Revelation 3:1-6

Revelation 3:1-6

The Church of Christ In

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, '. . . I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you

are dead.”

1. Ephesus

2. Smyrna

3. Pergamos 4. Thyatira

5. Sardis

6. Philadelphia

7. Laodicea

Revelation 1:11 (NKJV)

11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and

the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and

send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to

Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."

1. Ephesus

2. Smyrna

3. Pergamos 4. Thyatira

5. Sardis

6. Philadelphia

7. Laodicea

These churches needed hope, courage, comfort & most needed rebuke

✴ Social disgrace; financial & material loss; physical persecution; loss of physical life - (Acts 14:22; 2 Tim 3:12)

✴ Was / is being a Christian “worth it?” - Mat 10:28; 16:24-27; Rev 14:12,13

Instruction needed for all Christians of all ages

Jesus is said to be “in the midst” of the seven golden lamp-stands, which are the seven churches (1:13,20).The Lord is intimately aware of what transpires within every congregation.He “knows” their situation, works, faithfulness & sins (2:2,9,13,19; 3:1,8,15; Heb 4:13).The Lord sees us as we really are (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Located about 30 miles southeast of Thyatira, on an important trade route that ran east and west through the kingdom of Lydia.

The ancient capital of Lydia under King Croesus who was legendary for his wealth (560 to 547 BC)

Birthplace of the first minted coin (credited for origin of modern currency).

The Fifth Church: Sardis"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, . . .” Rev 3:1

It stood on the northern slope of Mount Timolus, above the Hermus River valley,

Its acropolis (citadel) occupied a spur of the mountain - 1,500 feet high

Its ancient inhabitants thought their city to be impregnable against invasion.


Cyrus of Persia conquered Croesus in B.C. 549, when a Persian soldier found a way up the cliff, and a contingent of soldiers took the city from its inattentive defenders.

Antiochus the Great repeated this feat in B.C. 218 under similar circumstances.

Each time, due to an over confident attitude, Sardis fell to its enemies.


A rich city, full of industry dealing in jewelry, dye, and textiles. one of the great historical cities of western Asia Minor -

One of the largest ancient synagogues excavated. Its location in the center of the urban center attests to the strength and wealth of the Jewish community in the city.

Synagogue


A center of pagan worship and site of a temple of Artemis, (Diana, Roman) which ruins still remain. (daughter of Zeus & Leto, twin sister of Apollo. goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity and protector of young girls)

It was a generally immoral city also given to the worship of the nature goddess Cybele. (goddess of fertility, mother & protector)


In a.d. 17, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed the city.

Sardis was eventually rebuilt, it never regained the prominence and affluence it once enjoyed, and by the time this letter was written, the city had become a pitiful hub of moral debauchery.

Gymnasium-Bathhouse


Christ’s Self Designation ✴ He who has the seven Spirits of

God – (Rev 1:4; 5:6) - the Holy Spirit. ✦ The completeness, and

universality of the Holy Spirits’ Work as sent by Jesus.

✦ The Spirit of God had the power to give life to this dead church if they would heed His word (Jn 6:63; Rom 8:2,11).


". . . 'These things says He who has the

seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:


Christ’s Self Designation ✴ & The seven stars – are the

messengers to the seven churches (1:4,16,20),✦ the Son of God held the

messengers in His right hand (1:16) in that He sends, owns, protects, and cares for them.

✦ Jesus is the source of the life giving message!


". . . 'These things says He who has the

seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:


Rebuke:✴ “I know Your works” - Jesus

knows everything a church is doing or is not doing!

✴ The only complement He gives the church at Sardis is that “you have a name that you are alive.” – their reputation among men regarding doctrine, loyalty, and works, was a good one.


". . . "I know your works, that you have a name

that you are alive, . . .”


Rebuke:✴ The church at Sardis was

considered “Sound” by most Right “FORM” of doctrine – Growing numerically? – Nice building? – Dynamic preacher? – Good Singing? –

✴ These things are not the only ear-marks of spiritual "life".


