Sermon Notes 4/9 – Revelation Chapter 3 – The Church at Sardis

REVELATION CHAPTER 3
THE CHURCH AT SARDIS

Revelation 3:1-6

REVELATION CHAPTERS 2-3 – refer to the 7 church ages or history of the church

Ephesus – Apostolic Church Age – Means To Relax
Smyrna – Persecuted Church Age – Means Myrrh – bitter
Pergamum – Imperial Church Age – Means Married
Thyatira – Dark of Middle Ages – Means Daughter
Sardis – The Reformation – Means Escaping Ones
Philadelphia – The Great Awakening – Means Brotherly Love
Laodicea – Present Church Age – Means Ruled by the People

Sardis – means escaping ones (from the church system)

Revelation 3:1 – angel – means messenger and is the pastor of the church
– Church – means called out ones with a specific purpose

-7 Spirits of God represent the fullness of the Holy Spirit
-7 stars are the pastors of the church

know – to personally observe

ALIVE – means to be active & full of vigor
***Sardis was at one time alive
***Sardis had a name and reputation of being an on-fire church

DEAD – the church at Sardis was now dead

4 Stages That Can Occur In All Churches
***A MAN
***A MOVEMENT
***A MACHINE
***A MONUMENT

Some Warning Signs that the church is losing its Influence

1. It lives on memories – The “USED TOO’S”
2. It no longer reaches unsaved people
3. The Movement of the Holy Spirit decreases
4. Joy is Lost
5. The Bible is treated as one book & resource out of many books & resources
6. It forgets its vision

Verse 2 – this is a command
Be Watchful – means to wake up – Become awake – shake yourself

Strengthen the things that remain – means to add some strength to the church

Imperfect works – have not been all in

Verse 3 – Remember what you used to be like – resurrect those memories

Hold Fast – stand guard over what the Lord has given you

Repent – repent from being asleep

If you will not hear me – v3 – I am going to come
-Again, we see the Lord gives everyone many chances to repent
-It will be like a thief trying to rob your home. You won’t know when it will happen

Verse 4 – the on-fire church is now talked to

Walk – this is forming a partnership with Jesus

Verse 5 – overcomes – refers to being saved and knowing your position in Christ
White – is a brilliant shining white – this is how the Lord views us

Book of Life – this speaks of being assured that we are saved despite ourselves…