The Sardis Church - 3:1-6
The Lord presents Himself as the authorative one. (:1)
He is seen also as the upholder of the churches.
Notice that the bad points come first.
Bad Points:
a) They had a reputation to uphold.
What work they did was for their own glory.
Appeared to be alive, but were dead.
b) They failed to be watchful. (:2)
c) They lacked spiritual strength to stand for the truth.
This means that they had compromised the faith.
d) They were half-hearted towards the work of God.
They had religious duty and spiritual pride.
The Remedy: (:3)
a) Remember. [They had let so much slip away].
b) Holdfast / Stand firm on whatever Biblical ground they had.
c) Repent for past sins, failure, half-heartedness, false doctrines.
d) Watch. Take a good look at themselves.
Look at what was happening to them and around them.
Judgement would come suddenly.
Good Point: (:4)
They had a few worthy believers among them.
These saints did not compromise with false doctrine.
Only the undefiled reach Heaven.
Rewards: (:5)
a) Overcomers would be blessed with God's presence.
They must either stand for Christ or continue to sin - their choice.
b) Their names would not be blotted out.
c) Their names would be announced in Heaven.
(:6) This message is for all churches in all ages.
The Philadelphia Church - 3:7-13
The Lord Jesus Christ describes Himself as (:7):-
a) Holy.
He is perfect, sinless, Lord and God.
b) True.
This speaks of His faithfulness and
that He is the TRUTH!.
c) King of David.
He is the Messiah.
He is the supreme authority.
He will rule over Israel during His
Millennial reign.
He will reign in Jerusalem - the City
of David.
d) He is the final authority.
He alone has the power to open or
shut.
He opens and closes the door of
opportunity for the church.
Good Points (:8):-
a) They laboured for the Lord (Missionary Church).
b) They had but little strength but they used it.
Not a mega-church by any means.
c) They were faithful to God's word.
d) He refused to deny or compromise Christ.
No bad points mentioned.
Rewards (:9-12):-
a) False teachers would submit to them.
God's anointing is upon them.
b) The would be protected from the days of wrath.
c) No lose of crown IF they remained faithful.
d) Become pillars of faith in the spiritual temple.
e) They would be eternally kept.
f) They would receive a new, heavenly name.
Citizens of Heaven and the Name of
Jesus on them.
This message is for all churches (:13).
A message of encouragement to all Philadelphians today.
The Laodicea Church - 3:14-22
The Lord describes Himself as the Truth (Amen).
Faithful and True Witness = Absolute Truth.
No mixture of truth with error is Biblical Christianity.
His resurrection proves that He is the Truth.
Bad Points:
a) Half-hearted works.
Not particularly interested in
spiritual matters.
Shallowness affected their Christian
lives.
They were religious only.
b) They sat on the fence concerning spiritual and moral
issues.
They were the "do-gooders"
of their day.
We would call them liberals and
modernists.
c) They had enough Christianity to appear respectable and
good.
Not enough to excite them to
faithfully serve God.
d) God was sick and tired of their liberal attitude and
theology.
They watered-down the truth to win
friends and influence people.
But they had made God their enemy.
e) They though their prosperity was God's blessing.
f) Positive thinking and confession did them no good.
They had made a god of self.
g) They were spiritually destitute. No home in Heaven.
h) They were in a miserable state before God.
They thought they had joy.
i) They were spiritually poor.
They did not have the riches of
Christ.
j) They were spiritually blind.
There are none so blind as those who
will not see.
k) They were spiritually naked.
Did not have the righteousness of
Christ.
Case of "The Emperor's New
Clothes".
Remedy:
a) Listen. Hear the whole counsel of God.
This was their wake-up call before it
was too late.
Repentance and Revival calls for
hearing and doing God's word.
b) Buy pure gold rather than earthly riches.
c) Be clothed in true righteousness.
d) See. The Lord opens our eyes to see ourselves.
We may not like what we see!
Rewards:
a) Jesus loves even this church.
He rebukes and chasten all those He
loves.
Love is unconditional on His part,
but we must receive it.
True repentance creates zeal in our
hearts.
b) Offer of renewed fellowship with Jesus.
Can you hear Him knocking?
Some are no bothered that they no
longer fellowship with Jesus.
Some are not bothered that they no
longer hear His voice.
The door is firmly bolted on the
inside.
Allow Him into every area of your
life.
c) Those who overcome lukewarmness will reign with Christ.
A message for all Christians in all churches in every generation.