". . . "I know your works, that you have a name

that you are alive, . . .”


Rebuke:✴ Reputation or Character - It

matters very little what men think of us, but it matters immensely what Christ knows about us, and He knows ALL.

✴ We can’t hide under a façade of make believe religion and fool our Lord. (1 Sam 16:7; Mat 23)

Revelation 3:1,2 (NKJV)

". . . "I know your works, that you have a name that you are

alive, but you are dead . . . 2 For I have

not found your works perfect before

God”


Rebuke:✴ An individual who is

spiritually dead (Eph 2:1-3) is “without Christ,” has “no hope,” and is “without God “ (Eph 2:12).

✴ A Christian who lives for pleasure is dead while he lives (1 Tim 5:6; Eph 5:11-14).

✴ Separated from God - Is 59:1,2





God”


Rebuke:✴ The congregation at Sardis

was dominated by members who failed to find the time or determination to bring their work to perfection, i.e. completion, (vs 2; cf. Eph 4:11-16; 2 Pet 1:5-11; Heb 5:12-6:8; 2 Chro 25:1,2; Dan 5:27))

✴ They were defiled, i.e., contaminated by sin (verse 4).





God”


Rebuke:✴ A congregation filled with

members who live for worldly pleasures is a dead church, regardless of its reputation.

✴ Those pleasures may not be immoral in themselves, but if they dominate our time, attention, or resources, they cause us to be dead while we live.





God”


Rebuke:✴ To do nothing is as bad as

doing the wrong thing! Like the one talent man of Matthew 25:14-30,

✴ Is our time and attention so dominated by pleasures of this life that we fail to bring to completion the work the Lord expects of us?





God”


Exhortation:✴ Be watchful, -

✦ One of the first steps to deadness and declension is to let down our watch, (Eph 5:15-17; Prov 4:25-27). Those careful to maintain good works, constantly examining themselves - keeping their focus & affection on Christ, go upward, not downward - 2 Pet 1:5-11


2 Be watchful, and strengthen

the things which remain, that are ready

to die, . . .


Exhortation:✴ Be watchful, -

✦ The first step to correct any problem is to identify it, but we will not identify that which we are not willing to see, (Mat 23:24,26; 2 Cor 13:5).

✦ NOT uncommon for men to close their eyes to their true spiritual state - (Mat 13:15; 2 Cor 4:4)




to die, . . .


Exhortation:✴ Strengthen the things which

remain, that are ready to die✦ The lingering bits of truth,

faith, hope and love that might have survived neglect and inactivity.

✦ What little life was left among them was expiring, ready to die, so those things first needed to be revived and strengthened.




to die, . . .


Exhortation:✴ Remember therefore how

you have received and heard; ✦ Important to remember –

(Heb 2:1; 2 Pet 1:13; 3:1; Rev. 2:5)

✦ Perhaps they had received the gospel with joy– (Mat 13:20-22)

✦ To rekindle the fire of a relationship that has died we must return to the beginning!


3 Remember therefore how

you have received and

heard; hold fast and repent.


Exhortation:✴ “Hold fast” - (Rev 2:25; 3:11)

✦ Paul told Timothy – “Guard what was committed to your trust,” (1 Tim. 6:20) & to “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me” (2 Tim 1:13)

✦ We must HOLD fast to the entirety of the gospel – (Col, 1:23; Mat 23:23)






Exhortation:✴ “And repent” - (2:5,21,22;

3:11,19)✦ Must change – turn away

from it’s lethargic state and immorality and become zealous for truth -

✦ God called Israel to repent, but usually they refused - Eze 18:30-32; Dan 9:13; Joel 2:12,13

✦ How we respond is our choice - Ez. 18:21; Lk 13:3,5; Rom 2:5






Warning: ✴ “If you will not watch, I will

come upon you as a thief, . . .”✦ Judgment is coming – thus

the need to be prepared at ALL TIMES! (Mat 24:42-43; 25; 1 Thes. 5:2,4-6; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev. 16:15)

✦ We will be judged, not as we see ourselves, or as others see us - but as we truly are in the Lord’s sight


3 . . . 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.


