It Was a Wealthy City 5 Major Roads Intersected with It Trade and Textiles

UNLOCKING THE LAST DAYS
Jeff Lasseigne / HANDOUT
Session 5 Revelation 2-3: What Christ Thinks of the Church #3b /
TOPIC / INFORMATION
SARDIS
3: 1-6 / CONDITION / COLD
SPEAKER / …who holds the seven spiritsof God and the seven stars…
COMMENDATION / None.
COMPLAINT / …I know your deeds;you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead…
COMMAND / …Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.3Remember, 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 timeI will come to you….
COMFORT
If they persevere in their faith / 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.5The one who is victoriouswill, 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 Fatherand his angels.
“One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” Acts 16:14
What is the BACKGROUND to the SARDISChurch?

Whilst Jesus does not commend them, he doesn’t rebuke them for false doctrine, immorality suffering persecution, etc,
Comfortable, content, coasting Christians, with a good reputation and nobody bothering them. Activity that look like life, but the light had gone out,
It was a wealthy city – 5 major roads intersected with it trade and textiles,
Built on a high plateau (Acropolis – 1500 ft above the main road),
Invincibility yet conqueredtwice in 300 years. Spiritually comfortable but conquered.

“Satan is never too busy to rock the cradle of a sleeping Saint.” Anon.
Why does Jesus show himself as the“…who holds the seven spiritsof God and the seven stars…”?

Describes the fullness of the Holy Spirit,
A Church that is cold, floundering and failing and in need of revival,
This relates to us to, if we feel this – Pray to be filled again with the Holy Spirit.

“” If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”” Luke 11:13
“Do not get drunk on wine,which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,” Ephesians 5:18
What was the PROBLEM at Sardis?

They had the reputation without the reality.

What might the similarities of SARDIS and SAMSON be?

Samson was dedicated by his parents with a Nazarite Vow (Not touching anything dead, not cutting your hair, not drinking, God gave him supernatural strength. Delia found the secret of his strength and told his enemies,
Sardis thought that they were strong but did not know that the Lord had departed.

“He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that theLordhad left him.”Judges 16:20
What did Jesus COMMAND Them?

Wake up and strengthen what little remains – There was still a pulse.

What is a REVIVAL?

When folk gather to preach the Gospel (Good News) That is evangelism & salvation.
Revival pertains to the family of God:
A significant and specific work and outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
Repentance, Humility, Prayer - get to what you are supposed to be doing,
Recommitment and rededication.

What does Jesus say He will do if they don’t?

He will come and conquer them at a time they won’t expect.

What does Jesus mean about, not blotting their name from the Book of Life? Can a genuine believer in Christ lose their Salvation?

The Book of Life?
Record of those who have lived: Is SAVED stay in, If UNSAVED taken out?
Record of those who are living and when they die, they come out?
2 Different books:
The Book of the LIVING – Physical,
The Book of LIFE – Spiritual (The Lambs book of Life).
No ( Luke 10:20).

“SoMoses went back to theLordand said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed!They have made themselves gods of gold.32But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot meout of the bookyou have written.”Exodus 33:31-32 NIV
“Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation.28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.” Psalm 69:27-28 NIV
“Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3 NIV
“All inhabitants of the earthwill worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life,the Lambwho was slain from the creation of the world.”13:8 NIV
And I saw the dead, great and small,standing before the throne, and books were opened.Another book was opened, which is the book of life.The dead were judgedaccording to what they had doneas recorded in the books. 20:12 NIV
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. 20:15
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” 21:27 NIV
Is everyone who calls themselves Christian actually Christian?

No (See Parable of the Sower, Wheat and Chaff).

““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”Matthew 7:21-23
For the faithful, we have been promised never to be blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life, Nothing can separate us from the Love of God that is is in Christ Jesus(Romans 8:39).

*the information provided is in a précised format for this study, always read the whole text for the complete reading.