It's Time for a Spiritual Check-up

"...I know your works..." (Revelation 3:1).

Introduction

Have you even been with someone who has gone to the doctor for a physical check-up? Maybe as a parent you've taken your child for a medical check over.

Today, picture yourself as one of the disciples accompanying the Lord Jesus as He visits the churches to check up on them. We are going to visit three churches. (See Revelation 3:1-13.)

Sardis church gets a check-up (verses 1-6)

Sardis was the ancient capital city of the province of Lydia. It was famous for woolen textiles and dyeing of the wool and minting of gold and silver coins.

The main cult was the worship of Artemis, which was very immoral and degenerate. It was a cult of hysteria and mutilation. There was also a large Jewish synagogue there which indicated a large Jewish population. The people were notoriously rich and licentious. 'Licentiousness' (which means unrestrained sexually immoral activity) such as takes place in 'schoolies week'. (Similar words are lewdness, sensuality, and lustfulness). Beware of the misuse of the word "freedom" which some misuse as a smokescreen for their filthy behaviour. True Christianity is shown by loving obedience to God's holy commandments (1 John 1:5-7, 2:3-5, 5:3).

It was a well-fortified city, built on a steep sided mountain ridge. But "the Christian community was infected by the complacency of the place" (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible).

The Lord's Diagnosis (verses 1-2)

"you are dead," although you have a reputation for being alive spiritually. Do not be deceived into thinking that if a church has a lot of programs going on, then this proves that it is alive. Why does the church die spiritually? Why do we personally die spiritually? It is because the fire of love for the Lord goes out in our souls - through neglect of fellowship with the Lord.

"Your works are imperfect before God." The quality of their works was lacking. They worked for their reputation, and not out of a motive of loving service to the Lord Jesus.

"You have a few who have not defiled themselves." This implies that most of you have defiled yourselves by sin and have compromised with the luxury and licentiousness around you. But the fact that some had kept themselves undefiled shows that, by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, it is possible to overcome the pull of sin around you. The real issue is: do you really want to overcome sin in your life by God's power?

The Lord's Cure (verses 2-3)

• Be watchful. The city of Sardis itself is an illustration of this point. Because it was fortified and built on the top of a steep mountain ridge they thought it was unconquerable. But, twice in history, it was conquered because they were not watchful at a weak point. One point was so steep that no guard was ever set there. But one of the watching enemy Persian soldiers discovered this, when a guard of the city was seen to retrieve a helmet, which had rolled down from the top. So, the enemy discovered a path to the top of the mountain. The Persian soldiers were thus able to climb to the top of the mountain and take the city - all because of not being watchful.
• Don't let anybody ambush your soul.
• Read Romans 12:1-2.
• Strengthen what spiritual life you have left.
• Remember how you first received and heard the Gospel.
• Hold fast to this Gospel of Christ.
• Repent of your spiritual deadness.
• Overcome this defilement and deadness of your soul by coming back to Christ, in the same way you did at first.
• Listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you.

The Lord's Promise (verse 5)

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and his name will be kept in the Book of Life and Christ will confess your name to His Father and to His angels. White clothing is symbolic of holiness. It means that there were some at Sardis who were living godly lives in spite of being surrounded by wickedness.

"The promise is made not only to those in Sardis who would be victorious, but to all in every age and every land." (Albert Barnes)

The Book of Life is God's record of those who are to live with Him in Heaven, if they continue faithfully until death. (Our names can be blotted out from the Book of Life.) Those in the Sardis Church who have not defiled their lives with sin, are recorded in God's Book of Life - and those who are spiritually dead are not recorded in this Book of Life. (See Exodus 32:32-33) The way to have your name recorded in the Book of Life is to repent of your sins and hold fast to faith in Christ.

(The Book of Life is also mentioned in Rev.13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 20:15, 21:27, 22:19, Philippians 4:3, Malachi 3:16, Psalm 69:28, Exodus 32:32-33.)

"There is a process of erasure going on, beside that of entering." (Ellicott)

The Lord's Warning (verse 3)

If you do not watch, I will come upon you suddenly and unexpectedly for judgment.

The Philadelphia church gets a check-up (verses 7-13)

Philadelphia was a city of the province of Lydia founded in 159-138 BC by King Attalus II Philadelphus. He was called this because of his devotion to his brother Eumenus: hence the meaning, City of Brotherly Love (New International Dictionary of the Bible).

