SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA THE CHURCH AT SARDIS: CHURCH WITH A FALSE REPUTATION
Mar 26, 2015
SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA
THE CHURCH AT SARDIS: CHURCH WITH A FALSE
REPUTATION
SARDIS
had a very large gymnasium which attests to it being a city of learning and skill.
(www.holylandphotos.org)
SARDIS (gymnasium)
(www.holylandphotos.org)
SARDIS
• had Temple of Artimes (Diana)
• beautiful landscape
(www.holylandphotos.org)
SARDIS (Pactolus River)
Interesting Historical Note:
Sardis is the birthplace of
modern money (coinage)
(www.holylandphotos.org)
THE TEXT
“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.”REVELATION 3:1
THE TEXT
“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”REVELATION 3:2
THE TEXT
“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.”REVELATION 3:3
THE TEXT
“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.”
REVELATION 3:4
THE TEXT
“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 an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.”REVELATION 3:5,6
BACKGROUND
• Capital of Mysia.• 50 miles east of Smyrna.• 70 miles southeast of Pergamos• Great commercial city.• Strong military position.• The city where production of
money coins began.• Had prominent temples.
AUTHOR DESCRIBED
• “Seven spirits of God.”• “Seven stars.”–Revelation 3:1
• Spirit in “full measure” – John 3:34–Colossians 2:9
• Had perfect insight into their problems.
WORDS OF CONDEMNATION
• “I know thy works.”
• No commendations to this church.
• Name that you’re alive—but they were dead!
• Living dead church!– 1 Timothy 5:6
“But she who lives in
pleasure is dead while she lives.”
WORDS OF CONDEMNATION
• “Reputation versus character.”
• God’s view is crystal clear
• God sees in the heart
• He knows motives and true character– 1 Samuel 16:7
“…Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his 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.”
A Church’s Reputation…
• Large membership?• Sound teaching?• Different from other
congregations?• Worship service is appealing to
others?• Has impressive programs?• Is it on the march for God, or
men?– John 4:24
The size of membership, the
largeness of the building and the dynamics of a
preacherdo not make a church alive in the
sight of Jesus!
OBSERVATION:
WORDS OF CONDEMNATION
• “Works not perfect before God.”
• Begun but not finished
• Not completed• Abandoned
God’s work– Luke 14:28-30
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit
down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it. lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to
finish, all who see it begin to mock him.”
WORDS OF CONDEMNATION
• “Works not perfect before God.”
• Begun but not finished
• Not completed• Abandoned
God’s work– 2 Corinthians
8:10-12
“…that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.
For if there is first a willing mind, it is
accepted according to what one has, and
not according to what he does not
have.”
WORDS OF CONDEMNATION
• “Works not perfect before God.”
• Begun but not finished
• Not completed• Abandoned
God’s work– 2 Peter 2:20-22
“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the
world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in
them and overcome, the latter end is
worse for them than the beginning.”
WORDS OF CONDEMNATION
• “A few not defiled their garments.”
• “Few” majority were condemned
• Unrighteous conduct
• Character of the city?– Revelation 19:8
“And to her it was granted to be arrayed in
fine linen, clean and
bright, for the fine linen is
the righteous acts of the
saints.”
DIVINE AND DEFINED REMEDY
• “Be watchful.”• Dead may not be
hopelessly lost!• God holds out
hope for those who seek it
• Key thought here!– 1 Corinthians
16:13
“Watch, stand fast in the
faith, be brave, be strong.”
CHRISTIANS MUST BE WATCHFUL!
• “Temptations.”• Must avoid
“appearance of evil”
• Never yield!– 1 Corinthians
10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you
except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,
but with the temptation will also
make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
CHRISTIANS MUST BE WATCHFUL!
• “Devil tricks.”• He is cunning
and crafty• Never give him a
proverbial inch!– 2 Corinthians
2:11
“Lest Satan should take
advantage of us; for we
are not ignorant of his devices.”
CHRISTIANS MUST BE WATCHFUL!
• “False teachers.”• Seek to mislead
us• Compromise
God’s truth– 1 John 4:1
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test
the spirits, whether they are of God; because
many false prophets have
gone out into the world.”
CHRISTIANS MUST BE WATCHFUL!
• “Opportunities to do good.”
• Seek to be of service
• Helping the weak– Galatians 6:10
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of
faith.”
CHRISTIANS MUST BE WATCHFUL!
• “Coming of the Lord.”
• Need to be prepared
• Uncertainty of time
– 2 Peter 3:10
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens
will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and
the works that are in it will be burned up.”
CHRISTIANS MUST BE WATCHFUL!
• “On guard.”• Making wise
choices• Not arrogant• Resist pride
– Ephesians 5:14,15
“Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.
See then that you walk
circumspectly, not as fools but
as wise.”
DIVINE AND DEFINED REMEDY
• “Strengthen things that remain—ready to die!”
• Place to restart and rebuild
• Lord wants action—not talk
• Fan the flames before they die– 2 Corinthians 13:5
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know
yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in
you? --unless indeed you are disqualified.”
DIVINE AND DEFINED REMEDY
• “Remember what they had received and heard!”
• Memory good tool—if used properly
• Stir up our memory– 2 Peter 1:9-13
“Who once were not a people but are now
the people of God, who had not
obtained mercy but now have obtained
mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners
and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against
the soul.”
DIVINE AND DEFINED REMEDY
• “Hold fast and repent!”
• Look to the good things
• Complete their work
• Repent– 1 Corinthians
15:58
“Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not
in vain in the Lord.”
THE PROMISE
• “Those who overcome—clothed in white garments!”
• Garments of victory and righteousness
• Never fades--Philippians 4:3
“And I urge you also, true
companion, help these women
who labored with me in the gospel,
with Clement also, and the rest
of my fellow workers, whose names are in the
Book of Life.”
THE PROMISE
• “Name will not be blotted out of Book of Life!”
• Name remains in the greatest book--Revelation 20:14,15
“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life
was cast into the lake of fire.”
THE PROMISE
• “Confess His name before His Father!”
• Confessed before the throne
• My life a “living confession”--Matthew 10:32,33
“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in
heaven. But whoever denies Me before
men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in
heaven.”
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
• Victory will not be easy, but the promised reward makes the struggle easier to accept.
• Don’t think too highly of yourself.• Always look into God’s book to be
sure you are resting “squarely” on His truth.
• Aim to keep your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life!