CHURCH AT SARDIS

Revelation 3:1 '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.'

The Lord spoke to the Church in Sardis which is situated in Asia minor. It is very important that church receives the word of God. Sardis is the fourth of the seven churches mentioned addressed in the book of revelation. Sardis was a key city in Asia minor. It was a wealthy city located in the junction of important roads and trade routes. If this church is located in this place which means it should be wealthy and luxurious. Historically, the people lived over there lived a luxurious lifestyle. Wealth and luxury are a dangerous combination as it leads to sin and immorality. They had large temple for the mother goddess, Cybele which is well known for immorality. The temple also had large pillars that were very famous. The city also had deep cliffs providing a natural protection from invaders. The Church at Sardis had all these highlights and features yet it receives the word of the Lord. When the church was in the worst state it receives the word of the God and also the warning which led them.

WOKE CHURCH

Revelation 3:1 '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.'

From the word of the Lord, we can understand the church should be a woke church. A church should not be dead but full of life. Jesus acknowledges that the Church received a name in the city that are alive. People around the church refer this church to be alive from their perspective. From the eyes of the people, they were full of life with unity and orderliness. They were looking perfect but only to the eyes of man. But in the above passage, we read the Lord considers this to be dead church. We might be lifeless in front of people but we need to earn a testimony from the Lord God that we are alive. There are certain churches which might look full of life from a distance but only when we get closer we can notice the fault. The church in the mind of God is church which is alive. In the woke church is a church which does things according to the word of the Lord.

In general, how can we identify if a person is alive? how do we test if they are alive? We can check the pulse in the wrist to know if the heart beats are in tact or we can also check by shining bright light into our eyes. If we do these two things we can identify if a person is alive or not. Similarly, for any church the hear beat and vision is important. Our heart beat should be to do the will of God. We read in Ephesians 2:1 'And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins..' If we have sins and trespasses in our hearts there is no life. A heart which is got a life of God will not have room for sins. A living church will not have any trespasses or sins. If a church is tolerant to sins, it cannot be alive. The entire world may accept saying it is not a sin, but if the scripture says it is sin then it is a sin. We read in Galatians 2:20 'I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.' When we have Christ in our hearts, we can live victoriously. Secondly our vision. It will lead the entire church. We need to preach the gospel of Christ, create disciples of Jesus and represent Jesus by serving our community. When these becomes our heartbeat and vision, we will be a living church in the sight of Christ.

WATCHFUL CHURCH

Revelation 3:2 'Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.'

A church which is in the mind of the Lord is watchful. Since the church at Sardis was not watchful it was dead. We need to watchful against sins and things that happen around us. Unless we are vigilant, we cannot identify what is happening to our family and children. We need to cautious to the things that try to destroy our life and power of godliness. Earlier the Lord referred to the church as dead but here the Lord wants to strengthen certain things that are fading away. We might have a little faith, a little hope the Lord is able to make it grow. The Lord saw the little things that were remaining in the church at Sardis and he wanted to strengthen them. Even in our lives, we might have a very little things to offer but we need to believe the Lord will strengthen. We saw Sardis had huge walls and pillars were there to protect the land. King Cyrus challenged his army and soldiers to try to invade the city by climbing over the wall. A soldier studied the gates and walls carefully and found there is a secret place to reach inside. He planned meticulously and captured the city of Sardis. When the city was not vigilant, it was plundered by the enemies. What happened to the city is what happened to the church. When they failed to be watchful, sins crept in. Only when we are vigilant, we can receive the blessings of God. We are doing many things for God but the Lord expects a purpose and right heart. Only when you have the right intent and heart our works will be perfect. The church which is in the mind of God is having the abundance of God's love. We read in I John 4:18 'There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.' The love world brings will have shortfalls , confusions and fights. The love of God is perfect and it will cast out fear. We also read in Isaiah 26:3 'You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.' For a watchful church, there is perfect love and peace. Without perfect love we cannot be a church which is in the mind of God.

WALKING CHURCH

Revelation 3:4 '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.'

The church which is in the mind of God is a walking church. Walking refers to our lifestyle. We do not have to walk alone, we can walk with the Lord. We read in Genesis 5:24, Enoch walked with God. When a church has a good fellowship with God, it can walk with God. In the above passage we read they shall walk with me in white which denotes the triumph of Romans. When we walk with God with pureness in heart, we will be a triumphant church. When we escape ourselves from sins , we will be rewarded with the experience of walking with God. We read in Matthew 5:8 'Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.' We get to know God more deeply when we have a pure heart. In short, there are three things on how we need to walk with God. Firstly, we read in II Corinthians 5:7 'For we walk by faith, not by sight.' The church should believe on the Lord and walk by faith.

Secondly, we read in Galatians 5:16 'I say then: Walk in the Spirit..' The church should walk in the spirit.

Thirdly, we read in I John 1:17 'But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.' The church should walk in the light of God and we will have fellowship with one another. Let us re-direct our paths to walk likewise to receive the perfect things from the Lord. Amen.