Zombie Church
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Welcome & Dismissal
Welcome & Dismissal
Call to Hear
Call to Hear
1 “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. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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.
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Prayer
Prayer
Sardis
Sardis
The fifth letter John writes is addressed to the church in Sardis.
Sardis was located inland about 30 miles southeast of Thyatira. It was an important commercial city on an important trade route that ran east and west through the kingdom of Lydia (Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 938). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books). Around AD 17 a massive earthquake almost destroyed the city, but the emperor Tiberius rebuilt it some time later. “The city was built on a hill so steep that its defences seemed [impenetrable]. On two occasions enemy troops scaled the precipice by night and found that the overconfident Sardians had set no guard” (Morris, L. (1987). Revelation: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 78). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press). It had been captured once by Cyrus the Persian (549 BC) and then again by Antiochus (195 BC) (Morris, L. (1987). Revelation: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 78). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press).
“Sardis was famous in antiquity for its impenetrable acropolis. Its natural cliffs were so steep that fortification walls were hardly needed (Figs. 4, 5); in addition, the legendary King Meles is said to have carried a lion (born to his concubine) around its circuit to ensure its invulnerability. He omitted one section, however, and this was where the citadel was scaled by the Persians” (The Archaeological Exploration of Sardis. sardisexpedition.org).
The story is told that a guard on top of the wall dropped his helmet down the side of the wall one night (probably nodding off) and as he went down to retrieve it, an enemy watched how he went down and back up again to his post and that is how the army of Cyrus was able to invade Sardis and capture it. They didn’t take seriously the threat from the enemy on their lives and they suffered for not standing guard.
The word of God cautions each and everyone of us “not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought” (Rom. 12:3). And warns us that high-mindedness leads to a humiliating disgrace. “Pride,” Solomon says, “goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Prov. 16:18).
But, what does this have to do with the church? Great question. Let’s break down the letter and see what the Spirit of God has to say.
Revelation 3:1a
Revelation 3:1a
The Author of this letter is introduced as “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars”.
The seven stars are the angels of the churches, according to 1:20, which very-likely refer to the pastors of those churches. But what do we make of the seven spirits?
The seven Spirits, according to 1:4, are before the throne of Him who was, is and is to come. In the Bible seven is a number for completion and perfection. So what we are looking at here are not seven individual spirits, but One completely perfect Spirit! This is the Holy Spirit of God!
The Holy Spirit is given to all who obey the Lord (Acts 5:32; 10:44-46).
The Holy Spirit is given to all you trust in the Lord (John 7:39; Eph.1:13-14).
The church at Sardis was dead! Not in the physical sense, but rather in terms of their effectiveness in the kingdom of God! They were, as Ryan mentioned during his sermon a couple weeks ago concerning salt that had lost its saltiness, they were good for nothing! They were dead!
As a matter of fact, one of the things Sardis was known for was its “...necropolis, which was known as the ‘cemetery of a 1,000 hills’ because of the hundreds of burial mounds visible on the skyline from about seven miles away” (Johnson, “Revelation,” 2006, 626).
There was only One who can breathe life into this congregation again. He is the Resurrection and the Life (Jn. 11:25). And He will do it through the power of the Holy Spirit just as He gave life to Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen. 2:7) and just as He did in the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37:13-14a.
If you are feeling a sense of death or dryness in your spiritual life this morning, you do not need another Bible study, you don’t need another service project, you don’t need to give a larger amount in your tithe or offering - what you need is the power of the Holy Spirit!
The Spirit gives life (Jn. 6:63; 2 Cor. 3:6; Rom. 8:2).
Revelation 3:1b
Revelation 3:1b
Jesus says, “I know your works…” and as a matter of fact, they are not perfect (v2). He says, you have a reputation of being alive, but you’re actually dead!
How many churches falls into this category? How many people do you know who fit this description?
The church in Sardis had all of the outward signs of a Spirit-filled church. From all appearances they looked good! They updated their sanctuary to make room for their growing congregation and they packed the building week after week. They gave money to support other ministries and they enjoyed the latest and greatest technology. They were visible in the community. They had all the worldly markings of a thriving church, but Jesus noticed that they were whitewashed tombs. Beautiful on the outside, but inside there was nothing but death and decay (Matt. 23:27-28).
MAKE IT PERSONAL
Let’s get real for a second, because this is not just a problem for the church at Sardis or churches like this, it is also a problem for you! I’m talking about those of you who look like you have it all together publicly, but your private life is falling apart. Those of you who hide behind your reputation in the community, on your jobs, with your circle of friends. In public, your marriage looks like something to envy, but at home it is empty. Publicly you hold your head up and smile, but when you’re alone depression swallows you whole. Your business is successful, but you are spiritually bankrupt!
Listen to what the late great pastor and evangelist, Leonard Ravenhill said, “Friend, if you were as good at soul-cultivation as you are in developing your business, you would be a menace to the devil; but if you were as poor in business matters as you are in soul, you would be begging for bread” (Why Revival Tarries, p30).
The church at Sardis was faking! They were living off of bygone days.
Revelation 3:2-3
Revelation 3:2-3
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 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.
Jesus gives this dead congregation 5 directives if they are going to survive.
Be watchful
Strengthen what remains
Remember what you’ve received and heard
Hold Fast to it
Repent
Isaiah 30:15 (NLT) This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.
Revelation 3:4-6
Revelation 3:4-6
4 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. 5 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.
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’