Memory verse: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” Revelation 3:2 Sardis means “That which remains” or “Escape of the remnant” The church of Sardis begins in 1517 A.D. with Martin Luther, nailing the 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg. This began the protestant reformation.

1. What did Jesus say to the church of Sardis? Revelation 3:1 “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I ________ thy _______, that thou hast a name that thou __________, and ______ _________.” God knows our heart as He did The Christians in Sardis. We may have the name Christian, but the works show if we are alive or dead. “You are a stumbling block to sinners. Your lack of consecration is marked. You are scattering from Christ instead of gathering with Him. If God will help me to tear off your self-righteous garments, I will have hope that you may yet redeem the time and lead exemplary lives. You have been frequently aroused, but as often have sunk back into your former do-nothing, self-righteous condition, having a name to live while you are dead.” 2 Testimonies 175 – 176

2. What did Jesus say they should do? Revelation 3:2 “Be _________, and ____________ the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” “I have a message from God to the sinners in Zion, the ones whom Christ addressed: "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God." You need to offer always the sacred fire; for then Christ's works, His love, His mercy, His righteousness, will ascend before God, as a cloud of holy, fragrant incense, wholly acceptable.” “But strange fire has been offered in the use of harsh words, in self-importance, in self-exaltation, in self-righteousness, in arbitrary authority, in domineering, in oppression, in restricting the liberty of God's people, binding them about by your plans and rules, which God has not framed, neither have they come into His mind. All these things are strange fire, unacknowledged by God, and are a continual misrepresentation of His character.” Testimonies to Ministers 357, 358

3. Jesus tells them to do what, in the first part of Revelation 3:3 “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and ______ __________, and _________. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” This “Hold fast” does not mean Hold fast to your sins. We should hold fast to God promises, of comfort and faith; as well as hope in Jesus. The life we live should be one of continual repentance and humility. We are to pattern our life after Christ life. This way we have continual victory, and Satan can not take us out of Christ’s hand.

4. Revelation 3:3 (Last part) “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not ________, I will come on thee as a ________, and thou shalt not know what _______ ____ will _________ upon thee.” “To all, the testing time will come. By the sifting of temptation, the genuine Christian will be revealed. Are the people of God now so firmly established upon his word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible, and the Bible only? Satan will, if possible, prevent them from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange affairs as to hedge up their way, entangle them with earthly treasures, cause them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged with the cares of this life, and the day of trial may come upon them as a thief.” 4 Spiritual Gifts 443, 444

5. Jesus said there are a few in Sardis, who have not done what? Revelation 3:4 “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not ______ _______ _______; and they shall _______ with me in _______: for they are __________.” Let us look at Zechariah 3:4 We see Joshua in verse 1, stand before the angel of The Lord. In verse 3 He is clothed with filthy garments. In verse 4 these filthy garments are removed and he has a change of raiment. What does this change of filthy garments, to white raiment mean? Let’s go to Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your _______ be as ________, they shall be as _______ as ________; though they be _______ like __________, they shall be as wool.” Revelation 19:8 “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in _______ ________-, _________ and _______: for the fine _________ is the ________ of ________.” When we confess our sins to God, He takes away our sins; or filthy garments and gives us His pure white righteousness that covers us. The church of Sardis began in 1517 A.D. We gave mentioned in the first of this lesson that His was the start of the reformation. Just what was going on at this time? The Church of Rome was introducing into the church the sale of indulgences. This means that you pay to have your sins forgiven, by the priest. This was bringing into the church lots of money. This work was started by Tetzel, who was a friar of the church. “As Tetzel continued his traffic and his impious pretensions, Luther determined upon a more effectual protest against these crying abuses. An occasion soon offered. The castle church of Wittenberg possessed many relics, which on certain holy days were exhibited to the people, and full remission of sins was granted to all who then visited the church and made confession. Accordingly on these days the people in great numbers resorted thither. One of the most important of these occasions, the festival of All Saints, was approaching. On the preceding day, Luther, joining the crowds that were already making their way to the church, posted on its door a paper containing ninety-five propositions against the doctrine of indulgences. He declared his willingness to defend these theses next day at the university, against all who should see fit to attack them.” Great Controversy 129, 130

