Chapter 3
The Church of Sardis
This is the 5th Church that we read of in Revelation. So far, there has been a loveless Church, a persecuted Church, a lenient Church and a compromising Church. Chapter 3 begins by telling us of a dead Church. Now to clarify what he is speaking of, look to I Samuel 16:7. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for a man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. When he was talking about this Church dying, he wasn’t speaking of them dying a natural death, but spiritual death.
Two things need to be pointed out before we go any further, to understand why they were dead. First, we should all be able to agree that the Spirit of God did not dwell among these people. It doesn’t say that here, but we can draw that conclusion by using other scriptures. II Corinthians 3:6 says, for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. Now if the Spirit was present, there would certainly be life. This was a Church that was trying to operate without the Spirit. Sounds foolish, but how many of us do it today? A perfect example of this is Samson. When we think of Samson, we think of a powerful man. God used him in many ways, to accomplish many things. His name by definition meant Champion. But when he walked away from his power source, he lost his strength. That is what this Church did. They no longer had their power source.
The other reason is that this Church didn’t have faith. Once again we can draw that conclusion from what the word says in James 2:20, that faith without works is dead. This Church had works, yet they were dead. If faith without works is dead, then works without faith is dead also. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please him. This was a Church that certainly wasn’t pleasing God.
Sardis was trying to do works without faith, and without the Spirit anointing there offerings to God. Zechariah 4:6 says, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. We can operate without a big budget, extravagant buildings, and fancy singers, but we can’t do without the spirit of the almighty God.
As with the other letters, there is a great message for you and I. As I studied this letter, I began to think of the signs and symptoms of someone who is dying. I believe the same things we see as a person begins their natural death, we’ll see in spiritual death.
When a person is nearing the end of life, one of the first signs is they begin to loose their senses. Their sense of smell, taste, hearing, eye sight and touch begin to fade. Do you know any Christians that spiritual are loosing their senses? They just don’t feel the power of God like they used to, or smell the sweet fragrances of the praise going up in the Church. They no longer taste the goodness of the Lord. The bible says 17 times in the New Testament for He that hath an ear to hear. I know many who no longer are enduring sound doctrine. Their lose of vision is probably most important. Proverbs 29:18 says, where there is no vision, the people perish. When we see Christians with these spiritual signals, we can mark it down that they are dying.
You will also notice that people begin to become very restless. They just have an inability to be content with their situation. Look around in congregations over America today. There are many born again Christians that are never satisfied. The choir sings to long, the preacher is to loud, the flowers are yellow instead of red, the curtains are don’t match the pews…. Sound familiar? These are the ones you mark down that are spiritually dying!
When one begins to near their crossing, their appetite begins to decrease. They don’t get the nutrition that they need to stay healthy. I would feel safe in saying that if you surveyed Christians today, that over 90 percent would say that they don’t read their bibles on a daily basis. Some, probably don’t read at all during the week. The scripture, the singing, preaching and testifying is my food. When I miss Church, I miss a meal. When I don’t read a day, I miss a meal. How much more important spiritual food is than natural. When Christ was writing to Pergamos, he said, to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna. What an amazing promise. But how much of that manna do you think goes un eaten?
Working in the healthcare field, I can say I have definitely seen this. Peoples immune system begins to weaken to the point that even a small wound or injury, can take their life. They loose the ability to heal or recover from wounds. As sad as it is, some of our biggest wounds do not come from the world, but in the Church. Most of the time, these are unintentional, but wounds come anyway. When we have decreased our senses, developed a critical Spirit, and quit eating the spiritual food we need, the smallest cut can totally destroy our spirituality.
This was a Church that was dead, but still had two things. Works and a name. God told them to remember, and to strengthen the things that remain. As hopeless a dead sounds, there is hope of a resurrection if we obey the counsel of God.
