002 | Why is Sardis sleeping?

Sardis was once a powerful city, proud of it’s reputation of being an invincible city. Sadly, because the city slept, enemy armies were able to easily take it over. The city failed to wake up. Jesus reminds the church in Sardis of their city’s history, and lets them know they, too, are sleeping. Depending on their reputation of being “alive,” He lets them know that they are actually asleep, and need to wake up. Revelation 3:1-6 NIV, “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. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 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. 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. 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. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. This letter to the church in Sardis reminds us to wake up to three realities we’ll discuss in today’s talk.