Sardis: The Lifeless Church (Revelation 3:1-6) • Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) • Kevin DeYoung, “The church is not to be like a cruise ship, full of passengers dedicated to their own comfort; nor to be like battleships ... firing at each other. Jesus wants his churches to be like lifeboats… saving people from drowning in sin.” 1. The Reality of Spiritual Death Revelation 3:1 (NASB), “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are dead.” • “The essence of a church is not its programs, buildings, past achievements, reputation, institutional greatness, or formal doctrinal correctness, but its spiritual life.”- Vern Poythress • Jesus has the seven spirits – this means Jesus is full of the Spirit, ready to give life to His body. • He has the seven stars – this means Jesus is full of Light, ready to grant power to His body. • This church has lost the life and light of Christ. • Jesus is the life and light they need. • The problem with Sardis is they don’t know they are dead. • Vern Poythress, “… the situation is all the more dangerous because the Christians at Sardis are deluded about their true state.” • I imagine, the doors are open. The lights are on. People are gathering. • But this church is no longer about Jesus. It’s no longer standing for Christ. • They have abandoned their Gospel mission. • It no longer rescues the dying. • It doesn’t seek and save the lost. • Christ’s verdict on Sardis is devastatingly brief: the church is alive in name only but in fact the church is dead. 2. The Necessity of Spiritual Revival Revelation 3:2 (NASB), “Be constantly alert, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Then if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.” • It’s revival or bust for this church! Jesus gives five commands to wake up this church: • Be constantly alert (wake up)! • Strengthen what little remains (the church still has a pulse). • Remember what you have received and heard and keep it. (I take this to mean, remember the Word of Life, the Gospel you received and heard, and keep the Good News front and center). • Repent (repent in this case for their lack of life saving witness). Their need for repentance is hinted at in V5, where Jesus says those who overcome, He will confess their name before the Father. • It is the same language as in ... Matthew 10:32, “Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” • So, this leads me to believe, this church is dead because it was denying Christ before people instead of confessing Him (or, witnessing for Christ openly). A Sardis type of church is a church of good reputation, but it will not publicly confess Christ and preach the Good News of the Gospel. • Their good name was more important than the name of Christ. • They need a spiritual revival. 3. The Rewards of Faithfulness Revelation 3:4 (NASB), “But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Jesus promised His faithful witnesses three things: • White Garments: White garments are given to those who faithfully witness for Christ. • The Book of Life: This is the book in Heaven, that contains the names of true believers, I will not erase his name is an assurance of eternal life from Christ Himself. • I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. Jesus promises them a good name before the Father. • Those who confess Christ on earth will be acknowledged by Christ in heaven. • Christ says to them and to us – it is revival or bust. • Without spiritual revival, we have no life to share/save a dying world. If the key to revival is confessing Christ, we need to share the Gospel! A Hymn of Revival, “Awaken Us Today,” Chad Marriott Wake, O sleeper, from your slumber! Saints awaken, come to life! Christ will rise and shine upon you In His heav’nly light divine; Like the sunrise in its dawning, Breaking darkness with new light, Rise upon us, King of glory— Come awaken us today!