"To the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'The words of Him who has the seven spirits and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die... Remember, then what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.'" (portions of Revelation 3:1-6) Imagine strolling along a beach and coming across a body lying in the surf. Unsure if they're alive or dead, you'd immediately begin the process of searching for vital signs: you'd look at their eyes, you'd listen for breath, you'd feel for a heartbeat. In the same way, Jesus examines the church in Sardis to find out if there's life left in the church. Sardis was a church overrun by inoffensiveness... ignored by the Romans, they were (in the words of one commentator) "too harmless to be worth persecuting." Their witness was ineffective because they had forgotten one thing: when we share in Christ's life, we reflect Christ's glory. Jesus calls the church to "wake up" from their slumbering... and he does so by examining three vital signs of the church:
1. Breath: the Spirit revives the Church. Jesus tells the folks in Sardis that He alone holds the church (the seven stars). He holds them and sees their weaknesses. Like a guard asleep at his post, the Christians of Sardis needed to remember that Jesus not only held them, He held the Spirit (the "seven spirits of God"- representing the fullness of God's presence.) Echoing the New Testament's theme that only the Spirit of God gives life (John 6:63, Romans 8:2, Galatians 6:8), Jesus calls us to a desperation for the activity of the Spirit in our lives.
- As a church we need to remember that the Spirit revives our Church... are we daily looking to the Spirit for our vitality as a church? We've implemented two indispensable aspects to our church calendar: our "20-40 meeting" on Sundays before our service (9:20-9:40) and our "Worship and Prayer Night" on Fridays- first one's coming up on the 24th at SGC. In addition, let's make sure that our CG's are defined and highlighted by a desperation for God's Spirit to meet with us corporately.
- The most important thing we can hope in isn't what we have to do but what the King has done for us! As a church, we're called to love God by celebrating, proclaiming, and living out the message of the gospel. All over the country, the gospel is being watered down, marginalized, and forgotten. Do you have confidence when you share the gospel that others need to hear and be encouraged by this one truth? If not, what do you need to do in order to restore your confidence so that you can witness more freely?
- Our sins will be atoned for, our failings will be made up for, our final destiny is to have our names written in the book of life (which Revelation 13 and 20 link to the Lamb who was slain). When you struggle with your sins or shortcomings, it revives us to remember that Christ's blood will forever cover everything. How can you fix your gaze on our eternal hope- the final work of the gospel?
- Take a morning to cry out to the Spirit for life.
- Take a morning to review and remember the gospel.
- Take a morning to fix your eyes on eternity.
Darren
