SERMON OUTLINE:
• Address (vs 1a).
• Attribute (vs 1b).
• Accusation (vs 1c).
• Advice (vs 2-3).
• Assurance (vs 4-5).
SERMON BODY
Ill:
• Many members of the royal family have had the same name,
• And so, they had to be distinguished by numbers,
• e.g. Charles I, II or III.
• But even this became difficult to remember,
• So, people gave their kings & queens nicknames.
• e.g. William the Conqueror (William I)
• e.g. Richard the Lionhearted (Richard I).
• e.g. Ethelred the Unready, as if "Ethelred" wasn’t bad enough,
• History can be cruel, and he was given the nickname "Unready”.
• Derives from the Old English term "unræd,"
• Meaning "poorly advised" or "lacking counsel,"
• Rather than suggesting personal indecisiveness
• e.g. Edward the Confessor: Anglo-Saxon king of England (1003-1066)
• (Known for his piety & devotion to the Church).
• e.g. Edward the Hammer, aka Edward Longshanks:
• Edward I of England (1239-1307)
• (Known for being exceptionally tall, having longshanks).
• e.g. Bloody Mary: Mary I of England (1516-1558)
• (You can figure that one out for yourselves!)
• In Europe there was,
• e.g. Charles the Bold.
• e.g. Leopold the Pious.
• e.g. Albrecht the Magnanimous.
• e.g. Rudolf the Benefactor.
• e.g. My favourite, Fredrick the Quarrelsome.
• How would you like to be known as,
• (insert name) the Quarrelsome?
• If people nicknamed us, I wonder what would it be?
• If people nicknamed our Church, I wonder what would it be?
• TRANSITION:
• In verse 1b Jesus wrote to this at Church at Sardis saying:
• “…you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead”.
If you visited this Church,
• Then your first appearance would be positive.
• The outward appearance of this Church,
• Would have been attractive and warm.
• It had all the signs of a lively Christian fellowship.
Ill:
• The words of God to Samuel the Old Testament Prophet,
• Come to mind (1 Samuel chapter 16 verse 7).
“People look at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Now for Sardis there is good news!
• Because it is Jesus who is proclaiming them as dead,
• And the gospel records remind us,
• That Jesus Christ has the power to raise the dead!
• i.e. I love the fact that Jesus spoilt every funeral he attended,
• He kept bring the corpse back to life – lol.
• And with this Church at Sardis,
• Jesus can put new life into this spiritual dead Church.
Quote: Charles Swindoll
“What begins as a deathbed scene, however, suddenly shifts to an emergency room drama. Rather than officiating over a funeral, Christ makes a last-ditch attempt to revive the hearts of the saints in Sardis.”
We are looking at 7 letters of Jesus Christ written to 7 churches.
• This is much more than a history lesson,
• Because the problems that these seven Churches experienced,
• Can also be the same problems we might battle with today.
Let me remind you of the key truth in these letters.
• Ephesus (Revelation chapter 2 verses 1-7),
• The church that had forsaken its first love.
• (chapter 2 verse 4).
• Smyrna (Revelation chapter 2 verses 8-11),
• The church that had material poverty but spiritual power.
• (chapter 2 verse 10).
• Pergamum (Revelation chapter 2 verses 12-17),
• The church that needed to repent.
• (chapter 2 verse 16).
• Thyatira (Revelation 2 verses 18-29),
• The church that had a false prophetess.
• Faced the issue of compromise.
• (chapter 2 verse 20).
• Sardis (Revelation chapter 3 verses 1-6),
• The church that had fallen asleep, was spiritually dead!
• (chapter 3 verse 2).
• Philadelphia (Revelation chapter 3 verses 7-13),
• The church that persevered through persecution.
• (chapter 3 verse 10).
• Laodicea (Revelation chapter 3 verses 14-22),
• The church with the lukewarm faith.
• (chapter 3 verses 16).
(1). ADDRESS (vs 1a).
‘To the angel of the church in Sardis write:”
• The word, angel also means messenger,
• So, this probably refers to the messenger,
• The person who would read this letter out to the gathered Church.
