The Church at Sardis

Introduction

Today we are continuing our studies into the Seven Churches in Revelation.

We’d looked at the various ways to examine these churches:

Historically

Practically

Chronologically

The best use for us today is looking at them in the practical sense. In that the characteristics of these churches can resemble those of churches today.

Ephesus is the Apostolic / Early church

Smyrna is the Suffering / Persecuted church

Pergamos is the Compromising church

Thyatira is the Compromised church

Today we’re looking at the church in Sardis. If you were to sum up the church in Sardis it would not be the Compromising or Compromised church - but the dead church.

It’s bad to be a Compromising Church

It’s worse to be a Compromised Church

It’s worser(:) to be a dead church - but that’s what Sardis is.

I do believe that this church is typical of the majority of churches today.

So tonight we’re going to examine this church and see what Jesus had to say about it.

First off we will look at the Preacher

I. The Preacher

Speaking of Jesus and the attributes that He gives Himself to this church

The Possessor of the Preachers

Jesus begins by stating that He ‘hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars’

Now if you go back to Rev. 1:20, you will find out who it’s speaking of. It’s the ‘angels of the seven churches’.

Now these are not angels in the most common sense of the word. It’s not like Michael or any other angelic being. It’s speaking about the pastors / undershepherds of those churches.

Websters 1828 for the word ‘angel’ (def) 5. A minister of the gospel, who is an embassador of God. Rev. 2. and 3.

So Jesus addresses Himself as the one who hath them.

This is both a comforting and terrifying thought if you are a pastor.

Comforting in the sense that I know I’m in the palm of the very hand of God. He will carry me through my burdens, protect me from the tribulations. Lift me up when I’m down. It’s very comforting in that sense

Terrifying in the sense that Christ died for the church. He has entrusted me to minister unto this body of believers - and I am in His hand. The hand that can cast me aside if I’m not obedient. The hand that can crush me if I hurt His beloved.

That being said, I believe this to be a warning unto the pastor of this church.

We see the Preacher is the Possessor of the Preachers

The Provider of the Power

Not only is He the Possessor the Preachers, but He’s the Provider of the Power

He says He hath the ‘seven Spirits of God’

A couple things to understand:

There are not seven Spirits, there is ONE Spirit - the Holy Spirit. Remember this is a book that is poetic & full of imagery. It states ‘seven Spirits’ for a purpose. God is illustrating that knowing He listed ‘Seven churches’, he is saying that His Spirit is sufficient to supply every church.

In other words, It’s not as if He is limited in that if He blesses the church in Philadelphia, He can still sufficiently supply the church in Sardis.

Not only does it speak of the Sufficiency of Christ to Power the churches, but speaks also to Selectivity as well.

In other words, God can enable Philadelphia, and NOT enable Sardis if He so chooses.

Church without the Power of God we have nothing. His Power is Sufficient, but we’d do well to remember it can be Selectively doled out as well.

We see the Preacher. Secondly, we’ll look at the Positives

II. The Positives

Not Much

As opposed to the previous churches, God didn’t have anything positive to say about this church.

Examine the other churches

Only a Few Stayed Faithful

This is all the LORD could muster up concerning the total depravity of this church - that there were a few there that had some life in them.

Those few were the exception, not the rule. Those few had life in them - but the church, though it had a reputation as being alive, it was in fact dead.

And that brings us to the Problems

III. The Problems

The Appeared Alive, but were Not (v1b)

They appeared alive - to who? Not to God. Obviously their appearance of being alive was unto the world. The world thought that they were alive, but God knew the truth - that they were DEAD!

This is why I say that most churches fall into this category today. Because to the world, church is church. Someone who professes to be a Christian is counted the same as one that truly is.

Most churches are considered alive because:

They hold ceremony

Many dress in regal clothing (much like the Pharisees)

They call themselves Christians

Because the world is ignorant to the truth

The truth that Salvation is not in ceremony, but in Christ

That calling yourself a Christians and actually being one are two different things

That there are counterfeit ‘Christs’ that Satan (and this world) promote

Jesus said: Mat. 24:23-24 “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

2Pet. 2:1-2 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

Most churches are dead because:

They teach that Salvation is of man

2Jo. 9-11 “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

Their pastors are Whores of the Faith

Tit. 1:10-11 “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”

They are more interested in lining their pockets than lifting up the brethren. God help those!

They were not Alert (v2a)

They did not care to watch

They were not concerned with His Coming

Why is Watching important?

Watching demonstrates expectation

Expectation demonstrates our belief in God’s Promises

Therefore, Watching demonstrates faith.

Which leads me to the next point...

They Allowed their Faith to Weaken (v2b)

An interesting thing about Sardis is that the city was captured when invaded twice. On both instances, the sentries - the watchmen upon the walls - had failed in their job.

There were some Christians in that church. The church itself was dead, but those believers had life. Where there is life, there is hope. The same God that withdrew from that church can bring new life again, but those true Christians there needed to strengthen...

As well as understand that their works were not acceptable to the LORD

Their Works were not Acceptable (v2c)

Those Christians there needed to work on their works.

This demonstrates two things:

They had works

But they were not what God wanted

Church, you can be busy & you can have works, but that in and of itself mean that God is pleased with them.

We see the Problems. Next, let’s look at the Proclamation

IV. The Proclamation

Remember

They needed to Remember the truth of the Gospel. That which they were founded on and that which has been ignored.

This goes back to simply getting back to the basics.

We need no new thing, we just need to Remember the truth of God

They needed to Remember, and then Repent

Repent

This means to turn about. They were obviously headed in the wrong direction, and God called on them to repent!

There’s many churches that are headed in the wrong direction and they need to repent.

There’s many Christians that are headed in the wrong direction and they need to repent.

God calls on them to Repent.

Or Regret

God says that He will come upon them quickly & unexpectedly.

Church it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. It’s a fearful things to have the Judgment of God come upon you like a thief in the night.

They were to Remember, Repent or Regret. Those were the options.

They and You (if you’re in need) must remember and repent or regret it one day.

Lastly, we see the Promises and the Pleas

V. The Promises & Pleas

The Worthy Walk with Jesus in White

Walking with Jesus cleansed by the blood! What a wonderful sight!

The Faithful Will Overcome and be Clothed in White

The Bible tells us how we overcome: Rev. 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

The same thing is said of Paul this way: Rom. 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

We see the Promises and Pleas

Conclusion