Jesus’ Letter To The Church In Sardis: Wake Up!

Jesus’ Letter To The Church In Sardis: Wake Up!

Revelation 3:1-6

Poor giving in December - The challenge of not getting behind on our budget. The reality of the 2nd quarter is bi-vocational pastors.

Main Idea: The Lord attends the church in Sardis and warns them that their spiritual condition will lead to judgment if they do not repent.

3 “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.’

Intro

Rev 3:1 - A contrast - The Spirit of Life in a culture of death

3 “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.

Rev 1:4 - The fulness of the Holy Spirit

4 John to the seven churches that 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,

Rom 8:2 - The Spirit of Life

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

The American Evangelical church = Sardis = nominal Christianity

Comfortable - little suffering - little persecution - little conviction - Yet everybody loves Jesus and Jesus love me.

What makes this warning today so sobering is that the judgment doesn’t mention external pressures or immorality.

They are not racked by suffering from without, nor wrenched by heresy within, nor ruined by internal moral decay.

“They are a perfect model of inoffensive Christianity”—not lukewarm, as Laodicea, but looking very much alive, while in fact, they are stone dead.”

Is a nominal Christian an authentic Christian?

The Background of Cyrus conquering Sardis

It was situated fifty miles east-northeast of Ephesus, positioned on a huge promontory that jutted out from a mountain range at the south end of a large and very fertile valley.

There it sat 1500 feet above the floor of the valley, barely connected to the mountain range, and with sheer cliffs on all other sides. Because of its strategic—and nearly impregnable—location, Sardis had had a long, continuous history of prosperity, and of some importance.

Sardis was a busy city of trade and traffic.

Sardis also had an ancient history as far back as Cyrus of Persia

Sardis was later conquered by alexander the Great and Antiochus

The church’s reputation was it was “progressive”

The other churches would look at them and admire their life and vitality

It probably boasted of a large congregation and was busy with many projects and activity

It had plenty of money and talent and plenty of resources

This can lull believers to sleep… (spiritually)

In the days of Cyrus: A man dropped his helmet over the wall and ventured down to get his helmet and make his way back up in the cliff.

Here’s what he didnt know. Cyrus had challenged his men to figure out how to take the city and one soldier was watching when the soldier drop and retrieved his helment.

The soldier gathered a small group of men and followed the path up to the walls where they found them basically unguarded.

So Cyrus took the city because of their false sense of invincibility.

So it is with the church in America who has sat back fat and comfortable and has fell asleep while the enemy climbed over our walls unconfronted.

The Lord attends the church in Sardis and warns them that their spiritual condition will lead to judgment if they do not repent.

The Pathetic Diagnosis - v.1b-2

“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

The Sardis church is a spiritual graveyard

From the outside they look fine, they have all the appearance of life; but on the inside there is no life at all, they are as good as dead.

the majority had so fully compromised with the pagan environment that the church was Christian in name only (i.e., “nominally” Christian).

V.4 = Death = soiled garments

Though not blatant like Jezebel, Jesus had seen the secret sins beneath the shroud of piety.

Their visibly religious life was a facade

James 1:27 - 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.

Their deeds though plentiful were incomplete - v. 2

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.

Literally not fulfilled

Their works were deficient in God eyes though admired in mans eyes.

The distinction between reputation and reality

1 Sam 16:7 - David’s brothers - Tall, strong & Handsome! He’s no king!

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

How much of our life is a facade?

They are hypocrites

Matt 6:1-6 - The example of the Pharisees

6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

2 Tim 3:3-5 - a form of godliness

3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

A Hypocrite is an actor on a stage playing a part for a show

Worship can be a chief example of hypocrisy as we sing and our minds a thousand miles away. Taking God’s name in vain with every breath we sing.

The church has spent much time fighting over worship styles and very little time worrying about whether our hearts match our outward actions.

The truth is we all struggle with being inconsistent but there is a form of hypocrisy that is damning. It is damning because it is a lifestyle that no one seems to have a problem with.

Ex: Nominal Christians often says well I accepted Jesus as Savior when I was 8 and accepted him as Lord when I was 20.

No! You were saved when you were 20 before that you were lost.

Nominal Christianity is a hypocritical Christianity it is a type of spiritual death that God does not accept (His acceptance is the issue)

The yeast of worldliness had permeated the church

Eph 2:1 to be spiritually dead is to be eternally lost

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Course of this world = The lordship of this world

Two spirits = world’s spirit

Desires = doing what your heart wanted to do

Authenticity (Reality-Stott) is another mark of a true church

The Bible devotes much space to the difference between outward appearance and inward reality

Isa 29:13

13 And the Lord said:

“Because this people draw near with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

while their hearts are far from me,

and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

It is possible to have some knowledge about God but inwardly be unchanged towards God.

To intellectually understand something you do not desire.

The Pathetic Diagnose is death but listen to:

The Proposed Remedy - v.3 ( Metaphor - Two groups or one? those dead & those asleep)

Six imperatives - V. 2-3

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.

Wake up (stay awake or be alert)

Went to sleep driving my motorcycle - WAKE UP!

V.2 - The first of five imperatives in vv. 2 and 310 is joined to a participle and should be translated “be watchful” rather than “wake up”

The exhortations to watchfulness would carry special weight in Sardis because twice in its history the acropolis had fallen to the enemy due to a lack of vigilance on the part of the defenders.

