Title: Revelation 03:1-6 Awake
content stay awake
Revelation 3:1-6
As we look at the churches of Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, and Sardis, we find that the situation in the churches is getting worse and worse.
The Smyrna Church is alive and full of vitality because it is still in the midst of persecution and is engaged in spiritual warfare.
The Church of Pergamum had fought before, but now it does not want to fight anymore, so Balaam's lesson has come in and the members are increasingly compromising with the world.
However, since it is a church that has fought before, it is a church that can be restored if you come to your senses again.
However, the situation in the church of Thyatira is much more difficult.
This church, trying to believe comfortably, has fallen into deep sin by bringing in sexual indulgences through teachings drawn in by a prophetess named Jezebel.
First of all, the leaders of the church were caught in this sin.
This Thyatira church was seriously ill and had to undergo a significant operation to get it back.
But what kind of church is the Sardis church in today's text?
It is located about 50km away from Thyadira.
The so-called five roads to Rome are concentrated, making it one of the largest commercial cities in the world.
In particular, the wool and dyeing industries were outstanding, and it was a city of luxury and pleasure.
It is strange that the letter to the church in Sardis does not mention the hatred of the Jews, public persecution, and heretical teaching.
In other words, there was no danger from inside or outside, so the church in Sardis, which was gradually assimilated into the world, had no spiritual emotion, and in reality it was a "living but dead church".
That is why it is the church that has heard the most severe rebuke ever issued.
Did the actions of the church in Sardis become seriously ill and die silently, unable to move?
no.
Outwardly, religious activities were prosperous, just like the city's affluence and liveliness.
This church does not just sit and go back to listen to the worship service,
It was a very plausible church with occasional "Amen" sounds.
Also, it was not a quiet church where each went home in less than 5 minutes as soon as the service was over, but they had lunch together, and various programs and activities filled the afternoon.
When the churches in Asia Minor saw this Sardis church, they envied its vitality and richness and became a target of envy, but the Lord's evaluation was different.
The Lord doesn't look at the outward appearance, but what does he look at?
He looked at the center and said, "You have a name that says you are alive, but you are dead."
If the work of the Holy Spirit is cut off and the Holy Spirit does not come upon the church, then the church is dead.
No matter how many people are attracted to it, if the Holy Spirit does not work in it, the church is dead.
So, when the Lord says to the church in Sardis, "You are a dead church," this church is not the only church that is dead because of something special.
The church in Sardis was also alive, breathing, exercising, and active in the past.
However, at some point, they gradually lose their vitality by some things that block the true work of the Holy Spirit, and the work of the Holy Spirit is completely cut off, so they eventually lose their life.
The important thing here is that the church is really dying slowly.
So, because the members of that church do not feel that their church is dying, they do not know how to live, which is scary.
Had they only realized that they were dying, they would have gone to the pharmacy or the hospital to find a way to live.
The Lord then exhorts the community, “I know your deeds.”
In verses 2-3, "Awake, and make the rest of it dead. Your deeds have not been found perfect in the sight of my God. Therefore, remember how I received and heard you, and keep it and repent. If you do not awaken, I will I will come like a thief, and you will not know when I will come upon you at Ernie.”
"Wake up, stay awake and keep." the Lord commands.
Sade's history reminds us of the seriousness of this statement.
Originally, the fortress of Sade was built on a topographically steep cliff that could not be captured by an external attack.
Alexander the Great wanted to get Sade, but there was no way to capture the castle.
“Whoever captures Sade, I will give a special reward,” he said.
So many soldiers zealously looked around the castle to find a way to capture it.
One day, the watchman who guards the castle accidentally dropped his helmet while sleeping.
When I saw that there was no road, I came out to the crossroads and picked it up, so I kept a good eye on the road.
Then he rearranged the army and made a surprise attack on the road where the helmet fell at night, opened the gate of the fortress, and a large army entered and the castle of Sade fell.
Built on an almost cliff-like rock wall, the citadel seemed impenetrable, but it fell through a absurd mistake.
Just like the history of Sardis, where it was too safe, it warns the Church of Sardis that it is under judgment, "Wake up and make the things that are left to die."
The fading flame must be quickly dealt with by holding fast to what remains before it is extinguished.
If you don't pour oil or make the wick, it will go out.
Dear saints,
What makes the church die? Doesn't blocking the work of the Holy Spirit kill the church?
Then, what is stopping the work of the Holy Spirit?
What is “that” that drives out the true work of the Holy Spirit in the church?