GEOGRAPHICALLY
• Sardis would have been the next city on a postman’s route.
• It was about 30 miles south of Thyatira,
• (The city & Church we looked at last week).
• Sardis was the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Lydia.
• And two words can summarise this city.
Ill:
• Last week I mentioned Lydia who we read about in Acts chapter 16,
• She was the very first European convert to Christianity.
• Now it might surprise you to know that,
• Most Bible scholars seem to think that,
• Lydia was not actually called Lydia!
• The name, "Lydia", simply means "the Lydian woman",
• That is, it is referring to the place she came from,
• (Lydia in Asia Minor – today, Turkey).
• i.e. In a similar way today,
• We might call someone a ‘Brummie’.
• Because they are from Birmingham.
• i.e. Or we might call someone a ‘Glaswegian,’
• Because they are from Glasgow.
• i.e. Or we might call someone a ‘Bristolian,’
• Because they are from Bristol.
• So, the name, "Lydia",
• Simply means "the woman from Lydia",
• Sardis was the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Lydia.
• i.e. Winchester is the county town of Hampshire. UK.
• And was the ancient capital of Wessex.
• Sardis held a similar status.
#1: PROSPERITY
• Sardis was situated near the Pactolus River,
• Herodotus (the Greet historian & traveller),
• Tells us in his writings:
“That even nature conspired to pour riches into the city.
You could pan for gold in the streams within the city limits.
And the river yielded large deposits of gold.”
• Gold & silver made it one of the richest cities in the ancient world.
• Historians tell us that Sardis,
• Was the first city to mint gold and silver coins.
#2: PROTECTION
• Now, a city of vast wealth had to protect itself.
• Fortunately for Sardis, this was not too difficult,
• Because it was situated on a hill 1,500 feet high,
• It was surrounded by sheer cliffs on three sides.
• It was believed that no one could attack from those three sides,
• So, all the inhabitants of the city had to do,
• Was post guards at the fourth side.
• We might say it was impregnable,
• And it was…until.
• Well, let me allow Dir. Joseph Stowell (president of Cornerstone University),
• Explain what happened.
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/ffO5ipDSQvQ?si=aOAeN_59tmUTp0Fz
• Time: 09.10mins to 10.59mins.
• (email me if you want the edited clip)
Text from video:
you will not know the hour I come against you. That's kind of a head scratcher for us. Like, what does he mean by that? Well, I have to tell you, for the people in Sardis, it was not a head scratcher. They knew exactly what he meant.
They'd all read their history books about King Croesus, the wealthiest king in the world who ruled this region. And King Croesus, to protect his wealth and keep himself safe, built this massive city fortification just beyond that knob back there. And built it in a way that was impregnable. No army could take it. And sure enough, he was right.
When Cyrus came through, Cyrus couldn't take the city. So, he put the city in siege and camped his soldiers around it. Well, one night, one of Cyrus soldiers noticed a soldier on the wall looking over the wall and his helmet dropped to the ground. He went down his little set of stairs, opened a secret door, went out, got his helmet, closed the door and went back in. Ah.
Uh. Now, Cyrus had the key, Sent his armies to the other side of the city, raised a fuss. All of Croesus army went to that side of the city, and Cyrus special forces went through the little secret door and took the city. Just when King Croesus thought he was safe, he was not. That not only happened once, but it also happened twice when the Persians invaded after they had rebuilt this impregnable fortification. As the Persians sieged the city, they noticed vultures camping around the edge of the wall.
But they never flew away. Then they noticed soldiers throwing bodies, dead bodies. People who had died over the wall from for the vultures to eat. And they noticed that that part of the wall was unprotected. So, the Persians took that gate and went in and took the city.
Just when they thought they were safe, they were not And Jesus reaches back into their history to remind them that you think you are alive, but you are dead. In an hour, you know not I will come against you.
• TRANITION: So, twice in their history they were invaded,
• And in verse 3 Jesus uses the expression, “I will come like a thief.”
• And they knew exactly what he meant!
(2). Attribute (vs 1b).
