Message to the Churches Part II

Overarching Message Last Week

REMEMBER - REPENT - RETURN

Remember where you have fallen from, Repent, then return to where you were when you first experienced Christ. The place where you had the greatest passion and zeal for the Kingdom of God.

He knows where you are, where the seat of Satan dwells.

He promises you will receive the tree of life, you will receive the crown of life, you will receive a new name.

How Jesus Characterizes the final 3 Churches.

The kind of Church who appears to have life but is dead?

The kind of Church that has truly embraced the Great Commission?

The kind of Church that makes God sick.

Thom Rainer, President of LifeWay (Autopsy of a Deceased Church)

Thousands of Churches close their doors each year. Rainer identifies several fatal causes that put once-alive and vibrant Churches in the grave.

Treating the past as the hero

Refusing to adapt to the needs of the present community

moving the focus of the budget inward

allowing the Great Commission to become the Great Omission

Letting the Church become preference-driven out of selfishness and personal agendas.

seeing the tenure of the pastor decreasing

failing to have regular, corporate prayer

Having no clear purpose or vision

obsessing over the facilities

Many Churches begin with a man - reaches out with a mission - becomes a movement, but ends up a monument or in the mortuary.

Why do Churches begin with life but end with death?

Another complement to Rainer’s precise analysis is an article entitled “When Does my Church Need Revival?” Stevan Manley gives six tel-tale signs of a Church standing on death’s door.

The Church is plagued with disagreements

The preaching is ineffective.

Few can remember when a person was last saved.

God’s supernatural power is never seen.

God is not praised regularly.

No one is being called into God’s full time work.

Revelation 3:1–6 ESV

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

SARDIS

Pic of the Temple of Artemis

Sardis was approximately 30 miles Southeast of Thyatira and one of the oldest cities in the province of Asia, having been found around 1200 BC. It was virtually destroyed by an earthquake in AD17 but was rebuilt and given new life with the aid of Emperor Tiberius in AD 14-37.

The City had fame and wealth, and it took pride in its temple to Cybele, its acropolis, and its famous necropolis, which was known as the “cemetery of a 1,000 hills” because of the hundreds of burial mounds visible on the skyline from some seven miles away. The city however, had seen its best days and was living on its past reputation.

1. The Church that appears to have life but is dead.

Note: The Savior has the spirit but the church at Sardis does not. The Savior has life however, Sardis is dead.

Sometimes we have no idea of our true spiritual condition. How often do we mis-judge where we truly are at as a spiritually?

“I know your works” (Here again we have the word in Greek gnosis. Meaning a deep spiritual knowledge. This kind of knowledge is transcendent insight by God alone.

He holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars and is fully cognizant of the churches condition.

We may fool ourselves, we may fool others around us, however, we cannot fool God. He knows you and your spiritual state. The Christian walk is not one that you can fake it till you make it.

The Church at Sardis had a reputation of being a Church that was a buzz with activity and vitality. This could possibly be the Church today whose calendar is packed with activities and events. They have a ministry for just about everything you could imagine. They are the six flags over Jesus church and have all of the flashy technology and state of the art facilities.

The Church appeared to be and claimed to be a Church of vitality. Apparently at one time they were very effective for the kingdom. Often we can think we are one thing when in reality we are altogether something different.

I was a part of a ministry that was programmed to death, literally. They had there calendar full. In fact we would get away at the beginning of the year to plan all of the fun exciting events we were going to do in the next year. However, every year I would ask the question? How many true disciples did we make this past year. How many new converts did we make this past year. You could have heard a pen drop in the room. Why? Because this was reality, it was a Church that was a buzz with activity but had no life.

THE DEAD CHURCH

“but you are dead” (nekros). Looks can be deceiving. A body that from all outward appearances seems strong and healthy can, on closer inspection, be found to be racked with cancer. They call cancer the silent killer because on the outside you seem strong and healthy, but on closer examination, your body is found to be racked with cancer or some other terminal disease.

Our Lord performs a battery of spiritual tests on the church at Sardis. He subjects her to a divine CAT-scan, MRI, and X-ray. The diagnosis is far worse than any external, superficial examination could ever reveal: she is dead! They were the Zombie Church.

Possible Causes for the Death Sentence

1. The Church that compromises her public witness

2. The Church that tries to blend in with Culture

Note: Notice what Jesus promise in verse 5 that for the one who conquers and does not compromise their witness or try to blend in with the culture He will acknowledge them before His Father and the angels. This possibly is a hint of their greater problem. They were unwilling to confess their allegiance to Christ.

THE MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH THAT IS DYING BUT NOT DEAD YET

The Dr. has been in to see if anything can be done for the Church at Sardis. As our Lord looks over the body, His body, He sees a weak beat of the heart, a faith but perceptible pulse still beating.

