040206 To the Church at Sardis
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
Nothing Can Separate Us From the Love of God (in Christ Jesus)
Wake Up Chapter 3:1-6 April 2, 5
Jesus Possesses the Seven Spirits of God and the Seven Stars
To the Church in Sardis
3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him iwho has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
Isa 11:2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation jof being alive, kbut you are dead.
What a startling statement for a church to hear. Only the reputation is life. The reality of their situation is death.
2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works lcomplete in the sight of my God.
When I was growing up on my parent’s dairy farm, my dad used to wake me up by stepping into my bedroom and hollering “George! Time to get up.” That was the first and the last call I would get. Now it didn’t matter whether I wanted to get up or not. When dad chimed, the whole world better be ready. Only one time did I not respect his authority. What fell upon me next was unforgettably painful. Thank God, our heavenly father is not quite that way. When He commands us to do something, he at the same time gives that measure of His Holy Spirit to embrace and empower us to action. So even if there is only a little strength left, and that ready to die, He breathes life into us. Remember, Jesus is the one who holds the seven Spirits of God. And, as we confess in the Nicene Creed, it is the Holy Spirit who gives life and proceeds from the Father and the Son. I find that so comforting and assuring. It awakens me to the desire of God to help me. It even informs me that the Spirit who gives life to the Church is still with me, albeit in my sad, nearly dead condition.
3 mRemember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, nI will come olike a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
Those who remember His Word and promise receive the very thing they need—strength and alertness that restores and keeps them in true faith. Apart from that faith, it is not possible to please God, no matter what we might do. And apart from faith, it is not possible to know when the Lord will come and demand an accounting of our works.
Perhaps it is good for us at Trinity, considering our own weakened condition, to apply these truths to ourselves. Are we asleep? Are we prepared for the Lord’s sudden arrival? Do we possess the strength to overcome such mundane things as financial bankruptcy, low attendance, and a down-in-the-mouth outlook regarding our existence. If we are depending on a reputation that might have fit us 50 years ago, then it is highly unlikely that we will be able to overcome this earthbound obstacles. But think about this, perhaps it is a good thing for us to have a reputation of already being dead. Why? Because that opens up the opportunity for us to become an example of God’s Spirit working mightily in us and with us.
Just think about what it would look like to see our faith community growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Just think about what it would look like to see more activity and activities happening right here! Can it happen? Under our little power, our little strength, our little faith, it cannot. However, with everybody doing some little part, that makes the things that seem overwhelming much more manageable for each of us. Remember, Jesus holds the seven spirits and the seven stars. And no matter what our condition—except for unbelief—He has both the power and the authority to bestow life and restore faith. Wake up, He says! To which we say, “Jesus you are the one whose power and majesty and glory and Spirit gives life to us in this place—hear our plea for your beloved Spirit whereby we obtain wisdom and understanding, good counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”
4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not psoiled their garments, and they will walk with me qin white, for they are rworthy.
Thank God for His mercy and grace. Thank God, there are always a few, who have not given up what they have in Christ Jesus. Thank God, they are awake and filled with the hope that is found only in Jesus Christ. Thank God, that the few we have in this place whose faith has not faltered and whose spirit is guided by God’s Spirit. Who are these people? YOU ARE! God be praised for you.
5 sThe one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never tblot his name out of uthe book of life. vI will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
In Christ Jesus you are all conquerors. How do I know that? It is because you all have received a promise from God. It was made at your baptism. He promised us His Holy Spirit. That Spirit is here today, working through God’s word to assure us that in Jesus Christ—through faith in His name—the mundane things in life that cause us trouble are no trouble to the Lord.
We can be assured, then, as we go to the voter’s assembly after church today that God is with us. His Spirit is always with those who call upon His name. He is with you who make the good confession of faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. So, the more of you who go to the voter’s assembly, the greater the confession and witness of Trinity before men, that we are indeed clothed in the white garment of Christ’s perfect righteousness. It shows that you do have a heart for the mission God has called His Church to do, bear witness to His name.
You see, when the Lord calls on each of us to give an account of our works, He isn’t going to care about how many voter’s assemblies at Trinity we attended. He does care about how the assembly has confessed His name and how each one participated in that.
6 sHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Thank God, then, that we also have an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. God gave us that ear to hear when He bestowed his Spirit on us. And because Jesus possesses the seven spirits of God, we know that he also hears our plea for mercy and grace to continue in His name. Amen.
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i See ch. 1:4, 16
j 1 Tim. 5:6
k See Luke 15:24
l Acts 14:26
m [2 Tim. 1:13]
n ch. 2:5
o ch. 16:15; Matt. 24:43; 1 Thess. 5:2, 4; 2 Pet. 3:10
p Jude 23
q ch. 6:11; 7:9; [Eccles. 9:8]
r [Luke 20:35]
s See ch. 2:7
t See Ex. 32:32
u ch. 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; Phil. 4:3
v Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8
s [See ver. 5 above]