Series: Revelation
Thesis: We need to receive a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ daily so we do not fall asleep at our assigned mission. It was also give us the inner strength to stand for the Gospel in a hostile world even to the point of death.
Key verse of Revelation: Text: Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
Summary of churches see power point map:
1. Ephesus – The loveless church
2. Smyrna – The persecuted church
3. Pergamos – The compromising church
4. Thyatira – The corrupt church
T.S: We need to adhere to the blessings of Revelation and especially to the one which tells us to STAY AWAKE FOR CHRIST!
Rev. 16:15 states, "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."
Sermon 6: Rev’d Up part 6
Thesis: Sardis receives a message from Jesus and he tells them they have a good reputation of being alive but in His eyes they are dead. So, they need to wake up!
Scripture Text:
"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. (Rev 3:1 NIV)
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. (Rev 3:2 NIV)
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Rev 3:3 NIV)
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. (Rev 3:4 NIV)
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. (Rev 3:5 NIV)
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev 3:6 NIV)
Sermon on Sardis: The church of the living dead, the lazy church, dead in church, a sleep in church and the walking dead church.
I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
1. Sardis was located in West central Asia Minor some 100 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. It was about 30- 35 miles south east from the city of Thyatira.
2. The city rested on top of a plateau 1500 feet high on the northern ridge of Mt. Tmolus. The city was an impregnable fortress because there was only one access up a steep winding incline to the city. A small army could defend it easily. The other three sides of the city were sheer walls of stone. The city won all battles but two.
3. The two times it was defeated was because of unexpected invaders who climbed the walls on the three sides that no guard watched.
a. The city fell in about 549-546 B.C. when Cyrus King of Persia took the city. Hailey states, "Tradition says that a soldier found a crevice in the rock on the cliff sides and he climbed up with a band of soldiers who took the city by surprise when they least expected it.
b. The city had not learned its lesson and 330 years later the city was defeated again by Antioch the Great who took the city the same way. Climbed the sheer walls and caught the city by surprise.
c. Many have noted how each time they fell it was a shock because the city had the reputation of being impregnable but they dropped their guard and the winning armies came in quick like a thief in the night and defeated the city.
4. The city was known as a city of the wealthy. Kings were known to have expensive palaces. It is noted that the city had a gold supply they mined and they also were the first city to mint gold coins for circulation in buying and selling.
5. Staun makes the observation that the city and the church had many similarities.
a. The sad fact was the church did not learn from the cities historical mistakes and learn from them.
• They did not learn from the failures of others through history.
• Many today do the same thing – we should learn from history!
6. The city supported many pagan deities - But the primary or common teaching of the pagan deities was the ability of the false deities to do healing power. In Sardis there was a strong emphasis directed toward the deities power to raise the dead.
a. Thomas notes, "This special power was connected with a hot springs about two miles from the city. These springs were viewed as visible manifestations of the power of the god of the underworld, which was prominent in the local religious legend (Ramsay)" (243).
b. People came there to get healed and some claim they were healed.
• Reference the Healer on TV.
c. Others claim from history people were raised from the dead by this underworld deity.
T.S. – so we have learned a little history about our city and it’s city let’s now look at the personal message from Jesus to this church.
II. The Message and the Revelation of Jesus -- "The word of him who holds the seven spirits and seven stars."
1. Seven - was the number of fullness, completion, or perfection mentioned from Revelation 1:4.
a. Seven Spirits is explained by Thomas as: The identity of "the seven spirits of God" has been discussed in connection with 1:4 above. There the conclusion was that the title is a reference to the Holy Spirit against the background of Zechariah 4:1-10.
b. That Christ holds the seven spirits is omniscient of the doctrine of the procession of the Spirit from Christ (John 15:26; Rom. 8:9). The identification of the seven eyes of Zechariah 4:10 with the seven spirits in Rev. 5:6 symbolizes the Spirit's omniscience.
c. His further identification with the seven lamps of Zech. 4:2 (Rev. 4:5) is a picture of the testimony He bears.
d. The author of this message is one who is represented among the churches by the Third person of the Trinity, who knows all and whose purpose is to testify through the seven lamp stands established in these seven cities (244).
e. The seven stars is reference to the seven churches and makes it clear to all who controls the 7 churches. Christ is in control and if the church does not yield’s it will be dealt with by The Holy Spirit.
• This statement is a symbol of authority and control.
