Revelation 3:5,6

Verses 5, 6 “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 overcomers of all ages and of all the churches will be dressed in white, just as the few faithful believers from Sardis.

The reference to God having a book goes all the way back to Moses’ time in Exodus 32: 33 when God said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.”

In this verse Jesus makes his commitment to the overcomers with a negative and positive promise. 

-First, their names will never (negative) be blotted from the book of life. 



-Second, their names will be acknowledged before my Father and his angels. Both of these references speak of eternal life.

In ancient cities the names of the citizens were recorded in a register until their death. Then their names were erased or marked out of the book of the living. A person’s name could be removed from the city register before death if they were convicted of a crime.



In the first century, Christians were under constant threat of being branded political and social rebels and therefore stripped of their citizenship. Christ offers them an eternal, safe citizenship in his everlasting kingdom if they remain loyal to him.

Overcomers demonstrate their righteousness in this life by confessing Christ faithfully before a hostile world through the help of the Holy Spirit. For these Jesus has promised that whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 

Did you know that the light from the polar star takes thirty three years to reach the earth. That star could have died thirty years ago and its light would still be pouring down on earth. It would be shining today as if nothing had happened, living off the light of its past. That’s the story of Sardis. Don't let it be the story of our church today.


Revelation 3:2-4

Jesus gives an urgent command in Verses 2-4:

“ Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.3 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. 4 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.”


-Be watchful.

Jesus wants the church to be vigilant about spiritual death among Christians. Apathy, laziness and indifference result in spiritual death. Believers need to stay awake.

Foreign armies had captured the city of Sardis twice in it history because of its failure to watch. These believers now have an opportunity to avoid a parallel spiritual destiny.



-Strengthen. 

The churches’ deeds appeared wonderful to those on the outside, but they were not complete in the sight of God. Jesus does not accuse them of heresy, but neither had they offended the Romans or unbelieving Jews. They were not being persecuted, but they had offended God by emphasizing formality over reality.





-Remember. 

Part of their remedy was for the church to remember its glorious past, when it had been spiritually alive. When the believers at Sardis were first converted, they had received something important. Not only had they received salvation, but life in the Holy Spirit. They had forgotten to obey the Spirit’s prompting and the command to be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18



-Hold Fast.

The church at Sardis knew what it took in their past to get to where they once were with God. It was not because of a man or a ministry, but a deep hunger within their hearts to see a move of God and to reach a lost and dying generation with the gospel of Christ. Jesus calls for them once again to stabilize their faith and not just go through the motions of having church.

-Repent.

Jesus had threatened to judge the unloving church at Ephesus by removing its lampstand if they did not repent. He promised to judge the heretical teachers in Pergamum by fighting with his sword against them if they did not repent.

 Now he threatens to judge the lifeless church of Sardis by coming against them like a thief at an unexpected time. Spiritual deadness gives people a false sense of security. 

Thieves come when we do not expect them. They don’t call ahead and make an appointment. In the same way Jesus will come unexpectedly and believers out of fellowship will be totally unprepared.

Repentance is more than just turning around. It is coming to God with a submissive heart. Repentance is more that emotion. It is a change of attitude. Repentance is more than fire insurance. It is the transformation of one’s life.



So is it possible for a dead orthodox church to change?



In the case of Sardis, the answer is yes, because a few people had remained faithful. They had not soiled their clothes by not assuming that the appearance of religion was a substitute for the real thing. Jesus does not ask these faithful to leave the majority, but to maintain their presence as a witness. They will have a difficult time doing it, but He commends them as worthy of special praise. These believers will appear dressed in white one day, revealed as truly righteous. Their righteousness was based on Christ’s death for them, which resulted in righteous living.



Revelation 3:1

Churches are dying daily in America today closing at the rate of 14+ per day. In the past 2 ½ years it is estimated that over 10,000 American churches have closed due to the lack of attendance, lack of young parishioners and families, a lack of finances, and a general lack of confidence in the relativity of its necessity.

Well, let me tell you about a church that had the appearance of being a great church. They had at one time been a dynamic church on fire for God, but something changed and when it did spiritually the church begin to die. The Bible says it was in a town known as Sardis.

Sardis was about thirty miles south of Thyatira, at the foot of Mount Tmolus that rose about 1,500 feet above the valley of the Hermus River. The Turkish town of Sart now occupies the site.

Sardis had been a great city. Seven hundred years before this letter was written Sardis had been one of the greatest cities in the world. It was the capital of the kingdom of Lydia. Its wealth was legendary, even the river that flowed through the city was said to be lined with gold.

