1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)—7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Noticeable change in this letter — Jesus has no complimentary word; only correction, rebuke.

Theme: We must strive for true life before Christ by staying awake, strengthening what is, and completing our works.

The Author/City (3:1a)

1a “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “

Sardis: Population: 60-100K.

Wealthy city:
Defensible city: but twice overtaken — embarrassing defeats in their history had become legendary.

The Correction (3:1b)

1b I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

There is such a thing as a dead church.

5 Marks of a Dead Church by Chuck Swindoll:

Worships its past.
Inflexible and resistant to change.
Lazy leadership.
Neglects youth.
Lacks evangelistic zeal.

But this church didn’t look dead. It looked alive.

Man thought — “they are alive.” Christ thought — “they are dead.”

They had all the externals: organization, gatherings, singing, giving, prayers. But they all lacked internal drive.

The Pharisees: Jesus diagnosed Sardis, just like He diagnosed the Pharisees (Matthew 23:25-39). Clean on outside of dish. Inside extortion and self indulgence (25-26). Whitewashed tombs with dead men’s bones (27-28). Built monuments to the prophets and monuments to the righteous, but the persecuted Jesus and all who came before (29-36).

Their reputation was not their reality.

Paul regarding self-indulgent widows (those who do not hope on God, continue in prayers): “she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives” (1 Timothy 5:6).

The Exhortation (3:2-3)

‘2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Christ can raise you to life, O Sardis!

Wake up: To keep awake, to be on guard!

We are called to alertness.

Romans 13:11 (ESV)—11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
Ephesians 5:14 (ESV)…Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)—8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Mark 13:33 (ESV)—33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.
Luke 12:39–40 (ESV)—39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Question: What “remained” that had to be strengthened?

Jesus: “I have not found your works complete.”
Answer: their works remained.

The works were there, but needed to be complete, strengthened.

They had worship, but it had to be strengthened.
They had giving, but it had to be strengthened.
They had service, but it had to be strengthened.
They had prayer, but it had to be strengthened.
They had evangelism, but it had to be strengthened.

The Promise (3:4-6)

4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

You have still a few names in Sardis: Jesus knows His sheep; He sees the individuals.

Garments / White / White garments:

Isaiah 1:18 (ESV)—18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Description (3:1a)

1a “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “

Seven spirits of God / seven stars: The Holy Spirit (Revelation 1:4, Isaiah 11:2). We need the Spirit in order to combat deadness.