• Many theologians believe this terminology is used to illicit alarm in the church and to make it wake up and repent.
f. I know - means what it says, "I know all about YOU!"
• You better watch out you better not cry and because I'm telling you why "Jesus is coming to town. He is checking his list He's checking it twice. He's going to find out who's naughty and nice. Jesus is coming to town.
He knows if your sleeping. He knows if your awake He knows if you have been good or bad. So be good for goodness sake.
• Jesus knows all about you and this church and school – what do you think He would say to us a church – to you personally?
2. Sardis was a church with a good reputation of being awake for Jesus and filled with life but it was dead. So, let’s look at the message from the Lord to this church:
a. This church was perceived by the other Christians and the world as a vibrant church but Jesus saw it's heart and said "YOUR DEAD!" (3:1)
• How many think they know of churches like this?
• How about Christians like this?
b. Reputation – definition "Reputation is what others think us to be; character is what God knows us to be"(Taylor).
• Our mission from the Lord - Phil. 2:15 " So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”
• We are to shine inside and out for Jesus.
c. The point of this message from Jesus is very direct. It tells us that the church can have a good reputation among men and yet still be a spiritual desert with no spiritual life.
• Hailey states, "Many churches today have a reputation of soundness and activity, but inwardly are decaying and dying."
• I sometimes wonder about our schedule hear at CHC.
a. People will come to social events, activities but few come to prayer meetings and nowadays some miss a lot of services or even neglect Bible Studies.
b. I sometimes wonder about our inward spiritual life and relationship with Jesus!
• Legendary basketball coach John Wooden (1910–2010) believed that character is far more important than reputation. “Your reputation is what you’re perceived to be by others,” Coach Wooden often told his players, “but your character is what you really are. You’re the only one that knows your character. You can fool others, but you can’t fool yourself.” I add or God!
d. Some churches live on past success and a reputation from past events:
• Many today talk of what they did yesterday and neglect what they are suppose to do today. They believe works of the past guarantees them success for the future but they forget that works do not get you into Heaven it's grace and the condition of your heart with the Lord.
• The Lord is not letting people ride into Heaven on their past works. He wants to know where you are at today. What are you doing for the Kingdom today. We need to quit keeping score and focus on serving the Lord today.
e. Scripture repeatedly warns about outward appearances being the measuring stick for spirituality. The Word tells us many will look saved – even holy - until they appear before Jesus in heaven.
• Ten Virgins in Mt 25 only 5 were saved.
• Nicodemus John 3 outwardly he was spotless but Jesus told him he had to be Born Again.
• Judas Iscariot looked great on the outside even to the other disciples but Jesus saw his heart.
• Martin Luther - a monk, deeply religious, but lost until he discovered that the just shall live by faith not works.
• John Wesley - came to America to preach to the Indians and meet some Moravians on the ship who helped him see his need to be saved. He looked great outwardly but inwardly he was lost and dead.
• Matthew 7:21-23: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Mat 7:21 NIV) Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' (Mat 7:22 NIV) Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Mat 7:23 NIV)
• Illustration from the world of politics: In nearly every high-profile political race we see in America, the issues of the election often take a back seat to the usual overwhelming concern about the personalities involved. Image consultants, tactical experts, and various other specialists are often brought in to the campaigns to "soften or strengthen" their own candidate's image, while doing everything in their power to destroy their opponent's. We frequently see candidates and their assistants using these tactics to the max, muddling the needs of their constituency with a false impression of the person who gains the office. Since much of the world has gone from a moral philosophy to the present immoral or amoral one, how one appears to the world has readily overtaken the substance of who we are and what we represent. Phrases like "perception is reality" have become mantras for many who want others to view them in a positive manner without the responsibility to act accordingly. What we see is very often not what we get, but a homogenized version we see portrayed (from https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/ARTB/k/704/Our-Reputation-Our-Character.htm).
• This warning for Sardis to take a good look at their spiritual condition was a key to get their hearts right with Jesus.
a. Trivett notes this about the church: "They had a label but no life. They had a reputation but no reality It had a form but no force...Instead of being a temple of the Living God, they were the morgue of the lifeless group. They were more an organization rather than an organism. They were more of a skeleton than a sanctuary. They were more like bones than a body. Like Samson, they did not know that the spirit had departed."
b. William James of Harvard once said "There were some people for whom religion was a dull habit, while to others, it was acute fever." By appearances it was a Church of an acute fever. But by assessment it was a Church of a dull habit." The impressive prayers that were prayed went no higher than the ceiling. The beautiful music was not heard in angelic realms. The large offerings were not recorded in ledger of Heaven. It's many programs were not attended by heavenly power. THE CHURCH WAS DEAD! "Reputation is what people think you are. Reality is what Jesus knows you are!"
f. How do you know a church is alive?
