Rev. 3:1-6 Sardis
The Church that was Dead
Read
1-6 PRAY
Intro: It has been well said that
if we have Learned anything from History – We have learned that We haven’t
learned from History
A) That is true For if we had truly learned from
History – I believe that there would have only been one war
B)
Because we would have associated w/ war
Heartache / Headache / heart Break – we would agree Lets never do that again !!!!
C)
Had we learned from History – I believe that there
would have only had to have been one ALCOHOLIC
1)
Again : We would have saw the Heartache / the
suffering/ the Misery attached which would have transformed
our Understanding
A)
THERE
ONLY NEEDS TO BE ONE
Had we learned from
History – I believe there would have only had to be one DIVORCE
Once again seeing the Heartache / the
Heartbreak /
the frustration that a couple &
their Children go through
Would
cause us to conclude I DON’T WANT THAT TO
HAPPEN TO ME – I want to learn from their mistakes
& not repeat them
THE
city of SARDIS was guilty of not learning from History
A)
Seven hundred years before this letter was written, Sardis had been one of
the greatest cities in the world.
B)
It was the capital of Lydia. - It was a center
for TRADE / It was a
Military
Center.
1) It was characterized by a loose/luxurious lifestyle.
C) And It was located on an almost inaccessible
plateau. -
1)
Its
Acropolis, w/its nearly perpendicular rock walls, was about 1500’ above the main roads which formed an impregnable
fortress / on all but the south side.
1)
But in 549
B.C. Sardis was conquered by Cyrus & the Persian invaders
Because they were caught off Guard !!!!! They weren’t watching
1)
They still
were not watching !!!!!/ They hadn’t learned from HISTORY
That seemed to be the
Church of Sardis’ Problem as well – because Jesus says to them in v. 2
2 "Be
watchful, & strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,
A)
Jesus
calls this church to WATCH /
TO WAKE UP - because it was Dead !!!!!
B)
Sardis Has been called: “The Fruitless Church/ The church of spiritual
Apathy; the Dead church;
1)
The Feeble
church; “The church with a
Reputation, but needing
Resuscitation!”
A) Jesus
identifies the Churches Spiritual Condition in v. 1 "I know your works, that you have a name
that you are alive, but you are dead.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS
CHURCH – WHY WAS IT DEAD ?
We are not given much
Historical background on this Church
A) But I think that from the TEXT we can see a 3 FOLD REASON
1ST THE CHURCH WAS LIVNG IN THE PAST - They had become complacent & Comfortable & were content to live on Past Reputation
A)
Jesus said – You have a Name that you are Alive - Name speaks of Reputation - Jesus said I know your works & Your reputation
B)
They were Living on Past Success !!!! ( Not Perfect or Complete)
2nd they
had allowed sin to creep in : v.4 They became defiled
A) Complacency
will always lead to Compromise - ( Not sure what the form of Compromise was but by it
they had become defiled )
3rd Compromise – leads to
becoming spiritually Comatose – Dead to
the Voice of the Spirit
A)
See in the Fact that
Sardis was unaware of their Spiritual Condition
B) INFACT : Imagine the shock when they gathered together to
hear this
new
message from the aging Apostle John.
b) They knew that Jesus had appeared to John and that Jesus had
given to John letters
1)
that were addressed to
ONLY SEVEN hand picked churches in Asia,
and they
were one of them.
C) They Probably thought to themselves, “Well, even Jesus has heard about us.
Even Jesus knows that we’re pretty together.
Of course, that’s why He chose to write one of those letters to us.”
You can almost picture them politely and patiently waiting
through the first letters. Waiting to
get to the most important one, theirs.
A) As they’re listening to these letters they’re
probably thinking -
A) “Oh,
those poor Ephesians. Who would have
ever thought they’d have left their
first love.”
“And poor Smyrna,
suffering so much. Well, everybody gets
along with us. We don’t offend anybody,
I wonder why they’re suffering so much.”
“And can you believe Pergamos? Allowing the doctrine of Balaam into their
fellowship.”
“And
Thyatira, who would have ever thought that they’d be so naive as to let that
Jezebel come in and lead them into false doctrine?”
B) And, finally they
hear the words that they’ve been
longing to hear -
And
to the pastor of the church in Sardis write.
1)
And they start
thinking to themselves,
“Oh
I just know He’s going to say that we’re alive. I just know that He’s going to tell us that we’re such a spirit
filled church.”