Croesus was the most famous Sardian king. He built the city to the point that no one thought it was vulnerable. In 546 BC Cyrus, king of Persia, laid siege to the city and captured it. His men had watched one of the Sardian guards come down and pick up the helmet he had dropped. That night Cyrus’ men went in through the breach in the wall and found no one on watch. Three centuries later, the army of Antiochus III used the same tactic to conquer the city and again no one was on watch.

Excavations have unveiled much information about the city. They found an ancient Christian church building next to the temple to Artemis as well as the largest synagogue ever found with seating for 1,000 people.


Verse 1 “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.”

Jesus declares to the church in Sardis that He holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. The seven spirits is simply another designation for the Holy Spirit. The seven stars are the seven pastors of the churches.

The church in Sardis desperately needs the life giving power of the Holy Spirit. What could be more exciting than for the Lord to bring his hands together so that the churches today are overflowing with the Holy Spirit.

Two things we must see about the church at Sardis.

-There are those in the church that have remained faithful, but the church does not receive a compliment from God.
-There is also a lack of persecution from outside sources because it apparently was more concerned about being acceptable rather than taking a stand.

The complaint Jesus lodges against this church is that its reputation is faulty. Many regarded the church at Sardis as a lively church. This church had gained a reputation for being an outstanding church, but it had lost its spiritual punch. Jesus knew differently. The church was spiritually dead. Even today churches can be full of ministries and activity having a reputation as spiritual giants, while at the same time be spiritually dead.

Did you know that two Ivy League schools, Harvard and Princeton, started out as Bible Schools. What do we hear from the men and women that graduate from these schools today? Is there spiritual power there? It is easy to be religious, but extremely difficult to be righteous.

Sacrificing A Dream To Make A Dream Come True

Sacrificing A Dream To Make A Dream Come True

Ever since a 2009 cycling accident put him in a wheelchair, Dan Black of Chepstow, Wales, has had one dream. 

Walking. 

He has adapted to his limitations, but he yearns for the freedom and activity he once had. His mother says he “goes to bed dreaming he can walk and run.” Which is why he was excited to learn about cutting edge stem cell research being done in China, and a treatment that could possibly lead to the reinvigoration of his legs. 

Suddenly, his dreams had substance. 

But there are two huge barriers looming between Dan and his dream. First, the research is so cutting edge that it may be years before the treatment is an actual, real possibility for him. And second is the most practical of all considerations: money. The procedure would doubtless cost tens of thousands of dollars — maybe more. Such a sum would be difficult to come up with under the best of circumstances. 

And these are not “the best of circumstances” for Dan. He lost the use of his legs and his right arm in the accident. He requires around the clock care, so his employment options are limited. His lifestyle is, according to his mother, “horrendous.” Coming up with the money he will need for those treatments — when and if they are available — was a source of great concern to the young Welshman. 

Motivated by love and concern for Dan, friends worked hard through a series of fund-raising activities over a period of five years to generate more than 20,000 pounds for the procedure. Dan was overwhelmed by this extraordinary kindness and felt he could really start looking toward the day when he could turn his dream of walking again into a reality. 

Then he heard about Brecon. 

Brecon is a 5-year-old who also lives in Chepstow who suffers from spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, which severely limits his ability to walk. Dan read a story in a local newspaper about a new surgical procedure being done in the United States that could allow the little boy to walk unaided. But the surgery would require more than 60,000 pounds — money Brecon’s parents were having a hard time raising. 

Dan could relate. 

“I’m in pretty much the same condition,” Dan told the U.K.’s Free Press last week. “But it appears that Brecon can definitely walk if he gets his surgery, and I can’t right now. So I looked at all that money and I thought, I might as well pass it on to him.” 

Dan sounded a little apologetic to those who had donated money for him. 

“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone … who has helped me out,” he said. “But this boy needs it more than I do at the moment.” 

And so he took his dream — or at least the cash that served as its real-world foundation — out of the bank and handed it over to Brecon’s parents, telling them “it would make me very happy to see the difference made to Brecon’s life.” 

Brecon’s parents were overwhelmed by Dan’s generosity. 

“It is a phenomenal gift,” Brecon’s mother, Ann, said. 

Brecon’s father, Rob, could only shake his head in wonder. “How do you even start saying ‘thank you’ for something like that?” he asked. 

For Dan’s part, no thanks are required. 

“I wanted to help someone whose life could get better,” he said. “If I can help someone to walk, I will.” 

