Welcome, dear friends, to this sacred space, a sanctuary where we gather, not just as a congregation, but as a family. This is a place where we come together, bound by our shared faith, our shared love for Christ, and our shared desire to grow closer to Him. Today, we find ourselves standing on the threshold of a profound discussion, one that will lead us to a deeper understanding of our spiritual lives and the path we tread in our pursuit of Christ.
[Title: Revive Your Dead Spirit]
Our focus today is drawn from the book of Revelation, specifically Revelation 3:1-6. This passage, though often overlooked, holds a profound message for us all. It is a message that resonates in our hearts and echoes in the depths of our souls. It is a message that calls us to take stock, to evaluate where we stand, and to renew our commitment to Christ.
“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.” ’
Revelation 3:1-6
In this passage, we hear a call to recognize spiritual decline, to reconnect with Christ, and to be receptive to the Holy Spirit. This is not an easy task, but it is one that we are called to undertake, not just as individuals, but as a community of believers.
As we embark on this discussion, I am reminded of the words of the great Christian author, J.I. Packer, who once said, "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord." This quote speaks volumes about the importance of recognizing our spiritual state and striving to strengthen our relationship with Christ.
Now, let's embark on this discussion, not as a task or a chore, but as an opportunity to grow, to learn, and to draw closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Recognizing Spiritual Decline
When we look at the church in Sardis, we see a community that was once vibrant and full of life. They were known for their deeds, their actions, and their commitment to the faith. But something had changed. They had a reputation of being alive, but they have become spiritually dead. This is a stark reminder for us all. We can be active in our churches, we can be involved in various ministries, we can even be known for our good deeds, but if our spiritual life is not thriving, if our relationship with Christ is not growing, then we are no different from the church in Sardis.
The first thing we need to understand is that spiritual decline is not something that happens overnight. It's a gradual process, often so subtle that we don't even realize it's happening until it's too late. It starts with small compromises, little deviations from the path of righteousness. We start to neglect our prayer life, we start to skip our Bible study, we start to prioritize worldly things over spiritual things. Before we know it, we are far from where we once were, spiritually speaking.
An old man was lying on his deathbed. He had only hours to live when he suddenly smelled chocolate chip cookies. He loved chocolate chip cookies more than anything in the world, so with his last bit of energy, he pulled himself out of bed, struggled across the floor to the stairs, and headed down the stairs into the kitchen. There his wife was baking cookies. As he reached for one, his wife smacked him. “Leave those alone,” she said. “They’re for the funeral!”
Now, I use this illustration to show how our worldly endeavors, although we believe they are being used for Godly purposes, get in the way of the purpose of our worship and service. The wife was so consumed with preparing for the funeral that she forgot all about the one who was dying. We too fall into this trap when we emphasize tradition over simply preaching and teaching the Word of God. We fall into this trap when we place more emphasis on church hierarchy and less on serving the people. We too, like the wife smack the hand of the person simply seeking to know Jesus because we believe they have not gone through the proper process.
The second thing we need to understand is that spiritual decline is not just an individual problem, it's a community problem. The church in Sardis was not just a collection of individuals, it was a community of believers. When one member of the community was spiritually declining, it affected the entire community. This is why it's so important for us to be vigilant, not just for our own spiritual health, but for the spiritual health of our community as well.
The third thing we need to understand is that spiritual decline is not irreversible. The message to the church in Sardis was not a message of condemnation, but a message of hope. Let’s look again at those words in verse 2.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
These words remind us that no matter how far we have fallen, no matter how spiritually dead we may feel, there is always hope for renewal, for revival, for resurrection. So, get back to praying, get back to studying, get back to trusting that God can make it right.
The fourth thing we need to understand is that spiritual decline is not without consequences. If we do not wake up, if we do not strengthen what remains, if we do not repent, then we will face the consequences. But if we do wake up, if we do strengthen what remains, if we do repent, then we will be victorious. We will walk with Christ, dressed in white, acknowledged before the Father and his angels.
So, as we reflect on the message to the church in Sardis, let us be mindful of our own spiritual state. Let us be vigilant, not just for ourselves, but for our community as well. Let us be hopeful, knowing that no matter how far we have fallen, there is always hope for renewal. And let us be aware of the consequences, knowing that our actions, or lack thereof, have eternal implications.
Reconnecting with Christ
During our spiritual journey, it's easy to lose sight of our connection with Christ. We may find ourselves going through the motions, attending church, praying, and reading the Bible, but lacking the deep, personal relationship with Jesus that we once had. This disconnect can leave us feeling empty, lost, and confused. It's in these moments that we must make a conscious effort to reconnect with Christ, to rekindle our relationship with Him, and to reignite the flame of faith that burns within us.
The first step in reconnecting with Christ is to acknowledge our need for Him. I left verse 2 on the screen because it is a much-needed warning for us. This is a call to action, a call to recognize our spiritual state and to take steps to strengthen our relationship with Christ. It's a reminder that we are not self-sufficient, that we cannot navigate this life on our own. We need Christ. We need His guidance, His strength, His love, and His grace. Acknowledging our need for Christ is the first step in reconnecting with Him.
