SARDIS: ONE LAST CHANCE

#230b                                      SARDIS: ONE LAST CHANCE                                                         

Scripture  Revelation 3:1-6, NIV                                                                                 Orig. 2/13/1965

                                                                                                                                 Rewr. 3/15/1989

Passage: “To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Purpose:           Teaching Revelation to adults in Church Training

Keywords:        Church            Faithfulness                 Judgment                    Repentance

Timeline/Series:           Revelation Letters Sardis

Introduction

            Most of us do not take last chance messages very seriously.  They refer to opportunities to buy gasoline before the price goes up.  On a trip we are forewarned about the last “comfort” stop for 31 miles.  Or, it is a message with which we cajole our children to do what we want them to do.

            Reports from air disasters often contain such language.  The Flight Florida crash in the tidal basin in Washington was one.  The report indicated a point as the plane lumbered down the runway at which it had one final opportunity to abort the flight.  A last chance for 75 people to live.

            Sardis is given such a chance.

I.          The Need for Watchfulness.  V2 KJV “Be watchful!”  NIV “Wake up!”

            It was for spiritual “watchfulness”—schooling/nutrition/medical/work; what about unto the Lord?

            Scripture compels

·         Lamentations 3:40 “Let us search/try our ways.”

·         Romans 13:11 “It is high time to wake”

·         Philippians 3:8 “Whatsoever things are . . . think on these things.”

·         Better starting than finishing

·         Faith under stress was no fun.  Enshrined organization/cemeteries

·         Sardis history: 546 BC Cyrus siege, no guard on watchtower, Again following Alexander the Great.

            Watchful morally.

·         Cybele worship: deified sensuality.

·         Church: what is its interest?

·         Church in Gary, IN.

            The danger of judgment. “As a thief.”

·         Judgment based on knowledge “seven spirits of God” v1

·         Second coming

·         Matthew 24:42 “ye know not at what hour.”

·         I Thessalonians 5:2 “day of the Lord cometh.”

II.         They Were to Be Careful About Their Works. V2 “Establish the things that remain, which are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.” 

            What is our standard for measurement?  Additions, money, program?  Opportunities to help other people?

            Their imperfect works were to be reviewed. 

·         Remember and repent.

·         “Perfected” means they were failing to reach their potential.

·         Priorities were “good” but unessential things.

            The church of today: untroubled by heresy, undisturbed by persecution, unthreatened by personal losses.

            The unchanged advice.  Repent, v3.  Renew, v2.  Remain, v5.

III.       Watchfulness and Works Result in a Worthy Walk.  V4 “Thou hast a few . . . they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy.”

            Clothed in white raiment—color of the apparel of heaven

·         4:4 elders wearing white

·         6:11 martyrs

·         7:4 redeemed multitudes before the lamb

·         Luke 9:29 “his raiment  was white and glistening.”

            Leading industry was colorful cloths

            Their names were to remain etched in book of life.

·         Names there without substance to be removed.

·         All trusting Christ have redeeming faith, some make more use of that faith than others.

·         Difference between intellectual/saving faith. 

·         The believer is secure forever.  Romans could have names removed from municipal rolls, left with no sense of community.  Young Mennonite in Transylvania.

Conclusion

            Bunyan’s story of one trying to extinguish the flame, but it continued to burn.  Then he saw One, almost hidden, pouring oil on the flame.  Likened to church: satan tries to put it out; God keeps it burning.