “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except for their own spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.'”

Projects – The Holy Spirit projects attention to Christ
John 16:13-15: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

The Holy Spirit testifies as Christ.

You know revival has come to Liberty when all we are talking about, singing about, dreaming about, and obsessing about is Jesus.

Questions:
1) “Social Work” is about getting stuff done, “Gospel work” is activated through worship to get something done. Do you find yourself participating more in “Social Work” or “Gospel work?”

2) As a believer, it can be easy to be masked by “good works” with the absence of the Spirit of God. What truly motivates your “good works?” How can you be more intentional in participating in Gospel work and having the right intentions behind it?

3) We have one God in 3 Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Do you feel that you ignore one of these Persons within this Trinity? How come?