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We are looking at the letter Jesus wrote to seven churches in Revelation.

  • Week 1: Ephesus church was a well-oiled machine–process/ministry drained the love
  • Week 2: Church at Smyrna; don’t fear Godly suffering/poverty/persecution (rich)
  • Week 3: Two churches (Pergamum/Thyatira) – importance of biblical teaching

As we go to the Scriptures, remember we are making this personal; what is the Spirit of God saying to me and to us as a church right now? What does He encourage, praise, reward as well as warn us against?

Alive Not Alive

Church at Sardis

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. —Revelation 3:1-6

  • A theme we find in these letters from Jesus to the churches is that He does not evaluate things the way we humans do. (hard enduring work does not equal love; I see your poverty, but you are rich; loyalty/loving people does not replace healthy/biblical teaching)
  • Rev. 3:1 “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.
  • “Things you do” = Work, deeds, to toil. (a lot of work doesn’t = alive in Jesus)
  • “Reputation for being alive” = a name (worked hard to be seen/talked about in a certain light)
  • “Alive” = to be living and relevant.
  • This church was popular, well attended, come early to get a seat, it was the main event.
  • Music-professional, drama, dance teams, inspiring messages built around current events that left everyone feeling like they could do anything.
  • Everyone was ok, beautiful, made to feel like the center of the universe.
  • Rev. 3:1b – “…you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.
  • “dead” = a corpse

‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead.” —Matthew 22:32

What Went Wrong?

  • This is the only church Jesus did not give one compliment to. This is shocking! Even the churches allowing unhealthy teaching got commended for love & loyalty. WHAT HAPPENED?
  • How could a church with such a huge reputation for being alive, be declared dead?
  • Without us giving our pet peeves, bias opinions, pointing the finger, Lord help us.

Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. —Revelation 3:2-3

  • They put “their” name before His Name. (organization-catchy name, dynamic pastor, staff etc…) Jesus Church is an organism first, organization within the organism.
  • Successful organization has talented, experienced people, dynamic leadership, a “wow” factor that draws attention, powerful advertising, performance based, results orientated. Always moving in the direction of bigger, better, faster.

When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the LORD’s anointed! “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” —1 Samuel 16:6-7

  • There was a disconnect to the Holy Spirit
  • John 16:13 – When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.
  • The fruit of the Spirit/Gifts of the Spirit/the leading of the Spirit was all slowly put in the background. They didn’t want things to get weird, different, or uncomfortable.
  • 1 Cor. 14:1 – Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts…
  • You can have amazingly talented people, dedicated to the cause, activity & ministry full of energy, emotion…but without the Holy Spirit; His gifts, His fruits, His leading. No power.

Close

Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. —Revelation 3:2

  • “Wake up” = be vigilant in watching and staying awake
  • Spiritual slumber causes us to at first be blind and eventually insensitive to what the Holy Spirit is saying & doing all around us.

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. —Romans 13:11

  • A sober thought; we can appear to be fully alive spiritually on the outside, but in fact be spiritually dead.
  • Spiritually alive follower sensitive to holy living, sinful activity, discipline lifestyle, fear of the Lord, fruit of the Spirit, come under authority.