You have to find it and drive it away.
One of them is the wrong system.
The church needs institutions.
However, this system should be a means to help the true function of the church, but it should not be an end in itself.
The function of the church is to proclaim God's Word and participate in God's work of salvation, but we are excluding this and moving toward the goal.
For example, we set goals for church building, create institutions, and create systems. However, later on, the church loses everything because the purpose of church building is to build it.
When the church loses its true life, there is only one "power of the gospel" that can bring it back to life.
In order for the church to become a church, it must regain "the power of the gospel."
Restoring the power of the gospel is to regain “the joy of gathering and worshiping together.”
God hates to live life as it is.
The Lord always requires total dedication.
It is a betrayal of half-devotion.
99% loyalty is not allegiance, it is rebellion.
This is not to criticize the church in Sardis for not having anything.
Outwardly, it has everything you need.
There were worship services, hymns, prayers, and yearbooks.
After the worship service, I did my own service and dedication, trying not to be tempted by Satan.
He tried to overcome difficulties, but the crux of the matter was that he did not have a “perfect heart.”
The Lord requires of us a whole heart.
He asks us to serve with all our heart, mind, and heart, and points out that it is a sin if we fail to reach it.
Dear brothers and sisters, the worship service should be the most glorious of the 168 hours a week.
If this is not the case, the Lord tells us to repent like the Church of Sardis.
Those who have accepted the gospel are given the mission to keep the gospel they keep in themselves to the end.
It is our mission to spread it and keep it.
Even those who do not keep this mission, the Lord tells them to repent.
Opportunities are lost to those who do not repent.
It is still a good time to be exhorted to “repent.”
Do you hear a stab in the heart?
This is your chance to repent. Thank you.
“You will not know at what hour I will come to you.”
Please remember that the Lord takes away the Word and the Holy Spirit from churches and individuals who do not know repentance and obedience.
However, even in such a desperate situation, there were those who kept the right faith.
“But you have some men in Sardis who have not defiled their garments, and you will walk with me in white robes, for they are worthy” (verse 4).
Who hasn't soiled his clothes?
Perhaps it is the one who remembered the gospel for the first time and kept that faith.
They are the ones who have kept their faith without kneeling to them, even though the church has changed and false idols have taken the place of Christ.
True Christians are those who have not defiled their garments in this way,
Only those whose sins are forgiven through the merits of Christ,
They are those who have not fallen for the deceitfulness of false men.
To these people, the Lord said that He would walk with me in white robes.
saints,
He who does not soil his clothes is the victor.
The Lord has promised to those who overcome.
First, he says that he will give them white robes.
Here, the white garment is not just a garment for justification and sanctification, but to glorify those who keep the gospel of Christ and do not forsake the purity of their faith.
The locals excel in wool and dyeing, so people probably walked around in reddish clothes.
Wearing such fancy clothes makes you the object of envy and respect from many people,
It shows that the future of the saints is different.
He said that he would give us white clothes, a symbol of purity, in pure white without any blemishes.
Second, He said that their names would not be obscured from the book of life.
what do you mean?
It was written down on a piece of oiled paper.
It doesn't matter if the oil gets wet, and if it gets dirty, it's okay to wipe it off.
It means that the Lord will remember them one by one and will hold them so that they will never become corrupted or corrupted in the middle.
It means that the Lord will protect us even if all kinds of lies and unclean human righteousness take the place of Christ and block the light of the true gospel.
There are many people who lose the light of the gospel due to the pressure of the system and wrong habits.
They are like lamps before the wind, but the Lord promises to keep their names from the book of life without fading away.
Please hold on to this promise and be bold.
Finally, he promised that he would not be ashamed to admit that these are his true saints before Heavenly Father and before the angels.
Because they were not ashamed of the Lord in the world.
They were not ashamed of the salvation the Lord had given them, believed in the Lord's power, and remained faithful to the end.
So the Lord promised not to be ashamed of them before Heavenly Father and the angels.
Dear saints, let's not be ashamed of the Lord and his gospel.
Let us not underestimate the salvation of the Lord.
The Lord has promised that we will not be ashamed of our names, but proud of us before God and before the angels.
Entrust your today and tomorrow to the Lord.
If you have him, you will live in the light when you live in the world, and when you leave the world, you will shine brighter than the sunlight.
On that day, when my name is called, I will rule like the sun in that kingdom.
You will receive this calling: "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, you will inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
May all of you be recognized as citizens of that country.