“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.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] 3 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. 4 You[b] 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. 5 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.
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’ Revelation 3:1-6.
The message the Lord Jesus gives to the church in Sardis is very simple and too the point. At one time the church in Sardis was alive, but has become spiritual dead. The Lord’s call to them is to simple repent and return to the things that once filled them with life.
Again it is important to remember that this message was not only for the church in Sardis, but for the body of Christ throughout history. There are many churches at one time who were filled with the life of the Spirit. They embraced the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit. But over the years they have closed their doors to the work of the Holy Spirit because they have received and believed doctrines not based on the wisdom of God, but based on the fear of man.
If our desire is to be a part of a church that is alive and thriving then we must embrace and submit to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit alone who gives power to the body of Christ. It was through the Holy Spirit alone that Jesus accomplished all that He accomplished while on the earth. As believers in Christ we must honor and embrace all that the Holy Spirit has for us.
Let us pay very close attention to the warning of the Lord. When we are confronted with something that needs to change it is time at that moment to repent. The Lord makes it very clear that if we are unwilling to repent that He will come as a thief in the night. Let us simply learn from God’s word and continually seek His face and His kingdom.
The Father's Heart 