Wake up! In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares Jesus's message to the church of Sardis. 

Sardis had once been one of the most powerful cities in the world. Unlike the other 7 churches in Revelation, there's no mention of persecution, idolatry, or false teaching, by Jesus but they had gotten complacent.

Revelation 3:1 

The seven stars are symbolic of the seven angels or messengers which refers to the pastor or leader of each church. 

Revelation 3:1-2 

You can fool the crowd, but you can't fool Christ.

They're asleep, so their movement is just sleepwalking. Church activity is not church vitality.

Revelation 3:2-3 

Repentance is a mind change that results in a behavior change. It's turning toward a new direction. It's not just feeling bad, it's doing good. Repentance happens when heart transformation leads to behavior modification.

Revelation 3:4 

God doesn't just examine our actions, He examines our intentions. 

Revelation 3:5-6

Hearing from Jesus always requires a response.

And that's the letter to the church of Sardis and what it meant to them. So, what are the timeless truths for us in this letter, and how can we respond to what Jesus has revealed?

1. Your reputation is not as important as your righteousness.

Matthew 23:27

Yesterday's victories can become today's excuses. We'll be tempted to embrace programs over presence, structure over Spirit, and appearance over anointing. 

There are seasons of rest in the life of a Christian, but there are never seasons of complacency. Yesterday's obedience does not cover today's calling. God isn't impressed by your highlight reel; He is looking for present obedience.

2. Wake up before spiritual drift becomes spiritual death.

Spiritual sleep happens one ignored conviction at a time.

Romans 13:11

Jesus doesn't want to write us off, He wants to wake us up. 

3. Strengthen what remains.

God can do a lot with a spark, but you have to stop pouring water on it and start fanning it into a flame.

Strengthening what remains means you stop coasting and start pursuing God again.

Spiritual renewal does not come from willpower; It comes from the power of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 11:2

Romans 8:11

Revival rarely begins with something spectacular. It usually begins with someone returning to the basics. 

Some of the stars we see shining above us are actually already dead. Because many of them are light-years away, the light they produced years ago is still traveling through space. 

In other words, we may be seeing the glow of something that no longer exists and died years ago.

And that's exactly what Jesus says was happening in Sardis.  

It's the same for us. Church, there are too many "bored-again" Christians who are trapped in the rut of religion, regurgitating Christianese phrases, and mindlessly attending, but not engaging.

Wake up! Strengthen what remains. Repent, and return to the Lord.

Are you spiritually alive, or just known for being spiritually alive?