“These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.”
• If Sardis is dead, then this verse describes for us the coroner,
• Who carries out a spiritual autopsy on the body of these believers.
The one conducting this post-mortem is described in two ways:
FIRST: As the one 'who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.' (vs 1b):
• The term the seven spirits of God,
• Does not mean there are seven Holy Spirit's,
• Operating at large in the world.
• Rather it means there is one Holy Spirit,
• With a sevenfold ministry.
• e.g. As described in Isaiah chapter 11 verse 2
“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.”
• Some scholars say, seven is a symbolic number,
• Symbolize completeness, perfection, and divine power,
• So, this is a symbolic way of saying the Holy Spirit is perfect.
SECOND: As the one 'who holds… the seven stars' (vs 1b):
• The seven stars is a reference to the leadership in the local church.
• We might say the Pastor, or the Elders, those who lead the Church.
• They are God’s “messenger” to the church,
• It is their job to faithfully preach God’s Word to the Church.
• John’s vision shows that each pastor,
• Is being held in the Lord’s right hand,
• Pastors, Elders and Teachers are in the grip of the hand of God!
• Jesus Christ is always the one who is over-all,
• But he chooses ordinary men to lead his Church.
• He leads and guides and motivates,
• And he gives gifts and talents to his people for service.
• The leaders are not independent entities.
• They are under the direct authority of Christ,
• And each leader will one day,
• Answer to the Lord for how he led the people of God.
• But a leader’s duty is to reflect his light,
• Just as stars reflect light in the night sky.
(3). ACCUSATION (vs 1c).
“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive...”
Now, Jesus Christ has said these words, “I know your deeds.”
• To each of the previous four churches we have looked at so far.
• But there is a difference, and it is a big difference,
• In the other four Churches the meaning is positive,
• “I know your deeds and I am pleased with them.”
• But here the meaning is exactly the opposite.
• The end of verse 2 says,
• NIV: “I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.”
• TLB: “Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God.”
• So, Sardis is the one Church,
• That will receive no ‘pat on the back’ for its works.
• Instead, Christ rebukes the church for its spiritual deadness.
• By contrast…
• This Church got plenty of praise from people.
• Among men & women its reputation was good.
Quote: Bible teacher Vance Havner
"We are not to get the impression that Sardis was a defunct affair with the building a wreck, the members scattered, the pastor ready to resign. It was a busy church with meetings every night, committees galore, wheels within wheels, promotion and publicity, something going on all the time. It had a reputation of being a live, wide-awake, going concern."
• Outwardly this Church was full of life:
• Inwardly this Church was dead:
Quote:
John MacArthur describes it as
' ... a museum in which stuffed animals are exhibited in their natural habitats.
Everything appears to be normal, but nothing is alive.'
Question: What was dead about the church?
Answer: Wc are not actually told!
• But sometimes silence speaks louder than words.
• Just contrast this Church with the other Churches listed.
• And you will notice,
• There was no persecution or trouble from outside.
• And there was no trouble from inward forces.
• Unlike Thyatira there was no false prophet or teaching.
• As a result of an easy life:
• This Church may well have become lethargic and indifferent.
• Members were happy to attend,
• They were happy to go through their usual routines.
• But they had lost the spark, the dynamism,
• They had lost the reality of Christ impacting their lives,
• And driving them out into their community,
• Driving them out into a lost world!
Ill:
• Alexander the Great was a king of Macedon,
• He created one of the largest empires in history,
• He was known for his military genius and cultural impact.
• Alexander was ardent admirer of the Greek philosopher Diogenes,
• He had read his philosophies and was captivated by them.
• Alexander had conquered the world,
• But he was miserable, something was missing.
• So, Alexander the Great went to meet Diogenes,
• He said to him,
“Diogenes, you're my master. I'm your disciple.
I'll follow you all my life!"
• Diogenes took two fish, handed them to Alexander and said,
• "Carry these around in your pocket for two weeks."
• Alexander the Great was incensed over the idea.
• "What do you mean! Smell like a fish for two weeks. Never!"
