C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR AUGUST 28, 2022 UNIT ONE, LESSON THREE, DIVISION II : TOPIC – THE END-TIME CHURCH NEEDS REVIVAL

When you a machine is faulty, it is not in good condition. Faulty infers error, or defect. Such machine might not necessarily lose its shape or size it become less useful, inefficient, replaceable or ultimately disposable. Some end-time churches, although existing, are characterised with all manners of errors, which only a conscious and earnest plea for both personal and congregational revival can correct or heal. We urgently need revival as end-time church!

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love (v.4).

i. A major end-time disaster is the love of many will grow cold (Matt. 24:12). Rather than showing love for God and His things, men will be lovers of themselves, …money… (2 Tim. 3:1ff). It is ravaging the church, hence the need for revival.

ii. vv. 2-3: The church of Ephesus is a replica of so many churches today that have lost sight of their first love.

iii. v. 4: Nevertheless I have this against you… Of course, they had some commendations (vv. 2,3) that were obviously not good enough to make up for people/things shows how revived a church is.

iv. 2:4-6: There is difference between being attached to the church and being attached to Christ. Like the church of Ephesus, many churches have a name as churches of Christ, but no intimate relationship with the Christ of the Church (2 Tim. 3:5). Nothing can replace relationship/fellowship with Christ (Jn. 15:1ff).

v. vv. 12ff: Despite the commendation that they held to Christ’s name without denying Him, even as they lived where Satan dwelled (vv. 12,13), some in the Pergamos church were compromising the Faith; a replica of today’s churches caught in the web of aligning with worldliness (1 Jn. 2:15-17).

vi. The church was guilty of false teachings and gross worldliness—Balaam’s godless teaching (cf. Num. 22-25) and the Nicolaitan doctrine. Are we better?

vii. 2:5, 16: Repent or else… God never issues empty threat. Repentance is the key to genuine revival. The present-day Church most genuinely repent of loveless state and compromise, to avoid God’s sledge hammer.

viii.Any work we do for God must be an expression which stems from our love for Him, else it will not last

Being religious and busy for the church doesn’t mean being busy for God. Love makes the difference.

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”‘ (3:1).

i. 2:18-20 The Thyatira church was commended by the Lord for her works, love, faith, service and … patience (v. 19). Yet, the members allowed corruption to fester amidst them. They should have dealt with such adherents among them. Discipline sanitises the Church.

ii. vv. 21-26: God doesn’t tolerate nonsense/corruption. He has His ways of dealing with such seducing spirits and Jezebels (vv. 21-23). Beware the caucus you form or join, lest you be on the side of God’s enemies (cf. vv. 24ff).

iii. 3:1-6: Like the Sardis church, some churches are completely dead; they only seem alive because of the deceptive activities they still run, hence the need for revival.

iv. 3:1b: The church in Sardis had no commendation at all. What could be the problem? She was very active and considered as being progressive, alive, prosperous and busy (but guilty). Activity doesn’t always imply spirituality.

v. 3:3: Yes, a dead church! Is that the end? No. Jesus, the Resurrection and Life (Jn. 11:25) gives the way out to be revived—hold fast and repent (cf. Ezk. 37:1ff).

vi. 3:14-22: There are also churches that are neither hot nor cold, dead nor alive-the Laodicean Church. Lukewarm tendency is one of the cankerworms that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the end-time church.

vii. Lots of churches no longer have people with deep commitments to God, soul-winning, Bible study, etc. Lord, revive us, lest we be losing Your blessings (vv. 19:22).

viii.Spiritual death is not usually instant. It is gradual and is the result of being self-satisfied/complacent. This results in being lukewarm that gives birth to death.

1. Christ expects all churches and Christians to apply the messages sent to the 7 Asian churches to their individual situations.

2. The person who truly lives is he who overcomes lukewarm and half-hearted commitment to Christ, by repenting, and remaining to Him.

1. Mention some of the commendable attributes to today’s Church.

2. Highlight some of the condemnable attributes of today’s Church Anyway out?

Commendable attributes of today’s church are:

i. There is no doubt that there are churches today that are doing very well by God’s grace.

ii. Some of theme are not perturbed about persecution, which is unavoidable for those who follow Jesus Christ to the end.

iii. Suffering for the gospel’s sake and denying many earthly benefits characterised some churches today. How is your church doing?

iv. Any church that will receive Christ’s commendation today must be able to endure sound and undiluted teachings of God’s Word (2 Tim. 4:3).

v. Handwork, endurance, strong faith in God and genuine love of God and one another are marks of true church in the end time.

vi. Also, a true church that will be commended must defend the gospel amidst oppositions and attacks (1 Pet. 3:15-17).

Condemnation attributes of today’s church include

i. Loss of first love and lack of love (1 Cor. 13:1ff; Heb. 13:1; Rev. 2:4).

ii. Unfaithfulness (1 Cor. 4:2).

iii. Compromise and greed (Jud. 11).

iv. Lukewarmness (Rev. 3:14-22

v. Sexual Immorality (1 Cor. 5:1-13; Heb. 12:16-17; Jud. 7).

vi. Division, disunity, fighting, schism, carnality (1 Cor. 3:1-4), and so on.

The Way

* There is no problem without solution.

* When there is a defect, there is already made correction.

* Revival must be urgently sought.

* Repentance from all defects will proof we are ready for renewal.

* Let us come back to God like the prodigal son (Luke 15).

* Confession of sin like David will bring cleansing and mercy of God to bear on us (Psalm 51).

* We should begin to walk worthy of our calling as church, and avoid every manifestation of the work of darkness (Eph. 4:1; 5:8).

It is obvious the end-time Church urgently needs revival more than any other needs. In fact, revival will bring other needs of the church. This need will not be met, except the Church humbly examines her ways and allows God to reveal her true state/situation. This careful scrutiny from the Owner and Head of the Church would lead to repentance from every work of darkness, worldliness, and friendship with false and fakes. Meanwhile, when we say church, we are not referring to benches, walls and musical gadgets; but that is talking about individual believers in Christ. Thus, we must individually and congregationally rebuke and disdain anti-revival spirits in our midst while encouraging the spirits that foster revival.

We have come to the end of lesson 3, by the grace of God. We have seen condition of some of the end-time churches, in the light of the seven churches in Asia. It is glaring some churches in this end time are faulty, full of errors and heresies. Some of them are totally off the track due to compromise with the world. These ones are admonished by the Owner of the Church to repent quickly and be revived before it is too late. Meanwhile, some are really following the Master in spite of the difficulties, challenges and all other odds. They are commended and encouraged to keep it up. May God help us, the church today, to appropriately position ourselves in Him, to passionately maximise His abilities in us for His promised glory.

Mon. 22: Abound In The Lord’s Work (1 Cor. 15:58)

Tue. 23: Pray Always (Eph. 6:17-18)

Wed. 24: Dare To Call On The Lord (Rom. 10:13)

Thur. 25: Repentance Begets Pardon (Isa. 55:7)

Fri. 26: Awake Out Of Your Sleep (Rom. 13:11)

Sat. 27: Shine In His Glory (Isa. 60:1-2)