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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=140 style=" border-bottom: 20px solid #CCCC00;" BGCOLOR="#000099" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="198d03b0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="59" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="2270a0b0.gif" border=0 width="10" height="11" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>Fundamental   <IMG SRC="2270a0b0.gif" border=0 width="10" height="11" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>Independent   <IMG SRC="2270a0b0.gif" border=0 width="10" height="11" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>KJV   <IMG SRC="2270a0b0.gif" border=0 width="10" height="11" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>Separated   <IMG SRC="2270a0b0.gif" border=0 width="10" height="11" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Soul Winning   <IMG SRC="2270a0b0.gif" border=0 width="10" height="11" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Local Church   <IMG SRC="2270a0b0.gif" border=0 width="10" height="11" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Baptist</B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=180 BGCOLOR="#000099" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="285415b0.gif" border=0 width="65" height="91" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BFBF00" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Web Site Title"><B>HOME</B></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="archives.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletter Archives"><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="contact_us.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><B>CONTACT US</B></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=340 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Newsletter Archives</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>March - April  2008</B></div> <div> <B>Volume 128</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>THE X-RAYS OF AN EXTREMELY SICK CHURCH! </B></div> <div> <B>Revelation 3:2</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, </B><B>that</B><B> </B><B>are</B><B> </B><B>ready</B><B> </B><B>to</B><B> </B><B>die</B><B>: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In the book of Revelation chapter 3 verses 1-6 we find the message to the local church in Sardis. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This section of Scripture could be effortlessly outlined like this:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I.</B><B> The Counselor. (verse 1) </B></div> <div> <B>II.</B><B> The Condemnation. (verses 2-3) </B></div> <div> <B>III. </B><B>The Commendation. (verse 4) </B></div> <div> <B>IV. </B><B>The Challenge. (verses 5-6) </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>It is while the Apostle John is dealing (under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit) with "The Condemnation" that a person reads a heart-gripping phrase. (verse 2) </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The word "ready" means: Having reached readiness. And the word "die" means: To cease to live. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Friend, you and I need to examine the x-rays of an almost expired ecclesia! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There are three serious complications (seen from the x-rays) that a languishing church has contracted: </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I. PREACHING IS "READY" TO DIE. </B></div> <div> <B>A serious complication the x-rays reveal about an ailing church is the sacred desk is about to expire. (I Corinthians 1:21) In a sad number of even fundamental churches the "main event" is not the preaching of the Bible, but the choir number, the cook book sales in the vestibule or the monthly business meeting. Something is WRONG when a church is not known for its PULPIT but its ORGAN! (Titus 1:3) Preaching is "ready" to die! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>II. PRAYER IS "READY" TO DIE. </B></div> <div> <B>A serious complication the x-rays reveal about an ailing church is supplication is about to expire. (Matthew 21:13) When prayer becomes an afterthought to an assembly the power of God becomes an atmosphere that is awfully difficult to attain. Mark it down, the upper room was not filled with SOFTBALL PLAYERS when the power fell on Pentecost! (Acts 1:13 & 14) Prayer is "ready" to die! </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>III. PRAISE IS "READY" TO DIE. </B></div> <div> <B>A serious complication the x-rays reveal about an ailing church is the shout is about to expire. (Psalm 150:6) Worship on the pages of the Bible has never been a noiseless event. When "Amen", "Praise God" and "Hallelujah" have been replaced with Deacon Silence, you will hear the "death rattle" in the voice of that same church. Psalm 115:17) Praise is "ready" to die!</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>