Commendation:✴ “You have a few names even

in Sardis who have not defiled their garments” ✦ A few were serving the Lord.

- 1 Kings 19:18; Mat 7:13,14; Jam 1:27

✦ You can be righteous even when the majority is not. (Ge 6; 19; etc)

✦ Judgment will be personal & impartial – 2 Cor 5:10; Rom 2:5-11


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.


Commendation:✴ “You have a few names even

in Sardis who have not defiled their garments” ✦ The unrighteous need to

identify the godly and emulate their pattern of faithfulness.

✦ Righteous need to recognize the importance of their example and keep on keeping on - (not easy!)





are worthy.


Promises:✴ “And they shall walk with Me

in white,”✦ In fellowship now - 1 John

1:5-8; ✦ In truth & obedience - 1 John

2:6✦ In purity & holiness- 1 John

3:3; 2 Cor 6:14-7:1; 1 Pet 1:13-19

✦ In glory forever - 1 John 3:2; Rom 8:17, 29,30; Rev 22:12-17





are worthy.


Promises:✴ “For they are worthy.”

✦ They were worthy of such fellowship but not by merit! - (Ep 2:8-10; 1 Pe 1:19; Rev 7:14; 12:11)

✦ Our lives must be worthy of the name we wear in honor of Christ & the price of our redemption! (Mat 10:37-38; Eph 4:1-3; Phili 1:27; Col 1:9-12; 1 Thes 2:10-12; 2 Thes 1:11-12; 1 Pet 1:13-21).





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.


Promises:✴ The Lord promises those who

conquer Satan three rewards (verse 5)

✴ Shall be clothed in white garments, - Victory, purity - Rv 19:8

✴ Not blot his name out of the book of life – Ex 32:32-33; Ps 69:28; Phili 4:3; Rev. 20:12,15; 21:27 (Implications?)

✴ to confess his name – Mat 10:32,33


A church is not accepted today because they have a history of past glory church is only as strong as its individual members (faithful? dependable? attending? knowledgeable? working? participating? serving?)


6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit

says to the churches." '


Congregations can be labeled dead by God even if they appear to be alive by man.The need for us to be honest with ourselves & recognize our true standing before GodThere is always hope for a dead church to come back alive.








What can a dead church do?:

✴ Be watchful –1 Peter 5:8✴ Strengthen what remains –

1 Cor. 15:58 ✴ Remember – Luke 15:17-21✴ Hold fast – 2 Tim 1:13✴ Repent – Acts 8:22


✴ How’s our reputation? ✴ What about our true

character?✴ Has your name BEEN written

in the Book of Life?✴ Are you living in such a way

that it will NOT be erased?✴ If the Lord came today –

would he clothe you in white and confess your name?.

Revelation 3:6 (NKJV) He who has an ear, let

him hear what the Spirit says to the

churches." '

Charts by Don McClainPrepared May 29, - June 1 2013; Preached June 2,

2013West 65th Street church of ChristP.O. Box 190062, Little Rock AR 72219501-568-1062Prepared

using KeynoteEmail – [email protected] More Keynote, PPT & Audio

Sermons:http://w65stchurchofchrist.org/coc/sermons/


http://w65stchurchofchrist.org/coc/sermons/

2 Peter 1:5-12 (NKJV) 5 But also for this very reason,

giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-

control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to

godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if

these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor

unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-12 (NKJV) 9 For he who lacks these

things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten

that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore,

brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and

election sure, for if you do these things you will never

stumble;

2 Peter 1:5-12 (NKJV) 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly

into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus

Christ. 12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present

truth.

Revelation 3:1-6

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Transcript of Revelation 3:1-6