Introduction
Sardis was the capital of the Lydian empire and one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. Located on the banks of the Pactolus River in what is southern Turkey. It was 60 miles inland from Ephesus and Smyrna. It stood at the crossroads of Asia Minor, the most prosperous, powerful, fertile, and pagan province of the entire Roman Empire.
First-century Sardis had a unique blend of residents: faithful Jews and Christians who worshiped God blended with influential pagans who worshiped the Roman emperor and gods such as Artemis and Cybele.
Sardis is of particular interest because it apparently had a very visible Christian church and because the apostle John issued a strong warning to them.
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Revelation 3:1-2
Scripture
1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 3:1-6 (KJV)
Prayer
1. Reputation
1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Revelation 3:1
In the letter to Sardis the Lord said; “I know thy works.” The Lord was warning the people of Sardis to be careful to stay watchful, alert, and alive to what was going on in their lives, otherwise they might become apathetic or make a mistake that would cause their witness to a watching world to collapse.
There reputation of the church at Sardis
• They had a reputation of being a church on the go
• They were a growing church
• They were doing everything right
• They kept themselves busy
• There appearance made them look like they were flourishing
• At first glance there seemed to be lacking nothing
2. Reality (verse 1)
When we make an evaluation of our works for the Lord it may not be the same way that God evaluates us.
The church needs to ask the question “what would Jesus do” rather than “what should I do.”
It seems that we have the habit of being more concerned about ourselves and how we can please our peers, than what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ desires for us.
There reality of the church at Sardis
• They had a reputation of being a church on the go but in reality they were spinning their wheels
• They were a growing church but in reality their growth had no life
• They were doing everything right but in reality they were not in the sight of God
• They kept themselves busy but in reality it was dead works
• There appearance made them look like they were flourishing but in reality they were dead
• At first glance there seemed to be lacking nothing but in reality they were spiritually poor
Notice the reality concerning the church at Sardis.
You see our Lord is not concerned how popular you are with the world, how busy you are, or how successful the world thinks you are.
He is more concerned about the condition of your heart.
Your personal image of yourself does not impress the Lord. One of the strongest men in the world received his strength from the Lord. He as so full of himself that he didn’t realize his strength had left him.
And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. Judges 16:20
I am afraid that is the way a lot of people and even churches are. They are so full of themselves that they don’t realize that the strength of the Lord had left them.
What are the signs of life in a church?
• There Is Growth. Not just numerical growth. There are many kinds of growth.
(1) Growth within the life of the church family.
(2) Growth in faith through service.
(3) Growth in being a witness for Christ.
(4) Growth in stewardship of time and money.
• There is compassion and love for each other, and love for the lost.
• There is unity.
• Division and schism is a sign of decay and death.
• There is emotion.
• Don’t be afraid to feel your faith. Only the dead have no tears, no laughter, no music, no sorrow.
What are the signs of a dead church?
• Everything goes back to the past.
When a church lives in the past, its reputation and its history, that church is dead. When a church is more concerned with form and ritual that church is dead.
• When a church is more concerned about church activities than that God be glorified through those activities, it is dead.
• When a church loves the system more than Jesus and more than it loves people, it is dead.
• When it is more material than spiritual, it is dead.
A church is either growing or it is dying. If a church is dead, its people are dead because we are the church. We are the instrument God uses. Many people feel if they just show up on Sunday, they have paid their dues to God. Those works are not perfected before God. We must do more than simply give lip service to the things of God. Here was a church that went through the motions, did all the right things, had a great reputation.
3. Remedy (verses 2-3)
What is the remedy for the church? “Be watchful.” Sardis fell twice through carelessness. As the enemies conquered the city, they climbed up their perpendicular walls through a weakness in their defense system.
Carelessness doomed the city and carelessness dooms many churches.
The things of God must not be taken for granted.
• We never drift anywhere worth going.
• We always drift away from God into sin and rebellion.
• We never drift into obedience and Christlikeness.
“Strengthen the things which remain.” What remains? Praying, preaching, teaching, witnessing. Don’t abandon those things. Strengthen them.
How do we strengthen them? We put meaning into them. Just because some pray without any commitment to God, does not mean we should abandon prayer. But we put meaning into the prayer, we put life into the things we do.
4. Remnant (verses 4-6)
There was a bright spot even in Sardis, even among the ungodly and disinterested. A remnant of righteous people remained faithful, and Jesus was pleased. Though the church was dead, and no remedy was offered it, Jesus had a few he could be proud of. We can be faithful among the faithless, sincere among the hypocrites, and humble among the proud. We can be separated from the worldly. Even if we live or work in an ungodly place where it is difficult to be a Christian, God can keep us even there.
