Letter to Sardis

""To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. '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. '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. '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. 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" - Revelation 3:1-6

1. Identity of Jesus
  1. Jesus is the fullness of the Holy Spirit and the voice of Wisdom.
    “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this..." - Revelation 3:1a
    1. Jesus is the human who has overcome and who has the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
      1. "and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth." - Revelation 5:5-6
    2. The Seven Spirits
      1. "Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD." - Isaiah 11:1-2
        
        LORD – יהוה – The Tetragrammaton! Typically translated as Yehovah or Yahweh and replaced with Adonai (Lord) or HaShem (The Name) by observant Jews. This is the memorial name of the LORD that was first given to Moses. Philosophically, this refers to God as the self-existent one and the source of all existence or being.
        
        "Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God, furthermore, said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'The LORD (יהוה), the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations." - Exodus 3:13-15
        
        אֶֽהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶֽהְיֶה – ehye asher ehye – I will be that/which I will be. This is the future, first-person singular tense, indicating that God will be whomever He will be, which is why He goes on to assure Moshe that He remembers his covenants and that He will never leave the Israelites.
        
        Wisdom - חָכְמָה – Chochma – wisdom, Wisdom Herself, learned or skillful. Carries with it the sense of learning and experience.
        
        "Does not wisdom (חָכְמָה) call,
        And understanding lift up her voice?" - Proverbs 8:1
        
        Understanding -בִינָה - Binah – understanding, comprehension, discernment, insight. Carries with it the ability to divide, distinguish, or rightly separate. Lady Justice who knows what should be done and which path to follow.
        
        "Trust in the LORD with all your heart
        And do not lean on your own understanding (בִינָה).
        In all your ways acknowledge Him,
        And He will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6
        
        "Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood (בִינָה) the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command." - 1 Chronicles 12:32
        
        Counsel - עֵצָה - etza – suggestion, advice, counsel, plan. Particularly as it regards predicting and preparing for what is to come or investing in a future outcome. Lady Oracle who reveals and prepares for what is to come.
        
        "The LORD nullifies the counsel (עֵצָה) of the nations;
        He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
        The counsel (עֵצָה) of the LORD stands forever,
        The plans of His heart from generation to generation." - Psalm 33:10-11
        
        Strength - גְבוּרָה – G'vura – valor, might, courage, perseverance, triumph, heroism. Carries with it both physical and systemic power, probably best defined as that which overcomes. In modern Hebrew, this is the word for “protagonist” as well, since it describes someone who perseveres through adversity and overcomes their obstacles. Lady Valor who persists until the way of Grace and the Glory of God covers the earth.
        
        "May He grant you your heart's desire
        And fulfill all your counsel!
        We will sing for joy over your victory,
        And in the name of our God we will set up our banners.
        May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
        Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
        He will answer him from His holy heaven
        With the saving strength (גְבוּרָה) of His right hand.
        Some boast in chariots and some in horses,
        But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.
        They have bowed down and fallen,
        But we have risen and stood upright.
        Save, O LORD;
        May the King answer us in the day we call." - Psalm 20:4-9
        
        Knowledge - דַּעַת - da'at – opinion, view, acquaintance with, knowledge of, perception, familiarity. Infinitive of יָדַע which speaks specifically of ascertaining by sight or experience and is also the word for sexual intercourse. Lady Love who brings the experience and intimate acquaintance with Truth.
        
        "The mind [heart] of the prudent [follower of Understanding] acquires knowledge (דַּעַת),
        And the ear of the wise [follower of wisdom] seeks knowledge (דַּעַת)." - Proverbs 18:15
        
        Fear - יִרְאָה – yir'a – fear, terror, reverence, awe, wonder. The terror, joy, wonder, and reverence that overwhelm your heart when you catch a glimpse of the holiness that is normally veiled to your perception. This is Lady Wonder, our gentle guide into the gradual unveiling of the glory which would otherwise utterly destroy us.
        
        "The fear (יִרְאָה) of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom,
        And before honor comes humility." - Proverbs 15:33
        
        "Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm and said,
        "Now gird up your loins like a man;
        I will ask you, and you instruct Me.
        "Will you really annul My judgment?
        Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?
        "Or do you have an arm like God,
        And can you thunder with a voice like His?
        "Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity,
        And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.
        "Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
        And look on everyone who is proud, and make him low.
        "Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him,
        And tread down the wicked where they stand.
        "Hide them in the dust together;
        Bind them in the hidden place.
        "Then I will also confess to you,
        That your own right hand can save you." - Job 40:6-14
      2. This is a message within a message for us, since we are looking at the letters to understand how Jesus would speak to us.
        
