Letter To Sardis Series

I. Introduction

A. The city of Sardis was almost due East of Smyrna about 30 miles or so

1. The original city was built on a high mesa

a. Three sides of the mesa were virtually straight up

b. The fourth side was very steep and rough

c. After time the city grew beyond the bounds of the mesa; and so a second city grew up around the base of the mesa

(1) Sardis is actually a plural word which designated the double city

2. The upper city, one would think, should have been impenetrable; but, it was conquered twice

a. Both times the city was taken because the soldiers were too confident in the geography of the city and became lax and slept while on duty

B. The name Sardis means remnant

C. Church age

1. The age of the church at Sardis began in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis on the Wittenburg door

2. The end of that age came at the end of the 18th century

D. The church at Sardis and the age of that church was a time of a remnant. As we look at this church we shall see

1. The Commendation

2. The Condemnation

3. The Warning

4. And the promise

E. Turn to Revelation 3:1

II. Body

A. Preamble

Revelation 3:1

To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

1. First there is something to be learned from the preamble to this message concerning the Lord and the church

a. The first question that might come to our mind is the seven Spirits of God - well, turn to Isaiah 11:2

Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--

b. We have here part of the prophecy of the Messiah and it lists seven spirits

(1) The Spirit of the Lord

(2) The Spirit of Wisdom

(3) The Spirit of Understanding

(4) The Spirit of Counsel

(5) The Spirit of Might

(6) The Spirit of Knowledge

(7) The Spirit of Fear of the Lord

(8) Turn to Hebrews 2:4

c. The Power of God in this time is the Holy Spirit sent by Christ

Hebrews 2:4

God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

d. Christ directs; but, the Holy Spirit gives

e. It seems that the Lord was looking for sold out Christians to whom He could give Spiritual gifts

2. The seven stars we said before are the pastors of the seven churches

a. In the message to the church at Ephesus, Christ held the seven stars in His right hand

b. Jesus, the High Priest, holds the seven stars in His right hand

(1) He is the master of the messengers to the churches

(2) His right hand is the hand of power

(3) His right hand is the hand of authority

(4) He holds the pastors of these seven churches in His right hand

(5) He is the one who controls these men

3. Now, let's look at the latter half of Revelation 3:1 and verse 2

B. Condemnation

Revelation 3:1-2

To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (2) Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

1. Christ's message to Sardis begins with a condemnation

a. In the other messages Christ began with His commendation

b. Then He would say, I have something against you

2. To the church at Sardis He begins, "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead."

a. The King James says, "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

(1) The only things I can think of that are dead but seem to be alive are found in horror stories

(a) Dracula

(b) Frankenstein's monster

(c) Zombies

(d) All frightening, horrendous, evil monstrosities

3. It seems strange that such a condemnation would be pronounced for the church of the reformation

a. The previous age was commended for its

(1) Works

(2) Love

(3) Faith

(4) Service

(5) And patience

(6) And all of these on the increase

b. But, it is not surprising when we learn that the reformers themselves were as intolerant of groups that had a different theology than they did