Spiritually Dead
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. 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. 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.” (Revelation 3:1-3)
John opens chapter three of the book of Revelation with a message to the church of Sardis. The problem with the church of Sardis was that while it was experiencing major growth, the growth was purely numerical, not spiritual. They had a lot of bodies in the building, a lot of people in the pews, and a very nice edifice in town. It was the happening place to be.
But despite having a name and reputation around town for being alive, it was really spiritually dead. It was a place where people gathered, but they did so because it was customary, or they did so because it was the popular thing to do. You wanted to say at the water cooler on Monday morning that you were at Sardis Baptist Church the day before.
Sadly, those same people had no power. They couldn’t get a prayer through. They were dominated by the flesh and the things of the world, and as a consequence, they were spiritually defeated and did not walk in the victory that Jesus gave them. To make matters worse, not only was this a problem with the church of Sardis, but it’s a problem we’re still facing today.
So many of us have experienced feeling spiritually dead, where we are going through the motions, but we’re not growing and maturing in our faith, and we’re not being fulfilled in our walk with Christ. The circumstances we’re facing are testing our faith, deepening our doubts, and challenging our convictions, but we’re not making any progress spiritually.
But it doesn’t have to stay this way. Now is the time to get back what we’ve lost. Now is the time for us to ask God to restore the power, restore the strength, and restore the joy we once had, so that we might become spiritually alive once again.
John opens chapter three of the book of Revelation with a message to the church of Sardis. The problem with the church of Sardis was that while it was experiencing major growth, the growth was purely numerical, not spiritual. They had a lot of bodies in the building, a lot of people in the pews, and a very nice edifice in town. It was the happening place to be.
But despite having a name and reputation around town for being alive, it was really spiritually dead. It was a place where people gathered, but they did so because it was customary, or they did so because it was the popular thing to do. You wanted to say at the water cooler on Monday morning that you were at Sardis Baptist Church the day before.
Sadly, those same people had no power. They couldn’t get a prayer through. They were dominated by the flesh and the things of the world, and as a consequence, they were spiritually defeated and did not walk in the victory that Jesus gave them. To make matters worse, not only was this a problem with the church of Sardis, but it’s a problem we’re still facing today.
So many of us have experienced feeling spiritually dead, where we are going through the motions, but we’re not growing and maturing in our faith, and we’re not being fulfilled in our walk with Christ. The circumstances we’re facing are testing our faith, deepening our doubts, and challenging our convictions, but we’re not making any progress spiritually.
But it doesn’t have to stay this way. Now is the time to get back what we’ve lost. Now is the time for us to ask God to restore the power, restore the strength, and restore the joy we once had, so that we might become spiritually alive once again.
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
March
A Solid FoundationPositioned for BlessingMarked by LoveTrust God's JudgmentRest in God's DeliveranceLet Go of ControlWhat You Want MostWhy Church Still MattersFaith in the Midst of DisappointmentJoy for the JourneyA Place of SafetyStrength in CommunityPeace in the ChaosThe Purpose of the ValleySeasons ChangeUnshaken in the StormHold OnThe Power of ResilienceNever AloneGod Is Closer Than You ThinkLet Go of WorryLet Go of WorryBelieve Before You SeeResilient FaithHow to Be a Success God's WayTrue Success Starts with the SoulSuccess Through SurrenderCharacter That Speaks for ItselfThe Power of Being RealKeep GrowingSuccess in the Face of Opposition
No Comments