• Some Chapters in the book: The Irresistible Church.
a. An irresistible church hungers for the presence of God.
b. An irresistible church remembers who she is.
i. Illustration from The Irresistible Church by Wayne Cordero pages 35-36. It pays to know who you are! Share the story of Russell Christoff and Tasters Choice and 15.3 million.
1. The message is to us all today is whether we are a pastor, a lay leader or even a Christian we need to never forget who we are!
2. A church God loves to bless is one who knows who they are and why they are here.
3. Cordero states, “If we follow Christ, then we’re part of the Body of Believers that compromise the universal church. Our true identity is a glorious one. It’s an identity that positions us for action. Our invitation is always to remember our true identity, and then to act on that identity” (Page 36).
c. An irresistible church lives heart first.
d. An irresistible church practices gratefulness
e. An irresistible church connects everything to a soul
f. An irresistible church chooses love
• It will grow! When something is alive it's always growing.
a. IT WILL GROW NUMERICALL ADDING TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
• Another sign of life is the hunger for food. If there is no hunger for the heavenly there is no life.
a. People will be feeding on the Word of God?
b. Do you have a desire to know more of God?
c. A hunger for His word and presence?
• Another sign is there is a display of emotions - a dead person will not cry, laugh, smile, shout, cheer, clap, sing, dance, praise, (Trivett, pg.4).
• Another sign is they communicate with God.
a. Prayer – no one way but both ways - God communicates to them.
g. Verse 12 WAKE UP - Stir this church out of walking in their sleep. The divine prescription to resurrect it was to yell at it to wake it up. The 1st word of correction. "Become Watchful" remember how the city fell twice nobody was watching the other 3 walls. The guards were asleep!
• Eph. 5:6-14: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. (Eph 5:6 NIV) Therefore do not be partners with them. (Eph 5:7 NIV) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (Eph 5:8 NIV) (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) (Eph 5:9 NIV) and find out what pleases the Lord. (Eph 5:10 NIV) Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (Eph 5:11 NIV) For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. (Eph 5:12 NIV) But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, (Eph 5:13 NIV) for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Eph 5:14 NIV)
a. Isa. 26:19: "Wake up, oh sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
h. A word of exhortation - the next steps to take to correct their situation 3:3
• Remember - recall the past what Christ has done.
• What you received and heard --- obey it. Go back to the Gospel!
a. It is one thing to receive and hear it's another matter to be willing to obey it's commands and live it.
b. It's one thing to say your Christian and not keep a watchful attitude to obey the truth.
• Now repent and change your ways or else.
a. Ritchie states, " Take a look at your life in me and change your mind about the way your living off the riches of your parents' faith, while your own faith is dying because you are not depending on life in me for yourselves. Repent of your lifelessness, your hypocritical lifestyle, your good works done only for men to see them. Repent once and for all. And the moment you make the 180-degee turn back to me, you will be reminded that you have the Holy Spirit. Who lives within you, and by his power you will be able to live in obedience to the truth of God as revealed in the Word!
• The warning - I come like a thief and if you are not ready you will be left behind. He warns them their lights going to be removed it they do not wake up and change.
i. Verse 4 -- A word of encouragement not everyone was dead or walking in their sleep. There was a remnant that had life! These believers where not soiled. Their robes were with out sin. These people were making a difference!
• Every church has the faithful few!
j. A Promise from verse Rev. 3:5-6 - To be written in the Lamb's book of life and not be blotted out.
• Those who stay faithful will receive the acknowledgement of Jesus to the Father that you are pure and allowed entrance into Heaven.
• Can a person lose their salvation?
a. See other sermon.
k. Churches hear this warning and repent!
Conclusion:
• Deadness in the church starts with its members.
• We have to ask ourselves are we walking dead people?
• If we are, we have to wake up!
• Remember where we came from.
• Receive the word of correction.
• Obey the words in the Bible and live by them again.
• Repent and turn away from our soiled lifestyle to receive the promise of having our lives written in the book of life.
• MOST IMPORTANT STAY AWAKE! – no sleeping in the church!
