"Letters for Home - Part 5" | Pastor Ben Kellert

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 found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. ³ Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, 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 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. ⁶ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Christ Holds the 7 Spirits:

• Meaning the 7 fold ministry of God, the Holy Spirit - according to Isaiah 11:2.

The 7 Stars:

• The 7 Leaders of the Church according to Revelation 1:16-2:1.
• Jesus is the Lord of the Church

One of the Major issues in the Church in Sardis:

• It was Dead!

Zechariah 4:6  "So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty."

• The Church needed the Spirit of God!
• If the Church is not controlled by the Holy Spirit, it is a Dead church!

(Note: There was no mention of persecution in this church... why persecute something that is not a threat!?)

Sardis was a great and wealthy city...

• Gold particles literally flowed in their river!
• The art of dying wool was discovered in Sardis
• Well-fortified/protected: Guarded by cliffs, city walls and gates
• Almost impossible to attack
• The church was proud and complacent

Characteristics of a Dead Church:

1. No Compassion - they didn't care
2. No Warmth - a dead church is a cold church
3. No Movement - stuck in old ways, lifeless, bored, weak

Certain things must not change in a church, however:

• The messages of Salvation, Sanctification, The Cross, God's word is timeless!  He is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Christ gives 5 Commands to Correct the issue:

1. Wake Up! Pay Attention - Be Alert!  Honestly look at yourselves...what went wrong?

2. Strengthen what Remains (vs 2b)

• 2 Timothy 3:5 "...having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."
• They seem to be doing the right things but aren't in it - just going through the motions...

3. Remember (vs 3a)

• Remember your Salvation, the Good News of the Gospel (they had forgotten...)
• It needs to move from our heads to our hearts... firmly rooted, not just surface knowledge...

4. Obey (vs 3b)

• Put it into practice
• God is calling us back to obedience

5. Repentance (vs 3c)

• Turn away from your sis
• Confess, turn around and go the other direction

*"God will search it out, root it out and boot it out!"

3 Promises for those who remain faithful - (vs 4-5):

1. Clothed in White

• Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

2. Contained in the Book of Life! (vs 5b) - Hallelujah!

• Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life!

3. He will acknowledge you before the Father

• Matthew 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven."

It's all because of God's Amazing Grace!

These promises are for the faithful - Jesus says we are His!

• *Have you acknowledged Him??  Then, He will acknowledge you!
• vs 6 "He who has an ear...."

He is challenging us today to come clean!

• Jesus is the ONLY WAY!  The WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE!

ABC's of Savation:

• A - Admit you  are a Sinner in need of a Saviour
• B - Believe in Jesus - that H died on the Cross for your Sins
• C - Commit your life to following and trusting Him!

Though your sins are a deep as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow - thank you, Jesus!

*Next, click here to watch the full replay of this message: "Letters for Home - Part 5"