Sardis the "Dead" Church (Rev. 3:1)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

03/07/2005

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Sardis the “dead” Church

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelations 3:1

 

            Message of the verse:  "WRITE this to the angel of the Church in Sardis: These are the words of him who holds in his hand the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know what you have done, that you have a reputation for being alive, but that in fact you are dead.”  (Philips)  "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: "I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.”  (NLT)

            Again when Christ mentions writing to the “angel” this means to the Pastor or Leader at the church.  The word means messenger, and at times it can mean an angel, and this does not say that the Churches do not have certain angels assigned to them, but it is the Pastor who must be giving the messages to the church, and therefore is who Christ is talking about here.  Christ description of Him comes from the first chapter of this book, as it always does, for His description of Himself is and important tool in understanding what He is talking about here.  “Rev: 1: 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,” and Rev. 1: 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”  (See verse notes on verse Rev. 1:4 & 1:16)

            This church had the reputation of being alive, yet in fact Christ reports that it is dead, as seen in this verse.  The church was living on its past reputation, and that is not good at all, for if you stop growing as a church then you go backwards, and then you can give opportunity for the enemy to come and slow the work completely.  It is uncertain if there were many true believers here who were doing carnal works, or works in the flesh, or if there were actually many unbelievers attending this church, however the fact remains that the churches reputation was life, when in fact it was dead.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think that what I have learned from this verse, and others like it is that in order to please the Lord you must live by the Spirit, and get your directions from Him, and one of the best ways of doing that is to read His Word each and everyday to get direction for my life.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust in the Lord in spite of the circumstances that we find ourselves in with the plane problems.  God is still on His throne and is still in charge of all things.