Sardis – Rev 3:1-6
Christ’s Identification – “To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Sardis write:
“These are the words of Him who has [v]the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars
Christ’s Commendation – There was no commendation to this church
Christ’s Rebuke – ‘I know your deeds; you have a name (reputation) that you are alive, but [in reality] you are dead.
Christ’s Exhortation – Wake up, and strengthen and reaffirm what remains [of your faithful commitment to Me], which is about to die; for I have not found [any of] your deeds completed in the sight of My God or meeting His requirements. 3 So remember and take to heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them, and repent [change your sinful way of thinking, and demonstrate your repentance with new behavior that proves a conscious decision to turn away from sin]. So then, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
Christ’s encouragement – But you [still] have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes [that is, contaminated their character and personal integrity with sin]; and they will walk with Me [dressed] in white, because they are worthy (righteous). 5 He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God] will accordingly be dressed in white clothing; and I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, and I will confess and openly acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels [saying that he is one of Mine].
Sardis was situated 30 miles southeast of the church in Thyatira. To this church the Lord was very direct in that He called them dead. Today how many churches are dead? Is yours dead? Ironically Sardis was known for a necropolis (a cemetery, especially one of large size and usually of an ancient city). It was called the cemetery of a 100- hills about 7 miles from the main town. Imagine your city being known for its cemetery? Jesus is life itself and here He comes across a church dead He was angry and disappointed. Anywhere Jesus is lifted up and glorified you can be sure to see the church alive and thriving.
What made this church become so dead?
This church was so into death with burial mounds became a form of idol worship. Even in Sri Lanka we have become a nation where every corner you will find a dead man’s statue and we have raised the dead rather than life itself. The more you think of death the less you think of life eventually the fear of death becomes an idol in your life and you will cease to live, this is what happened in this city.
Sardis also relied on their past laurels and failed to move ahead. How many of us today gloat and live on what happened in the past that we forget God has gone past us and moved in splendor that we find it hard to catch up. Too many churches today still live in the past that they have become irrelevant and dead.
The Lord encourages this church to wake up from its sleep. How relevant to us today are we lethargic and asleep? In order for a change to occur we need to be infused by the 7 spirits of the Lord so we end up being spirit infused rather than spirit diffused people.
Pray that the Lord will infuse you with His Spirit so your life will never be the same again and you will move ahead with resurrection power.
