Rev 3:1-6 Church at Sardis — Anchor Christian Church

What You Need to Know - The Church at Sardis

Rev 3:1-6

We have been looking at the letters to the churches in chapter 2. Now we move on to chapter 3 and will be looking at the 5th church – the Church at Sardis. Here are the words of Jesus to the church at Sardis:

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:1-6 NIV

Sardis was a well-fortified city built high on a hill and mountain cliffs all around. They thought that no one could defeat them. They were so confident that they didn’t even bother posting guards at the edge of the city walls. This over confidence became their downfall and twice in their history they fell to an invading force. Apparently that complacency and over confidence had crept into the church at Sardis.

The city was also a wealthy city. One of the wealthiest in the area. One of their kings was such a wealthy man that he became the standard by which to judge wealth. They would say that a person was “as wealthy as Croesus.”

When I look at this church and compare it to the church in America today, it seems they may have a lot in common. The church at Sardis may be an example of the greatest threat facing the American church. Unlike some of the other churches we looked at, where persecution was an issue, there apparently was not a lot of persecution but they had something way more dangerous: they thought they were doing just fine.

Just as Jesus is honest with His church, He wants His church to be honest with itself. As I stepped back and looked at this church and I asked, “What does Sardis have to do with us today?” I find myself saying, “ A lot, and we really need to know how well Jesus knew His church then and now.”

First, we need to know what He knows about us and not dismiss it.

It is too easy to dismiss things that we don’t think matter or are not a threat to us. The church of Sardis made the mistake along the way of dismissing some things about their faithfulness to God.

What did Jesus know about the church at Sardis? Vs. 1 - I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Vs. 2 - I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. What Jesus knows about the church at Sardis doesn’t paint a very pretty picture. Evidently they looked good to the community, but it was just a façade. At some point they had started some good things but along the way what they where doing just faded away.

What could have caused that to happen in the church? Jesus says that there were some who had not “soiled their clothes”, which implies that there were many who had soiled their clothes. Evidently many were influenced by others who did not follow God or do things that pleased God. They had one foot in the church and one foot in the world.

It could have been the culture of the city permeating the church – wealthy, self-reliant, always wanting to look good in front of others – I think that could have played a role. It could have been weak leadership in the church – leaders that did not focus enough on the things of God – I think that could have played a role.

What does this have to do with us? If we are not careful we can fall into the same thing the church at Sardis did. The church must care about the spiritual condition of the people in the church more than anything else. We can do things that look good in the community as a group but that is negated very quickly if the people of the church don‘t live like followers of Jesus in the community. I would rather be known as a church full of followers of Jesus living in the community rather than a church that “looks good” to the community.

Can I give an honest assessment of areas where I believe we need to grow as a church? I believe we are a good solid church but let’s not fall into the trap that Sardis did. We are a Bible believing church that preaches and teaches the Word of God but we need to grow in the area of personal Bible study. We offer Sunday morning Bible school classes – starting up class again at the 9:30 hour & we currently have one at 11:00 am. We offer a Wednesday night Bible study. We have some small groups that meet in homes, we have our men’s breakfast, etc. Do we have room for more in all of those? Yes. But I want to challenge you to grow in your personal Bible study.

We need to grow in the area of prayer and seeking the Holy Spirit to guide us. We need to grow in the area of being multi-generational – ministering to the families and youth as well as adults. We need to intentionally make disciples and develop leadership in all areas of the church

Second, We Need to Know What He Commands and Do It

It is important to keep the commands of God. You will find it consistently throughout the word of God. I was reading in Joshua of the OT this week and this passage jumped out at me. In Joshua 22, Joshua gives these parting words to the half-tribe of Manasseh as he sends them back to their homes after helping capture the land:

“But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave to you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to keep His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Josh 22:5

They were getting ready to go back and settle into their daily lives. They were going to enjoy the fruit of their labor. But he knew something – it is very easy to get to comfortable and forget to do the basic things that got them at that place in their life. He tells them to “keep on in your walk with God”.

Jesus gives a very similar message to those in Sardis and to us: Vs 3 - Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. Remember what you have received and heard. Do you remember your early walk with God? For some reason I remember the first Bible verse I recall memorizing. I was in the 6th grade and we had starting attending a new church in our town. I sat down next to a friend from school and he said, “Hey, if you memorize a Bible verse you will get a piece of candy.” I said, “I don’t know any Bible verses.” He said, “Memorize John 11:35”. I said “Ok, what does it say?” He said, “Jesus wept.” “That’s it?” “Yep.” “Okay, I can do that.” I did and got my piece of candy!