• Diogenes shook his head and said,
• "What a shame. Such devotion destroyed by two smelly fish."
• TRANSITION: What small things destroy our devotion to Christ.
• We too make great promises,
• Only to have very ordinary small things spoil our promises to Christ!
• For the Church at Sardis:
• I wonder if it was lethargy and familiarisation,
• That caused their spiritual death?
(4). Advice (vs 2-3).
“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.”
Ill:
• Twice in my life I have had to give CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
• (CPR is a first aid technique that can be used if someone is not breathing properly, Or if their heart has stopped)
• Once to a lady who survived,
• And the other time to a man who sadly did not.
• TRANSITION: In this verse we are given the CPR technique,
• For this dying Church.
• The messenger tells them that there are 5 necessary actions.
(A). WAKE UP (VS 2A)
Ill:
• When Jesus raised people from the dead.
• He often said they were asleep,
• (John chapter 11 verse 11 & Mark chapter 5 verse 39).
• And when someone is simply asleep,
• They can be woken up!
• I was one of those teenagers,
• Who did not like getting up in the morning!
• Often my mother would shout up the stairs,
• “Are you up yet?”
• Every morning, I would respond, “yes!”
• Even though I had not moved a single inch!
TRANSITION: If you want to wake up, you got to have the desire.
• This Church at Sardis needed a good shake up,
• The alarm was being sounded in this letter & now they had a choice.
• They could now be honest and admit there is something wrong.
• They needed to ignore and forget their reputation,
• Among the other Churches,
• And focus only on what God thinks of them!
• In the end that is the only thing that really matters.
• We all stand before God and answer to him alone!
(B). STRENGTHEN WHAT REMAINS (VS 2B)
“Strengthen what remains and is about to die”.
Ill:
• The dying embers of a fire can be brought together.
• And the fire can be rekindled as someone fans the flames.
• TRANSITION:
• Jesus calls attention to the few embers/believers in this Church.
• And he says, “Keep it alive! Don’t let it go out!”
• His command to the other believers is to nourish,
• And to imitate the faithful few among them.
• So that the entire Church,
• Will eventually regenerate and become a healthy body again.
(C). REMEMBER YOUR PURPOSE (VS 3A)
“Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard…”
• The Greek term for ‘remember’ literally means:
• To ‘keep on remembering’ they were ‘to never forget’.
• The things they had ‘received and heard’.
They were to go back to basics.
• i.e. The Gospel - remember it, preach it, live it and share it!
• Challenge: When did you last share the gospel/testimony?
• i.e. Faith – exercise it, grow in it and defend it!
• We are all called to live by faith and not by sight!
• i.e. Forgiveness – If needed then seek Christ’s forgiveness,
• And extend that forgiveness to others.
(D). APPLY THE TRUTH (VS 3B)
• (N.I.V.): “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; HOLD IT FAST.”
• (T.L.B.): “Go back to what you heard and believed at first; HOLD IT FIRMLY.”
Ill:
• The word, ‘muscle’ is derived from the Latin word ‘musculus,’
• Which means, "a little mouse,"
• This is because flexing muscles,
• Was thought to resemble mice moving under the skin.
• TRANSITION:
• Use your muscles to hold tight to the Word of God.
• But the idea here is not merely grasping it,
• But rather applying it!”
• Scripture always needs to be applied.
• i.e. The story of the wise & foolish builders (Matthew chapter 7 verses 24-27)
• It is always the application of truth,
• And not the acquisition of truth that makes a difference!
(E). CHANGE YOUR DIRECTION (VS 3D)
• (N.I.V.): “…and repent”
• (T.L.B.): “…and turn to me again.”
• This fifth and last command is very simple – repent!
• No more flirting with commitment,
• No more play acting the part of a believer.
• Now says Jesus, it is time for some action!
• It is time for some application!
• Church is not a club we attend,
• It is a body of Christians where we are called to serve.
• We are called to be disciples.
Quote: John Ortberg
“The decision to grow always involves a choice between risk and comfort. This means that to be a follower of Jesus, you must renounce comfort as the ultimate value of your life.”
