Sardis—Wake Up! Church…
Revelation 3:1-6NIV
We begin by reading prayerfully the same scriptures in Revelation 1.
First, Revelation 1:1-3NIV The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Secondly, Revelation 1:9-11NIV I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
These warnings in Revelation 2 and 3, serve generally as a wakeup call. A call to attention, A call to leave nothing undone, A call to carry God’s gospel with firsthand experience and knowledge of the gospels ability to do whatever is needed!
Sardis was once one of the greatest cities of the world. It had been the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, and in the 6th century B. C. was ruled by a fabulously wealthy king whose name, Croesus, became a byword for uncounted wealth. When I was young I remember hearing rich people described as being "as rich as Croesus." (You do not hear that proverb much anymore, now it is "as rich as Merv Griffin!") Sardis was built on a mountain spur about 1500 feet above the valley floor. It was regarded as virtually impregnable to military assault.
Several times armies had tried to overthrow it but were unable to do so. But twice in its history it had fallen to foreign assault, once by the Persians, and once by the Greeks, and both victories were achieved by stealth. Sardis was so confident it could not be overcome that it failed to guard its walls adequately. In the dead of the night a band of brave soldiers climbed up the sides of the ravine and entered an unwatched gate and overthrew the city. Thus, Sardis was a city characterized by a complacent spirit.
This evening, I want to take these 6 verses of scripture pertaining to the church of Sardis as well as to CECC.
Revelation 3:1NIV 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.
President Harry Truman enjoyed telling the story about a man who was hit on the head at work. The blow was so severe that he was knocked unconscious for an extended period. His family was convinced that he was dead. The funeral home was called, and the undertaker picked him up at the hospital. Early the next morning, the man awoke and sat straight up in the coffin. Confused, he blinked several times and looked around trying to put the whole thing together.
He thought: “If I’m alive, what in the world am I doing in this soft, satin-filled box? If I’m dead, why do I have to go to the bathroom?”
“We shouldn’t be confused about rather we are alive or dead. There can’t be any mistaking that.” P.H
Jesus addresses—the angel of the church, meaning the pastors, and elders of the church.
The leadership of any church is the utmost important! James 3:1NLT Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Revelation 3:1… The Almighty holding the seven spirits of God—Seven marking completion.
Again Verse 1, of Revelation 3, Jesus say’s, I AM the One who holds the seven stars. Meaning His churches.
Jesus goes on and states—Revelation 3:1b… I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
A good reputation never warrants bad fruit. In other words, You never earn a license to do bad deeds that produce sin.
A good reputation can be earned by man—by their deeds seen in public, or because of their wealth, but always remember, God sees everything—He sees our motivation. P.H
Revelation 3:1TM Write this to Sardis, to the Angel of the church. The One holding the Seven Spirits of God in one hand, a firm grip on the Seven Stars with the other, speaks:
“I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you’re dead, stone-dead.
As believer’s we should take note that this deadness Jesus speaks of might have been seen in several ways:
Passion was missing.
Dead works—earning their way, Earning grace—Impossible.
Outward appearances mean everything. Clean the outside, but leave the inside the same.
If you are stone-dead, and dried up, go back to salvation; Go back to the honey hole, and draw from the fountain of living water.
Jesus states in John 7:38-39NKJV He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Yes, Jesus promised something greater than Himself. Greater in deeds, and in purpose.
Revelation 3:2NIV Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.
I like verse 2, because I enjoy yelling this to sleeping teenagers, and such.
Wake up—be alert, stay on guard, ask God for His daily provisions!
Revelation 3:2TM “Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there’s life in you yet. But I wouldn’t know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God’s work has been completed.
Jesus states to the church of Sardis, your deeds are left unfinished.
What is Jesus saying? Go back, find purpose, get direction, write it down, and look only to heaven.
When you glimpse into history—It was always the strong at heart, moving with purpose and direction that made a difference—The Hebrew 11, believers.
Think back about—Noah, Moses, Joseph, King David, Job, Esther, The Apostle Paul, Jesus. P.H
Revelation 3:3aNIV Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.
Remember what you’ve—received, seen and heard.
The writer of Hebrews 10:32NKJV But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
Again Revelation 3:2a… remember what you have received and heard…hold it fast and repent.
Lamentations 3:21-24NKJV This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,“Therefore I hope in Him!”
Revelation 3:3bNIV 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.
This is the warning for every believer to receive: If you refuse to wake up—I will come like a thief.
An experienced thief, can come and go quickly with ease.
Secondly, because you’re asleep—you won’t know what time, day or hour, ‘I’ come.
Ephesians 5:15NKJV See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
Ephesians 5:15NLT So be careful how you live. Live as men who are wise and not foolish.
Be careful how you walk—How you live, How you respond, How you act!
Revelation 3:4NIV 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.
As I read this verse over and over again, I believe verse 4 is a word of encouragement for everyone, or you could say, it’s grace in action, because it’s not too late!
In other words, “They are going to wear white, but what about me?” I must choose.
Listen to John 1:14NLT So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love (Grace) and faithfulness (Truth). And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
On every occasion, Jesus always operates out of grace and truth.
The truth is, You are forgiven, because of grace. The truth Jesus operates from produces truth—integrity.
Revelation 3:5NIV The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
As believer’s move forward—all dressed in white. You have this promise—I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life.
However, according to Revelation 3:5c…your name will be acknowledged before my Father and his angels!
Illustration—Acknowledge a few names.
Revelation 3:6NIV Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
We choose several types of hearing—selective, hearing, only what you want to hear. Dull of hearing—words become meaningless. Dull hearing also occurs from loneliness. We forget how to hear. We don’t hear Creator, nor do we talk to Creator. Ears that hear out of past hurts; Ears that have supposedly heard it all.
Revelation 3:6TPT So the one whose heart is open let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is now saying to all the churches.
Is your heart open; Do you want to hear?
Revelation 3:6NLT Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.
Listen to this poem called—but to hear.
So let the noise subside, And listen deep inside; He will speak, he will speak. But it won’t be an earthquake; And it won’t be fire; Or the whirling wind; Taking you higher. It will be a still small voice; And you’ll have no choice; But to hear; but to hear. —John Fischer
Benediction.
