Sermon Tone Analysis

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and gart dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.

If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

I. God had messages to the various churches.

II.

God still has messages to the churches.

The church is comprised of various congregations.

III.

The church is Sardis had a name!

It is easy to have a name.

IV.

What people said about Sardis was not what God said about Sardis!

In the sixth century B.C. Sardis was one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world.

Yet by the Roman period it had declined to the point that Ramsay could describe it as “a relic of the period of barbaric warfare, which lived rather on its ancient prestige than on its suitability to present conditions.”

One of the most startling revelations in this text is that while God speaks of judgment to the church in Sardis He also refers to a select few that have not defiled their garments and will therefore be with Him throughout eternity.