It was located 25 miles Northeast of Sardis. "The city of Philadelphia had a relatively small population in John's day, due to the fear of earthquakes, with which the city was plagued." (Revelation: Four Views)

The church here won many Jews to Christ. This is why the unconverted Jews reacted with hostile opposition to the church. The church here was a humble and faithful church. The Apostle John "cautions the church in Philadelphia not to be discouraged because they are a nobody." (Henry H. Halley)

John reminds them of the character, authority and power of the One who is checking up on their church (verses 7-8).

"The One who is holy and true" (verse 7). God is holy and He alone is the source of all holiness.

Verses 7 and 8 apply directly to Christ. He is "holy and true." He has "the key of David." "He opens and no one can shut." "He shuts and no one can open."

The Key of David represents governmental authority. This is a quotation from Isaiah 22:22 - which illustrates Christ's authority. Eliakim, who was the servant of Hezekiah, held the key to the palace in Jerusalem. Likewise, the Lord Jesus (The Son of David) has the Key to Heaven, and can grant admission to Heaven or keep out of Heaven whoever He wishes. Isn't it wonderful that the Lord has promised: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life ... He who is believing in Him is not condemned, but he who is not believing in Him is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16,18)

The Lord's Diagnosis (verses 8 & 10)

• You have a little strength (verse 8). This "may refer to the smallness of the numbers" (Adam Clarke), because the whole picture of the church was healthy. (It had little numerical strength.)
• You have kept [obeyed] My word. The bottom line of our Christian living is "have you obeyed the Word of the Lord?" These Christians at Philadelphia had obeyed the Lord consistently.
• You have not denied My name. The pagan and Jewish world around them had put pressure on them to deny the name of Christ - as Peter had experienced at Christ's mock trial. It is the same today, at work, at public meetings, among relatives, to deny or keep quiet about Christ's name. They did not yield to the pressure.
• You have persevered. 'Stick-ability' is one of the basic qualities you must learn in the Christian life. You learn it one day at a time - through every experience, in everything you do, by walking with the Lord.
• Overall, they had a healthy and encouraging diagnosis.

The Lord's Advice (verses 11 & 13)

Hold fast tenaciously your relationship with the Lord, so that no one can take your crown. Keep on listening to what he Holy Spirit is saying to your church.

The Lord's Promise (verses 9,10,12)

• "I will make those of the synagogue of Satan ... come and worship before your feet." This means I will make these Jews; who think they are serving God but are serving Satan; come to worship alongside of you and to acknowledge Christ's love to you. Remember how mistaken Saul (Paul) had been - thinking he was serving God, but in reality was serving Satan. The Lord confronted him with his error and he repented.
• Because you have obeyed My command to persevere, I will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole earth. I will protect you in this coming trial.
• To those who overcome, I will make a pillar in the temple of God. This means that those who overcome will be given a permanent place in God's presence in Heaven.

Our church gets a check-up

• How do you show it?
• How much time do you spend each day with Him in prayer and reading the Bible?
• Have you talked to your family, friends, neighbours, and other people about the Lord this week?
• Do you practice stewardship of your time, energy and money? For instance, are you: meeting together for prayer and Bible Study, tithing, and doing some form of regular service or help in the church?

The cure for cooling off in our love for Christ is not more activity - but more fellowship with Christ.

What this church is collectively is because of all of us who make up this church. Yes, the pastor has a major responsibility to lead this local church: but also each of you has an important part to play in the life of this church. When you and I walk close to the Lord it strengthens this church, but when any of us does not walk close with the Lord it has a downward pull on this church, holding this church back from fully being a powerful witness for Christ.

Conclusion

Now that we have observed the Lord's check-up on these three churches - what has the Holy Spirit been saying to you about your own spiritual condition?

Do you realize that your own spiritual condition affects the spiritual health of this church - either improving it or pulling it down? (Because this church is made up of everyone who is a part of it.)

If the Holy Spirit has convicted you or me of things or areas of our lives that need to be changed and improved do not - whatever you do - reject His word to you. Talk to the Lord about it, accept His message and ask Him to change your heart and life. He is longing to make you and this church more spiritually alive and well.