Revelation 3:1–6 (NIV) 3 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 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. 5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 3:3 (NIV) 3 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: “These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.”
Revelation 3:3 (NIV) “I know you appear alive: its your reputation.
A reputation without reality.
Matthew 23:27–28 (NIV) 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
A reputation without reality. 1. Dull 2. Numb 3. Distant 4. Bored “Spiritual boredom gives birth to dead religion.”
5 Exhortations Revelation 3:2–3 (NIV) “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” 1. Wake up Be Watchful, sober-minded, & alert.
2. Strengthen what remains
3. Remember: What you have received and heard.
Gratitude is the guardian of peace.
4. Repent
5. Obey
Revelation 3:3 (NIV) If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”
Watching stops the thief.
Reward: Revelation 3:4(NIV) 4 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.
1. Robes of righteousness.
By the blood of the lamb Rev 7:14
Galatians 3:26–27 (NIV) 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
2. Another garment for another event. Revelation 19:8 (NIV) Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 2 Judgments: 1. White throne judgement: Eternal destination. (Dan. 12:1-3; John 5:22-29;Rev. 20:11-15) 2. Judgement seat of Christ(Bema): Eternal rewards (Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11-15;4:1-5; 2 Cor. 5:10)
Revelation 3:5(NIV) He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life. But will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
Ministry: Romans 8:11 (TPT) God raised Jesus to life! And since God’s Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, he will also raise your dying body to life by the same Spirit that breathes life into you!
___________________________ Revelation 16:15 (NIV) “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Revelation 22:12–14 (NIV84) 12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
