THE FIFTH LETTER:
TO SARDIS

Revelation 3:1-6 (NIV)
1  "To the angel of the church in Sardis write:  These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
2  Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
3  Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
4  Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.
5  He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
6  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

A Deadly Sleep

• a favorable reputation - "You have a reputation of being alive..."

  • structures and systems
  • meetings and ministries
  • religious routines and rituals
  • polish and pretense
  • name and notability

• a frightening reality - "But you are dead...what remains...is about to die..."

  • inaccurate description - "You have a reputation of being alive..."
  • incomplete deeds - "I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God."
  • inward defilement - "...soiled their clothes..."
  • impending deadline - "If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief..."

A Divine Summons

• remember your spiritual learning
    "Remember...what you have received and heard..."

• repent of your spiritual lifelessness
    "Obey...and repent."

• revive your spiritual life
    "Wake up! Strengthen what remains..."

• refocus your spiritual labors
    "I have not found your deeds complete..."

• retain your spiritual legacy
    "He who overcomes will...be dressed in white...I will never blot out his name from the book..."

Last Updated: February 19, 2008