A) i know YOUR workS….. “There,
you see, He has heard of us. He does know
about us.”
1) that you have a name, that you live! - “I
told you! He’s so proud of us. We’re
the best church in all of Asia!”
But you’re dead - “What?!!!
A)
Are you sure
you’ve got the right church? This is
Sardis. We’re not dead, we’re
alive. Haven’t you heard about us?”
B)
If
you went to the church of Sardis and asked them if they were alive - look at
you like crazy
1.) Of course we are alive - look at what’s happening - look
at what we are doing!
A)
Read my Jesus is alive at the church of Sardis
T-shirt! Of course this church is alive
1) The opinion of the church - yes, we are alive
E)
And those outside the church - in city - if you were to ask are they Alive? “Sure seems
they’re alive –always some activity taking place” - people always coming -
going. Good reputation in the city
They had a name that
they were alive - that was their perception - that was their reputation - but
Jesus said you are dead!/ Time to wake Up
A) Some people today mistake a LIVELY church for LIFE in a church.
A) Often times that which would make a church LIVELY is just a lot of commotion born out of
the energy of the flesh.
1)
It is, as Paul said
(Gal.6:12) a good
showing in the flesh.
C) Might Resemble a Holy Hoopla – w/ People Dancing around & getting all
excited – someone might look at that say
:
1)
Wow this is such a happening deal, and it is indeed lively.
A)
But is it really Alive ? Maybe
Not /
Chicken w/ its head cut off –Man
it
Moves all over the place – ton of Activity
for a short time
1)
Must not make the
Mistake that Activity means being Alive / Must learn to Discern the Difference
between LIVELY & ALIVE
The Same thing could be said about some of the “Seeker
Sensitive” Churches today – Big/
many Programs - LIVELY – L.A.
TIMES article
A)
Study on Mega Churches
– particularly the “Seeker Churches”
“Those churches stress innovation and reach out to people
unfamiliar with traditional religion. Led
by self-styled religious entrepreneurs, they use sophisticated business
techniques to create a spiritual product for choosy suburban consumers”.
Congregates are no longer referred to as
members but as Clients & the whole approach
is to offer slick package & Polished Performance
PROBLEM according to Church growth Expert Eddie Gibbs, professor of church growth
at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena.
“These Churches
constantly have to reinvent themselves”
Find the Latest thing to keep the “
Consumer Happy”
A)
Sad that a Lot of Churches
are going in that Direction – in fact 95% of the New Churches crop up in our
area last 5 yrs follow this model
Appealing to everything under the Sun to get people
to Come !!!
But
the mistake comes when people say, “Oh Man, this
church is so alive!” When in reality it
might just be Lively !!!!!
A)
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER: WHERE did the life of the Church in
the Book
of Acts come from?
Did it come from good planning?
Did it come from church programs?
Did it come from brilliant leadership?
Did it come from great theologians?
B) The answer to ALL of these questions is No!/
1)
The LIFE of the Church
in the Book of Acts came from the Holy Spirit empowering and directing all of
the activities of the early Church.
A)
It’s not the Acts of
the Apostles, as we have
written as the title in so many of our Bibles,
1)
it’s the acts of the Holy Spirit in and through the Church.
D)Wherever the Holy Spirit is not influencing a church, that church is
GOING TO BE DEAD
!!! Wherever He is not the one in control
1)
Wherever He is not exercising His power in and through a body of
believers, that church is a dead church. / no matter how lively appear
So How Can you tell
if a Church is Alive ? 2 Things
A) 1st There will be an Absence of Strife / Not Striving in the effort of the flesh & the ingenuity of the Flesh to Keep it Going / Building / growing
B) 2nd There
will be an evident manifestation of the
Fruit of the Spirit there !
1)
Love will be abounding
/ Joy will be Evident / The Presence
of Peace will be seen – Which is
the opposite of Strife
C)Patience - a desire to wait on the Lord &
be led by the Lord / Kindness /
a CARING
others Centeredness /
1)
Self
Control – Functioning of the gifts of the Spirit – working in & through
the Body in an orderly manner &
fashion
A)
That really is what
Constitutes a Church that is Alive - & that is what was Lacking in Sardis –
1)
Which is why Jesus
revealed Himself to the Church the way that He did
'These
things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:
Recall our Previous studies that in Each Letter Jesus Begins
w/ a Rev. of Himself taken from the Vision of Jesus that John saw in Ch. 1
A) We Noted how the Description that Jesus gave of Himself to each Church was directly RELEVANT to the unique spiritual need or problem in THAT fellowship.
