Sardis: The Sleeping Church Series

A. Revelation 3:1-2a (READ)

1. Okay, I have a question for you, and I want to be completely honest. “How many of you have ever

fallen asleep in church?” (I think some are ASLEEP right now and didn’t even hear the question.)

2. When Christ says, “WAKE UP!” He’s not referring to people who occasionally DOZE off in church, but the church of Sardis, itself, that is NO LONGER making an IMPACT for Christ as they once did.

B. BACKGROUND OF THE CITY:

1. Sardis was located 32 miles southeast of Thyatira and 46 miles northeast of Smyrna. You can see some

of the RUINS of the city still standing today. (BATH and GYMNASIUM)

a. It was the capital of ancient Lydia of the Persian Empire, and was a very WEALTHY city—and

once touted the WEALTHIEST CITY in the WORLD.

b. It was known for its rich GOLD and SILVER deposits

COMMENT:

It was the first city where GOLD and SILVER coins were MINTED in 550 BC under the orders of King Croesus the last king of Lydia. (So, if you have a QUARTER in your pocket, you can thank

SARDIS.)

c. It was also known for its TEXTILE industry and the makers of costly DYES, exporting EXPENSIVE wool cloths and fabrics all over the Roman Empire.

2. Sardis had also built a magnificent TEMPLE to the goddess Artemis (Diana), as did the city of Ephesus.

COMMENT:

You may recall in Acts 19 how Paul’s LIFE was in DANGER by WORSHIPPERS of ARTEMIS because of his TEACHING that there was only ONE true God. And, later, the church of Ephesus

also endured persecution because of their FAITH in Jesus as the Son of God.

However, there is no indication in this TEXT or SECULAR HISTORY, that the church of Sardis was PERSECUTED for their FAITH. (MORE ON THAT LATER.)

C. Christ’s DESCRIPTION of Himself.

1. First, “He holds the seven spirits of God.”

a. Most scholars that I’ve read believe the “seven spirits” refer to the Holy Spirit, Himself.

COMMENT:

Again, the #7 is the number of COMPLETENESS and PERFECTION, which the Holy Spirit is. However, Isaiah describes a seven-fold manifestation of the Spirit that came upon Jesus, apparently “at His BAPTISM when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove”- Mark 1:10.

Isaiah 11:1-2- “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse (the Father of David), from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit on the Lord will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” (Paul described “Jesus being the root of Jesse, in whom the Gentiles will find hope”- Romans 15:12.)

The Holy Spirit will attest to the DEITY of Jesus as Lord, and will provide WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, COUNSEL, POWER, KNOWLEDGE, and FEAR. (Seven-fold ministry of the Spirit upon Jesus as the Messiah.)

b. Second, “He holds the seven stars.”

COMMENT:

We learned from Revelation 1:19 that the “seven stars are the angels or messengers of the seven churches.” Christ has the AUTHORITY over these churches, including Sardis. He is the HEAD of

the church. The “messengers” (church leaders) answer to Him—no one else but Christ.

MESSAGE:

I. THE CHASTISEMENT OF CHRIST- Revelation 3:1

A. Unlike the other four churches we studied: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and even Thyatira, Jesus

does not begin with a COMMENDATION as He speaks to the Christians at Sardis.

COMMENT:

Now, Christ will END His message with a COMMENDATION for a SMALL GROUP of BELIEVERS in that church, but He immediately begins with a sharp REBUKE for the church as a

whole.

1. “You have a reputation of being alive...”

a. The church of Sardis was ALIVE on FAME.

COMMENT:

If you asked other Christians in Asia Minor about the church at Sardis, apparently, they would give you a glowing APPRAISAL about how they were a VIBRANT, THRIVING, ACTIVE church making a great impact on their COMMUNITY for the Lord.

An OUTSIDER would look at this church and think it was the IDEAL church—ALIVE and ACTIVE and everything going GREAT.

b. And, undoubtedly, the Christians at Sardis reveled in their REPUTATION: “Look at us! Look at our activities. Look at our programs. Look at all the things that we are doing. We’re

the envy of all the churches in Asia Minor.”

COMMENT:

Just as long others recognized what a “GREAT CHURCH” they were, they were HAPPY. It didn’t matter if SOULS were being SAVED or if they were GROWING in their FAITH. All that mattered was their REPUTATION.

2. “…but you are dead.”

a. Apparently their “CHURCH ACTIVITIES” never ceased, but their SPIRITUALITY did.

b. I believe the reason that Christ described Himself as “holding the seven Spirits”, a unique