Note: If the Church at Sardis refuses (vs 3e):
• Jesus says to them:
“I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”
• As we saw from Dr Joseph Stowell,
• This was no idle threat Jesus is making to this Church.
• Far from it!
• His comments are earthed to reality,
• And they are etched in the granite of history.
• Those who came did not bring good news and ease,
• They took the city by force!
• They ruled as oppressors!
• TRANSITION:
• Jesus reminds this Church at Sardis,
• That he too would come and deal with them.
• History has an uncanny way of repeating itself!
(6). Assurance (vs 4-5).
“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. 5 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.”
• Some members of the Church were awake,
• And to those and those who will run with them,
• Jesus shares three truths:
(A). THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS (VS 4).
“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.”
ill:
• Most people dress for the occasion.
• i.e. A wedding – best clothes.
• i.e. A funeral – maybe black clothes.
• i.e. Cruise at the Captain’s table – Black bow tie or gown.
• You would not want to be in any of those situations,
• Wearing soiled or dirty clothes.
• You would feel embarrassed, maybe the odd one out.
• TRANSITION:
• Soiled or defiled garments is a picture of giving into` to sin.
• But this verse is a great encouragement,
• It assures those who remain faithful that they have not gone unnoticed,
• And that they will be rewarded by Jesus,
• He will clothe his people with purity!
• e.g. Many of the hymns reflect this great truth
• (My hope is built on nothing less).
“When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne.”
Ill:
• Many religions involve ceremonial washing,
• i.e. Hinduism: Bathing in the Ganges river holds religious significance.
• i.e. Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) & wearing white robes.
• TRANSITION:
• But all that is outward it cannot change the heart.
• Jesus will clothe his people with purity!
.
• They would enjoy the best of company,
• As they share the best of fellowship.
• They will be clothed with his purity,
• And stand justified in the sight of God.
(B). THE PROMISE OF A PLACE IN HEAVEN (VS 5A).
“I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life.”
• Jesus assures those who follow him.
• That their names are securely written in ‘the book of life’.
Ill:
• In the ancient world a king kept a register of citizens.
• When a man committed a crime against the state.
• Or when he died, his name was removed from the register.
• So, to have one’s name written in the book of life.
• Is to be numbered amongst the faithful citizens in God’s Kingdom.
• TRANSITION: Jesus assures those who follow him.
• That their names are securely written in ‘the book of life’.
Quote: Ray Steadman:
“That promise has bothered many people because they immediately think,
"That implies that some can be blotted out of the book of life.
If I am once given the righteousness of Christ does this mean I can lose it
If I do not live up to what I should, or walk rightly before the Lord, can I lose it again?"
But notice the way the Lord puts it. He does not say anything about anyone's name being blotted out.
His words are simply assuring that those who trust him will never be blotted out.
I think he is addressing himself to the fears of the redeemed.
• Jesus assures those who follow him.
• That their names are securely written in ‘the book of life’.
(C). THE PROMISE OF CHRIST’S OWN PROMISE (VS 5B).
“…but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.”
• Those who belong to Christ,
• Have nothing to fear in the highest heaven.
• Because Jesus Christ vouches for us!
Ill:
• I remember the first time I went to prison.
• (Not as a prisoner but as a visiting speaker there to take the morning service).
• The Chaplin met me in the car park,
• And I followed him to the prison gates.
• The Chaplin looked at the people on the security desk,
• And simply said. “It’s ok he is with me!”
• The prison officer then looked in his book,
• And my name were there.
• It was there because the week before,
• I had sent in my details and information.
• They had run checks on me, and I was cleared to go in.
• So, with my name being in the book,
• And the Chaplin vouching for me.
• All closed doors were opened, and I was allowed to go inside.
• TRANSITION: Aren’t you glad you are ‘in Christ’?
• It means that each one of us are written in the ‘book of life’.
• And each one of us has someone to vouch for us!
Question: Is that your experience this morning?
Question: If not then why not, repent & believe!
Sermon Video:
https://youtu.be/2a7qDPGUnS4
