When the Spirit DepartsJames 2:26

The Reality of DeathThe Reality of Death

• Death is common (Eccl. 3:19-21; 7:2; 9:5, 10)

• But, what is death? What happens at death? Who is dead?

Physical DeathPhysical Death

• The spirit of man keeps the body alive (Gen. 2:7)

• The body apart from the spirit is dead (Jas. 2:26)

• The body returns to the dust; the spirit returns to God (Eccl. 12:7)

Local Church DeathLocal Church Death• Like Sardis, a local church can have a name that

is living, but is dead (Rev. 3:1; cf. 2:5)

• The Holy Spirit has departed from this local church because the members are walking after the flesh (Rom. 8:4-14)

• Do we pray in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18; Jude 20), sing with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18-19), preach with the Spirit (Jn. 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:13), have joy in the Spirit (Acts 13:52; Rom. 14:17), have the comfort of the Spirit (Acts 9:31), and have the love of the Spirit (Rom. 5:5)?

Christian DeathChristian Death

• Some Christians are like walking dead men (1 Tim. 5:6)

• The Holy Spirit has been shut out of their life (Jn. 6:63, 68; Acts 7:51-54; Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19; Heb. 6:4)

• Outwardly, they are religious, but inwardly they are sensual, not spiritual (Mt. 23:27; Lk. 15:24; Gal. 5:19-23; Jude 19)

When the Spirit DepartsWhen the Spirit Departs

• Physical death is obvious (Jn. 19:33)

• Local church death and Christian death is not so obvious (Judges 16:20)

• On a local church level, constant working and hearing the Spirit is needed (Rev. 2:7, 11, etc.)

When the Spirit DepartsWhen the Spirit Departs

• On an individual level, a Christian must…

– Not decline in obedience (1 Sam. 16:14)

– Keep the H.S. words in one’s life (Psa. 51:11)

– Keep the body a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19)

• Are you dead? Is this church dead?