Even if it means sacrificing a dream to do it.

Seducing Spirits (Part 3)

-The devil does not force men against their will He deceives them.

Men are often so deceived in doing evil that they believe they are doing right. 

-The devil deceived Eve.

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Paul expressed fear for the Corinthians, lest they be deceived. There was danger in Paul’s time and there is much more danger today.

-The devil doesn’t demand full surrender.

He doesn’t ask that the Christian surrender unconditionally, but he works for a compromise. Little by little the enemy slips upon the Christian. At first he only asks that you neglect some duty or commit a small sin of omission.

(4) THE EFFECT OF SEDUCING SPIRITS UPON THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN.

-These spirits work against Christians in all of their righteous endeavors.

They’re forever alert and seek to discourage, depress, weaken, and turn you aside from the path

of your duty.

a.They persuade Christians against going to church.

b. Seducing spirits are opposed to Christians congregating and worshipping God and 

exhorting one another

c. They discourage Christians from paying tithes and giving offerings in their church.

* They tell Christians that the pastor lives better than the average member.

d. They cause people to talk about each other and make sly remarks to hurt people.

e. They create jealousy between members, singers, deacons, preachers, choir members.

f. They make the pastor believe the church doesn’t like him and doesn’t like his sermons and make him believe it’s time for him to move on.

-Seducing spirits have a sly way of getting at the Christian.

They tell you that the right may be wrong and the wrong may be right.

-Seducing spirits attack the most spiritual people.

Not with thoughts of murder, or adultery, or drunkenness, with smooth, persuasive influence toward neglect of duty.

For that reason I say, “Beware of seducing spirits-Don’t listen to them."

James 4:7 "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Seducing Spirits (Part 2)

(2) THE SEDUCING SPIRITS ARE INCREASING.  

Paul refers to them as a last day influence. They did their work in the early church, but Paul foresaw the day when their powers would be increased and their work more deadly and destructive.

-The Bible specially refers to the falling away in the last days as a result of the increased powers of evil.

-When you read your Bible you can see that they worked in the early church!

a. Judas was persuaded by the seductive influence of the devil to betray the Lord.

b. Ananias and Sapphire were deceived by the same power and lied to the Holy Ghost.

c. Hymenaeus and Philetus were influenced by seducing spirits and erred saying that the

resurrection was passed already.

d. Many other heresies and doctrines of devils invaded the church soon after Pentecost and these

seductive powers made great inroads into the church causing divisions in the body of Christ.

-Seducing spirits are the greatest last day threat to Christianity.

2 Tim. 3:1-5 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"

“Perilous” means “dangerous. There is danger of being deceived by wicked influences. The longer the world stands, the more contaminated it becomes. It’s harder to live right now than it was years ago because the devil has more methods and means by which to deceive people with.

Seducing Spirits

1 Timothy  4:1 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons..."

-Paul was writing about a “last day” condition-“The Spirit speaketh expressly …”

a. The Greek word for “expressly” is “rhetos” and means: “In specific terms, in plain words, or

distinctly, so that there can be no question about what is being said.”  

b. In other words the Holy Ghost spoke specifically in direct terms of the last days danger.

-Bible scholars agree that we are now living in the last days, near the time of Christ’s coming.

a. This is the period in which seducing spirits will reign.

b. False teachers have arisen within the church and continue on through our day and will do so to the end of time. The church and the genuine believer have to be constantly on guard against false teaching. 

(1) WHAT ARE SEDUCING SPIRITS? 

“Seduce” means: “To lead away, specially from the path of right by flattering promises …”

“To lead astray into an evil, or foolish, or disastrous course.”

Our world is contaminated with such evil influences. 

Seducing spirits are the powers of the devil.     

-In his kingdom there are many demons known as wicked or seducing spirits.

-These spirits are everywhere and their forces and influences are increased in the latter days.

-They work in cooperation with the devil to deceive and destroy believers.

b. They are antichrist spirits! 

1 John 4:1-3 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world."

-We are advised to “try the spirits whether they are of God.” "Try” means: “To test, examine.” 

-These deceptive, seducing spirits are so cunning that they often deceive good people.

-The day John was writing about is here and these dangerous influences have already invaded the church. Yet, the children of God have and can still overcome them because God within us is greater than the wicked powers of the world-1 John 4:4.

c. These seducing spirits are unseen wicked influences.

-They are unseen influences that work in the flesh and in the minds of Christians and are controlled by the devil himself.

-They are, in reality, the spirits through which the devil works to discourage and turn aside all of God’s people from doing right.