The Message to the Church at Sardis

Revelation 3:1-6

“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” (Revelation 3:1-2)

Christ identifies himself here as the one empowering the pastors of the churches. As in each of the others, the message is to the pastor, and for the church. He has observed the Church, and this church’s works do not measure up to God’s standards. They are still very active, and have a reputation as a great church, but in fact the church is dead. Man focuses on the outward appearance and is deceived by the activity. I Samuel 16:7b tells us “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

Several years ago I had a small wind up bird that flapped it’s wings and hopped across the table when released. It produced an amazing appearance of life, but was totally an illusion. On the same table was an ear of corn, ready to be shelled and planted. Nothing about the bird had life, despite it’s appearance. The corn, which, at the moment was producing no activity, was full of life.

The church a Sardis was like the wind-up bird, with lots of activity but no life in it. The bird was inanimate, however and not dead, The church had once had life but was now dead. What could have happened? John 6:33 tells us that it is the spirit that makes alive. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

God’s word is spirit and life , and would make the church alive. John 15:39 tells us “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” while John 3;36 tells us “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” In John 14:6, Jesus says he is the life. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Apparently the Word of God was no longer being taught, with the result people were no longer learning the truth of Christ and living in him. A former member of our church moved away and spoke of his experience looking for a church in another city. There were lots of activities every week, and on Sunday they all went around and shook hands, but when it came to the teaching and preaching, they just read one or two verses and gave a short talk, usually about how to be saved, or occasionally the golden rule.. Since he couldn’t be saved again, a salvation message was of minimal value to him, and the other messages were, in his opinion, little more than pep talks, offering little or no nourishment for the believers.

The flesh offers nothing, and a church which has forsaken the Word of God may seem quite active for a time. They still have a doctrinal stance, but it is based on tradition, rather than scripture. This enables them to continue to act, even though there is no life., Dead bodies will frequently move for several hours after death, as the muscles begin to relax, but the activity does not signify the presence of life. Churches can go for many years in the same state.

The church could be restored to life if action was taken. Though it had stopped breathing and pumping blood, the organs were not yet dead. Infusions of the word of God could restore life. Remembering what they had heard and acting on it could resusicitate the church. Inaction would result in total loss at some unspecified point.

“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 thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Revelation 3:2-3)

Again the individual responsibility is stressed in Revelation 3:4. “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.“ The death or loss of the church will not destroy those who are serving God. They shall receive the same reward as all others who have truly received Christ. Their salvation is assured.

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5

Christ then repeats his command for the fifth time. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 3:6)