The Church of The Living Dead

Rev 3:1-6

(Adapted from outline by Dave Redick)

Intro

"He who has an ear, let him hear." This is apparently important so let's listen to what Jesus says to Sardis. First, some background.

A. Sardis (in present day Turkey) was once a great city of wealth and power approx 600 B.C.

1. Situated on a plateau surrounded by sheer cliffs 1500 ft above a valley it had excellent protection from enemies

1) It eventually grew so large that it spilled over into valley below.

2. King Croesus and his people became rich from the gold discovered near there but wealth gave them false security and eventually made them weak.

3. Croesus recklessly declared war on Cyrus of Persia.

1) One of his counselors told him, "If you cross the Halys River, you will destroy a great empire." He never considered it would be his own!

2) He crossed the river, was routed and returned home.

4. Cyrus laid siege & offered reward to anyone who could find an entry into the city.

1) A Persian soldier noticed cracks in the cliffs and saw a Sardian soldier retrieve a helmet through a crack. One night he led a party of Persian troops through the crack into the city. City was unguarded, asleep and easily sacked. No wonder Jesus said, "Wake up!"

B. Later, after falling to Greeks & Alexander's death, Alexander's generals fought for control of the empire. One Antiochus ruled Sardis and sought refuge there.

1) However, one night city was taken again the same way.

C. When the Romans came, Sardis was destroyed by and earthquake.

1) Tiberius Caesar had the city rebuilt & once again the people became wealthy, lazy, & degenerate.

2. Their problem was apathy.

1) From "a" meaning "without" and "pathos" -"feeling"

2) Expressed as "I don't care," "I don't want to be bothered," I don't know & don't want to know"

3. The apathetic share a trait: The enemy infiltrates through unguarded cracks

D. Is there apathy in this church as there was in the church of Christ at Sardis?

1. Someone here who, though is faithful in attendance, lacks vigor for spiritual things?

2. Maybe once you were on fire for Christ.

1) Your faith was new and vibrant - You confessed when you sinned - You prayed always - Worship was invigorating

3. Now worship is dull

1) - Prayer gets shoved aside

2) - Living for Christ seems to be a chore

4. These are cracks where the enemy edges in.

5. How can you escape apathy and restore spiritual vitality?

6. Listen to Jesus.

I. Wake Up! - Vs 2

A. Means to be watchful

1. The word carries an element of urgency with it

2. An apathetic person my be watching but may be so lethargic that any quick action is out of the question.

a. Like a person who freezes to death. He knows he ought to move around but it feels too good to just let go and sleep.

B. Realize that danger is near!

1. 1 Peter 4:6-7 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. [7] The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

2. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

3. Act now, tomorrow may be too late!

II. Strengthen the things that remain! - Vs 2

A. Apathy causes the loss of things you once had.

1. Spiritual gas tank feels empty, running on fumes.

B. Things that were once bountiful in your life are now scarce.

1. Prayer is a chore

2. Bible reading is laborious & usually w/o understanding.

3. Desire to associate w/ other Xians gone

a. Just a matter of time before you think, "Do I really have to attend all the services of the church?"

4. Something you once would have immediately rejected now doesn't seem that wrong.

C. This is a battle for your soul and requires strength, diligence, perseverance and hard work!

1. 2 Pet 1:5-10 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, [6] and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, [7] and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. [8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. [10] Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

2. Act quickly to conserve & strengthen what remains.

III. Remember what you have received and heard! - Vs 3

A. Time away from anything brings forgetfulness and unfamiliarity.

1. Trying to teach Des math makes me realize how much I forgot!

B. Remember what it was that brought you to Christ in the 1st place.

1. These things haven't changed.

2. There's still a heaven and a hell - Closer to one than other

3. Still sickness, death & disappointment to deal with

4. Still a need for guidance from someone bigger than you

5. Still sin and your need for a Savior

C. God has built remembrance into the Christian life so we can keep the goal in front of us.

1. The Lord's Supper –

a. 1 Cor. 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

2. Preaching -

2 Peter 1:12-13

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. [13] I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,

Philip. 3:1

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

3. Don't just remember what to do, remember why you do it.

IV. Keep it! - Vs 3

A. Keep what? What you have received and heard.

1. "Hold fast" (KJV), "obey it" (NIV)

a. From Gr "tereo" - to guard from loss

b. It means we take special pains to hold onto it.

2. When you buy a car and intend to keep it for a while, how do you treat it? You tend to it, pay attention to it.

a. ".. how will we escape if we neglect...?" Heb 2:3

b. We must tend to it, pay attention to it. There is something we must DO!

3. James associates forgetting with not doing

James 1:22-24

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

a. Listening to the preacher is not doing - it's hearing

(1) Just hearing means you'll soon be forgetting and not keeping!

b. Incidentally, "keep" is in the present active tense which denotes continuous action.

(1) Start keeping it & keep on keeping it.

V. Repent! - Vs 3

A. In every course correction, there must be a point of turning.

1. A definitive point where you say "Enough is enough!" & grab the steering wheel & crank it hard.

2. That's repentance - A determined, definite point where a change is made.

B. Repentance is more than merely agreeing that something is right

1. It's the decision followed by the ACTION.

2. It starts a work in you that extends far beyond only you.

a. Psalm 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. [11] Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. [12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. [13] Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

b. Sometimes the best example is one who's been there, done that, & turned back.

Conc What hinders you from following Jesus' warning?

A. He warns of the consequences - Rev 3:b

B. He also promises reward - Rev 3:5

C. The devil doesn't want you to hear - He wants you to keep on thinking everything's OK just like it is.

1. ”I do not believe our greatest threat to our future is from bombs and missiles. I don't think our civilization will end that way. I think it will die when we no longer care." Dr. Laurence M. Gould, President Emeritus, Carlton College

D. Could be said of the church ... or you?

E. Don't get caught unaware and unprepared -

F. Shake off apathy now!

Modified from Zeke Flores who adapted it from Dave Redick.