“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. 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.’  Revelation 3:1-6

A. The Head of the Church in Sardis

1. The Authority to give life-giving power to His church

Rev. 3:1; Rev. 1:4; John 14:15-17, 15:26-27; Rev. 1:16, 20; Rev. 2:1

2. The Authority who is omniscient and omnipresent

Rev. 3:1; Rev. 1:13; Rev. 2:1; Psalm 139:1-10

B. His condemnations to the church at Sardis

1. Spiritually dead

Rev. 3:1; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Thess. 1:2-10

2. Spiritually deceived

Rev. 3:2; John 15:4-5

C. His warnings to the church at Sardis

1. Be doers of the Word from the heart

Rev. 3:3; Hebrews 2:1-2; James 1:22-25

2. Neglect leads to being unprepared for Jesus’ coming

Rev. 3:3; 1 John 2:28-29

D. His promises to the church at Sardis

1. Holy fellowship for all eternity

Rev. 3:4; Rev. 7:12-14; Isaiah 1:18

2. Eternal security

Rev. 3:5-6; Luke 10:17-20

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE DYING CHURCH

1. Guard against formal external only Christianity.

2. Be doers of the Word to avoid self-deception.

3. Live now like we will then – righteously.

4. Rejoice that our names are in the book of life.