And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; these things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou live, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shall not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shall not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.
Verses 1a. He that has the seven Spirits of God and seven stars. Here, the Lord Jesus began with personal introduction of himself as one in control in his church, though it seems Satan has taken over, but the Lord has the final say over his purchased and possessed possession. The church belongs to him as his purchased possession. She is the bride whom he has loved with an everlasting love and has given himself for her to present her unto himself a glorious church… Christ will do everything to make her perfect and complete in all his will according to his eternal purposes which he has proposed in himself before the foundation of the world. Having given his life and bestowed all resources on her, he expected nothing but the best of the fruits from her. From our previous study, the Lord commenced by praising the church at Thyatira, but here, he begins with a very severe reproof; nonetheless it is a reproof of life. Verses 1b. I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou live, yet art dead. True believers are care free of men’s praises and admiration. Their expectation and aspiration is found in Christ praise and commendation, preferred above any other. They equate themselves daily on divine scale and standard for a flawless spiritual examination. How they are view by God is of greater concern to them than the praises and evaluation of men. Divine rebuke, commendation and approval are far better than men praise. What profit is there when men accept and speak well of us but are rejected by God? What is highly esteemed before men is abomination before God. If we are praised and admired by men in this world and are rejected and disapproved by God, what a great waste of life and worthless existence for eternity? Woe unto you when men shall speak well of you, because you are hypocritically in manner pleasing them at the expense of pleasing Jehovah. It is good to have a good report of believers and unbelievers alike: but it is far better for men to separate us from their company and discontent with us because we would rather live by the Lord’s standard than to be applauded by the company of the ungodly and to appear politically correct.
The Sardis church turns out to become a superficial and hypocritical church. It was not really what it was reputed to be. It was once a living and vibrant church, and men still considering her for what she once was, not knowing that her light and fire is gone — smoke without fire, and nothing is left of her. She is a church that speaks heavenly messages with certain outward aspect of directing others attention toward there, but she is not going to get there to enjoy the bliss of it. The Lord that sees through the darkness and knows the entire inner secret revealed her spiritual shortcomings that she might make correction if her desired and what she greatly desired is to get to heaven. The Sardis church and brethren are rejoicing on the past glory and dwelling on past achievements without any improvement on the present spiritual state, works and advancements for spiritual growth in a deeper involvement for the Lord – hence a name that she lives before men but dead in God’s eyes — in the presence of God.
Never should we admit that we have attained unto anything until we cross over our Jordan. We should seek the Lord face for our next assignment, when it appears that the present task at hand is accomplished. The completion and perfection of our stewardship and service is at the end of our goal if we walk with the Lord to the end –he that keeps my work to the end, shall inherit all things, says the Lord. Nothing is done, if we do not keep doing his work to the end. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face for ever more. The harvest is plentiful and there are new grounds to take and cover, and there are new battles to engage and to be won with the Lord of hosts on our side. Christians seek ye not repose. Woe unto him that is at ease in Zion– he that lives in pleasure is dead, even while he lives. ‘Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus’. Amos 6:1. John 6:63. Matthew23:28. Philippians3:12 – 16.
Verse 2. The Lord’s warning to Sardis church to be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Could that imperfection be a diminished prayer life? Could it be a decreased personal devotional study life? Could it be slothfulness in personal witnessing and soul winning? Could it be that she has forgotten to maintain and increases in good works for necessary uses, that she be not unfruitful in the Lord? Titus3:14.
The Lord expressed his disappointment from Sardis church for her imperfection — I have not found thy works perfect before God. If the heart is not perfect with God, how can her walk and works be found perfect before him? If at every moment, she is laying again the foundation of repentance from acts (sins) that lead to death, how can her walk be prefect before God? If she is not proficient, but continue to be reminded to hold fast and stand firm on that which is her pillar and foundation, as of her faith in God, which some having swerved have shipwrecked their walk with God, how can the Lord have found her works prefect before him? When she does not put on charity as garment to adorn herself and all her things are not done in love, how can the Lord have found her works perfect before him? Whatever is detrimental to the prosperity of our soul should be put aside that our works might be found perfect before God, so that either we live or sleep, we should be acceptable of him. Let us labor therefore by seeking perfection with the Lord in love, faith and holiness that we might stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Genesis 17:1.