Jesus probably wants us to go deeper than that but you get the point. Sometimes we need to go back to the basics, to the beginning when that spark first ignited in our relationship with God. Once we reflect back He says, “Hold it fast”

The first command is “Hold it fast”. The Greek grammar for the phrase “Hold it fast” is a 2nd person imperative – a command that says, “Hey you, yeah, you’re the one I’m talking to – Hold on tightly to what you remember” But it also can be translated “strengthen it”. Make it grow. So, when you reflect on that first encounter with God, hold on to it and then take it and let it help you grow. Take a verse like John 11:35 and realize that when Jesus wept it meant that He was human, yet divine. He cares for you. He knows your heart. He weeps over you when He sees you doing something you shouldn’t, or He rejoices when you do something out of love for someone else.

The second major command He gives us is “Repent”. – This is also a second 2nd person imperative command. It is also saying, “Hey you, that’s right, I’m talking to you – you need to admit to where you have messed up, where you have not done what is right. Repentance is not just saying that you are sorry, now, that is part of it, but it must go beyond that. I heard a definition of “repent” this week that I had never thought of:

Repentance is saying to God, “I’m sorry that I made something else more important in my life than you God. God, your love is enough for me. I don’t need that other thing in my life and I am sorry that I made that other thing more important.”

Finally. you need to know what He promises and then go for It.

Vs 3 - But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Imagery of this verse is rooted in history

There is a story of the city falling. Under King Croesus, in the 5th century BC, Sardis ruled over all other Asian cities. But Cyrus, King of Persia began a series of conquests and looked westward to the city of Sardis. Cyrus attacked the city several times without any success. Just when we was about to give up one of his soldiers, Hyrodeades, spotted a Lydian soldier who had dropped his helmet down the slopes of the cliff, on which the city was built. He watched the soldier climb down to get his helmet and then watched how he got back to the top. The King was so confident in his position that he didn’t feel the need to post guards. King Cyrus, upon hearing what his soldier had seen, ordered his army to attack the city by going up the path detected by his soldier. Sardis was caught completely off guard and was defeated by a surprise attack that they never expected.

Jesus wanted the to know that their confidence would lead to the same thing that happened to the city.

Jesus’ first promise is that He will return. Jesus primary teaching on His return was this – you don’t know when I will return – He even used the same imagery as a thief in the night – to communicate this message – Be ready. Be found doing what I have asked you to do.

Vs. 4-5 - Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

His second promise is that We will walk with Him in a white robe of victory. It was customary in the Jewish faith and then in the Christian faith in the early church to enter worship with a white robe. That image is also in Revelation 6 where those who had been slain for their faith were given a white robe and told to wait until the final judgement. The white robe symbolizes eternal life – the gift that He will give us.

His third promise is that those who are faithful will not have their names blotted out of the book of life. Jesus will be faithful to those who are faithful to Him.

Conclusion

God gives what He promises. Here is a great verse from Joshua 21:45 – “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed, every one was fulfilled.”

This comes after several chapters of listing all the boundaries of the properties that were given to the Israelites after they crossed over the Jordon river.

They didn’t just walk in and take the land. They had to fight for the land. They had to work for it. They had to make sacrifices along the way. But in the end what was the result? Not one of the Lord’s promises failed.

That in essence is the message of Revelation. There is a promise land waiting for you. Hang in there, remain faithful, follow my commands – and when you do – you’ve got eternal life waiting for you.

What You Need to Know - The Church at Sardis Handout

Rev 3:1-6

Sardis, was a well fortified city, built high on a hill and mountain cliffs all around. They thought that no one could defeat them.

The city was also a wealthy city. One of the wealthiest in the area.

When I look at this church and compare it to the church in America today, it seems they may have a lot in common.

Just as Jesus is honest with His church, He wants His church to be honest with itself.

1. We need to _________ What He knows about us and not ____________ it.

i. Vs. 1 - I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Vs. 2 - I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.

b. What could have caused that to happen in the church?

c. What does this have to do with us?

d. Give an honest assessment of areas where you believe we need to grow as a church.

2. We Need to Know What He ________________and _____ It

a. It is important to keep the commands of God.

i. Joshua 22:5

b. Jesus gives a very similar message to those in Sardis and to us: Vs 3 - Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.

c. Remember what you have received and heard

d. First command: “Hold it fast”

e. Second command: Repent

i. Repentance is saying to God, “I’m sorry that I made something else more important in my life than you God. God, your love is enough for me. I don’t need that other thing in my life and I am sorry that I made that other thing more important.”

3. You Need to Know What He ______________and then ______ for It

a. Vs 3 - But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Imagery of this verse is rooted in history

b. His first promise is that He will return.

c. Vs. 4-5 - Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

d. His second promise is that We will walk with Him in a white robe of victory.

e. His third promise is that those who are faithful will not have their names blotted out of the book of life.

Conclusion

God gives what He promises. Here is a great verse from Joshua 21:45 – “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed, every one was fulfilled.”

This comes after several chapters of listing all the boundaries of the properties that were given to the Israelites after they crossed over the Jordon river.