How a Church Can Come Back From the Dead

How a Church Can Come Back From the Dead Revelation 3:1-6 March 14, 2021 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.’ 4 What should we know about Sardis? • • • • • It was founded in 1400 BC and abandoned in 1400 AD. Geographically, it began in a valley, but had a walled fortress built on a peak 1500 feet above the valley floor. They had a 15,000 seat theater, a city gymnasium with a coldwater pool, and a Jewish synagogue that was as long as a football field. The citadel was widely assumed to be impossible to capture by enemy forces, but in 546 BC, Cyrus of Persia did the impossible, through the careless actions of a soldier and the overconfidence and lack of alertness of the Sardian leaders and military. Alexander the Great took the city for the Greeks in 334 BC and it was ceded to the Romans in 133 BC. The Big Idea: A church (and therefore, the individual Christians in it) can adopt and maintain the appearance of spiritual life while actually being dead. A merciful and gracious Christ offers us the opportunity come back to Him and experience His righteousness now and in that moment He introduces us to His Father in Heaven. Revelation 3:1-6 (ESV) 3 “And seven spirits 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. 5 SPIRITUAL TAKE-AWAYS FROM THIS SCRIPTURE: 1. Sleeping churches and sleeping Christians won’t experience much persecution or temptation. They settle for “forms” and “traditions” over real life with Jesus. 2. Having a reputation (name) is, by definition. being focused on your past. Ask the Lord to make you (us) alive today! [Psalm 27:13-14] 3. We cannot rely on past victories and experiences for the spiritual life with Christ we need today. Be grateful and thankful for what God allowed in the past, but ask Him to show you (us) what He desires for today. [Philippians 3:12-14] 4. To the faithful Remnant in a dead or sleepy church, there may be a time to leave, but it is notable that Jesus never hints at that as being the solution for these faithful Christians in Sardis. To quote a recent slogan, “Be the change.” Stay and serve, witness, and more than anything, pray for the Lord to bring revival to your church. 5. Ask the Lord for the boldness and wisdom needed to shake people out of their spiritual slumber and rejoin life in God’s Kingdom.