Because this Church is His Church and He knows her better than anyone else, He still knows that hope of recovery, restoration, and revitalization is still possible. The condition is critical but not yet terminal, as long as He is still present in the Church, if the treatment is administered as soon as possible.

3 Imperative steps must be taken by the Church.

Command #1: “Be Alert”

This is not a one time thing it is implied in the text that the Church must Stay alert! and Stay Awake!

Yesterdays victories are of little use to us if we promptly fall back asleep and fail to keep alert and stay awake in the battle.

Command #2: “Strengthen What Remains”

What little that remains must be strengthened, built back up. Why? Because it “is about to die.” Specifically Jesus is saying that He has not found your works which He knows to be complete before God. It does not appear to be the quantity of their works but the quality of their works that was lacking.

They had become content with mediocrity. Their faith was no longer radical faith. It was almost invisible. The lost among whom they lived, worked, and prayed saw nothing different or unique about their walk. When does the world not see anything unique or different about your walk.

Does the world look at you and shrug their shoulders as if to say nothing significant to see here. Or do they see your life and daily work and say wow, I did not see that coming.

1 Peter 2:11–12 ESV

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Command #3: “Remember What You Have Received and Heard”

This is the idea that we continually call something to remembrance. And what are they to remember? Hello! The Gospel! They need to continually recall the truth of the gospel they had “received and heard.”

Remember that faith comes through hearing the gospel message.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

It is one thing to hear the gospel message and another thing to having ears to hear that move us to saving faith.

The Message of the Gospel seems silent in Much of Church Culture Today!

Many Churches focus on the merits of good works and fail to proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ died for sinners, taking their shame and punishment for sin, offering forgiveness and raising them to new life.

When heard through this lens we see faith not in the confidence of our own ability but in the work of Christ alone on the cross of Calvary. Many line the pews of our churches that are laying dead in their sins because the message of the gospel has been neglected to be proclaimed in the church today.

People flock to churches because they are oppressed by programs and works but have not heard the life-giving message that Jesus Christ has appeared to offer once and for all to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Hebrews 9:25 ESV

25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,

The Gospel allows us to understanding the meaning of Faith. Why would a person call on God unless he expects to hear from Him? But not all who call will hear. Some do not call Him in faith, in belief in Christ, but believe in their own righteous effort.

“Keep It”

The fact is many times we never drift towards anything worthwhile. We never just slide into truth, but we can slide into error. You slide and slip into theological liberalism. You slide and slip into moral compromise. No, we never drift into anywhere worth going.

“Repent”

Many Christians fail to understand Biblical Repentance. They know that they repented of their sins when they were converted, but they fail to understand its ongoing place in a healthy Christian life.

Repentance must be an intentional process of the changing of our mind.

“Few Have not soiled their Garments”

This is a picture of spiritual contamination of their Christian witness by accommodating to the current and faddish trends of the pagan culture and its sinful ways. A small minority stood strong for Jesus, both in confession and conduct.

“Christ Confesses those who have His Righteousness and are written in the Book of Life”

The Victors have a 3 Fold Promise

First, They will be clothed in the spotless righteous clothes of the redeemed. The Sanctification process has been completed and their complete glorification is soon to come.

Second, He will never erase their names from His book of life. We rejoice that our names are written in Heaven. The book of Life is mentioned throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

Third, He will confess those who have the right clothes before the Father and the angels.

Jesus Parable of the Wedding feast and warning to the ones who are not clothed in the proper wedding garments.

Matthew 22:11–14 ESV

11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Jesus was clearly teaching that the crime against the king was the improperly attired guest. The deeper teaching behind the parable is the teaching of the inadequacy of self-righteousness. From the beginning, God has provided a “covering” for our sin. To insist on covering ourselves is to clothed in “filthy rags”. Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame, but they found their fig leaves to be insufficient coverings.

God took away their handmade clothes and replaced them with skins of (sacrificed) animals. All throughout revelation we see the heavenly beings wearing “white robes”, and we learn that the whiteness of the robes is due to their being washed in the blood of the Lamb. We trust in God’s righteousness not our own.

Note: Look what Jesus has to say about Jesus confessing us before the Father in Heaven.

Matthew 10:32–34 ESV

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA

Revelation 3:7–13 ESV

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

2. The Church that looks weak but is strong.

Apparently the Church at Philadelphia, Asia, was passionate about being a Great Commission church, and the risen and glorified Christ was passionate about enabling it to continue to be a Great Commission church.

They were marked by their complete faithfulness to Jesus, and our Lord promises them, “I have placed before you and open door that no one is able to close.”