Once we've acknowledged our need for Christ, the next step is to seek Him. Let’s look at Matthew 7:7.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Seeking Christ means making a conscious effort to draw closer to Him. It means spending time in prayer, reading and meditating on His Word, and seeking His guidance in all areas of our life. It's not a passive process, but an active pursuit of Christ and His will for our lives.
The final step in reconnecting with Christ is to surrender to Him. This means letting go of our own plans, our own desires, and our own will, and submitting to Christ's will for our lives. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus tells His disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Surrendering to Christ means giving Him control of our lives, trusting Him to guide us, and following Him wherever He leads.
The Greek word for "wake up" in Revelation 3:2 is ???????? (gregoreo), which means to watch, to be vigilant, or to stay awake. This word is used several times in the New Testament, often in the context of spiritual vigilance. For example, in 1 Peter 5:8, Peter uses the same word when he warns believers to "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." In this context, ???????? (gregoreo) is a call to spiritual vigilance, to be on guard against the schemes of the devil.
In addition to acknowledging our need for Christ, seeking Him, and surrendering to Him, reconnecting with Christ also involves repentance. In Revelation 3:3, Christ tells the church in Sardis to "Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent." Repentance is not just about feeling sorry for our sins, but about turning away from them and turning back to Christ. It's about acknowledging our sins, confessing them to Christ, and seeking His forgiveness.
Reconnecting with Christ involves living a life that reflects our faith in Him. Let’s look back at verse 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.
Living a life that reflects our faith in Christ means striving to live a life of purity, integrity, and righteousness. It means living a life that honors Christ and reflects His love to those around us. Let’s face it folks, as we look at ourselves, we see a major reconstruction in the works, because we know ourselves, we know our deeds. But the great thing is, as insurmountable a task we think this to be, changing ourselves to live right, not that once we submit ourselves to Jesus, He does the heavy lifting, He brings about the transformation…all we do is allow Him.
Receptiveness to the Holy Spirit
This is a theme that runs like a golden thread through the fabric of the Bible, a theme that underscores the importance of maintaining an open heart and mind to the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Now, let's consider the idea of falling away from Christ. This is a state of spiritual decline, a state where we lose touch with the divine presence of Christ in our lives. This is not a sudden event, but a gradual process, a slow erosion of our spiritual vitality. It's like a tree that slowly withers away, its leaves falling one by one, until it stands bare and lifeless. This is a state that we must strive to avoid, for it leads us away from the path of righteousness and into the wilderness of spiritual desolation.
The first aspect to consider in avoiding this state of spiritual decline is the importance of maintaining a constant connection with the Holy Spirit. This is not a sporadic or intermittent connection, but a continuous, unbroken link, a link that keeps us anchored to the divine presence of Christ. This connection is like a lifeline, a lifeline that keeps us afloat in the turbulent seas of life. It is through this connection that we receive divine guidance, divine wisdom, and divine strength. It is through this connection that we can navigate the complexities of life with grace and fortitude.
In the words of the respected Christian writer, A.W. Tozer, "The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people." This quote underscores the importance of maintaining a constant connection with the Holy Spirit. It is not an optional extra, but an integral part of our spiritual lives.
The second aspect to consider in avoiding this state of spiritual decline is the importance of being receptive to the Holy Spirit. This is not a passive state, but an active one, a state where we are open to the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is a state where we are willing to listen, willing to learn, and willing to follow the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is a state where we are not just hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word.
Now, let's consider the third aspect of avoiding this state of spiritual decline, the importance of being responsive to the Holy Spirit. This is not a reactive state, but a proactive one, a state where we are not just open to the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit, but actively seeking it. This is a state where we are not just willing to listen, but eager to listen, eager to learn, and eager to follow the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is a state where we are not just doers of the Word, but practitioners of the Word.
The final aspect to consider in avoiding this state of spiritual decline is the importance of being reliant on the Holy Spirit. This is not a dependent state, but an interdependent one, a state where we recognize our need for the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is a state where we are not just practitioners of the Word, but disciples of the Word. This is a state where we are not just followers of Christ, but ambassadors of Christ.
So, as we continue to navigate the complexities of life, let's strive to maintain a constant connection with the Holy Spirit, to be receptive to the Holy Spirit, to be responsive to the Holy Spirit, and to be reliant on the Holy Spirit. Let's strive to avoid the state of spiritual decline and to walk the path of righteousness. Let's strive to be not just hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word, not just practitioners of the Word, but disciples of the Word, not just followers of Christ, but ambassadors of Christ.
Conclusion
As we draw this discussion to a close, let's remember that our God is a God of second chances, a God of renewal, and a God of life. He doesn't want us to remain in a state of spiritual decline, but rather, He calls us to wake up, to strengthen what remains, and to complete our unfinished deeds. He calls us to remember what we've received and heard, to hold it fast, and to repent.
God's love for us is so great that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us so that we might have eternal life. And it's this love, this incredible, unfathomable love, that should motivate us to live our lives for Him, to strive to be more like Him each day.
Let's not forget that we're not alone on this journey. We have each other, and we have the Holy Spirit to guide us, to comfort us, and to help us in our spiritual growth. So, let's encourage one another, let's lift each other up, and let's walk together in this journey of faith.
