The Church of Sardis
The Church of Sardis received only rebuke from the Lord and no compliments. Outwardly, it had a famous name, a large size, and appeared successful, but inwardly it was spiritually dead. They had lost holiness and purity, trapped by pride, tradition, and a sense of authority, unable even to recognize their shame. They had neither the joy of the gospel nor the power of the Holy Spirit, and were in a filthy, decaying state.
The Church of Sardis was like a fig tree with many leaves but no fruit, a church that had lost the gospel. Even today, Sardis represents the “church that claims to live but is actually dead.” Such churches show little spiritual growth, maintain religious forms, but lack the true life and power of God.
However, there were a few who remained spiritually alive even in Sardis. These were those who overcame death with life, walking with the Lord in white robes, their names written in the Book of Life. Now is the time to return to the gospel. We must remember how we received it, what we heard, and repent.
1) Christ as the Head of the Church of Sardis
To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. (Revelation 3:1a)
》Prayer Point
1. Jesus Christ is the Lord of the whole universe, holding the seven spirits of God and the seven stars (the messengers of the seven churches). The church is meant to be a holy temple where the Holy Spirit dwells, shining the Lord’s glory like stars and pushing back the darkness of the world. But if the church only appears alive on the outside while dying inside through sin and corruption, where can life and light be found? Let us examine ourselves. Even if we are dead and rotten like dry bones, God can revive us fully through the life of Jesus. Let us decide and pray today for us and our church to wake up and revive.
7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:7–9,NIV)
2) The Church of Christ Is a Victorious Church
Let us proclaim by faith that the church, as the body of the Lord, is victorious and cannot be defeated by the gates of hell.
》Scripture Prayer
(Revelation 3:1b-6) 1b I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.
3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.
5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. Let us thank God who never gives up on His church, even when it has become corrupted and seems dead, because of His unchanging love. When everyone else gives up, God searches for even the smallest trace of life, calls it out, disciplines it, and invites it to repentance because we are not strangers but beloved sons. Just as the prodigal son remembered how he had received and heard, rose up, and returned to the Father after wasting everything and falling into ruin, we too must return to the gospel. Let us pray that we return to the cross where Christ proved God’s love by dying for us while we were still sinners.
2. God has promised that the name of the victorious church, which keeps its faith in the gospel pure and is clothed in righteousness, will be written in the Book of Life. That name will never be erased, and Jesus Christ will acknowledge His church as His bride before God and the angels. Let us pray that we will be a church that, even while still in the world, follows Christ faithfully and preaches the gospel to awaken dead souls to repentance. Since we do not know when Jesus will come like a thief, let us pray for wise and vigilant churches in Korea and around the world, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, to rise up.
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