Strengthen it (it=our faith) - v.2

Strengthen what remains! - make it more strong - determination and resolve

The Holy Spirit was still there and working but the time is short…

Strengthen = nurture or support

Rom. 1:11 - nurture believers to maturity

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

If you are not actively involved in a healthy, hospitable community you have fallen asleep and forgotten you are here to help others grow in Christ.

Children need to be strengthened and so did the remnant in Sardis

Our biblical communities (small groups) provide the setting for growth & strengthening.

Here is the primary duty of the church within the church - Fan the embers of faith into a flame!

2 Tim 1:6

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Wake up - Strengthen each others faith By

Remember it - v.3

3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.

Remember we do not owe the world anything

1 john 2:15 - They had forgotten

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world.

We pledge allegiance to Christ and nothing else!

There are some that are patriotic Americans than devoted Christians

Remember transformation begins with a renewed mind, set on God’s word

Rom 12:2

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Remember the greatest gift we ever receive is the gift of God himself

The Spirit goes to work from within to see our actual lives conformed or transformed into the likeness of Christ.

The reason some are dead is because the Spirit of life is not inwardly working.

How do I know if He’s working? How are you responding when the truth is given. Does it move you towards obedience or indifference?

Today there is no temple that reflects our God; we do!

2 Cor 3:18

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Notice in v.1 what Christ is holding as he commands - the seven Spirit of God

The Spirit is the only one who can breathe life into our lives and worship.

Only He can rescue the dying church.

nThe church doesn't need a superstar preacher, it must fall on its face and plead to be filled with Spirit!

“The word of God tells us that we must pray in the spirit, preaching the Spirit, Worship in the spirit, live in the spirit, and walk in the spirit.” (Jude 20; 1 Thess 1:5; John 4:24; Phil. 3:3; Gal. 5:25)

Keep it

Gal. 5:16

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law

Heb 10:24

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Repent

Like the prodigal son of whom the father said, “This son of mine was dead” (Luke 15:22-24), only by repentance and return could life be restored (cf. Eph 5:14).

22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Like the churches at Ephesus, Pergamum, and (later) Laodicea, Sardis is told to repent (cf. 2:5, 16; 3:19). Behm writes that “the urgent call for conversion in the epistles of Rev … is based on the prospect of the imminent end” and summons the churches “from sin and weakness, to the renewal of their former state of life.”17

The Powerful Promise

To the unrepentant - v.3b

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.

When that visitation comes, it will be swift, unexpected, and final

Matt 8:38

38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

To the remnant -v.4-5

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.

The doctrine of the remnant is throughout all Scripture

The Flood - Sodom & Gomorrah - Elijah in the days of Jezebel & Ahab

Luke 12:32

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

V.4 - A few people

The metaphor changes from death to sleep (From v.1 to v.2)

You don't appeal to dead people to wake up but to the sleeping

The remnant is called to rouse themselves

Luke 12:35-37

35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

This call to be on guard was appropriate to Sardis for they fell twice to the enemy.

A Spirit-filled, living remnant is a powerful tool in the hands of the Redeemer

The Lord doesn't need a church of 2k to change KM. He needs a remnant unwilling to compromise and willing to love each other and this world in truth and authenticity

The doctrine of the remnant will stand, will we?

The Threefold eternal Promise - v.5

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.

To the overcomers a threefold promise is given:

(1) they will be dressed in white,

It would seem, therefore, that the white garments promised to the overcomer here represent an attire appropriate to the heavenly state.27

Since they are made white by being washed in the blood of the Lamb (7:14), the figure is highly appropriate to portray justification, purity & honor.

The faithful at Sardis walk with Christ, dressed in white, “for they are worthy.”

They themselves have done nothing to merit their exalted position, but are worthy in the sense that they have withstood the pressure to conform and pursue an authentic Christian life that looks like Christ from the inside out.

(2) their names will not be blotted out of the book of life, and

Thus, in the OT, the book of life was a register of all those who held citizenship in the theocratic community of Israel.28 The idea was common in the secular world as well.

“When a criminal’s name was removed from the civic register of an Asiatic town, he lost his citizenship.”29

Walvoord is troubled lest someone interpret the concept of being blotted out of the book of life as indicating the possibility of people losing their salvation.

Consequently, he suggests that (1) there is no explicit statement that anybody will, in fact, have his name blotted out, or (2) the book of life lists the entire human race and individuals who do not accept Christ are blotted out

It is hermeneutically unsound to base theological doctrine solely on either parables or apocalyptic imagery. Better to allow the text, even when theologically awkward, to present its own picture.

(3) Christ will acknowledge them before God and his angels.

Am I part of the unashamed minority?

Rom 1:16-17

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

So What?

Am I settling for a safe faith or a radical faith?

Biblical faith or a cultural relevant faith

Jesus taught the Pharisees. A Religious life can be a dead life

It can seem safe to say you're a Christian when it works for you and then deny him with your life when it doesnt work for you..

A Safe faith demands nothing, costs nothing, and produces nothing but a hard heart and a fruitless life.

In reality, it is not safe to deny Christ with our mouths or our lives. God will not be mocked!

Radical faith is an authentic faith

And so while meditating on the message and how to apply the authentic Christian life and be honest about its cost.

I feel the Holy Spirit's desire for you my family to understand your pastor's families adoption journey for it led us here.

So next week I will tell the story of our God called us to display God’s church spiritual adoption thru our journey of physical adoption.

This is a journey of costly faith that is not about us but simply an example of the reality and cost of radical faith versus a comfortable, safe dead faith.

Am I willing to ask the Lord to fill BCC with His Spirit

The greatest message - Eph 5:18 - Be filled with the Spirit

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.