The church of Sardis thought they were alive, but Jesus says they are dead. It sounds like an arrogant church. It sounds like a church that is wrapped up in works and ministry but neglect faith and love. It sounds like a church full of hypocrisy or one that just doesn’t understand the gospel. We as a church need to practice serving others, but it is not about making a name for ourselves, but giving God the glory and pointing others to Christ. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and to live according to what God’s word says.
Revelation 3:1-6
“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. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 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. 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. 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. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘
Jesus mentions that He is holding the 7 spirits and the 7 stars. He could be referring to the churches. He could be saying He has authority over them and the angels. As in Revelation 1, the seven stars are the 7 angels that look over the churches. Throughout the Bible, the number seven represents completeness or perfection. He could be saying that He has authority over all the church. He is the foundation that the church is built on (see Matthew 21:42 and 1 Peter 2:6-8). The 7 spirits could also represent the Holy Spirit. As Jesus tells us in the gospels, after His resurrection, He sent us the Holy Spirit, who lives in every believer. The 7 Spirits can represent the Holy Spirit, in which God pours on each of us. We have access to the whole, entire Holy Spirit and His power.
John 16:4-15
But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. “And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
Romans 8:11-17
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Maybe this is Jesus’ point. The church in Sardis is dead, but Jesus has the power and authority to make them alive. If they just turn to Him and trust in Him instead of the things of the world, and live by the Spirit and not the flesh, they could be alive. I think many churches today are becoming more like a country club or social gathering, and less like a church family. Many churches try to bring people in by activities and events and sugar-coat the message instead of preaching and teaching the true gospel, and being lead by the spirit to bring the love of Christ to others and guiding them to Him. Our focus should be on worshipping God, loving others, and sharing the gospel. Jesus says to watch and be ready. I don’t think He means to just stand back and do nothing for His kingdom.
Matthew 24:36-43
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Matthew 25:1-13
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
A big part of being ready is to live righteously, according to God’s word, to follow the Holy Spirit. I believe that is what is meant by having clean garments.
Revelation 19:6-9
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
Therefore, let us watch and be ready. As a church let us prepare for His coming. Let us be alive and not dead. Let us guide others to life and praise God.
My Daily Scriptures 