Revelation 3:1–6 - Cameron Jungels - Sun PM, September 28, 2014

“Are You Dead or Alive?” (Revelation 3:1–6)

^{Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Sun PM/September 28, 2014} 

"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. (Rev. 3:1a, NIV) 

⁴ John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,  ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,  (Rev. 1:4-5, NIV) 

⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. (Rev. 4:5, NIV) 

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (Rev. 5:6, NIV) 

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. (Zech. 4:6, NIV) 

 

² The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD-- (Isa. 11:2, NIV) 

 

I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (Rev. 3:1b, NIV) 

 

² Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. (Rev. 3:2, NIV) 

 

²¹ "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  ²² Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?'  ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matt. 7:21-23, NIV)

 

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. (Rev. 3:3, NIV)

 

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. (Rev. 3:4, NIV)

 

¹² In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"  ¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" (Rev. 5:12-13, NIV)

 

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. (Rev. 3:5, NIV)

 

⁶ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev. 3:6, NIV)

 

Main Ideas: 

We need to be sure that our church is as alive as we say it is. Spiritual life cannot be assumed; it must be evident in the worship, witness, and works that accompany true spiritual life.