S EVEN C HURCHES OF A SIA T HE C HURCH AT S ARDIS : C HURCH WITH A F ALSE R EPUTATION.

SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA

THE CHURCH AT SARDIS: CHURCH WITH A FALSE

REPUTATION

Sardis

One of the wealthiest cities in the world in the 6th century B.C.

http://www.bible.ca/

SARDIS

had a very large gymnasium which attests to it being a city of learning and skill.

(www.holylandphotos.org)

http://www.holylandphotos.org/browse.asp?s=1,3,7,20,83&img=TWNASR08

SARDIS (gymnasium)



SARDIS

• had Temple of Artimes (Diana)

• beautiful landscape



SARDIS (Pactolus River)

Interesting Historical Note:

Sardis is the birthplace of

modern money (coinage)



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.”


• “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:


• “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.”





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.”





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.”


• “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.”


• “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.”


• “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.”


• “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.”


• “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.”


• “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.”


• “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.”


• “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.”


• “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!

S EVEN C HURCHES OF A SIA T HE C HURCH AT S ARDIS : C HURCH WITH A F ALSE R EPUTATION.

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