        He will speak to us with each of these aspects of Himself.
        
        Fear is the beginning – a reverence that leads us into the place of humility and that calls us to wake up us as we begin to make Him into our image, which we will always do. The reverence will also lead us into the mysteries, if we are willing.
        
        Wisdom – the treasured commandments of God and the motherly nature in the way that He teaches and guides us through life and builds skill within us.
        
        Understanding – the discernment and clarity that speak into our situations and illuminate our paths as the Justice of God speaks to us and moves our conscience to take the proper paths in the proper time.
        
        Counsel – the way that God will collaborate with us, make plans with us, and advise us through the disclosure of mysteries, revelation of our character, revelation of His character and prophetic unveiling in order to create futures together.
        
        Strength – the way that God speaks to us in our difficulties and obstacles by giving us the courage, bravery, and power with which to move forward as overcomers in His story with us.
        
        Knowledge – The end goal of all our pursuits: that we might know Him and be known by Him. Intimacy, solidarity, affinity, and communion with the One whom our souls love.
        
        YHVH – He's always going to be Him and He's always with us, the keeper of covenants and ever-faithful to Himself and to His promises, even when all others are faithless.
        
        We will follow through these as a pattern:
        The one who is humble
        Will sit under the teaching of God
        And listen attentively to the timing and direction
        That they may cooperate and partner with God
        Having the courage to follow through to the end
        Faithful to the one who is always faithful
        
        The other list of seven is in Proverbs 8
        
        "Does not wisdom (חָכְמָה) call,
        And understanding (בִינָה) lift up her voice?
        …
        "Take my instruction and not silver,
        And knowledge (דַּעַת) rather than choicest gold.
        …
        "The fear (יִרְאָה) of the LORD is to hate evil;
        Pride and arrogance and the evil way
        And the perverted mouth, I hate.
        "Counsel (עֵצָה) is mine and sound wisdom;
        I am understanding (בִינָה), power(גְבוּרָה) is mine.
        …
        "The LORD (יהוה) possessed me at the beginning of His way,
        Before His works of old.
        "From everlasting I was established,
        From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
        ...
        "Blessed is the man who listens to me,
        Watching daily at my gates,
        Waiting at my doorposts.
        "For he who finds me finds life
        And obtains favor from the LORD (יהוה).
        "But he who sins against me injures himself;
        All those who hate me love death."" - Proverbs 8:1, 10, 13-14, 22-23, 34-36
        
        This is the heart to the book of proverbs and to the whole Wisdom tradition: that we would pursue Wisdom above all else and treasure Her in our hearts.
    3. Seven Stars
      
      ""As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches." - Revelation 1:20
      1. This is a reminder to Sardis that Jesus is the one who has authority over and who empowers the messengers to the churches.
2. Character & Contention
  1. The church in Sardis has a reputation for being alive, but they are dead.
    
    "I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." - Revelation 3:1b
    1. There is a tendency for us to turn our once-honest pursuits of God into a game we play to impress people or even to deceive ourselves. When this happens we become actors playing a role rather than those who are living with Jesus.
      1. The Greek word for actor is hypokrites; a word which, in english, has come to mean, “the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.”(Oxford).
      2. ""But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
        ...
        "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." - Matthew 23:13-15, 27-28
        
        Jesus is once again speaking a “division between soul and spirit” and revealing the inward death of those who, within their culture, were regarded as the keepers of life.
      3. While Jesus continually upheld the Teaching [Law] revealed in the Hebrew scriptures, He had a hatred for the traditions people developed to replace their dependence upon His Spirit.
        
        "The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?" And He said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men." He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition." - Mark 7:5-9
        
        You will never get any closer to God or any kind of wisdom in your heart from following a tradition some dude made up. Make no mistake, either, every system that is certain of itself is just such a system.
        
        The Way of Christ, however, has a wild dependence upon the Spirit and a willingness to follow in the face of uncertainty.
        
        "Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."" - John 3:5-8
        
        "As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him." - 1 John 2:27
        
        "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."" - John 6:66-69
3. Call to Action
  1. The church in Sardis needs to receive their wake-up call, regain their strength, remember how they're supposed to live, and finish what they've started.
    