B) The seven Spirits of God are
a ref. I believe to the description of
the anointing of the spirit that will be upon the Messiah found in Isa. 11
11:1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem
of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom
and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and
of the fear of the LORD.
Aa) He is describing what we
cut ourselves
off from when we are no
longer being led or controlled by the Spirit
A.) Spirit of the
Lord - speaks of the resources of
God
B.) Wisdom: wisdom = knowledge applied or the proper application of knowledge
1.) who / what / when and how’s
of life
C.) Understanding : the faculty of insight to
discern - to look at something and see it clearly
D.) Spirit of Counsel - Ability to deliberate to
judge; to have right words to say at right time
1)
Spirit of might
= power and strength
F.) Of knowledge: He is the one who knows
all things and He reveals it to us - opens word! Gives application; instruction
Now that is a lot to cut yourself
off from - but that is what happens
when begin to walk in flesh and not in spirit!
A.) Your life will grow mechanical and machine like instead of
being led and directed by the Lord !
A) See Sardis has lost
sight of the person of Jesus Christ and of the presence of the H.S. in the church
1)
They
are dead because they have moved from that place of critical dependence upon
the H.S.
A)
That is the First step toward becoming DEAD – which was the problem w/
the Church of Sardis
1)
As
well as the Problem w/ that period of Church History that Sardis Represents
Going back to the Statement that I made at the
Beginning of this message is that One thing we have Learned from history is that we haven’t
Learned from History – History has a way of repeating itself
A) And the Church is not exempt as it relates to this – In fact as you look at Church History there seems to be a trend – a Pattern a Model
1)
That always Starts – listen
Carefully w/ a Man
A) That
is where Ministry begins weather it be a Luther or a Calvin or a Wesley – Starts w/ a man w/ a Call !!!
1)
A
man w/ a Burning in his Bosom a man who loves God w/ all of his heart & all
of his mind / all of his strength
A)
That
is where it begins – A man w/ a Call - &
there is nothing wrong w/ a man w/ a call
1)
But
then it moves to the 2nd stage – goes from a man w/ a call to a
MINISTRY W/ A WORK
A)
A
Labor of Love is started / a Work of Adoration as that man Constrained &
moved by a Love for God – Desire to serve Him – begins to reach out
B)
Following
the Leading of the H.S. / and being empowered by the H.S. people are Touched & God’s Grace is Displayed
So we Start w/ a man being moved
by God – a Ministry is Birthed – and in that 2nd stage of ministry
nothing is wrong –
A) God is working – Awesome to just rejoice in what He is doing – how He is using that Man & that Ministry !!!
B)
But then is moves to a 3rd Stage –
where that Ministry becomes a Movement as others watch what God is doing and
say :
1)
This is great –
How can I help – I want to be involved in this
A) And as more people get involved in the Movement a Progression happens / the Movement Spreads & many more lives are impacted
And at that stage as
well nothing is Wrong – But it is the next stage that Concerns me
A) See it is in that 4th Stage that we have the tendency to
build for that man / that Ministry / that Movement a
MONUMENT !!!!
B) Webster defines a Monument as setting up a Statue or some type of Structure to keep the Memory of an event or a Person Alive
1)
Many
times that Monument becomes something that is larger than life
A)
Something so big that if the Movement starts going in another Direction under the
Leading of the H.S. –
1)
The
Monument many times can’t be Moved that the Shifting that needs to occur can’t
occur because the Monument is too Big/ Strong
A)
It is in that Stage that
many sad things occur – that my friends is a good Description of that period of Church
history that Sardis represents
1)
Period
Known as the Protestant Reformation
We talked about last
week in our study / How Thyatira represented that period in Church History when
the Catholic Church was Born
And how
during that time the Church began to move Further & further away from what
the Bible taught
Instituting more & more ideas that couldn’t be found in Scripture
The Reformation was sparked in
1380’s
by an Oxford Scholar by the name of John Wycliffe –
1)
Who
called for the Church in England to renounce the teachings
That
were not biblical - And Get back to the
Bible /
1)
For
his effort Wycliffe was excommunicated by the Church & two of his Disciples
john Huss /& Hugh Latimer were burned at the stake
But their Death’s
were the spark & stirrings of a Reformation that would begin to burn
throughout England
A) That spark would turn into an inferno – when a young monk by the name
of martin Luther was struggling w/ his Theology in Germany
B)
The more that he studied the more that he knew that he
could never be righteous enough to earn God’s Favor
1)
Which
he tried to achieve through a series of Physical Disciplines that
included – beating himself / sleeping out in
freezing cold Temp’s
A)
And Fasting for Long periods of Time – He was so distressed by this that he
decided to journey to Rome to meet w/ the Pope
1)
On
his journey – he took ill & ended up recuperating at an Alpine Monastery
A)
Where
one of the Monks sensing Luther’s Struggle told him to read the book of
Habakkuk - Why Habakkuk ?
