Let Your Reputation and Reality Match

Tomnolen Baptist Church Revival

February 9-12, 2025.

Message 4

Review:

Laodicea: You’ve lost your purpose; let Me back in!

Ephesus: You’ve left the love you had at first; pursue intimacy again!

Pergamum: You’ve left the truth; turn back to the truth!

Sardis: You’ve lost touch with who you actually are; Let your reputation and reality match!

Revelation 3:1–7 “1 “Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: / Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: / I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, / but you are dead. // 2 Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God. / 3 Remember, then, what you have received and heard; / keep it, and repent. // If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you. // 4 But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. 5 “In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels. // 6 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Reality [v. 1]

You are dead.

“There was a time when...” or “Back in the good ole days...”

They evidently had a past of faithfulness and liveliness. However, that no longer matches their reality.

They prided themselves on their temple to Cybele (ancient fertility goddess of a mystery cult), its acropolis, and its necropolis (cemetery)

Response [vv. 2-3, 6]

Be alert or watchful — Present Imperative (and participle)

Important because the city was rather known for the slack in keeping watch— twice they were attacked and overtaken by enemies due to their complacency.

Strengthen what remains — Aorist Imperative

Remember— Present imperative

the Gospel

Keep it — Present imperative

The Gospel

Repent — Aorist Imperative

Exalting Jesus in Revelation Command 2: “Strengthen What Remains”

Though the quantity of their works was deficient, it is more likely that it was the quality of their works that was most lacking. They had grown content with a mediocre, halfway, comfortable, and convenient Christianity. Their faith was not radical; it was almost invisible. The lost among whom they lived, worked, and prayed saw nothing different or unique about them. The culture did not oppose them; it simply ignored them as of no real consequence or significance. They were so weak in their confession of Christ that they bothered no one.

Listen — Aorist Imperative

Matthew 13:1–9 “1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. 4 As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. 6 But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown. 9 Let anyone who has ears listen.””

Recognition [vv. 4-5]

But you have a few who have not defiled their clothes—

Exalting Jesus in Revelation Christ Commends Those Who Are Holy and Worthy of His Praise (Revelation 3:4)

The picture is one of spiritual contamination of their Christian witness by accommodating to the current and faddish trends of the pagan culture and its sinful life. A small minority stood strong for Jesus, both in confession and conduct. They bucked the trends, swam against the current that was engulfing members of their community. Taking this stand most certainly would be costly in the days to come. However, it will be gloriously worth it in the new age that is coming.

These will be justified— who will walk with Christ in white (v. 4) and who will be dressed in white (v. 5)

Exalting Jesus in Revelation Christ Commends Those Who Are Holy and Worthy of His Praise (Revelation 3:4)

In

These will be recognized before the Father—

Matthew 10:32 “32 “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.”

Luke 12:8 “8 “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,”

Response Questions:

[1] Do you find yourself boasting over past successes and glories only to not realize that it’s been a while since you have walked with Christ in intimacy?

[2] Have you lost your purpose? Have you left behind the love you once had for Christ? Have you traded truth for a lie? Have you dwelled too long in yesterday that you are no longer growing today?

Repent. Come home, dear brother or sister. God is eagerly waiting for you- to revive you, refresh you, and give you a fresh start.