The Church at Sardis

The Church at Sardis

The Church that was dead and didn’t know it

Revelation 3:1–6 NKJV

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but 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.” ’

Intro: Story about the dead chicken. This is how many churches are today, they may be growing in numbers of people but not growing as far as souls go.

They may have the finest faculties, great programs, awesome music, they may be running over in numbers, they many look like there is a lot of life, but in the eyes of the Lord they are dead.

God has a word for all churches, God had a word Sardis, and it was not a good word.

2. Seven Spirits of God. 1:4

Revelation 1:4 NKJV

4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

a. The seven spirits represent the seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit. John was referring to the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s ministry. Seven is Gods number of fullness.

b. Christ is the one who operates the churches through the ministers of the church by the seven fold ministry of the Holy Spirit. Christ’s relationship to the church follows a simple principle.

c. The church works by the power of the Holy Spirit through the leadership of the church.

3. Churches have reputations, some good. Elab Some Bad. Elab

4. Sardis had a reputation.

I. Reputation VS 1

Revelation 3:1 (NKJV)

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

1. In the previous letters “I know your works:” was a comforting phrase. 2:2-3; 2:8-10; 2:13; 2:19 they were all comforted by the fact that Jesus knew all about their working and striving for him. But to the church a Sardis there is no comfort. It is a condemnation for their evil.

a. Sardis had a reputation of being a going and growing church. They did what seemed to be right. They were a busy church. They appeared to be flourishing, at least from an outward appearance, there was nothing that seemed to be lacking.

b. God knew that the church was dead. Man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart.

c. The Holy Spirit gives life to the church. But when the Holy Spirit is grieved.

Eph 4:30 Grieve not the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 NKJV

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Grieve: Means to distress/bring sorrow. When a church grieves the Holy Spirit, it begins to lose life and power. The Church at Sardis had grieved the Holy Spirit.

II. Reality VS 1

Revelation 3:1 (NKJV)

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

1. Sardis had the reputation of being an awesome church. But that was in the eyes of man.

a. What the Lord thinks is the reality. Look at the reality of Sardis.

“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

b. Remember in the eyes of man they seem to be alive and well. But in reality they were dead. Here was church that was dead and did not know it.

2. A great example is the story of Samson. He got involved with Delilah, something that he should have never done. By doing so he disobeyed God, he rejected God’s law.

a. When she cut off his hair it was an illustration that he was cut off from the power of God. The problem was he didn’t even know it. Judges 16:20

Judges 16:20 (NKJV)

20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

b. What a tragic statement. He didn’t know that when he got into a problem that God wouldn’t be there. As a result, Samson was defeated, imprisoned, he was blinded.

c. He was this once powerful man, now blinded, a prisoner in chains. All because of sin God had left him. God had taken His hand off him.

3. The Church at Sardis, once an alive, powerful, began to harbor in sin. As a result, it became weak, blind and dead. They didn’t realize it.

a. How many churches are like that today? All dressed up and organized but is the eyes of God they are blind, weak, and dead.

b. How many believers are like that? They may look the part, even play the part, but in the eyes of God, spiritually dead.

4. How do you know if a church has life?

a. Growth within the life of the church. (There is spiritual growth)

b. Growth through service. (Is the church doing more than just taking care of their own needs?)

c. Growth in being a witness for Christ. (What do people outside the church see? Not just in the church)

d. Growth in stewardship of time and money. (Helping in mission giving, helping the needed. For this to happen the people in the church must be giving)

f. There is compassion and love for one another and the lost.

g. There is unity. (Division is a sign on decay)

h. There is emotion. (Don’t be afraid to feel your faith)

4. Signs of a dead church. (The opposite of all I just stated)

a. No unity. No salvation. No love. Little or no giving. No spiritual growth.

b. Can a dead church be brought back to life?

Let’s look the remedy for the church?

Remedy

VS 2

Be watchful. (General orders. To be especially watchful at night) why especially at night? Darkness. We as a church, as believers need to be watchful of the darkness. Elab

Mt 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing be the flesh is weak

I Corn 10:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong

Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving

a. Elab on being watchful.