6. The call is made for the church to overcome, another name we learned earlier for overcome is R __ __ __ __ T. Revelation 3:5 “He that __________, the same shall be _________ in __________ raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” We have two things here: (1) A call for repentance, and (2) A call to hold fast. Let’s look first at overcometh – When we repent of sin, we must also ask God for the power to overcome that sin. We want that sin, out of our life once and for all. “Let no one say, "I cannot overcome my defects of character;" for if this is your decision, then you cannot have eternal life. The impossibility is all in your will. If you will not, that constitutes the cannot. The real difficulty is the corruption of an unsanctified heart, and an unwillingness to submit to the will of God. When there is a determined purpose born in your heart to overcome, you will have a disposition to overcome, and will cultivate those traits of character that are desirable, and will engage in the conflict with steady, persevering effort. You will exercise a ceaseless watchfulness over your defects of character; and will cultivate right practices in little things. The difficulty of overcoming will be lessened in proportion as the heart is sanctified by the grace of Christ. Earnest, persevering effort will place you on the vantage-ground of victory; for he who strives to overcome in and through the grace of Christ, will have divine enlightenment, and will understand how great truths can be brought into little things, and religion can be carried into the little as well as into the large concerns of life.” Youth Instructor Sept 7, 1893

7. What was the promise made to Sardis? Revelation 3:5 (last part) “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and ______ will _____ _______ out his ________ out of the _________ of ________, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” The book of life is the book in heaven where the record of the acts of All our sins; as well as our obedience, and faithful to God’s word. But there comes a time in the judgment when the records are gone over. Some names remain on the books but those with unconfused sins will be blotted out, having our names on the church books, does not save us from having our name blotted out. It’s the way we live each day, our lives should be pleasing to God. This requires a watchfulness and prayer. There will be something’s we must deny ourselves of; but it is as a sacrifice for God. “If your name is registered in the Lamb's book of life, then all will be well with you. Be ready and anxious to confess your faults and forsake them, that your mistakes and sins may go beforehand to judgment and be blotted out.” 5 Testimonies 331

8. What does this call mean “He that hath an ear”? Revelation 3:6 “He that hath an _______, let him _______ what the _______ saith unto the _________.” We are to have an ear so we know the Shepherd’s voice, and follow Him. (Read John 10:27) in Palestine there are many people that herd sheep. Sometimes the shepherds come together. Their sheep mingle and get all mixed up into one large herd. Whose sheep are who’s? How will the shepherd get his sheep separated? All the shepherd has to do is move out away from the sheep and call his sheep. They will separate from the rest of the flock and will follow the shepherd. We must know our shepherd’s voice. We must follow him, where He leads. We need to invite Jesus into our life; and turn our will over to Him. This is what it means by dying to self, and living for Jesus. Summary: Sardis 1517 A.D. – 1755 A.D. or 1789 A.D. a. Verse 1: Saith He that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars. b. Verse 2, 4: Perfect before God, few which have not defiled their garments. c. Verse 1: Livest and art dead (alive but spiritually dead) ready to die. d. Verse 2: Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain. e. Verse 3: I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Probation closes for us, and The Holy Spirit withdraws. f. Verse 3: Repent and hold fast. g. Shall be clothed in white raiment, I will not blot out his name out of The Book of Life.

“When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit. But He will not accept those who claim to have faith in Him and yet are disloyal to His Father's commandment. We hear a great deal about faith, but we need to hear a great deal more about works. Many are deceiving their own souls by living an easy-going, accommodating, crossless religion. But Jesus says, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24).” Selected Messages 1 page 382 “Temptations and deceptions will be constantly brought up by the great deceiver to spoil the work of the human agent, but if he trusts in God, if he is humble and meek and lowly of heart, keeping the way of the Lord, heaven will rejoice, for he will gain the victory. God says, "He shall walk with Me in white, with unsullied garments, for he is worthy" Christ says of the overcomer, "I will not blot out his name out of the book of life." The names of all those who have once given themselves to God are written in the book of life, and their characters are now passing in review before Him. Angels of God are weighing moral worth. They are watching the development of character in those now living, to see if their names can be retained in the book of life. A probation is granted us in which to wash our robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. Who is doing this work? Who is separating from himself sin and selfishness?” 7BC 960

The books of Daniel and the Revelation are one. One is a prophecy, the other a revelation; one a book sealed, the other a book opened. John heard the mysteries which the thunders uttered, but he was commanded not to write them. 7BC 971 “The touch of The Master’s Hand!

‘Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought to scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin but he held it up with a smile.

“What am I bidden, good folk?” he cried, “who‘ll start the bidding for me? A dollar a dollar then two only two

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?”

Going for three dollars?”

but no. From the room far back a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow, then wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loosened strings.

He played a melody pure and sweet as a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said “Now what am I bid for the old violin?” And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand who will make it three?

Three thousand once three thousand twice and going and gone” cried He.

The people cheered, but some of them cried, we do not understand.

“What changed its worth?”

Quick came the reply “The Touch of “The Master’s Hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,

is auctioned cheap, to the thoughtless crowd, Much like the old violin.

A mess of pottage a glass of wine, a game and he travels on;

He is going once and going twice – he going and almost gone!

Never can quite understand the worth of a soul,

and the change that is wrought by the touch of the master’s hand.

Lesson 4

Lesson 6