Dynamic Life Baptist Ministries - Pastor Victor Clay

Sermon Title: The Hypocritical Church
Sermon Text: Revelation 3:1-6
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to revive themselves by repenting of their lifestyle of hypocrisy.
Sermon Proposition: There are 5 exhortations given to the hypocritical church.

1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."' Revelation 3:1-6 (NKJV)

Introduction: The Hypocritical Church / The Church in Sardis (Additional information)

1. The consultation to the hypocrite church. v.1a
   
   

2. The condemnation to the hypocrite church. v.1b

   • The dead church has 6 symptoms.

   • The dead church is content to rest on its past laurels, concerned with liturgical forms, rather than Spiritual realities. (2 Timothy 3:5)

   • The dead church focuses on curing social ills rather than changing people's hearts through preaching and accountability.

   • The dead church is more concerned with material things rather than Spiritual things.

   • The dead church is concerned with what men think rather than with what God said.

   • The dead church is more concerned about doctrinal creed and systems of theology, than they are with the Word of God.

   • The dead church has lost its conviction that every word of the Bible is the Word of God Himself.

   • The dead church becomes complacent and lethargic in the study of God's Word and prayer and spiritual growth.

   • The dead church is void of the Spirit. (Judges 16:20; Galations 5:16, 25)

   
   

3. The command to the hypocrite church. v.2-3

   • The 1^st command is to be watchful. v.2a (Matthew 24:42-43)

   • The 2^nd command is to be strengthened. v.2b (James 2:14, 4:17)

   • The 3^rd command is to remember v.3a (Jeremiah 48:10)

   • Remember what you received. (Mark 8:36; Luke 14:26-29)

   • Remember what you heard. (1 John 1:1-4)

   • The 4^th command is to hold fast v.3b (2 Peter 3:15-16; 1 Timothy 6:20-21)

   • The 5^th command is to repent v.3c

   
   

4. The consolation to the dead church. v.4

   • The recognition of their practiced purity. v.4a (James 1:27; Matthew 22:11; Jude 23)

   • The recognition of their practiced holiness v.4b (Revelation 7:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

   
   

5. The counsel to the dead church. v.5-6

   • The promise of celebration clothing. v.5a (Isaiah 61:10; Zechariah 3:4)

   • The promise of Christ's confession. v.5b (Luke 10:20; Revelation 20:15, 21:27; Matthew 10:32)