Part 5 // Sardis

Introduction

I’m Dylan, semester is going so well

Excited for Mission Sunday

Campus ministry is the greatest mobilization field

Used to work for PBT — Neil’s video reminds me of the Apal

PNG census “Christians” and turtle charms

Read Revelation 3:1-6 (explain Spirit, stars)

Explanation

The church at Sardis is like those in PNG, but maybe like us too! What does Jesus say to them? Here’s 4 things I notice…

The Danger of Pretend Faith (3:1-2)

You can have the appearance of life and be dead. 2 Timothy 3:5 — “…having the appearance of godliness but denying its power.”

The church with the best reputation is the first one not to be commended.

They have no false teaching.

They aren’t enduring persecution.

They’re just slowly drifting to sleep.

Their apathy is worse than heresy.

Hit like a ton of bricks in December // my lack of time in the Word this past year

The Ease of Falling Asleep (3:1-3)

30 miles south of Thyatira

700 years before was immaculate city of wealth on top of a hill, began settling below as they grew

City fell twice for lack of watchfulness

549 BC (not long before the time of Haggai and Zechariah), one man

218 BC, 15 men climbed walls and opened gates

Can be translated “wake up” (1 Thess. 5) or “be watchful” (many times in NT)

You can lull yourself into a spiritual sleep

Always laughed at how cold church sanctuaries are to keep people awake

Maybe Satan’s tactic is different here than in other places

Instead of fighting heaven with the fires of hell and deep darkness it’s a warm room with the lights dimmed

Satan is bent on our destruction, and it can happen little by little

Boiling frog analogy (even though a myth)

Proverbs 24:33 — “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”

Here’s what Jesus says the antidote is…

The Way in Which We First Heard (3:3-4)

“What” in Greek is “how” in almost all of the other 100+ instances in NT

Remember what you heard and how you heard it

One person said Jesus might say to us “Remember the thrill with which you first heard”

Maybe you remember what you were like when you first came to Christ

Like the Ephesians — “do the things you did at first”

Sardis was a textile city

Only a few have no dirtied themselves with the ways of the world, they are worthy

Everyone else needs to “live a life worthy of the calling” they received (Eph. 4:1)

The Goodness of God’s Gift (3:5)

Ledger kept of citizens where people’s names would be blotted out when they died, but Jesus keeps that from happening

Not a threat to make you panic about losing your salvation

A promise of Jesus’ goodness for his people who endure

Main point: Be watchful so you don’t fall asleep!

Exhortation

Application (3:6)

If your faith has grown cold, wake up!

If your spiritual life has grown cold like mine had, wake up!

If you’re attending church online because you don’t want to get out of bed, wake up!

If you’re one foot in, one foot out wake up!

If you’re living in habitual sin, wake up!

If you think you’re standing firm, be watchful!

Lifeless doesn’t have to be the end of the story! Aruamu went from Bibleless to Bible college in one generation.

Evangelism

If you are not in Christ you are dead. Repent!

3:5 — The one who conquers will be clothed in white and stay in the Book of Life

Heaven is the book that never ends, where every chapter is better than the one before. — C.S. Lewis

This book does end though, with 22:17 — “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

Invitation (to prayer and communion)

Communion

Unlike the church at Sardis whose works were incomplete and unperfected

Hebrews 10:14 — “…by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”