1)
Habakkuk was also one who wrestled w/ issues –
A) Well Luther took His advice
& when he came to the 4th verse of Ch. 2 he finally understood –
THE JUST SHALL
LIVE BY FAITH !!!!!
That
is it – he cried – if I am going to be Just it is not because
of what I do or who I am but it is by faith in what God has done And Who He is
A) It Spread to Switzerland / Scotland – England – then throughout much of the World – through men Like Zwingli / Knox / Calvin
B)
Birthed
such Movements & Denominations such as – the Lutherans / Methodist /
Wesylans –
C)
But the Further it went the more Formalized it Became -/ the Movement became very
Rigid in it’s Interpretation of certain parts of the Bible
1)
State Churches were Established & As a result Deadness set in
A)
Today
in England / Scotland as well as different areas of the U.S. many of these
Churches that were used so radically
1)
stand
as merely a Shell / Monument of it’s Past Glory
d)In
Fact in England – Churches that once had an Incredible impact upon it’s Culture
are being sold – turning into Mosques – Islam
A) Here in the
States we see in much of the Denominations of the Lutherans / Methodist /
Presbyterians – becoming Liberal in their Theology
1)
Many
ways becoming Defiled – Ordaining of Homosexuals as an effort to gain more
followers /
A)
Things
that would cause the Leaders of those Movements – to role over in their Graves
!!!!
As I was studying for
this section I began thinking about – Our last few Pastors Conference. Over the
last 3,4 yrs
A)A
topic that has been Discussed in our times of teaching has been what will keep
the Calvary Movement going when Chuck goes to be w/ the Lord ?
B)The
answer is found in 2 things that have been the Strength of Calvary Chapel since
it’s very Beginnings as a movement over 25 yrs ago
1st has been That we have always sought to teach what the
Bible says
Which I believe has resulted in very Balanced view of Scripture –
A)
We
have sought to try & make sure that we don’t try to make the Bible say what
it doesn’t nor become Rigid in our thinking or Philosophy
B)Pastor
Brian made a statement – yrs ago summed up the Philosophy very well Said I am not a Calvinist or an Arminisist – but
a Biblisist
A) I Believe what the Bible
says – The whole Truth & nothing but
the Truth
1) Good Description of the Philosophy of Calvary – BIBLISCIST
So when those in
Christendom have wanted to argue - & debate Topics Like God’s Sov. Vs.
man’s responsibility –
A)
One side those who say that
God is Sov. & He has Sov. Elected some to be saved & others to be
damned – man has no Choice
B)
Other
camp says – No man has to make a Choice & HAS to
respond to the gospel – Choose to walk w/ God
1)
Then they ask us – What do You guys say ? What is your Stance
A) Answer is what does the
Bible say - The
Bible says Both –
1)
Clear
that the Bible teaches that God is Sov./ but also many passages that indicate
Man has to respond – given a Choice to Believe
A)
The
two some how come together in the idea that
God has Sov.ly Chosen to institute a System where by man has to respond
to His call
B)
Where
by man has to reject or accept – the gift that God has made available through
what Jesus did on the Cross
1)
Yes
it is true that God Knew who was going to respond & who was going to reject
& He has Sov.ly Chosen to let that Play out
But if man has a
Choice doesn’t that diminish the Sov. Of God – No not if that is the Plan that
God Sov.ly instituted as to how a man is saved
A)
He is free to Choose any
means / or Method that He wants for man to be saved – this is the method He
Choose / By Grace through faith
B) Doesn’t that make faith a work then? – No not at all – faith is a response an action
1)
A work is something that is done to earn a wage – Faith is responding to a gift
– that has been presented – there is no work involved in that
A)
Now
we may not totally understand how this all works but it is clear that the Bible
Presents such a Balance & we just say
1)
OK I BELIEVE WHAT
THE BIBLE SAYS -
1) It is only when I isolate
one side that I have to weaken the other position in an attempt to make certain
scriptures say what they don’t
B) So we just realize that the Bible presents this Balance between both Positions as God’s Sov. Plan for Salvation & we rest in that
1)
realizing
that one day when we are w/ the Lord all the questions are going to be answered
& all the debates will be put to rest
A)
And
we don’t have to feel like we totally understand everything right now
In fact this is one
of the things that I love about being a Christian – I can’t even Begin to
figure out God – I don’t have a Clue / Love that
Isa.55: 8
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My
ways," says the LORD.