    "'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. 'So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent." - Revelation 3:2-3a
    1. They've got such a reputation for being “good christians” that it might be hard for them, but Jesus wants them to hear that they are so weak in heart that they're about to die. He wants them not to be offended, but to be awakened by this to return to the activity of life rather than the gradual decay of death.
    2. We have to be refreshed, Regularly!
      1. "For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
        ...
        Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you." - 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 13-14
        
        Paul's advice to his protege, Timothy, is to “kindle afresh” and to “guard” the gift of the Holy Spirit.
        
        This Spirit is not timid, does not shrink back, but demonstrates power, love, and discipline.
      2. "It is a trustworthy statement:
        For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
        If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
        If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
        If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
        Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:11-15
        
        Though Paul is reminding Timothy of a doctrinal poem, He is clear to say that that Timothy is to remind them of the Presence and to teach them to refrain from useless debates and discussion.
    3. It's easy to be deluded when we hear it all the time.
      1. "Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." - James 1:21-22
        
        Once again we could repeat Jesus' instruction about houses, rocks, sand, and action.
    4. All those Peter and Paul verses we've been looking at about pressing on and reminding...
4. Consequences of Inaction
  1. If Sardis will not awaken to the love of Jesus, then they will be completely unaware of what God is actually doing and will be those who are completely caught off guard in life and at His coming.
    
    "'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." - Revelation 3:3b
    1. This refers to the continual refrain throughout the New Testament that there are those who are “in the light” and who are experiencing the Kingdom of God as they prepare for it's arrival and those that are “walking in darkness” who indulge themselves to the destruction of their souls.
      1. "Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
      2. "But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls." - 1 Peter 2:9-25
    2. The main callback here, though, is the reference Jesus is making to His parable.
      
      ""Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. "Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. "But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My master is not coming for a long time,' and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." - Matthew 24:45-51
      1. The slave who is serving others and taking care of them will be “put in charge of all His possessions”
      2. The slave who is taking advantage of others will be surprised at the Master's return and will get all of the suffering and violence that has been coming to him.
5. Rewards for Overcoming
  1. If Sardis will revive their hearts and return to their calling, then they will join those who have not soiled themselves and will not be naked and exposed and dead, but will be clothed in righteousness and proudly known by Jesus.
    
    "'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. 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" - Revelation 3:4-6
    1. Here we see how truly dire the situation is and the great reversal of that day: whatever is on the inside will be exposed and it will not be our acting and our fame but our actions and our hearts that will determine our resurrection.
    2. Book of Life – The book which records all of those who have aligned themselves with the life of God. On the last day of this age, this book will be opened, along with the books of deeds, and all whose names remain in the book inherit the life of God.
      1. ""Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt." - Daniel 12:1-2
        
        The apocalyptic vision given to Daniel which the others reference.
      2. "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." - Revelation 20:11-15
        
        John sees this vision in more clarity and reveals that it is ALL of the dead who will experience the resurrection and judgment.
      3. ""Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment." - John 5:24-29
        
        Jesus is using the apocalyptic imagery and confirming that this judgment will not be along racial or cultural lines, but that the judgment will revolve around whether or not people will respond to His voice when they hear it.
        
        Notice also, that being dead doesn't seem to keep anyone from the chance to hear His voice and respond.
      4. Finally, please note that within the entirety of the scriptures nobody ever has their name added to the book, the danger is only that their name might be blotted out.
        
        Thus, this isn't something you earn, though it is something that may be lost.
    3. White garments – The righteous deeds of the saints and the manifestation of their identity with Christ. We will, quite literally, wear our hearts on our sleeves (well, whole robes really, but you get the idea...)
      1. "I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." - Isaiah 61:10
        
        These garments are a testimony of our salvation by God and a reflection of our relationship (righteousness) with Him.
      2. ""Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to [God], for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." - Revelation 19:7-8
        
        Here we see that the garments are calling back to Isaiah and the clarification is that they are the actions of salvation and righteousness → the things that we have done with Christ as a result of our love and delight in Him.
      3. Not a uniform, but an indication of who we are in the new creation, as each of us will be a unique creation in God.
        
        As we have each been a unique image-bearer in this mortal stage of life, so we will each be a unique image-bearer in this next age. For we each will sow this mortal life a unique seed and reap it's fruit in the resurrection.
        
        "But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?" You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.
        …
        So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
        ...
        Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly." - 1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-44, 49

Letter #4: Thyatira

Letter #5: Philadelphia

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