Wake up and walk!
Revelation 3:1-6
This morning we get to continue in our series on the Book of Revelation entitled “Dear Church, a Look at the Promises in Revelation.”
This is the 6th of 8 messages.
John owns the hand the penned the book, but the message or the book is from the one who walks among the golden lampstands, who holds the seven stars in His hands, who is known as the Morning Star, the Son of God. Jesus is the author, and John is His servant.
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The message to the church at Sardis
Location: the modern city of Sart Turkey, the Hermus river valley
Two Unique distinctions:
- A well defended city:
Sardis was repeatedly attacked, but was only the palace was only captured twice. - A cemetery of a thousand hills:
Sardis is known for its necropolis, or cemetery. the hundreds of burial plots that were visible from miles away.
These two distinctions are unique to Sardis, and also Ironic, because Jesus says that the church at Sardis has the reputation of being alive, but they are dead. He says that about the church that is in the city that is known for its enduring survival and its vast cemetery.
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Verse 6: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Now we know, that when someone says something twice, they are emphasizing its importance.
Our Lord Jesus uses this saying SEVEN times!
Do you think what has to say is important?
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.’
Verse 1 says:
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.”
Rev 1:4-5:
4John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
What we see in this is the unity of the Trinitarian God.
The one who is and was and who is to come, God the father.
The Seven Spirits
“And from the Seven Spirits,” :
- The fullness of the Holy Spirit, not seven different spirits.
- Seven is a number of completion and represents fullness.
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And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of Kings on the earth.
The resurrected King, and King of Kings.
Seven Starts
verse 1 of chapter three says,
“The words of Him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars”
Seven stars: the messengers of the church. The leaders of the church who are charged with shepherding the flock.
Revelation 1:20 says:
As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
“The words of Him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars”
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note}Reputation and Rebuke
Jesus goes on to say in verse 1:
“I know your works, you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”
The only commendation for the church at Sardis is actually also a word of rebuke. He says that they HAVE only a reputation of being alive.
The Greek word for HAVE: ἔχω Echo
Jesus sees perfectly. When He observes, He knows the heart of someone, the motivation behind their work.
What He is saying is that their reputation is that they are alive, but they are actually the opposite.
Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus says to the religious crowd:
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
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Warning
In verses 2 He says:
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.
This is a warning from Jesus, and yet another indication or example of His longsuffering and merciful call to those who He loves.
The ESV says the words “Wake Up” , but the KJV says “Be watchful” .
This is the term γρηγορέω Gregoreo
This is the same word used when Jesus was about to be betrayed, He went to the Garden to pray.
Matthew 26
26 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples,
“Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 36 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
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James 2:18-20 says:
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Our works should be evidence of our faith.
What Jesus is saying to the church at Sardis is that their reputation of works is dead, but they are mercifully given the alert:
Gregoreo!
He goes on to say:
I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
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The Call
Jesus is saying that remain steadfast in your work and calling! Finish what you start! Work as if unto Him, as you know that from Him you will receive the inheritance as the reward.
Verse 3 says
Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.
This call to wake up, again, is a demonstration of His mercy.
As in the previous two messages (Pergamum/Thyatira), we hear again and again “Repent.”
This isn’t meant to amplify guilt, it is meant to draw in to life giving relationship.
After calling them to remember, He issues a warning:
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.
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The Garments
He goes on to say in verses 4 and 5:
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.
Back to the account of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene, while the rest of the followers of Christ were sleeping in the Garden, He was watching and praying.
He did this for you and for me.
The garments that we tend to wrap ourselves in are the garments of our own works, which as Paul and Isaiah says are as filthy rags, but the garments that we are called to wrap ourselves in here are the garments provided as a result of our faith in Christ. He imputes to us His righteousness.
We receive the garments that are as white as snow because of our Faith in His work, and when we trust in Him our name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.
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Questions for Reflection:
- What is an element of your past work that you have relied upon, but needs some update? Is there anything that you need to do today that will embolden not only your faith, but your faithful witness to others?
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- The message today says several times to “Wake Up”…are there any scriptures that the Lord has recently used to call you to the next level of faith? What are they, and how do you proceed from here?
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- Accountability with a brother or sister is an important element of ensuring we are remaining steadfast in our walk. Is there someone you can encourage today to join you in discipleship as you walk with Jesus? Are you engaged with another brother or sister in discipleship? How has this contributed to your walk with the Lord?
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