Revelation 3:1-6

INTRO

The glory of Sardis lay in the past. In the sixth century b.c, she had been the capital city of the kingdom of Lydia and later a center of Persian government. In New Testament times she had sunk to relative obscurity.

William Ramsey describes Sardis as “a relic of the period of barbaric warfare, which lived rather on its ancient prestige than on its suitability to present conditions.”

Her one claim to prominence was that she provided the meeting place of several major Roman roads, and was an important industrial center, the home of woolen and dyed goods.

It was located some fifty miles east of Ephesus on a northern spur of Mt. Tmolus overlooking the broad and fertile plain of the Hermus. The acropolis, with its nearly perpendicular rock walls rising 1,500 feet above the lower valley (on all but the south side), was essentially inaccessible and provided a natural fortification.

It was dedicated to a local Asiatic goddess usually referred to as Cybele, who was identified with the Greek Artemis. This patron deity was believed to possess the special power of restoring the dead to life.

Sardis was a city of wealth and fame. Under Croesus gold was taken from the Pactolus River. Jewelry found in the local cemeteries indicates great prosperity. It was at Sardis that gold and silver coins were first struck. It claimed to be the first to discover the art of dyeing wool.

Revelation 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Greg Snyder

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.’

PRAYER

A -

C -

T -

S -

Exalting Jesus in Revelation Autopsy of a Dead Church (Revelation 3:1–6)

In 2014 Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, wrote a highly acclaimed book titled Autopsy of a Deceased Church. Its genesis was a popular blog article with the same title. In this book Rainer identifies several fatal causes that put once-alive and vibrant churches in the grave. These include

• 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 pastors decreasing;

• failing to have regular, corporate prayer;

• having no clear purpose or vision; and

• obsessing over the facilities.

Exalting Jesus in Revelation Autopsy of a Dead Church (Revelation 3:1–6)

Another complement to Rainer’s precise analysis might be an article titled “When Does My Church Need Revival?” in which Stevan Manley highlights six tell-tale signs of a church standing at death’s door:

1. The church is plagued with disagreements.

2. The preaching is ineffective.

3. Few can remember when a person was last saved.

4. God’s supernatural power is never seen.

5. God is not praised regularly.

6. No one is being called into God’s work.

MESSAGE

Do not substitute a religious life for a righteous one!

Does Your Reputation Exceed Your Reality?

Revelation 3:1 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.

Exalting Jesus in Revelation Christ Confronts Those Who Have a Reputation but Are Dead (Revelation 3:1)

Swindoll says the church at Sardis was “a morgue with a steeple” (ibid.). Vance Havner adds, “She had it all in the show window but nothing in stock” (Repent, 63).

What does that mean?

How do I know?

Royal Birth… living up to that?

Skilled Warrior… living up to that?

Gifted Servant… living up to that?

Loving Neighbor…living up to that?

When is the last time you took a spiritual inventory? Did a spiritual wellness check?

What hope do I have?

Exalting Jesus in Revelation Christ Corrects Those Who Are Dying but Not Yet Dead (Revelation 3:2–3)

The love our Savior has for His church is utterly amazing! Not only has He redeemed her; He again and again goes out to rescue her from self-inflicted wounds.

Ephesians 2:1–7 “1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins … 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved !!

Even with faith as small as a mustard seed… even with a faint pulse… even the stump of Jesse will grow a shoot!

Real Revival Requires You To

Revelation 3:2–3 ESV

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.

Wake Up!

watch and pray

you don’t know when he comes

soothing song of satan

Revelation: Verse by Verse Solution (3:2–3)

Twice before, the city was destroyed because the watchmen were not on the walls and invaders were able to enter its gates.

do not grow complacent with comfortable convenient christianity!

Do triage… strengthen what remains and is about to die

What area of your walk is on spiritual life support?.. almost dead?

Royal Birth… living up to that?

Skilled Warrior… living up to that?

Gifted Servant… living up to that?

Loving Neighbor…living up to that?

When is the last time you took a spiritual inventory? Did a spiritual wellness check? Write a prescription !!

What is your prayer life like?… How can you pray more? fervently / intercession / in His Will…

How often and in what capacity are you witnessing?… How will you improve your witness?

What is your service and volunteering like? - Are you using your gifts?

How are you stewarding your finances and time?

Where would you rate your Bible intake? - Are you intimate with the Word of God ?

What practical steps are you taking to try and grow in godliness? Christ likeness?

How involved are you with a local body of believers? How involved are you with the things of this world?

Remember what you recieved and heard

teach and support sound doctrine

We NEVER outgrow the GOSPEL !!!

Keep it

Passion / zeal / boldness / faith

Repent … from your dead works

self sufficient-ce

RELIGION… Relationship …

James 1:27 “27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Relationships take work !!

Jesus Will Reward the Reliable!

Revelation 3:4–6 ESV

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.’

A Garment

A Guarantee

CLOSE

Chuck Swindoll

Exalting Jesus in Revelation Conclusion

He alone grants spiritual vitality to those with a comatose or dying faith. In light of His urgent alarm to Sardis, all of us who tend toward spiritual stupor must turn from stale religious routine and embrace the abundant life only Jesus Christ can provide. He extends a sincere invitation to you right now. If you feel the stiffness of spiritual rigor mortis setting in, take Christ’s words to heart: wake up and declare your devotion. (Insights, 70)

Swindoll is right. Wake up! Now! Declare your devotion to Christ. Now! Please do not delay. Do not wait until it is too late.

GROUP QUESTIONS

What did you think about the lists provided by Rainer and Manley at the beginning of this message? How can our church work to avoid these dangerous trends?

What can you personally do?

How does Jesus’ omniscience guide the church to faithfulness? How does it reveal His care for His church?

Obviously having a good reputation is a good thing but, how can we guard from hiding weaknesses behind a good reputation?

Have you ever been tempted to compromise your convictions to avoid opposition or persecution? Share this experience with the group if you are comfortable doing so. What does this temptation reveal about our hearts?

What instructions would you give for a dying church? How do they line up with Jesus’ instructions in this passage?

What does it mean for a church to be mired in spiritual lethargy?

What does it mean to “remember” or preach the gospel to yourself everyday? What tools can you use to help you with this?

Do you think holding to the same gospel from beginning to end leads to spiritual stagnation?

Why is repentance not merely for the beginning of the Christian life?

How do the promises of God encourage us to remain faithful to the gospel and the gospel works He has for us now?

What do you think we at ABC need to strengthen or even resurrect? How do you plan on encouraging the body to do so?