Particulars about Sardis:

• Capitol of Lydia

• Period ranging from 1517 A.D. - 1800 A.D.

• 30 miles south of Thyatira.

• Considered to be one of the oldest most prominent cities of Asia Minor. In fact it has been touted by some that she boasts of having evidence of the first men of the area to have lived in the exact place of the city of Sardis in 50,000 BC.

• Sardis was said to have a natural fortification sitting high up on an Acropolis, with High walls all the way around and only one entrance to the south of the City.

• She was said to be the Center for Carpet Industry - which would be HUGE being that this is in a largely Persian and Turkish area.

• The very first Coins were first minted in Sardis.

• Ruled by Persians; by Alexander the Great and The Romans;

• Destroyed by and Earthquake during the reign of Tiberius

• Artemis (Diana), was the main goddess of the city and the Temple built and dedicated to her was one of the 7 largest of the Greek temples anywhere. (more than double the size of the Parthenon). This Temple was shared by Apollo, considered to be "twin" brother of Artemis (Diana), and son and daughter of Zeus. She was the goddess of the hunt, the moon and fertility, and Apollo was the god of the sun and health.

The name Sardis means "remnant". This is the state to which the "Church of Christ" had fallen. I say the Church of Christ because the Church in Sardis was considered to be the first "Protestant" church. It was the Church of Reformation, if you will. The Church in Sardis was probably more like our churches today than any other, in that we still have an "old-guard" as they are called, who hold that the  "belief in the Lord Jesus Christ" is paramount to anything else going on within the church body. However, the new breed of believer sees a strong faith and "church growth" as new buildings, and larger congregations with no substance. The Church board votes on a Pastor who is well-credentialed and has a track-record of being a renowned orator, yet the altars are still barren, and the masses run to what "looks" successful - a beautiful  building, lots of people, and a well-known Preacher. While they are younger and supposedly mire sophisticated than the "old guard", they have been lulled to sleep by the Life-styles of the rich and famous (so to speak), where no one is challenged, no one is saved, and the congregation slips deeper into the pocket of being "saved and satisfied", an merely an anesthetic to a lost and dying world.

It was to this that Jesus says,

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." Rev 3:1 (KJV)

"...he that hath the seven Spirits of God",

We discovered back a couple of weeks ago that the seven Spirits of God referred to the Holy Spirit. (If you are new to this Bible Study, you can go back and read that by clicking here or here).

He goes on to say,  

"...I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."

What a badge of horror for the church of today. "...thou that hast a name that thou livest, and art dead".  Oh Father God, forgive us for our lethargy! Forgive us for our complacency and our status quo worship! Forgive us Lord for not hearing from You nor taking the time to hear from Your Precious Holy Spirit! WE ARE DEAD OH LORD! WE ARE MISERABLE AND WRETCHED AND BLIND in our evangelism and our work for you. Oh Father, Forgive us and revive our hearts today in Jesus' Name.

We find here a combined word of condemnation and commendation.

Jesus says to those that are members of this kind of church,

"I have not found thy works perfect before God."

Many of this sort of Christian loses touch with the spirit completely as they have fastened their ears and belief system to what they hear from their preachers only, and anyone else is considered "not of God". 

In many churches, even the "old guard" have given up. You can't fight "city hall" is the attitude many have. Now, we know that City Hall has nothing to do with this, but you get the idea. It seems like an insurmountable task to fight against what every one else is calling progress. It seems like when the statistics go up in the church - no harm no foul. But the problem is the commitment of those that are there. Church is not meant to be a social club; it is meant to be a hospital for the lost and dying.

Jesus goes on to say,

"Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die..."

Oh how we should take these words to heart today.

WAKE UP! STRENGTHEN THE THINGS THAT REMAIN!

Sardis was a " 'has been'  'once was' " Church. In fact, this was as close to the church of Laodicea you can get, with one difference: Sardis had a remnant that was still trusting in the Lord. The charred embers of her spirit was still flickering, and she had a desire for REVIVAL, but had given way to the "new age" group that had compromised the church. They NEEDED REVIVAL, but they didn't believe it was possible anymore. In other words they had given up and fallen asleep.

Now - it's interesting that this same city was overtaken on two occasions for that very reason. Remember when I said that the city was way up high on top of a hill, and that the only entrance was through the south side of the city?

Twice, once in 549 B.C. and again in 218 B.C. Sardis was compromised and overrun because the guard - watching the gate, knew they were so high in the hill, the chances of being attacked was so small, the guard became complacent and fell asleep. It was during that time that Sardis was overrun be enemies. There was no battle - she was just overrun.

Is it any wonder that Jesus would say,

"Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die" (vs 2)

Jesus makes it very clear to the Church at Sardis as well as us today

"Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." Revelation 3:3 (KJV)

Friend, it's time to start stirring up the gift that is you; that spirit of evangelism. If you allow business as usual in your church, you may find yourself lulled into a spirit of apathy, and end up losing your own soul. Even worse, your apathy and lackadaisical faith, may cost the eternity of others.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.