Seven Pt.7
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Introduction
Introduction
Or: Do you believe in Jesus?
Do you believe in Jesus in such a way that you can’t help but act out of His love for you?
Today we’re in part 7 of series entitled Seven.
Review previous weeks: image.
Tension/Truth
Tension/Truth
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:
Bold: circle, we’re going to come back to these things
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,
Pause button: Jesus says this to 6 out of the 7 churches that He addresses in Revelation 2 & 3.
To 5 out of the 7 churches Jesus follows this statement with words of encouragement. Even to the churches that had severe sin problems like sexual immorality and idolatry Jesus said I know your works, but your doing something well.
But look at what Jesus says to the church in Sardis, after He says, I know your works.
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…
Are you familiar with the phrase, “Your reputation precedes you.” It’s used pretty frequently in movies right, when there’s either a good guy or a bad guy who’s well known and they meet someone for the first time and they say “You’re reputation precedes you.”
I’m not really a big movie clip in sermons guy, but this made me think of this, any Pirate of the Caribbean fans here this morning?
Movie Clip.
I know who you are, people talk about you, you’ve made a name for yourself. Whether it’s good or bad, you’re reputation precedes you. And that’s what Jesus is saying to the church in Sardis. You’ve made a name for yourself, you have a reputation.
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.
Let’s just acknowledge this about what a reputation is.
Reputation: the collective opinion, belief, or estimation that people hold about a person, organization, or thing.
Here’s how I define reputation personally, you’re reputation is who people think you are.
And I would contrast reputation over against character by saying this: That your reputation is who people think you are, but your character is who God knows you are.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
The context is the Lord has chosen David to be the next king of Israel, but he’s the youngest of 8 sons and he’s probably 12-15 years old when he’s gets anointed here by Samuel to be the next king.
What’s true for us as individuals, is also true for churches.
It’s possible for us as people to put on outward appearances that might give people a false idea that doesn’t match who God knows us to be in here.
And so what Jesus is saying to the church in Sardis is, your character doesn’t match your reputation.
Other churches in the area look at you and think you’re doing well, they think you’ve got it going on. But I know who you really are. And the reality of you are as a church, Sardis, is you’re dead.
So here’s what’s possible for us as a church.
It’s possible for us to look alive from the outside, but be spiritually dead on the inside.
How many of you walk through the woods fairly regularly?
How many of you would be willing to admit, along with me, that every now and then you step on a stick…(the other day I was mowing)
When you realize the stick is not a living thing, and that it’s actually dead, what do you do with it? You pick it up and you throw in the burn pile.
Now, listen, I kept asking myself the question this week, what does it mean for a church to look alive, to have the reputation of being alive, but actually be dead.
I think it means the church is doing things. Like gatherings are happening.
And like, maybe the children’s ministry looks lively. And maybe the youth ministry looks lively, and the college ministry, and the mens’ ministry, and the women are doing things, and life groups are meeting, and listen, I’m not picking on anyone or anything thing that we do, but the fish fry and the picnic and the fall festival, and the Christmas parties are happening, and the yard signs and the invitation cards for Easter Sunday are going out…
It’s possible to be doing all the “events” and stuff that looks like church, but for nothing spiritual to happen.
I’m a jealous pastor…(redeem, reconcile, restore) Gospel ministry. (I don’t care if it’s messy, of course it’s messy, have you read the bible, the whole thing is messy.) Jesus can wash the dirt off of our feet.
In the next few verses Jesus offers the resolution to the problem…Here’s what He says in verse 2…
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
Wake up and pay attention to the spiritual warfare that’s taking place around you.
Get involved, get engaged in a ministry that is reconciling people to God. Find your place where God can use you to carry out His mission to bring people back into right relationship with Him.
Children’s Min.
Student Min.
College Min.
Prison Min.
Celebrate Recovery
Maybe the Lord has some type of ministry that He wants you to do that we don’t even have yet.
We’re getting ready to do a set of series, they’re going to be back to back…Witness…This is my story. (Beyond the Sun - Ecclesiastes).
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.
Remember, received and heard? The Gospel.
Repent back to the Gospel.
One of the reasons the church in Sardis was dead was because they had fallen asleep, and the reason they had fallen asleep was because they forgot…The Gospel.
Watch: gk - grēgoreō (gregory) to be awake, to watch, to be alive, attentive, and vigilant.
If you were in the military and you ever pulled watch duty, you know what this means.
Training…Ft. Stewart…foxhole…psychologically you know there’s no bad guys out there.
When you step foot on an actual battlefield, where the stakes are life and death and after you get shot at by real bullets for the first time, let me tell you something…you’re awareness, you’re watchfulness goes to a level you didn’t know you had.
The stakes are life and death…there’s a real war waging over the souls of man.
How to raise your spiritual awareness:
1. Pray. Get serious about your prayer life.
And listen to me…
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
2. Get yourself in the Word of God…
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Words: Gospel and teachings. His word (the gospel and His teaching) changes our desires so that we desire what He desires for us, so then when we ask for the things that He desires for us, He is pumped about giving us those things.
3. Surround yourself with people who are passionately pursuing Jesus Christ.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
You are who you hang out with…
Jesus continues His address to the church in Sardis in verse 4…
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.
Defiled garments - sin, falling away from the Gospel.
Some people have used this verse and the next verse to make the argument that salvation can be lost.
If these verses were the only verses we had to go off of, we might come to that conclusion.
But, we know the rest of the Gospel.
What allows us to stand before God as worthy? Trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ…
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 has faith in the one who overcame…
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Spiritual awareness.
When you’re reading the word of God, or when you’re listening to a sermon, or when you’re gathered with the church or even just riding in your car and you’ve got some worship music on…
Are you engaged, or are you just going through the motions?
Application/Closing
Application/Closing
Wake Up
Are you spiritually alive?
Repent to the Gospel
Is your faith in Jesus Christ’s finished work compelling you to participate in His work to redeem and reconcile other people to Him?
Where and how is your love for God evident in your life?
Where and how is your love for people evident in your life?
Is there anything the Lord is calling you to be obedient to?
Have you found your purpose in the kingdom of God?
