 When someone is brain dead, it means that the brain is no longer working in any capacity & is dead.  Other organs can still work for a short time if the breathing machine is left in place, but when brain death is declared, it means the person has died.

Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) - the church that had fallen asleep (3:2).

Introduction:  Sardis - the capital of the ancient Lydian empire.  The city was also famous for its woolen, textile, and jewelry industry.  It was a fortified town on a cliff but it had been attacked and conquered twice because its lack of watchfulness.

General Outline of Message to the Church: 1. Description of Christ: 2. Description of the Church: 3. Disapproval of the Church: 4. Direction for the Church: 5. Promise to the Church:

1. Description of Christ: Revelation 3:1a 1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars...  ‘Seven spirits of God’ refers to the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 11:2 2 The Spirit of the L ORD 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 L ORD (1) Spirit of the LORD (2) Spirit of wisdom (3) Spirit of understanding (4) Spirit of counsel (5) Spirit of power (6) Spirit of knowledge (7) Spirit of the fear of the Lord

 ‘Seven Stars’ are the ‘Seven Angels of the Churches’ (Revelation 1:20).

2. Description of the Church: Revelation 3:1b 1...says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead…

 They have a reputation of being outwardly ‘alive’ for the common eye and in the eyes of the world

 But in the eyes of Jesus they are evaluated as being spiritually ‘dead’.

2 Timothy 3:5 (Read also 2 Timothy 3:1-7) 5 holding to a form of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Revelation 3:4 4 But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.  Yet the Lord identifies those who have lived a holy and pure life for Him and acknowledges them.

3. Disapproval of the Church: Revelation 3:2 2 Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.  The Lord rebukes the church to ‘wake up & strengthen the things that remain’.

Ephesians 5: For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

 This is because their ‘deeds’ are not found to be pleasing in the sight of God.

4. Direction for Church: Revelation 3:3 3 So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

 The Lord calls the church to repentance & to return to obey the ‘Word of God’.  If they don’t ‘wake up’ they will have to face the Lord’s unexpected visitation.

5. Promise to Church: Revelation 3:5-6 5 He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments & I will not erase his name from the book of life & I will confess his name before My Father & His angels

 The Lord Jesus thus promises the following to those who awake and overcome: 5.1). Clothed in white garments (Revelation 7:13-16) 5.2). Name in Book of life will not be erased (Philippians 4:3 & Revelation 20:15) 5.3). Confess name before God the Father (Matthew 10:32-33)

Conclusion:  The spiritually dead, Sardis Church, is called to awaken to live for the Lord.