Revelation Study Series 6 - God's Mysterious Plan Fulfilled Series

Revelation Study Series 6 - God's Mysterious Plan Fulfilled

11.14.21

Message…

Most of you know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare who ran a race. The rabbit was very confident in his ability to win because of his speed. So, much so that along the race he took a nap. While he was sleeping the Tortoise overtook him and by the time the rabbit woke up it was too late...the Tortoise had won!

That is one of Aseop famous fables. And, if you are wondering what that has to do with anything, Aesop was from Sardis.

Revelation 3:1-6

1 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the One who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.

2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of My God.

3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to Me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

4 “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine.

6 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.

*Sardis pic

Sardis was a very beautiful city built on a towering plateau overlooking rolling hills, and lush green meadows.

It was a wealthy city, in fact the king of Sardis was said to have been the richest man in the world during his reign. ($600 million at that time)

Sardis was the capital of its area. They made beautiful dyes there, which they incorporated into rugs and other things.

A stream ran through the city. The stream carried what was called, “sands of gold”...actually gold dust.

-wikipedia.com

Built on this towering plateau, Sardis was naturally fortified. There was only one way to enter the city. And, it was a secret. As long as they were watchful, and guarded that secret entrance they were protected.

But, they failed to do that one thing. They were captured and defeated by Cyrus the Great.

The story goes that one night while on guard duty a soldier walking along the top of the fortress wall, dropped his helmet. It fell off his head and rolled to the bottom of the hill. Thinking no one was watching he climbed down the secret passage on the back side of the hill, retrieved his helmet, and then made his way back up.

It doesn’t seem like a big deal however, someone was watching… and that someone was an enemy soldier.

In the dark of night the enemy entered that secret entrance, and conquered Sardis.

Revelation 3:1a

1a “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the One who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:...

Isaiah 11:1-3

1 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.

2 And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

3 He will delight in obeying the LORD.

Vs. 1b...“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive— but you are dead.

We have another “doing” church...another church filled with pagan practices, rituals, ceremony and religion.

“...you have a reputation for being alive...”

You have a sign that says you are a church...you have a reputation as such.

...“but, you are dead!”

What you were known for is not who you are now!

You may have once served the Lord passionately but, what have you done for Him lately?!

Someone likened the church in Sardis to that of a hollow chocolate Easter bunny. –(Guy Glass, “Wake Up!”; sermonillustrations.com)

It appears to be something it’s not. There was no life there! There was no Spirit of God there!

It was all about the work of men, but it was missing the hand of God! The power of God! The purpose of God!

The church in Sardis was a dead church filled with dead people. They were physically alive, yet spiritually dead!