Revelation 3:1-6-Sardis- Church Of The Living Dead - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Revelation 3:1-6-Sardis- Church Of The Living Dead

3 

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 you live, and art dead.

2 

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

3 

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.

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.

5 

He that overcomes, 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.

6 

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.Slide2

Revelation 3:1-6- Ukrainian Translation

Ukrainian

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i

)

1

А до Ангола Церкви в Сардах напиши: Оце каже Той, Хто має сім Божих духів і сім зір: Я знаю діла твої, що маєш ім'я, ніби живий, а ти мертвий. 

2

 Будь чуйний та решту зміцняй, що мають померти. Бо Я не знайшов твоїх діл закінченими перед Богом Моїм. 

3

 Отож, пам'ятай, як ти взяв і почув, і бережи, і покайся. А коли ти не чуйний, то на тебе прийду, немов злодій, і ти знати не будеш, якої години на тебе прийду. 

4

 Та ти маєш і в Сардах кілька імен, що одежі своєї вони не споганили, і в білій зо Мною ходитимуть, бо гідні вони. 

5

 Переможець зодягнеться в білу одежу, а ймення його Я не змию із книги життя, і ймення його визнаю перед Отцем Своїм і перед Його Анголами. 

6

 Хто має вухо, хай чує, що Дух промовляє Церквам! Slide3

Ruins Of Ancient SardisSlide4

Sardis GymnasiumSlide5

Ruins Of Temple Of Artemis- SardisSlide6

Ruins Of Roman Altar And Temple-Sardis Slide7

Ruins Of Synagogue- SardisSlide8

Ark For Torah In Synagogue- SardisSlide9

Synagogue Ruins- Sardis, TurkeySlide10

Restored Wall Of Jewish Synagogue In SardisSlide11

Synagogue And Mosaic Tile From Roman TimesSlide12

The Church At Sardis (

Sart

, Turkey)

The City of Sardis

About 30 miles south‐southeast of Thyatira

Located at the foot of Mount

Timolus

and near the

Hermus

river

Was among the oldest and most renowned cities of Asia Minor

At the intersection of five important roads; one the most important trading centers

The first coins were minted here; considered the birthplace of modern money

Notorious for its pleasures and luxury‐loving spiritSlide13

City Of Sardis

Built on a smooth, almost perpendicular rock hill that provided a natural citadel

1500 feet above the surrounding plain

Once the capital city of the Lydian Empire (King Croesus)

Wealth and security caused the kings and people to grow soft and weak

Cyrus, king of the Persians, took the city in 549 B.C. Soldier found a crevice; able to lead a small band to the summit and surprise the unprepared city

Again in 218 B.C., Antiochus, the Great took the city in similar fashion Destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 17; rebuilt with help from the Emperor Tiberius

A city with a past but no futureSlide14

Lessons For Us From Sardis

Reputation is what others say about you. Character is what you truly are. Let us build a character that is worthy of a reputation, and not focus merely on appearances.

I am a part of the whole. If we all have the attitude of “doing my part and being what I should be,” we will naturally be a strong and vibrant church of God’s people.

1

Corinthins

12:12-27

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

For the body is not one member, but many.

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body?

But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Even though saints work together as a local church, they will ultimately be judged individually.

(2 Cor. 5:10-  

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.Slide15

SARDIS- ALIVE OR DEAD?- Church Of Living Dead

Really nothing commendable to say about this church as a whole

Have a reputation of being something but are in fact dead in His view

Time for them to strengthen things once again or He will come upon them as a thief

Only saving grace is that there a few faithful yet remaining in the church

If they can overcome, they will not have their name blotted from the Book of Life

What happened to them?Slide16

Sardis Examined

V. 1 The One with the Seven Spirits and seven stars in His hand

Has the Spirit ready to act as He directs

Seven stars ‐ the spirit or inner life of the church; He is able to revive the spirit of this dead church if it be willing

Why does He condemn Sardis?

Have a “name” of being alive

A reputation among other churches that they are a true church of the Lord’s; that they are a sound church

But in fact, the Lord sees them as they really are – dead

The life has gone out of this churchSlide17

Observation

“Their name disguised their true spiritual condition.

If one becomes lethargic about teaching the gospel, his neighbors will not be offended.

And if he blends with the secular world so that his life is not distinguished as different from others, he will not suffer the wrath of persecution.

However, this kind of peace is not what the gospel brings (Matt. 10:34‐36). ‘Reputation’ is what others say about you, but ‘character’ is what one really is.” (Robert

Harkrider

)Slide18

Sardis- If Going To Rise From Problem Then

V. 2 y His admonition to the church:

“Be watchful”

Likely had the city’s history in mind when He said this

City had become complacent; was surprised because they were not watchful when they should have been

Church seems to be falling prey to complacency as well

A glimmer of hope for the church, however

There are some things which remain that can be strengthened, but even those are ready to dieSlide19

Learn To Watch- City Fell Three Times Due To Complacency- Church In Danger Of Same Thing.

V. 3 Must remember what they once were and how they received the gospel in the beginning

Five admonitions are provided:

be watchful

,

strengthen the things that remain

,

remember

,

hold fast

, and

repent

In what manner would He come if they failed to watch?

The Lord will come upon them as a thief

An allusion to the city’s defeat more than once; they should recognize and pay attention

Unexpectedly. When they are least prepared.

Their candlestick is in danger of being removedSlide20

Anything Good And Hopeful?

V. 4 – For what does He commend Sardis?

A few Christians who remain faithful and righteous

Even though the church as a whole is dead, these are still alive spiritually

Have remained true and not given in to the evils and decadence

Will have their reward with the Lord in Heaven

Note: even though saints work together as a local church, they will ultimately be judged individually

These Christians were striving to do what is right even in a church that was no longer what it should be spiritually

Doing what they could where they were

An important lesson for us today: We should strive to work through our troubles when they come and do so in loveSlide21

Can A Dying Church Revive?

V. 5 ‐ The promise of overcoming

Will not be removed from the Book of Life

The idea of a Divine register, as

Harkrider

calls it, is found throughout the Bible

As far back as Moses ‐ Ex. 32:32‐33

Other places: Ps. 69:28; Dan. 12:1; Lk. 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Heb. 12:22‐23; Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27

The Lord will confess his name before the Father and His angels

A picture of the final judgment scene

Reassuring to any who are remaining righteous and those that can still be revived Even though they are in the midst of many who are not what they should be, they can be found faithful and see God in Heaven in peace one daySlide22

We Are Not One Person- We Are Many- But One Body

I am a part of the whole congregation.

If we all have the attitude of “doing my part and being what I should be,” we will naturally be a strong and vibrant church of God’s people. Each considering others better than self (Phil. 2:2-7-make my joy complete 

by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

do not 

merely

 look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 

Have this attitude 

in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 

who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be 

grasped,

but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, 

and

 being made in the likeness of men.

Reputation is what others say about you. Character is what you truly are.

Let us build a character that is worthy of a reputation, and not focus merely on appearances.

Even though saints work together as a local church, they will ultimately be judged individually.Slide23

Revelation 2:10

“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10Slide24

Sardis, And Example Of How to Kill A Congregation

Unlived Truth

(3:1-2)

Unconcerned Membership

(3:2-3)

Unconfessed Sins

(3:3)

Uncommitted Majority

(3:4)

Unholy Unions

(3:4) Worldly Lifestyles (Trying to have it both ways)