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WAKE UP! (REVELATIONS 3:1-13)

The Church of Sardis is sternly admonished to awaken from its spiritual lethargy, while the Church of Philadelphia is commended for its unwavering faithfulness and endurance in the Lord, despite its limited strength.

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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is a clarion call: Wake up! To wake up is to cease sleeping, yet in this context, it demands a radical revival from spiritual slumber. Sardis was a prominent, hilly city in the Roman Empire, renowned for its opulence, luxury, and vibrant lifestyle. However, beneath this veneer of prosperity lay a foundation of immorality and paganism.

Jesus addressed this church with a piercing admonishment: “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). In essence, the Church of Sardis was “busy doing nothing.” Their spiritual vitality had been hollowed out by the seductive socio-cultural conditions of their city. Today, Sardis represents those churches that appear bustling with activities, meetings, and programmes, yet harbour a membership that is spiritually and morally bankrupt.

We must ask ourselves: has our faith become a routine exercise? We flock to crusades and Sunday services, but are our souls truly being transformed? Far too often, the church is treated as a mere social club—a place to strike up acquaintances rather than to encounter the Living God. This is why some stand outside chatting during the liturgy or remain tethered to their phones, scrolling through social media while the Word is being proclaimed.

We see a generation of churches that prioritise welfare dues over worship and view the sanctuary as an entertainment arena where dancing supersedes the discipline of prayer and the study of Scripture. When human self-projection takes centre stage, Jesus is relegated to the wings. To the outside world, the church looks buoyant; to the Almighty, the heart is vacant.

Hear the urgent command of Christ: “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent” (Revelation 3:2-3). There is still hope, but it requires an immediate return to the Word of God and a sincere turning away from our apathy.

Jesus warns us with solemnity: “If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you” (Revelation 3:3). We must instead emulate the Christians of Philadelphia, of whom Jesus said: “I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8). Do not allow the fleshly desires of this world to dilute your conviction. Stand resolute, for the promise to the victor is eternal: “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God…” (Revelation 3:11-12).

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CONCLUSION & KEY LESSONS

In summary, the messages to Sardis and Philadelphia teach us three vital lessons:

1. Reputation is not Reality: A busy church calendar does not equate to a healthy spiritual life. God looks at the heart, not the “brand.”
2. Vigilance is Mandatory: Spiritual drift happens slowly. We must actively “strengthen what remains” before it dies completely.
3. Endurance brings Reward: Faithfulness in the face of limited strength is more valuable to God than empty displays of power.

CALL TO ACTION

Examine your walk with Christ today. Do not be a “Sardis Christian”—alive in name but dead in spirit. Commit this week to silencing the distractions of social media and socialising during worship. Re-prioritise the Word of God and enter His gates with a heart prepared for sacrifice, not just spectacle. Wake up before the hour grows too late!

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PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word that pierces through our complacency. Forgive us for the times we have prioritised tradition over transformation and entertainment over encounter. Holy Spirit, breathe fresh life into our weary souls. Grant us the endurance of the Philadelphian church to hold fast to Your name, regardless of our strength. Wake us up, Lord, that we may be found ready and faithful at Your appearing. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.