G.W for watchful means: To keep awake.

(Wake up), be watchful, and strengthen the things remain, that are ready to die

b. Sometimes we just need to wake up to the things going on around us. We can’t walk around with blinders on thinking everything is okay, when it’s not. (When people are not being saved, it’s not okay)

c. Jesus is giving the word to the pastor at Sardis, wake up and strengthen the one that remained faithful, that are ready to die.

d. In a church that is dead or dying spiritually, the one’s are faithful (Elab) will either leave and go someplace that is still alive or die out like the rest.

2. Even though the church was classified dead in the sight of God as seen in vs 2 there were some in the church who still had true life and spirituality. Otherwise it would not have been possible to strengthen the things that remain, we will see more on those in VS 4

a. What did those that remain they need to do to be strengthen? Watch (be awake) and pray.

b. What happens when we are strengthened? We will see great things happen because of prayer. When we pray for the lost, people will be saved. (That means we have to share the gospel with them)

c. If the ones that remained did not do this, they too would die. Spiritual death.

VS 3

1. The churches in the first century born in a time of revival, the Holy Spirit was moving.

a. Jesus is telling them to remember what you received and heard. Elab

b. In your own life, when you were first saved. Elab

c. Remember all that you have that you have learned from time past.

hold fast different word then in 2:25 In this Vs it means to prevent from escaping. Military term building a fortress.

Repent. Elab

VS 3b

The Church at Sardis

The Church that was dead and didn’t know it

Rev 3:1-6

IV. Remnant VS 4-6

VS4

Revelation 3:4 NKJV

4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

You have a few names. Mt 7:22

Few: Slight or small.

1. God always has a raiment. Even thought for the most part Sardis was a dead church there was a raiment.

b. When Jesus looks down at the churches and only see a few which have not defiled their garments

c. At the church at Sardis, there were only a few people that were unspotted from the world. They were not perfect but they were spiritual among the unspiritual, they were sincere among the hypocrites, they were humble among the proud, the separated among the world.

d. The churches have allowed the world to come and the world has taken over.

e. Believers have allowed the world to come into their lives, and control their lives. The sad part is, this is the case in the lives of many believers today.

f. Jesus only found a few. Still stands true today in churches that are dead or they are stagnate. There will be a few that are leading a pure, wholesome, Christ like lives in a world filled with corruption.

2. Promise to the raiment.

VS 4b

a. The undefiled have been given a promise of a new garment. Rev 7:14

b. The undefiled have a righteous character. God has made them righteous in the blood of Jesus. Their garment refers to their character.

c. In Sardis there were only a few whose character was not defiled in spite of the sin that existed there.

VS 5a

Revelation 3:5 NKJV

5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

He who overcometh: The believer. What does the believer overcome?

VS 5b

The same will be clothed in white raiment.

1. Clothed in white.

a. Victory. The few won victory over sin and Satan.

b. Purity. The few had been purified, cleansed, and mad spotless by the blood of Jesus.

c. Glory. The few will be glorified.

I will not bolt out his name out of the book of life.

1. This is a verse that some say means that you can lose your salvation.

a. During this time names were written in the Kings register. For various reasons a person’s name could be removed (blotted out)

b. Christ is not some petty king that will blot your name out of the book of life. Christ is not saying that you can lose your salvation.

c. Once you place your faith in Christ, you belong to him. Nothing can take you out of his hands.

Just elab on this.

VS 6

Revelation 3:6 NKJV

6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

1. Jesus is saying, did you hear what I had to say?

a. Today for you? Do you hear what the Holy Spirit has to say? Do you understand?

b. Are you dead not even knowing Jesus? Are you dead n trespasses and sin? Eph 2:1

c. Many today may not be dead just carnal. Rom 8:7

d. Carnal Christians are Christians that live like the world. Elab

e. Jesus wants the carnal Christian to remember their salvation, repent, and strengthen.

Are you a believer at all?

Where are we as a church?