Sardis - Church Of The Living Dead Series

Opener:

We are excited to be here as we are continuing our sermon series this morning on the seven churches found in the book of Revelations.

We are on our fifth church along the postal route in Asia Minor. To date, we have already looked at the church located in Ephesus, who had forsaken their first love. The second church, Smyrna, experienced persecution and were encouraged to live by faith and not by fear. The third church Pergamum where some appeared to be seduced and were displaying a morally compromised lifestyle. Last week, we talked about Thyatira who had some positive things going on but they fell into the trap of listening to Jezebel and in the process allowed compromise to creep into their lives.

This morning we are talking about the church located in Sardis. This church really makes all the others churches look like saints. This church was dominated by sin, false doctrine and unbelief. It was the church of living dead!

This church was located about 30 miles from Thyatira. We learned that many of these other towns that we have looked at were trading towns and they had some wealth. When looking at this church, it was one of the richest cities in the entire world. It was a major trade center. There was a river that ran through the city where people would pan for gold. Like Thyatira it was a thriving wool industry and makers of costly dyes. This city received its name from the sardis stones which were sold and used as amulets to drive away evil spirits. The climate was perfect and the city was known for its elegance. One of their most famous citizens was Aesop who was remembered for his fables. These people in Sardis were living a life of luxury and were used to getting everything that they wanted. The church was not threatened by any perils, there was no pressure from inside the church or outside the church. Let’s hop into our text this morning, found in Revelation 3:1-6 NKJV - 3 “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. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but 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.” ’

I. Dead church

A. Pay attention

a. As we are looking at these different messages to the churches, it has not escaped my attention that the Lord is not speaking to the church only but, to the leaders of the church.

b. There is very little possibilities of a dead church coming alive until the pastor gets on fire for the Lord.

c. The leaders of a church matter. If the leaders of the church are not passionate about the Lord, then the people will not be either.

B. The Work of the Spirit

a. The Old Testament makes several references the seven spirits of God which really is an expression of the Work of the Holy Spirit.

b. The prophet Zechariah spoke prophetically about the work of the Spirit in Zechariah 4:6 NKJV 6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.

c. There are more passages that talk about the work of the Holy Spirit found in:

i. John 14:26 NKJV 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

ii. John 14:17 NKJV 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

iii. John 3:8 NKJV 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”