Churches may be mighty in their witness even when they look weak in appearance. Who they really are on the inside matters way more to God than what they look like on the outside. And when He sees what He likes, there are no limits on what God may do for them and through them.

CHUCK SWINDOLL PUTS IT IN PERSPECTIVE:

The size of a congregation, the limitations of its location, or the restrictions of its budget should never determine its vision. Instead, churches should set their vision based on the power of their God. God is infinite, magnificent, awesome, and mighty—beyond description or comprehension! When He chooses to open opportunities, the possibilities are endless. All we need to do is trust and follow Him wherever He leads.

The City of Philadelphia (means “brotherly love”) was 25 miles southeast of Sardis. It was an important high-plateau city on a main highway that connected with Smyrna, which was about one hundred miles due west. In AD 17 the city was devastated by an earthquake but was rebuilt by Tiberius. As a result it was loyal to Rome and called “the gateway to the East,” it was something of a missionary city for the spreading of the Greek culture. Apparently it was also a missionary city for the spread of the gospel for several key reasons.

vs. 8 “I set before you an open door”

What is the open door? Some have said it is an open door for salvation, others an open door for missions and ministry. We read in John 10:7-9 “the door of the sheep”. However, the best interpretation would appear to be the “door” to the kingdom of God.

He has opened wide the “door,” and “no one could shut it.” Jesus holds the keys to the door of the kingdom of God.

The church lacked stature and size in the community and was looked down upon and persecuted. They had little authority or influence. “But” they were faithful, and that has always been the test of divine blessing rather than success.

THE SMALL BUT MIGHTY CHURCH

What does a Great Commission Church Look Like?

* A Great Commission Church is faithful to Proclaim the name of Jesus

"They were persistent in the work of the Gospel”

This church like many churches today have limited resources and influence. This church carried little, if any, influence in Philadelphia. What the church lacked in size and stature was made up for in hardworking faithfulness to the kingdom of God. They had kept Christ’s word and did not deny His name. Faced with constant trials, they stayed true to the gospel message.

“They were true to the Name of Jesus”

What is so, significant about not denying the name of Jesus. Holding the name of Jesus in public arena is of uttermost importance.

Remember Peters great denial of Jesus and how it crushed him when he realized what he had done to the name of Jesus Christ who died for our sins.

We are all called to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ in all avenues in our life. However, the sad reality is that most of us rarely bring up the name of Jesus in our daily conversations. Some of us may even avoid the subject of the use of Jesus name in the public arena of thoughts and ideas.

*A Great Commission Church Lives by the Promises of God

Verses 10-12

(1) The Promise of Protection vs. 10

verse 10 is possibly one of the more mis-understood texts in Revelation. This is the verse that the dispensationalist hold to for their view of escaping the tribulation that is to come.

Notice that John writes the hour of trial that is coming on the whole word to try those who dwell on the earth. Anytime scripture refers to “Earth Dwellers” it is referring to those who are unbelievers.

If we understand this part of the text then it is clear the protection is against the wrath of God for the unbeliever not the tribulation that is to come. There is a great difference in Revelation between the wrath of God and the wrath of the dragon. In Revelation martyrdom is seen as a victory over Satan, not a defeat.

The importance is not the issue of physical protection, because we know the bible promises that there will be persecutions for the believer. It is not physical protection from temporal wrath but spiritual protection from eternal wrath.

(2) The Promise of Perseverance vs. 11

The “coming” has inaugurated a thrust, that is, first “Jesus” coming to them in comfort and protection, and second his final “coming” to vindicate them for their suffering.

We have a responsibility to persevere to the end.

“Hold fast to what you have that no one may seize your crown”

Notice this is not a taking away of salvation which cannot be taken away however, evil men sent by satan who would rob them of future reward if they take their eyes off Jesus or if they give way to temptation to deny His name or disobey his word. “Stay with it Jesus says, there is a crown waiting for us at the finish line. Paul speaks of pressing towards the prize that awaits us at the finish line.”

(3) The Promise of a New Home and New Name

Two promise to the overcomer is twofold. The promise of a new secured home and the promise of a new name.

THE PROMISE OF A SECURE HOME

Revelation 21:22 tells us in the new Jerusalem “the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” The pillar of the temple is Christ who puts the believer in a position of absolute and complete security. No disruption, disturbance, or disaster will every separate us from our Savior. Look how Paul describes this beautiful promise in Romans 8:38-39

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

THE PROMISE OF A NEW NAME

“I will write on him the name of My God and name of the city of my God - the new Jerusalem, which comes out of heaven from God.” The Church at Philadelphia wore the name of Christ proudly and He is not ashamed to introduce them to His father with their new name of blessing and honor.

