Church of Sardis
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So What
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Sign, Sealed, delivered
Take a look back
John’s Vision from Jesus in the province of Asia now known as Turkey as he is held captive in the island of Patmos sending letters to the seven churches
No Facebook - Letters by mail carrier
1. Ephesus - Love God more, love others more
2. Smyrna - Don’t Fear, be Faithful
3. Pergamum - What’s your Idol (loyalty)
4. Thyatira- Compromising the gospel
5. Today - Sardis - Wake Up
A couple of mornings ago I jumped out of my bed and to my feet as our house alarm was going off which meant 1 of 2 things. One it could have been a fire or two someone may have broke in to our house. Now you can imagine the startle I got. Of course the first thing I did after jumping out of bed was to grab my phone to check the time it was 7 am and as I did there was Arianna,
Standing before, dressed with not only clothes but sneakers, knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet. So I ran and shut off the alarm, closed the front door and it was apparent that we had not had someone breaking in, but someone breaking out. So I had a little chat with her and Said, I love you so much just know that! You scared daddy, you made me jump out of bed, to which she replied, daddy I am not scared …silly! I was just going to ride my bike any way we made a vow that she would not do it again, but I tell ya what a wake up call!
Have you ever experienced a time when you woke to your feet ? Think about it!
Well today as we look to Revelations and what John’s letter says to the church in Sardis, I believe it will be a challenge for us the people of God to listen with ears that are attentive and hearts that are willing to follow his word.
Lets Pray
Whats What
Whats What
So What
So What
1 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. 3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. 4 “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. 6 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.
revelation 3:1
Sardis was an important city in the roman province or Asia. It was a cultural, religious and commercial center. It was known for its paganism, the Greeks worshiped many pagan Gods and Goddess. Sardis had a very powerful Jewish community as well , there doesn’t seem to be much Christian persecution there. They thought they were doing well, they thought they were stars doing well. Town thought the church was great but Jesus knew the heart.
Jesus“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive… the he quickly states but you are dead… wake up! Even what is left is almost dead.
I am sure those words stung! How would you feel if we received a letter like that from Jesus?
This word was something that was Familiar to them because they knew what it was like to have a city that was dead, they had an earthquake that caused a lot of damage and death, they knew what it was like to rebuild a dead city.
Here is just a little bit of info about Sardis
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
Community
Community
We may wonder why they had reputation for being alive, but were really spiritually dead. One thing is for sure and that is they Lacked the worlds opposition and they may have grown too comfortable in their relationship with the world. Christians are to be in the world, but not of the world for Christians are set apart.
Revelation: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition To the Church in Sardis 3:1–6
The church at Sardis could look like any modern Christian church. From the point of entry into the church’s narthex, the visitor might be impressed with the building, the friendliness, and the throbbing excitement of the church’s program. But activity and reputation are never the proper indicators of an authentic community of Jesus
Their Christian way of life leaved a lot to be desired
Take a look back
Revelation: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition To the Church in Sardis 3:1–6
a local church having a full wardrobe of programs, then it is valued as a place of life.
So John tells them to Go back to what they heard and believed at first for they were a strong Christian community with one of the largest churches the size of a football field.
They were to remember Christ the one who came from death to life
18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.
He tells them to repent and if they don’t wake up Christ will come to them suddenly like a thief in the night. He is not talking about the rapture here - Sardis has a capstone- citadel of Sardis - Jesus uses the familiar again because when they were in battle it he capstone was never overwhelmed in military battle - it was conquered by Silas king of Persia -he found an open space in the wall and stole it - When the king of Perisa came he found a way on the inside and defeated them from the inside out. Christ will come a deal with the inside he is concerned about the heart.
Yet all was not bad in Sardis church. There were some who were still waking purely with Jesus. He declares they their names will be never be erased from the book of life. Imagine that picture with me for a moment you are standing before God at the judgement and Christ will announce before the father that you are mine .
Revelation: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition To the Church in Sardis 3:1–6
Authentic life-giving Christianity is marked by the righteous living of those walking with God.
John’s Vision from Jesus in the province of Asia now known as Turkey as he is held captive in the island of Patmos sending letters to the seven churches
Revelation for Everyone Revelation 3:1–6: The Letter to Sardis
There are some good things happening. But unless action is taken quickly they, too, will wither on the vine.
Letters by mail carrier
Revelation for Everyone Revelation 3:1–6: The Letter to Sardis
their Christian way of life, ‘leaves a lot to be desired
1. Ephesus love God more, love others more
2. Smyrna - Don’t Fear, be Faithful
Now What
Now What
3.This week Pergamum - What’s your Idol (loyalty)
I don’t know about you but when it is my time to stand before the father I long for Jesus to say , I am his
Christ calls us as Christians to not be dead in our spirit but to be alive and well
He calls the Church to wake up from our sleep and serve him whole heatedly
He calls us to take care of the inside, it may all look okay on the outside but if there is a heart problem we still die
Maybe we too need a wake up call, as a church and personally.
God is calling us out of complacency
I was challenged personally and for the church
We look Good on the outside and yet much needs to change on the inside
In a book the autopsy of a deceased church Thom Rainer gives some some ways to know if your church needs to wake up or personal
1. The past is the hero
2. The church refused to look at the community
3. The budget moves inward
4. The great commission becomes the great omission
5. The preference driven church
6. Pastoral tenure decreases or Pastor is stressed to the max
7. The church rarely prayed together
8. Church had no clear purpose or forgot it save souls, grow saints, serve suffering humanity
9. The church obsessed over facilities
These are some outward signs of an in ward problem
Christ calls us to be alive not dead so how do we move towards it
If we want to be alive in Christ
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
epesians 5:1-14
If we are to wake up Prayer has to be at the forefront
Love needs to be the way of our life
Gossip and putting others down must not belong here - that includes eye rolling
Each of us must realize we are not the standard here - Christ is
Those who are thinking this message is for someone else - Ask God to search your heart because you missed the point
Rise from the dead in Christ and he will give you life.
Our church will only be as healthy as the hearts of the people who make up the church - the church is the people - you are the people Christ will return for if we continue to be awake and keep our hearts attuned to him. I pray you too long to hear him say to the father that he or she is mine.
Community
Community
Let us focus our lives
lets be prayerful people with hearts that are burning to do the will of Christ
let God change our hearts to a heart that reflect his
Then I believe many will be saved and God will be well pleased
I pray that you like me will come to your feet and allow God to change you from the inside out