Kingdom 103: Sardis, Its Believers' Characteristics
The Dead Church
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’ The wealthy city of Sardis was actually in two locations. The older section of the city was on a mountain, and when its population outgrew the spot, a newer section was built in the valley below. The seven spirits of God is another name for the Holy Spirit. Now, the seven stars are the messengers or leaders of those churches. ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands The problem in the Sardis church wasn't heresy, but spiritual death. In spite of its reputation for being active in the community, Sardis was infested with those who were disobedient to the Word of God. In other words, full of sin. It was just like many religious institutions in today's society. They make a lot of loud music and call it praise and worship. They may entertain and draw crowds, but where are those who visit the sick? Where are those who give to the poor? Are they meeting needs beyond our unquenchable thirst to be entertained? Sardis' works were evil and their clothes soiled. The Spirit has no words of commendation for the so-called believers that look good on the outside but were so corrupt and dead on the inside.
Far too many leaders spend too much money on dressing their physical structure (brick and mortar buildings). The churches at Sardis was urged to obey the Kingdom message they had heard when they first believed in the Lord Jesus and to get back to the basics of the faith in obeying Jesus and embracing His message. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
The priority should be But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
It is strange that most countries and nations are following the western culture, in terms of embracing their religious values instead of embracing God's Constitution and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and teach them. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
It is very important to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. This is why I consistently urge you to study God's Constitution (Bible) every day. It deepens our knowledge when we carefully and consistently study. It transforms our way of thinking to His way of thinking. It gives us the mind of Christ. No matter how much we learn in this world, we must never abandon the truth of God's Word. Remember, Christ promised future honor and eternal life to those who stand on His Word and believe in Him. He also stated that the names of those Kingdom citizens are registered in the Book of Life, but there is a condition: you must persevere and overcome. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Note that Jesus is making this statement. He says that He will not blot your name from the Book of Life. In essence, He has the power and authority to block your name from the Book of Life.
All such citizens of the Kingdom are guaranteed a place in the Book of Life and are introduced to the hosts of heaven as belonging to Christ. “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God."
Revelation 3:1-6; 2:1 Matthew 4:23; 6:33-34 John 14:15-18 Luke 12:8-9
~~W.R. Luchie
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’ The wealthy city of Sardis was actually in two locations. The older section of the city was on a mountain, and when its population outgrew the spot, a newer section was built in the valley below. The seven spirits of God is another name for the Holy Spirit. Now, the seven stars are the messengers or leaders of those churches. ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands The problem in the Sardis church wasn't heresy, but spiritual death. In spite of its reputation for being active in the community, Sardis was infested with those who were disobedient to the Word of God. In other words, full of sin. It was just like many religious institutions in today's society. They make a lot of loud music and call it praise and worship. They may entertain and draw crowds, but where are those who visit the sick? Where are those who give to the poor? Are they meeting needs beyond our unquenchable thirst to be entertained? Sardis' works were evil and their clothes soiled. The Spirit has no words of commendation for the so-called believers that look good on the outside but were so corrupt and dead on the inside.
Far too many leaders spend too much money on dressing their physical structure (brick and mortar buildings). The churches at Sardis was urged to obey the Kingdom message they had heard when they first believed in the Lord Jesus and to get back to the basics of the faith in obeying Jesus and embracing His message. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
The priority should be But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
It is strange that most countries and nations are following the western culture, in terms of embracing their religious values instead of embracing God's Constitution and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and teach them. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
It is very important to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. This is why I consistently urge you to study God's Constitution (Bible) every day. It deepens our knowledge when we carefully and consistently study. It transforms our way of thinking to His way of thinking. It gives us the mind of Christ. No matter how much we learn in this world, we must never abandon the truth of God's Word. Remember, Christ promised future honor and eternal life to those who stand on His Word and believe in Him. He also stated that the names of those Kingdom citizens are registered in the Book of Life, but there is a condition: you must persevere and overcome. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Note that Jesus is making this statement. He says that He will not blot your name from the Book of Life. In essence, He has the power and authority to block your name from the Book of Life.
All such citizens of the Kingdom are guaranteed a place in the Book of Life and are introduced to the hosts of heaven as belonging to Christ. “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God."
Revelation 3:1-6; 2:1 Matthew 4:23; 6:33-34 John 14:15-18 Luke 12:8-9
~~W.R. Luchie
