February 19, 2012

Listen Up, People!
Revelation 3:2-3

Jesus called each of the seven churches to actively, obediently hear His words, but for a dying church like Sardis, the listen up command seems even more urgent!

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. (Revelation 3:2-3)

He who has an ear, let him ear what the Spirit says to the churches:

You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead (Rev. 3:1).

Listen, it’s time for us to . . .

Wake Up! 

to watch—gregoreuo—give strict attention to, be cautious, active, to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ~ 1 Corinthians 16:13

See also Matthew 24:42-43; 25:13; 26:38, 40-41; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 5:21

What are we doing to guard our minds from stealthy attacks?

Shore Up!

to make stable—sterizo—place firmly, set fast, fix, to strengthen, make firm, to render constant, confirm

Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. ~ Isaiah 35:3

See also Luke 22:32; 1 Peter 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 3:2

What are we doing to strengthen one another?

Look Up!

to be mindful of—mnemoneuo—to remember, to call to mind, to hold in memory, keep in mind 

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ~ Lamentations 3:21-23

See also Psalm 63:6; 77:11; 105:5; 119: 11; Acts 20:31, 35; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:8

What are we doing to keep God’s word and God’s work foremost in our thinking?

Lock Up!

to attend to carefully—thvrei—to take care of, to guard, to observe    

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. ~ John 14:15

See also John 14:21; 15:10; 23:24; 1 John 2:3-5; 3:22, 24; 5:3; Revelation 1:3; 2:26; 3:3, 8, 10; 12:17; 14:12; 16:15; 22:7, 9

What are we doing to demonstrate our faithful, careful obedience to God?

Change Up!

to change one’s mind—metanoeo—to repent, to change one’s mind for better, abhorrence of one’s past sins 

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ~ Matthew 3:2

See also Matthew 4:17; 11:20-21; 12:41; Luke 13:3, 5; 15:7, 10; 17:3-4; Revelation 2:5, 16, 21-22; 3:3, 19; 9:20-21; 16:9, 11

What are we doing right now to show our disgust with sin and our delight in God?

What do we know about Sardis?

Ancient Sardis, the capital of Lydia, was a most important city.  It lay about fifty miles east of Ephesus at the junction of five main roads; so it was a center for trade. It was also a military center, for it was located on an almost inaccessible plateau.  The acropolis of Sardis was about 1,500 feet above the main roads, and it formed an impregnable fortress.  The main religion of the city was the worship of Artemis, one of the “nature cults” that built on the idea of death and rebirth.

Sardis was also known for its manufacture of woolen garments, a fact that has a bearing on Christ’s message to the church. Sad to say, the city at that time was but a shadow of its former splendor, and the church, unfortunately, had become like the city—it was alive in name only.

~ Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Victorious, p. 47.

Situated at the junction of five roads, and commanding the Hermus valley, Sardis was an active commercial city and very wealthy.  It had been the capital of Croesus who was proverbial for his riches.  The city’s easy wealth seems to have made for slackness.  It was captured by Cyrus the Persian (549 BC) and by Antiochus (218 BC), both times because of its slackness.  The city was built on a hill so steep that its defenses seemed impregnable. On both occasions enemy troops scaled the precipice by night and found that the over-confident Sardinians had set no guard.  A great earthquake in AD 17 made a profound impression.  But the city was soon rebuilt, partly owing to generous aid from the emperor Tiberius.

~ Leon Morris, Revelation, p. 75.

The wealthy city of Sardis was actually in two locations.  The city had been built on a mountain.  When its population outgrew that spot, a new section had been built in the valley below.  The newer section of the city boasted a theater, a stadium, and a huge temple to Artemis that had been started but never finished.  The older city on the mountain had an acropolis and had become an emergency refuge for the city’s inhabitants when under attack.  Sardis was also known for its impressive necropolis, or cemetery, with hundreds of burial mounds.

Sardis has been one of the most powerful cities in the ancient world due to the heavy trade among the Aegean islands. Gold and silver coins were first minted at Sardis.  The city also claimed to have discovered the art of dyeing wool. . .

Sardis had declined, however, by the time of the Roman Empire.  Sardis had requested the honor of building a temple to Caesar, but they were refused, and the honor went to Smyrna instead.  The wealth of the city eventually led to moral decadence.  The city had become lethargic, its past splendor a decaying memory.

~ Bruce B. Barton, et. al., Revelation: Life Application Bible Commentary, p. 37-38.

He who has an ear let him hear.

This formula occurs at the conclusion of each of the seven proclamations (2:11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22) and occurs in variant form in Rev 13:9.  Placed at the conclusion of the seven letters, this expression functions as a proclamation formula, i.e., as an injunction to the audience to pay attention to the message that has (or will be) delivered. . .

Proclamation formulas often introduce OT prophetic oracles, such as “Hear the word of Yahweh” (1 Kgs 22:19; 1 Chr 18:18; Amos 7:16; Jer 29:20; 42:15), often with the name of the recipient in the vocative (Jer 2:4; 7:2; 19:3; 22:11; Ezek 6:3; 13:2; 21:3). The proclamation formula, probably derived from usage in public assemblies and in courts of law (see Mic 6:2; Jer 2:4), was used to introduce instruction in the law (Prov 4:1; Job 13:6; 33:1, 31; 34:2, 16; Isa 49:1; 51:4) and instruction in wisdom (Deut 32:1; Prov 7:24; Ps 49:1; Isa 28:23). . .

The formula “Let the person with an ear” . . . occurs seven times in the synoptic Gospels (Mark 4:9, 23; Matt 11:15; 13:9, 43; Luke 8:8; 14:35) and six additional times as variant readings (Mark 7:16; Matt 25:29; Luke 8:15; 12:21; 13:9; 21:4).

~ David E. Aune, Revelation 1-5: Word Biblical Commentary, p. 150.

Thoughts and Observations

It is good to guard our spiritual heritage, but we must not embalm it.  It is not enough to be true to the faith and have a great history.  That faith must produce life and works.

~ Warren W. Wiersbe

14 "You will soon arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you, and you will conquer it and settle there. Then you may begin to think, 'We ought to have a king like the other nations around us.' 15 If this happens, be sure that you select as king the man the LORD your God chooses. You must appoint a fellow Israelite, not a foreigner. 16 The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself, and he must never send his people to Egypt to buy horses there, for the LORD has told you, 'You must never return to Egypt.' 17 The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will lead him away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate vast amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.

18 When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy these laws on a scroll for himself in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 He must always keep this copy of the law with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the LORD his God by obeying all the terms of this law. 20 This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. This will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.” ~ Deuteronomy 17:14-20, NLT

Suggested Application

·     Talk of Jesus with someone.

·     Continue reading Revelation.

·    Pay attention to Jesus’ promises for each of the churches (Rev. 2-3).

·     Keep a Bible verse(s) where you’ll see it throughout the day.

·    Encourage someone this week.

·     Read the Bible everyday this week.

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