Wake Up!

Introduction

Revelation is difficult but not impossible to understand Rev 1:3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

The presentation of Jesus in chap. 1 sets the tone for how one views the messages in the book. The descriptions highlight His:

Midst of the lampstands - Rev 1:13

Glorious nature - Rev 1:13-15

Authority - vs. 16 “in His hands”

Power to judge - vs. 16 “two-edged sword”

Righteousness - vs 16 “His face was like the sun”

Eternal nature - Rev 1:17-18 “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”

This last descriptive term is all the more interesting when we examine the message to Sardis.

Sardis

As a nation/city, by this time in history their importance was relegated to a ‘prestigious past’. It was once the greatest city of the world (612BC)

Military strength’

Trade and Commercial strength

Agricultural strength (plains of Hermus)

Residents of Sardis became citizens of Rome

Life appeared great. We may even say the city was buzzing.

However, when the spiritual life was examine there was a different conclusion.

The Condemnation

Rev 3:1 ““To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”

“I know”

Reputation of life but Reality is death - death is a separation. This means there was no real connection with the risen Lord (alive forevermore)

The Call

Rev 3:2-3 “‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.”

Be watchful - refrain from sleeping

Strengthen - to set up something that it becomes immoveable. [shaken but not dislodged]

Appl. are there things in my life that are dying? [Passion,Faith, Will to Serve or Pray, Marriage, Relationships with others]

This tells me that if I’m not making constant deposits I’m at risk of dying [I can’t rely on past accomplishments]

There are still things to be done. “Don’t stop or give up”

Remember - Remember what you heard [what have you heard recently?]

Commendation

Rev 3:4 “‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”

“there are a few” - Remember, Jesus knows!

The motif of unsoiled robes (white robes) signals victory Rev 6:11; 7:9.

The Challenge and the Choice

Rev 3:5-6 “‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

The challenge is to OVERCOME - the good thing is I don’t need to rely on my strength to do it. I have the word Rev 12:11 and I have Jesus Rev 17:14

“I will not erase his name” - Ex 32:32 ““But now, if You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!””

“I will confess his name” - this is similar to what Jesus says in Mt 10 :32 ““Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.”

The choice, is yours to make!