Jesus' message to the church in Sardis
1. Background on the Church of Sardis
The city of Sardis, located about 33 miles away from Thyatira and in the southeast direction, was a very rich and powerful city around 400 BC.
This city was later conquered by Cyrus, the king of Persia, and then by Alexander, and it was destroyed by an earthquake in 17 AD and rebuilt by Caesar Tiberius.
2. Jesus introducing himself to the church in Sardis.
Revelation 3:1
“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. The seven Spirits of God
Seven in the word of God symbolizes completeness.
So this means that Jesus is always full of the Holy Spirit.
ii. There are also seven stars
This shows that the whole church belongs to Jesus.
3. What Jesus said against the church in Sardis
Revelation 3:1
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
i. I know your works
Jesus did not say words like your wrong deeds, evil deeds, sinful deeds. Therefore, what he is declaring here may be the things that we as a congregation are usually doing today.
ii. A name that you live
We can conclude from this that the congregation in Sardis was in many actions, and was seen in other congregations as a lively congregation.
iii. But you are dead
Jesus says here, you act as an active church, but others think that your church is a lively church, but you are dead. That is, He is saying that the weak works but those works are dead works.
What we can conclude
– A church may appear to be a living church by external actions, but to Jesus who sees our hearts, that church may look like a dead church inside.
A church works in many ways. Ask questions about those actions.
– Do these works agree with God’s word?
– Has your congregation received God’s guidance to give there?
– If any honor is given due to these actions, does God receive that honor?
– Is the council’s money wasted for these actions?
– What is the purpose of the council’s actions? Is it God’s will?
4. Jesus’ instructions to the church in Sardis
Revelation 3:2,3
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
i. wake up
That is, wake up from your spiritual sleep.
ii. Make sure what is left, what is about to perish.
Let us all wake up and wake up others
iii. Remember how you got it and how you asked for it
Child of God, remember how you came to be saved, and act to bring others to be saved
iv. Repent
5. Jesus’ message to the overcomer
i. Dressed in white clothes.
(Read Revelation 4:4,6:11,7:9,13)
ii. His name is in the Book of Life
(Read Revelation 13:8,17:8,20:12-15,21:27)
iii. I will accept his name before my Father and His angels
(This happens at their judgment)