WHEN THE DOORS CLOSE

In the Christian Chronicle, put out by Wayne Jackson, he writes about the decline in the church. “In the last ten years we have lost one out of every sixteen members and have closed three congregations every two weeks for the last ten years.

I don’t want to be one of those congregations!

Do you realize that we are just thirty families away from closing the doors. It is safe to say that we may have a lot of losses in the next ten years. Secondly, this congregation has not done well in keeping family members in the church. This is not to insult you, but bring you to reality.

Today we are going to look at five reasons that cause the doors to close, and the candlestick of God to be removed.

I. I. LOST LOVE

EPHESUS Rev. 2:4, 5, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.   Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” 

1. First love begins with Forsaking the past! Eph. 2:11-13, “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” 

2. First love begins with Forging a course. Matt. 19:29, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” 2. First love begins with Forging a course.

3. First love begins with faithfulness to truth John 8:32, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

When it came to the church at Ephesus in the First Century, all we know is that by the year 200 the congregation was looked upon as brown and dried up, simply dead.

II. LOST SOUNDNESS

PERGAMUM Rev. 2:14-16, “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.   Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” 

2 Tim. 1:13, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”  2 Tim. 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.”

Pergamum, like many of the cities mentioned in Revelation, were overthrown by the Muslims. Whether any of churches were still standing during this period is unknown.

III. LOST PURITY

THYATIRA Rev. 2:20-23, “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.   And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.   Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.   And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” 

IV. LOST STRENGTH, NEAR DEATH

Rev. 3:1-3, “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” 

“I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” We can convince ourselves that we are okay when in fact we are spiritually dead.

V. LOST MOTIVATION

LAODICEA Rev. 3:15-17, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.   So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.   Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” 

I read a story of a preacher that rolled in a casket into the church building. He announced to the members that morning that one of our members has died. As each one looked into the pews to see who it could had been, the preacher opened the head of the casket. He then asked each member to come forward one by one and pay their respects. What they saw was themselves. The preacher had put a mirror on the pillow.

VI. AM I FAILING?

Reasons why people fail and churches close their doors

1. Waning attendance 2. Lack of evangelism 3. Weakness in leadership 4. Unjustifiable reasoning- We’ve always did it this way! 5. Reacting instead of Responding 6. Building loyalty over discipleship- more involved in fixing the building rather than filling the building. 7. Dominance over unity 8. Self-gratification over Christ allegiance 9. Negative perspective over positive spiritual thinking 10. Procrastination over progressive movement