REVELATION 3:1-6

THE CHURCH AT SARDIS:  “THE DEAD CHURCH”

Four stages of a church or ministry’s existence…(Dr. Vance Havner)

1. Man > Movement > Machine > Monument
2. The church at Sardis had gone through all those stages and now was in the Monument stage.
3. The life of this church at disappeared- Big name but no life (Dead!)

(Rev. 3:1a)                            Greeting

1. Sardis means “remnant” or “that which remains”
2. …seven spirts of God…  two possible references
   1. Seven angels of the Tribulation judgment
   2. The fullness and completeness of the Holy Spirit
3. Man’s programs can never bring life to a church.  The church was born of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) and without the Holy Spirit the church loses life and power. 
4. …seven stars… the messengers or pastors/elders of the seven churches

(Rev. 3:1b)                            Criticism

1. Ouch!  This church was a fake.  It had a name, but that’s all it had.
2. The identifying mark of a dead church is hypocrisy.
   1. Hypocrisy- “to wear a mask”
   2. Acting term – pretending to be something you’re not
3. This church at Sardis had a name, but no life.
4. Satan loves these kind of churches.  The deception is to think you’re ok but you’re not.

(Rev. 3:2-3a)                        Correction

1. Be watchful… “wake up”
2. Twice in Sardis’ history the city was attacked when the guards were asleep
3. Warning against being complacent in ministry.
4. Always hope.  Even a dead, lifeless church can turn it around if it listens to the Lord Jesus.  (Individual Christian as well)
5. Four step recovery plan…
   1. Be watchful… Re-evaluate:  admit something is wrong
   2. Strengthen the things which remain… Reinforce:  Center on Christian foundations and rebuild
   3. Remember … how you received and heard…  Remember:  Your faith in Christ and His Word.
   4. Repent… Turn back to God and follow Him.

(Rev. 3:3b)                            Warning

1. Watch for what?  The Lord Jesus’ coming at the Rapture. (Matt. 24:42)
2. Rapture of the church- a day of rejoicing for many, but a day of sorrow for many others. (Matt. 25:1-13  Parable of the Ten Virgins)
3. Danger of being “left behind” at the Rapture to enter the Tribulation.
4. Church of Sardis is still with us today.

(Rev. 3:4)                              Compliment

1. …few names (people) who have not defiled (soiled or muddied) their garments…
2. The Lord Jesus always has a faithful remnant who will walk with Him.
3. Disobedience to God’s will exposes more of our flesh.  (Gal. 5:16)
4. If we are not obeying and abiding, we are left with carnality and sin.  The Christian life is meant to be Spirit-filled, Spirit controlled, and Christ-centered.
5. 1Cor. 2:14-3:3 gives us three “lifestyles” of the man in the world today.
   1. “natural man” – unsaved, does not and cannot receive the things of God
   2. “spiritual man” – saved, has real, consistent walk with Jesus
   3. “carnal man” – saved, knows little of a walk with Jesus, acts like a natural man
6. … and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy, - reference to heaven- our new garments: “heavenly white”
7. What makes us worthy?  Being in Christ.

(Rev. 3:5-6)                          Promise

1.       Three promises for those who overcome…

a.       Clothed in white- righteousness (Romans 4:22-25)

b.       Name not blotted from the Book of Life- assurance of salvation (Exodus 32:32-33) (Psalm 69:28)

c.        Jesus will confess us before the Father- remind the Father we belong to Him (Matt. 10:32-33)

2.       In Luke 10:20, Jesus tells His disciples to rejoice because their names were written in heaven.

3.       Something to think about…

a.       Book of Life- contains the names of all living Christians and non-Christians (Ps. 69:28).  As unbelievers die, their names are removed (blotted out) from the Book of Life and at the end, the Book of Life with only believers names becomes the “Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Rev. 20:12-15)

b.       The Lord Jesus promises to never, never blot out an overcomer’s name from the Book of Life!

We must guard against growing comfortable and complacent in church.  This will only produce a slow death.  The good news is that no church or individual Christian is beyond hope.  With Christ, all things are possible!

REVELATION 3:7-13                        “The Faithful Church”

1. Philadelphia means “brotherly love”
   1. The identifying characteristic of a Christian is love- love for God and love for each other

        (1John 3:10; 1John 3:14; 1John 4:7-11; 1John 4:16; 1John 4:20-21)

2. God is love and as such, God’s people should be demonstrating godly love toward one another.
3. The Church at Philadelphia is a picture of all believers who are trusting Jesus Christ for salvation. 
4. The Lord Jesus had no words of condemnation for this church.  (Romans 8:1)  If you are in Christ today, the Lord Jesus has no words of condemnation for you too!
5. The Church of Philadelphia started on the Day of Pentecost and will continue until it is taken up to heaven by the Lord Jesus at the rapture of the church.

(Rev. 3:7)              Greeting                              

1. This is the first of the churches that the Lord Jesus does not use a description of Himself from Rev. 1.
2. Jesus does identify Himself as …He who is holy, He who is True…
   1. … is holy speaks of His Deity- He is God (Luke 1:35; Ps. 16:10; 2Cor. 5:21; Heb. 7:25-26)
   2. … is true speaks of Jesus as the “Real Deal.”  Jesus is Genuine.  (John 1:14; John 14:6)

                                                               i.      In a city filled with so many “gods”, Jesus is declaring Himself to be the “Real” One!

3. Not only should love be our identifying characteristic but truth should be as well.  
4. The “key of David” speaks of Jesus’ Sovereignty and Lordship over His church.  Reference to Isaiah 22:22
5. … opens and no one shuts… could be a reference to the Gospel message.  No one can stop the message of Christ from going forth.
6. The privilege to proclaim the Gospel is given to believers only.

(Rev. 3:8)              Commendation 

1.       The Lord Jesus had only compliments for the church at Philadelphia.

2.       This church was faithfully serving the Lord Jesus.

3.       … set before you and open door… - two possibilities

a.       Prayer and Ministry (serving)  Colossians 4:3; 1John 5:14

4.       God has left the door open for witnessing about Jesus Christ to the Christian church, and no one and nothing can close that door.

5. Evangelism is not a program, it is a lifestyle.

6. Three “keys” to spiritual growth…

a.       … for you have little strength- Our strength comes from Christ.  Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”  (2Cor. 12:9-10)

b.       … have kept My Word- This church was “in the Word.”  They were “doers of the Word.”  (Joshua 1:8)

c.        …have not denied My Name – This speaks of their devotion to Christ.  Whenever and wherever the name of Christ is lifted up and honored, there is power and strength. (John 12:32)

(Rev. 3:9-10)        Promise

1. Two promises for the Church (and individual Christians)
   1. Vindicated before their enemies
   2. Protected from God’s wrath

(Rev. 3:11)            Warning

1. Three warnings to this faithful church…
   1. “I am coming quickly!”  (1Thess. 4:13-18; 1Cor. 15:51-52)  Reference to the Rapture of the Church
   2. “Hold fast what you have”  (Col. 2:8)  The Word of God, good works, sound doctrine, faithulness
   3.   “that no one may take your crown”  (2Tim. 4:8)  Keep looking, keep watching, keep waiting for the Lord Jesus.

(Rev. 3:12-13)                      Promise

1. “I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God” –
   1. Speaks of honor, strength, and security.
   2. For all of eternity we will never leave His presence.
2. “ And I will write on him …
   1. …the name of My God
   2. … the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem…
   3. And I will write on him My new name.
3. The Lord Jesus promises His people an eternal relationship with Him.  We will belong to God through all eternity.
4. We will forever be identified with Him.