Sardis
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Intro:
Thom Rainer shared an article and later a best-selling book called “An Autopsy of a Deceased Church”
Slow erosion of the church
The past is the hero
The church refuses to look like the community
The budget moves inwardly
The Great Commission is missing
The preference-driven church
Pastoral tenure decreases
No praying together
No clear purpose
Obsession or neglect over facilities
What would an autopsy of a deceased church look like from Jesus? What Xray, Cat-scan, procedure would Jesus use?.... Let’s look at Revelation 3:1-6
1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. 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.’
1. Jesus knows your Spiritual Health
1. Jesus knows your Spiritual Health
1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Sardis was a spiritually dead church.
- They had a reputation of being alive but were dead.
Checking the spiritual pulse of this church would have shown what was happening within its walls.
- This church was like Gideon - Judges 8:27 who had been used by God for great things.... built a reputation and a following.... and instead of continuing to trust God.... he made an ephod and allowed his reputation to become a snare for the people of God!
27 And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.
They held onto the history of their church within the city - Had a big outreach.... social impact.... everyone had their bumper sticker on, the church tshirt, attended the revivals and big church events.... This church was looking to their reputation like Gideon looked at his Ephod!
Similar to the city of Sardis....... It was known for being an impenetrable city - cliffs all the way around and only one entrance.... yet twice in its histroy because they relied on their reputation they allowed opposing armies to climb the walls and defeat them!
They were dead..... what does that mean?
Never knew Jesus..... More like a country club than called out Christians radically living out their faith
Knew Jesus.... but have sunken into a deep sleep see verse 2
There were a few names of faithful people verse 4
Whatever the definition here..... the spiritual pulse of the church was flatlining.... and the doors were still open for a little while longer.
Jesus makes it clear that this is the reality in the Kingdom.... in the parable The Wheat and the weeds.... the dead mixing with those that are alive..... - Matthew 13:30
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
Jesus’s Diagnosis.... He knows this.... He knows the spiritual health of the church... You are dead.
Remedy = Jesus
How would you solve a dying church? What would you do if you recieved this diagnosis?.....
The church in Sardis is gathered on the Lords Day.... they hear of Ephesus… the good and bad… Sardis the same… Pergamum and Thyatira… the same..... and then..... you listen in anticipation.... It is only the bad!
The problem is not compromising, persecution, it is not Satans influence or false teachers..... it is you.... you are the problem!
How would you solve a dying church? What would you do if you recieved this diagnosis?.....
Recognize the problem of decline? Begin prioritizing the future? Adjust the churches focuss to the community? Adjust the budget in creative ways? Emphasis good works and evanglism? Adress preferences in the congregation? Change the pastor? Define the vision and mission? Clean up the facilities?......
Here we must stop and see what this letter says to Sardis...... Jesus is the remedy.... he is the medicine.... He is the AED! ......
Revelation 3:1 (ESV)
1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “
He has the seven spirits - the perfect presence and power of the Holy Spirit
He has the seven stars - the seven churches in his hand and the angels and the pastors and the leaders...
We need the touch of Jesus in our lives to bring us to life when we are dead in our sins.....
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
This dead church needs only the will of Jesus and his power at work and his touch to come to life just like Jairus’ daughter!
52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.”
53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.
54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”
Sardis is dead.... but there are some in this church that are just sleeping and a few that are faithful...... and Jesus gives commands for them and to us!
2. Commands for Spiritual vitality
2. Commands for Spiritual vitality
2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
Wake up
To be roused from sleep - Must be acted upon from outside of you.... Just like Jonah on the boat.... he has to be awaken literally and spiritually on the boat to Tarshish! He didn’t set an alarm if you are following me....
6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”
Strengthen what remains
Establish and fix it in place - This isnt just do a few stretches before the Thanksgiving meal… This is establish the right habits as a church!
This is the difference between having a gym membership and someone who regularly uses the gym membership.
Complete God’s work
God is not done in this church yet.... if the doors are still open.... the work of God is not complete!
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Every church is born and churches also die.... the lamp is put out by Jesus.... but until that light is gone.... continue to be faithful is Jesus words to Sardis!
Remember the Gospel
When you came to faith - remember that moment or that season of your life.....
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
That moment remember the season of life… the change from death to life
Keep it - meaning this.... if you don’t have that same prick of your heart as you did then.... revisit it..... Revisit the good news of Jesus! - Go back to the words you heard from the Bible! Preach it to yourself again and again and again!
Repent
The church has a repentance problem!
There can be no spiritual power in a non-repentant church. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in The Cost of Discipleship...Lack of repentance is the root cause of powerlessness in the church, in this materialistic, self-indulgent age.
Complacency had set in.... It’s not so bad..... It’s not worth upsetting things..... Go along with life as normal!..... Sin is Sin.... and they are complacent to repent and change direction! They were powerless!… Spiritually dead!
Walk with Jesus
Confess him - connection to verse 5- Be an obedient Christian!
Daily obedience - “A joyful end requires a joyful means.... what is at the end of the road influences everything that takes place along the road . . . ” Eugene Peterson
An easy reflection on the church at Sardis..... take your eyes off of yourself and keep them on Jesus!
Listen then to Jesus’s encouragement to endure......
3. The Reward for the Faithful
3. The Reward for the Faithful
three things are included in this reward for the faithful.....
a. White Garments
You are clean, pure, and holy... and covered by Christ..... He is pure and his righteousness robes us!
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
b. Your name in the book of life
The Bible makes it clear God has a list of names written in the book of life.... and those that aren’t have a dreadful end to experience God’s wrath in Hell.
Daniel 12:1 (ESV)
1 “.... But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.
Luke 10:20 (ESV)
20 .....but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Is your name written in the book of life? Have you believed in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins? or do you deserve to be thrown into the lake of fire… the due punishment for your sins.
c. Confessed before the Father and the angels
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Also noted in the same way in 2 Timothy 2:11–13 (ESV)
On that day of judgment… those who endure in faith will be confessed by Jesus as his..... those who deny Jesus will be denied before the Father!
Conclusion:
Are you dead?
Come to Christ and live! - Find forgiveness of your sins and eternal life.
God’s not done with you yet believer.... let Jesus bring revival… new life in our heart today!
Join this church..... be a part of the body of Christ here! Commit to brothers and sisters in Christ to live for Christ boldly here!
Be Baptized in obedience!