Verse 3. The Lord called back her attention to the foundation truth — reminded her to remember how and what she’s been taught from the beginning. ‘For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him: rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. She was warned to remember her first vehement zeal, commitment, carefulness and diligent in all things — to advance and increase, and increasingly seek the Lord and to move forward and advance in the kingdom. Colossians 2:5 – 7.
The Lord further warned her of the imminent danger of a trait to remain indifferent and seemingly not to care and thirst for spiritual growth — the peril of an easy going un-​committed spiritual life without quietly and steadily persevering…. if thou shall not watch; I will come upon thee as a thief. This is a warning that anything could happen at any time. Be it the descent of Christ from heaven with the voice of the arc angel – it could also be the putting away of our earthly tabernacle. There is a step between life and death – let us watch. We should live daily before the Lord as if our next step is the last to take us home. It is only those whose lamps are burning that shall be allowed to go in with the bridegroom when he shall suddenly appear. 1 Thessalonians 5:1 – 11. Revelation16:15.
–Verse 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments. This is the purpose of our election and calling that we might walk worthy of the Lord. According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Ephesians 1:4.
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. God reveals himself in response and correspondence to the pureness and integrity of our heart before him. The pure in heart will have access to the holy hill and be able to stand in his holy place. They shall be privileged to see into the secret things of the Lord, even the secret of wisdom (Job 11:6) and shall witness the perfect effulgence of the revelation of the thrice holy God – to the pure thou will show thyself pure. Psalms 18:26. Psalms119:1 – 3. There are few brethren in Sardis’s church who are faithful and continue to walk sincerely in their faith with God. They had not giving to corruption and pollution of the day and place in which they lived. They stood fast in the word of God, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lusts. Holiness to the Lord is their watchword and signpost. This is their logo and daily pursuit and confession– let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in their sight O Lord. They will not sleep until they have searched themselves by the Holy Spirit to confess anything done amiss before the Lord during the day. Who can understand all his errors? They are rooted and grounded in the word and will watch and pray that none of it fall to the ground. The Lord promised them side by side walk with him in heaven. What a blessed hope for the pure in heart? Their eyes shall see the King in his glory! 2 Peter 3:10 – 17. 1 John 3:1 – 3. Ephesians 1:3 – 6.
–Verse 5a. The Lord’s challenge and promise…he that overcomes (triumphs to the end) shall be clothed in white raiment. We shall be widely honored and acclaimed in heaven as celestial celebrity — hero. I submit that the eternal glory, honor and celebration should be sought after. It is preferable weighing its unending duration above the transient glory and rejoicing of this present world, markedly lasting for a brief time. The white raiment is the victorious symbolic garment of the faithful. This is their celebration and graduation robe, having come out from many tribulations. The white garment is also the righteousness of the Lord in his saints. It is the royal robe from the bridegroom given to his bride’s for clothing, lest her nakedness be seen. The garment must be kept clean and washed at all times by the blood of the Lamb for suitability, rightness and appropriate presentation till she shall get home to be married with her bride! Amen. Revelation 7:9 – 17. Revelation 19:5 – 9. All those that faithfully endured to end in the Lord shall not have their names blotted out from the book of life. Salvation is not secure and guarantee unless its conditions are fulfilled and obligations met. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? If you are lacking in those things that keeps you out of spiritual darkness and shortsightedness, forgetting that you were purged from your old sins, and failed to give diligence to make your calling and election sure, then is your life not on a firm footing. Do you have the inner witness of the Spirit of God as of the beginning that you are his child? If yes, God is faithful, who will also confirm you to the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christas long as you’re walking and abiding in him; if not, remember where you are fallen, and do the first works. 1 Corinthians 1:1 – 9. 2 Corinthians 13:5. 2 Peter 1:8 – 9.
–Verse 6. He that hath an ear to hear, let him ear. Obedient ear is the key to the heart of God and into the kingdom of heaven.