The name signifies identification, character, ownership, and recognition. The name signifies who my God is, where my home is and who my Lord is!

HOW DO YOU WANT THE LORD TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE FATHER?

Revelation 3:14–22 ESV

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

3. The Church that makes God sick?

Pic of the pipes that brought water from the Hot springs at Hierapolis 6 miles to the north. An aqueduct and and inverted siphon system was used.

vs 14 Jesus is identified as the “Amen, the faithful and true Witness” recognizes in our Lord what is sure and valid, and true.

AMEN is a title when used appropriately is an affirmation or response to a divine word and action.

“Churches that lose sight of their dependence on Christ for all things are deceived and useless, but Jesus graciously promises healing to all who will rely on Him for their every need.”

You nauseate me! “You make me sick!” “When I look at you, I want to vomit!” These are not exactly words of compliment or praise, yet tragically these are the words spoken by the risen and glorified Christ to His church in the city of Laodicea.

Note: For this church He does not have one good thing to say about them. No Church should ever be satisfied with who or where they think they might be as a church.

Laodicea was located in the Lycus Valley along with the cities of Hierapolis and Colossae. It was approximately three hundred miles east of Athens and six hundred miles northwest of Jerusalem.

Two important imperial trade routes converged at Laodicea. The city was a wealthy commercial center, the richest in the known area. It was known for banking, the manufacturing of clothing especially black wool.

It was also known for its medical schools with ointments for the ears and the eyes. So wealthy was the city that following a devastating earthquake in AD 60, Laodicea rebuilt itself without the assistance of Rome.

Despite its prosperity, the city did have one major weakness: an absence of an adequate and convenient source for good drinking water. By means of aqueducts, it got its water either from the hot springs of Hierapolis that cooled to lukewarm or from a cooler source in Colossae that warmed to lukewarm.

For all its wealth the city had very poor drinking water. The water was so distasteful that visitors, not prepared for its tepid flavor, would often vomit after drinking it.

*Jesus knows who we think we are

Ignorance to where we actually are spiritually and where we think we are is many times drastically different. We may say one thing when the truth is altogether something different. We may fool others, and we may even fool ourselves, but we can never fool God.

Jesus points out the appearance of wealth and prosperity seemingly needing nothing from God but faith realize the reality of who they really are as sinners.

2 Categories

GENERAL SITUATION

You are wretched

Wretched: A Person in a very unhappy or unfortunate situation. Literally means miserable or unhappy situation. Romans 7:24

Romans 7:24 ESV

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

James 4:9 uses the verbs to grieve, mourn, and wail....

You are pitiable

Pitiable: A person in such a weak state of being that you feel pity for them.

SPECIFIC SITUATION

You are Poor (Matthew 6 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth)

Because they were materially rich, they assumed they were spiritually rich. The problem at Laodicea was not wealth but the smug self-satisfaction it gave them. The rebuild after the earthquake included a gymnasium, a stadium with a semicircular track nine hundred feet long, a triple gate and towers, and several beautiful buildings. The belief in Laodicea was perhaps the first taste of the prosperity gospel.

You are blind (blind to how far they had fallen) A dig at the city that prided itself on its famous eye powder and school of medicine.

You are Naked (exposed before God) Another dig at the city that prided itself in its famous black wool.

*We daily need Christ’s Counsel for our Deficiencies

We need Christ’s riches: The currency and the purchase is always the same: faith, Trust, radical dependence on Him and only Him.

We need Christ’s Righteousness: We need the white clothes so that we may be dressed and our shameful nakedness not be exposed. The garments Jesus offers covers the shame of our nakedness.

We need Christ’s Remedy: We need to buy Christ “ointment to spread on our eyes so that we may truly see.” Only the great physician can cure our sightless state of being.

We need Christ’s Rebuke: Christ corrects and disciplines you as His child.

Hebrews 12:7–11 ESV

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

CONCLUSION

vs. 20

It appears so simple LOOK - SEE - TAKE NOTE - WAKE UP

“Jesus stands at the door of the Church and is knocking graciously, and patiently waiting for the Church to wake from its slumber. To stop sleeping on the job. It appears that only one humble, receptive, repentant sinner is necessary to spark revival within a local Church.”

The master is calling, are you listening?

It has been debated whether this verse is speaking to the individual sinner. It should be recognized as the Church and its individual members are being addressed. However, I do not think it is a far stretch to assume that there is an application to make for the sinner with whom Christ seeks to call into fellowship.

In the Middle Eastern world, an invitation to share a meal was characteristic of hospitality and the occasion for intimate fellowship with family and close friends.

It is hard to imagine that any follower of the Lamb of God would reject such a call.

“The Big question today is not ‘Is God speaking?’ The really big Question is, ‘Are you Listening?”