9 "For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My
thoughts than your thoughts.
Romans 11: 33
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 "For who has
known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?"
I Love that our Lord is bigger than I can
understand – Bigger than my puny brain can figure out !!!!! –
A) Doesn’t Frustrate me but only Excites me –
makes me want to dig deeper / Study more /
Get to Know Him !!
B) That Balance has been one of the Keys to
C.C. & it will be a Key to the work continuing to Grow –
C) 2nd thing is that we always stay open to the Moving & leading of the H.S.
1) That if the H.S. wants to steer us in a new direction – then that is where we want to go / not bound by tradition
A) Those two things have been keys to Calvary Chapel for the past 25 yrs & will be Keys of us Continuing on for yrs to come
1) have their Foundation right there in the Book of Acts
B) Guys we are part of a Neat – movement – Unique & Special / not Better or the Best – but Unique Different /
1) Blending of Strong Bible Exposition – and great Simplicity
How does this relate to us as individuals ?
A) Need to make sure not resting in our Past
Success
B) Not what we were doing 5 yrs / 10yrs / but where we are at today
Quickly Conclude by noting Jesus Word of Instruction to this
Church
How to bring a dead Church back to Life
A) Jesus tells them 6 things to do :
The first need of
a church that is dying or dead is to awaken to its condition.
A)
These words in Greek are staccato commands, or sharp words, like a slap in the face,
designed to stimulate, to wake up.
B)
In
the letter to the Ephesians, Paul says,
"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the
dead, and Christ will shine on
you," {Eph 5:14 NIV}.
C) Be aware that you are Capable of falling – to him who thinks he stands – take heed lest he
fall
Romans 13:11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it
is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when
we first believed. WATCH & PRAY
Second,
"Strengthen what remains."
A)
Strengthen = to
Stabilize
- Picture of guy on the operating table
– vital organs are still there – seeking get him Stable Condition
B)
That
which is still functioning – still alive – seek to stabilize it !!!
C)
This
is a ref. To their works that Jesus said were not Complete before God – why
weren’t they complete
B.) Paul in 1 Cor 3 - talks
about our works - tried by fire - gold; silver; precious stone - remains –But
the wood, hay, stubble - burned up
1.) what is
difference? Answer = motive! Things done from heart of
love for Lord please the Lord ! Gold,
silver
Third, REMEMBER HOW THEY RECEIVED & HEARD
How
= what manner –
1.) Sardis is dead because they
have forgotten how they have received how they have heard!
How did
they receive the Gospel – Simply Believed –
1.) But After some growth easy
to think we have all the answers
Col.2:6 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and
built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught,
abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Begun in the Spirit – now
Perfected in the Flesh?
They
had heard it by the Spirit. The Word came to them in the power of the Spirit.
A)
Simply
Repent & Believe
4th –
Hold fast –
Cling to what is good
5th –
Repent Turn
around – Change Direction
The 6th
thing they needed was to recover the hope of the Lord's return. "If you do not wake up," Jesus
says," I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will
come to you."
A) Coming as a Thief equated w/ the Rapture – nothing that
Wakes us up More than living like the Lord could return at any time
Divine Warning:
5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in
white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but 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."'
John 10
27 "My
sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28
"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
Jude
24 Now to
Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before
the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
1Tim.4: 1Now
the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith,
giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
Hebrews Book – 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the
heavenly
Heb.6:
4 For it is impossible for those who
were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become
partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and
have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
Can’t get any more saved than that !!!!
6
if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify
again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
Heb.10: 26 For if we sin willfully
after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a
sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain
fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the
adversaries.