The Church of Philadelphia
I hope as you read the letter to Philadelphia, that you see some characteristics of yourself as well as your church. By name, this is a Church of “brotherly love.” We know that they loved God, because they kept his words. The bible says in John 14:23, that, If a man love me, he will keep my words. I believe if they loved God, they loved each other. 1 John 4:20 says, If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar.
They were standing for God even in the face of hypocrisy. The bible says there were some who were saying they were Jews, and were not. Actually, they were Jews on the outside, but not on the inside. If you get nothing more from these first 3 chapters get this. Being an outward Jew no longer matters to God. Romans 2:28, 29 says, For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Some of your big theologians totally look past that scripture, but its still the truth. God is not coming back to make a difference between the Jew and the Gentile, he already came to make them one in him!
I believe that because of Philadelphia’s love, and their stand for the gospel, their was a door open. If there was a door opened, it had to be at one time shut. Who had the power to open? The one with the key of David. Christ!
There is not a lot spoken of the key of David in the bible. Actually, the only two places are here and in Isaiah 22. The one who held the key in Isaiah was Shebna. Shebna was a scribe in the kingdom and house of Hezekiah. If a man wanted into to Hezekiah’s kingdom, they had to got through the key holder. A scribe in the Old Testament was a teacher of the law. Two notable scribes in the bible would be Ezra and Gamaliel. To be a scribe, was to be a representative of the law. That would mean that the law was the key holder to the kingdom in the Old Testament. To get into God’s presence, had to go through the law.
What a burden the law was to keep. Go into the book of Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, and see the exact demands of the law, and then disagree that it was burdensome. Isaiah 22 begins to tell that Shebna was coming short, and that the key needed to be given to someone else. The man Eliakim was who the key was given to. As you read this, you’ll see a picture of Christ! Isaiah 22:20-21 says, And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. This man was given a robe and a girdle. Does that sound familiar? (Revelation 1:13-And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.) The robe and the girdle was priestly attire. He goes on to say the government would be put in his hand. Isaiah 9:6 says, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder. What a burden that being the father to Israel and Judah would be. A weight that at one time the law had! Isaiah 22:22, 23 says, And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. Revelation 3 says Christ has the key. He was fastened as a nail in a sure place. The sure place was the law and Israel. The burden was upon it, until the nail came into play. Then the burden was hung on the nail! (Isaiah 22:25-And the burden that was upon it shall be cut off! ) Christ took the key and burden from the law, priests, the Church, and took it upon himself, and cut it off! He is showing you and I through Philadelphia, that he will do the same today. Matthew 11:28-30 says, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. The door that was once opened by the law, is now opened by grace!
What a promise to know that if we keep his name and word, that there will be a door opened between us and God. There is an open door policy with Christ. Anytime I need him, he’s available. The door to witness is open. The door to testify, pray, preach, sing, shout and worship was open to Philadelphia, as well as you and I today!
He tells Philadelphia that to those who overcome, that he will write on them the name of New Jerusalem. Later chapters will go in to depth on this, but there is one thing that we need to take from this chapter. The bible says that Christ will open doors, that no man can shut, and close, and no man can open. When Christ established the Church, he opened a door to the kingdom of God. There are many today trying to shut that door by saying that the kingdom is still yet to come. Thank God they can’t shut what God opened. When the end of time comes, some will think the door will be opened, and they can get in. Unfortunately, the door will be shut, and no one can open.
The Church of Laodicea
If you thought that the first 6 Churches were in bad shape, they have nothing on the Church of Laodicea. As we conclude the letters to the seven Churches in Asia, remember that God chastened and rebuked these Churches because he loved and cared about them. Hebrews 12:6 says, For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. I believe that it hurts and saddens God as he looks down and sees the people that he gave everything for, not enjoying the benefits he’s given. It all boils down to one thing. Sin separates us from him and his benefits.
