One Sunday In Sardis Series

ONE SUNDAY IN SARDIS

Revelation 3:1-6

(Antioch Baptist Church: Sunday, October 12th, 2025)

People have always rejected Gospel preaching; the crowds didn’t want to hear John the Baptist, people ignored the preaching of Peter, Paul, & John; multitudes refused to hear Jesus.

Throughout history men have faced great difficulties as a result of preaching the truth. Some of have lost their churches, some have lost their jobs, (and homes and possessions as a result), and some have lost close friends. Furthermore, countless servants of God have lost their lives for refusing to compromise the truth of God's Word.

Today, (as throughout history) there are many who will not endure Biblical preaching. Paul warned about this in 2 Timothy 4:3-4. He said, “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths”. This is a clear description of the day in which we live. People do not want to hear the truth!

These days people choose style over substance and entertainment over exhortation. However, there are still some ministers who refuse to compromise and who are willing to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).

There was one Sunday in the Church at Sardis where the man of God delivered a message from God and it shook the people to the core. I would like to take some time and examine that message and consider what happened “One Sunday In Sardis”.

From the outside looking in it appeared that this church was active and alive. But upon closer examination it was apparent that it had become a spiritual graveyard. One day they received a message concerning their spiritual condition. Notice if you will:

THE SOURCE OF THE MESSAGE

The source of this message is none other than Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:13-18 says, “in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

In these verses, John is describing Jesus. The Lord instructed John to write seven letters to seven specific churches. Jesus had intimate knowledge of everything that took place in those churches. The same is true today. The Lord knows all there is to know about the church universal and He knows all there is to know about each local church. There were some things going on in Sardis that grieved the Lord Jesus. I am confident that the same is true concerning the church today.

- I would also like to consider:

HOW THIS MESSAGE WAS DELIVERED

v1a unto the angel of the church in Sardis write...

The word "Angel" literally means "messenger". This letter was addressed to the person that God had chosen to lead the church. It refers to the one who would read, pray, and teach God's people. This letter describes in great detail the condition of the church under his care.

Today there are God called men who have been assigned the responsibility of being "under-shepherds". When a man of God stands and proclaims the Word of God, it is not his message, it is a message given by the Lord Himself.Those that hear the message and obey, obey the Lord. Those that reject the message reject the Lord.

Upon receiving this letter, the Angel (or messenger) would have addressed the assembly of believers and read it to them word for word. Let's take a moment and consider:

THE SUBJECT OF THIS MESSAGE

v1c ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

Jesus saw their "works". These works made it seem that this church was alive. There was much activity in their assembly and they had a great reputation in that region. From all outward appearances, this church was everything a church ought to be. But Jesus said, "I know your heart, I can see what is on the inside and you are dead!"