Are you awake this morning?
I'll be honest, my eyes were a little fuzzy and my voice is cracking this morning. I had a hard time waking up. Yesterday, we moved my daughter into her dorm room at the University of West Georgia. We started early, and by the time we were driving home, a deluge of rain brokethat lasted about an hour while we were driving. It was stressful and draining. We were driving 30 miles an hour from Rome to home. In fact, we were on the interstate doing 30 or 40 when we decided to get off early, thinking slower roads would be better.
But Cleveland Highway was flooded. We had to turn around, go all the way back, and still go home the long way. Strangely, when we finally arrived, our rain gauge said zero. Not a drop. Roads were dry. Just a few miles south--flooded! Amazing how storms can hit one spot so hard and leave another untouched.
Needless to say, I was tired. My back hurt. I took medicine for back pain, went to bed thinking I’d sleep well—and I did—but woke up groggy. So yes, I’m still trying to wake up. And I think the Lord has a sense of humor, because that’s exactly what today’s message is about.
Sardis was a real first-century church in what is now modern-day Turkey. Jesus dictated a letter to them, saying plainly, “Wake up.” He didn’t sugarcoat it.
Here’s what He said in Revelation 3:1–6:
Revelation 3:1-6
1 “Write this letter to the angel[a] of
the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold
Spirit[b] 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. 2 Wake
up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I
find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. 3 Go
back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and
turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as
unexpected as a thief.
4 “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not
soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are
worthy. 5 All who are victorious will be clothed in
white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will
announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.
6 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and
understand what he is saying to the churches.
By now, we know the One dictating letters to the seven Churches is Jesus. So with each new letter, we learn more about Jesus. In this passage, Jesus says He is: “…the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God.” The NASB and other translations say, “seven spirits of God”.
This can be confusing at first glance, but it’s really very
simple. This “sevenfold Spirit of God”
is the Holy Spirit. There is only One
Spirit, but saying “seven spirits” or “sevenfold Spirit” is just a mystical way
of saying the Holy Spirit who has certain major characteristics.
Some scholars also point to Isaiah 11:2, where we see 7 characteristics of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Might, Knowledge, Fear of the Lord, and Delight in the Fear of the Lord.
You'll notice that Fear is mentioned twice. Let me pause on that phrase—“the fear of the Lord.” Think of standing at the edge of something glorious and overwhelming—like Glacier National Park or the Grand Canyon or Cloudland Canyon here in Georgia. You feel awe at the magnificence of God's creation and a healthy fear of falling in all at the same time. That’s what it means to “fear the Lord”—it’s reverent awe. It's "Oooo!" and "Oh!" all at the same time. The Spirit of God delights in that.
Sardis had a good Reputation. The were known as an active church, alive for God.
But Jesus saw through the facade. He had some harsh words for Sardis: “You look alive, but are really dead. Almost completely dead.”
They were “really dead” because they: “… soiled their clothes with evil.”
Clothing is a symbol for a person’s character.
Most of the people in the Sardis church had defiled their character
through sinful behavior, moral compromise, or unrepentant living.
They were going through the motions, but without true faith. They blended into the surrounding culture instead of standing out in holiness. They looked “good” by the world’s standards—but not by God’s.
And worst of all, they were unrepentant. Instead of turning away from sin, they covered it up and kept going—playing the part, but living falsely. Jesus warned them clearly: “Wake up. Repent before it’s too late.”
Closing
This message applies directly to us.
First, we need to have true faith in Jesus—not just for show, not just when people are looking. Real, authentic faith, lived out even when no one’s watching.
Second, we must not soil our garments. Avoid the sin you know you should avoid. Don’t compromise. If God says, “Go this way,” don’t go the other. Live by God’s standards, not the world’s.
Third, and maybe most importantly, when we mess up—and we all do—we must repent quickly.
· What Is Repentance?
Repentance isn’t just feeling sorry. It’s not just regret. It’s turning around—changing direction. If you’re going the wrong way and God shows you the truth, don’t just feel bad about it. Turn around. Do what’s right.
And here’s the good news: when we truly repent, Jesus forgives. He doesn’t hold a grudge. No matter how long you’ve been living the wrong way—20, 30, 40 years—He’ll forgive it all. He sees the direction you’re going now. And He will welcome you to go the right way if your repent.
But don’t fake it. Don’t say, “I repent,” and keep walking the same sinful path. That’s not repentance. Jesus says, “Repent of your sins. Then come, follow me.”
Holy Communion
In Holy
Communion, we remember what Christ did for us so we can repent.
Jesus died on the cross to give us a chance to repent of sin and turn to God
and be forgiven.
Just and bread and wine nourishes our body, the sacrament of Holy Communion
nourishes our soul and strengthens us to repent and walk with Jesus as
disciples.
If you need to repent, do it today.
And let this sacrament nourish and strengthen you to walk with the Lord from
this day forward.