All these Churches had works in common. Ephesus to Philadelphia had more than works. You will notice that Christ tells Laodicea that he knows their works, and that they are lukewarm. He continues by telling them he wished they were either hot or cold, just not lukewarm. Some people will say that to be hot means to be on fire for God, and to be cold is to be separated from God. Those who are lukewarm are in the middle. That is one of the most unbiblical statements ever made. Where in the bible does it say for us to be separate from God, or cold and indifferent? No where! Actually it says in 2 Timothy 4:2 for us to be instant in season, out of season. In this context, there are times when cold is good, and other times hot is what we need.
History tells us the story of Laodicea. Of all the things they had, they lacked a personal water supply. Their cold and hot water were both piped into the city from two separate locations. By the time that the cold water arrived to the city, it was lukewarm. When the hot got there, it was no longer hot, but lukewarm. This was a city the knew the nauseating quality of being lukewarm. What a direct statement for God to tell them that they are neither hot or cold, but lukewarm. Then to tell them the result of their state, was being sued out of the Saviors mouth.
In order for something to be lukewarm, it has had to change from its original state. If you leave something as cold as an ice cube idle for long enough, it will become lukewarm. Same with a hot substance. To be a lukewarm Christian, I believe that because of standing idle, they have become that way. Matthew 20 speaks of a man who had a vineyard. This man had hired some to work in the vineyard. The story tells that when the man went into town, that he saw other men standing idle in town. So he went to these men and ask why that they were standing idle. They said that they had no one to hire them. So this man took them to the vineyard, and told them to work. When Christ saved me, he didn’t save me to sit, but to work! Paul says in Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works. God is sick of lukewarm Christianity! I also believe that the Church of the living God is sick of them as well.
These lukewarm people lack true devotion to God and his church. Half hearted service is not excepted by God or his Church. Churches have hundreds of members on their roll, and will have 60 people on Sundays. How many of those are lukewarm Christians?
People become devoted when they need something from God. When someone is desiring a child, or a new home, new job, a spouse or facing a tough decision. They are trying to sow Spiritual things to reap fleshly. If I understand what the bible says, that is not how it works. The bible says in Matthew 6, not to even give thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. The reason that I am devoted to God, and walk after his will, isn’t to gain worldly things, but so when I stand to teach, or testify, sing or witness, that I have power with God. We live in a society with so many distractions. So many other things to keep our eyes off of God, but Paul says in Colossians 3:2 to Set your affection on things above, not on things of earth.
Laodicea was very prideful. Revelations 3:17 says, because thou sayest, I am rich. This was a Church that measured their spiritual success on monetary gains. Timothy spoke of people like this in 1 Timothy 6:5. He said there would be those who supposed that gain is godliness. If gain is truly godliness, then the men in the bible we once thought to be holy, are not holy after all. Take Paul for example. He was blinded, beaten, shipwrecked, bit by a viper, and imprisoned. Doesn’t sound like gain to me. Our savior himself didn’t even have a place to lay his head. Not only did Timothy say there would be those who would show off their goods, but from such withdraw thyself. Proverbs 16:18 tells that Pride goeth before destruction. King Hezekiah had a huge treasury. God had blessed him beyond compare. The bible says that men from Babylon came to him to bring a message. King Hezekiah took them, and showed them all the things that God had provided him. Isaiah the prophet came and enquired what he showed the men from Babylon. He told him that nothing of the King’s was hid from them. Isaiah told Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:17, Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. Years later, Babylon came and took Israel, and everything they had, and carried them into bondage. Pride came before destruction.
Christ told them that even though thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. He said they needed gold from him. There is only one place in the bible that it speaks is the source of gold. Genesis 2:11, 12 says, The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good. God’s gold is still located in the river. Psalms 46:4 writes, There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. If we want gold, were going to have to come to the river to get it!
Ending the letter to Laodicea, Christ says that I stand at the door and knock. We use this scripture on altar calls to the lost, but he was actually still talking to Laodicea. While Philadelphia had a door opened to them, Laodicea’s door was shut. How many Christians today are frustrating the grace, and not entering through the door to the treasury of God. As big as the Old testament kings house and treasures were, Gods is bigger. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
