First, look at our condition. “You are dead,” the Lord Jesus tells us. Revelation 3:1-2 - ""And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 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." He speaks to us straight, and he means it. He sees into our heart, and he knows that we don't love God, or have grown cold. Either we’re dead, and have never heard the gospel, or we’re backslidden, asleep at the wheel, and walking among the dead in love of the world. Either way, it is critical that we repent. Ephesians 5:14, “Therefore he says, ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” We can’t stay in this condition. The danger is too much.

The Lord Jesus is the judge, and He comes to us as Lord. He has the right to rule over us, because he purchased us. 2 Peter 2:1 - "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction." He died to accomplish eternal redemption, and the Father’s given us to him as his reward, either to destroy us for our sin, or to redeem us by faith. Repentance is his high command, because repentance is the terms of peace. Luke 24:47 - "and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." Heed him, and confess him as Lord. He comes to bring us to repentance for our own good, and he will receive us whole heartedly. He will help us overcome sin, sloth, and hypocrisy. He’ll be the Savior.

Secondly, we have a command: Hold fast, and repent. Revelation 3:3 - "Remember, then, what you received and heard. Hold fast, and repent. 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." We must hold onto the gospel we once heard, and turn ourselves from sin. Worldliness must be destroyed, and living for Christ must be everything. A hot start doesn’t mean a hot finish. Christianity is to be lived passionately, as the chief passion of our life.

Oh, saints. Don’t live for yourself. Don’t go back to the world. 1 John 2:15 - "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Don’t be deceived to think that Christ doesn’t satisfy, as if he’s unfaithful. The joy he promised is real, but it’s doing his will by the Spirit. There’s no joy in self-service. Living for ourselves makes no Christian happy, and God won’t give us the Spirit for any reason but to glorify Christ. Live for him, wholeheartedly, and you’ll see the joy of the Spirit, and serve with power. There is no alternative, and no Plan B. We must hold on. Repent of what’s wrong, and hold steadfastly to what is true, like a pitbull with lockjaw.

Christ doesn’t correct us with empty words. He doesn't say, “You’re wrong, but it’s ok.” He says, “Change. Turn. Get back to where you started. Stir up your First Love, or else.”

Thirdly, we have consolation. Those who are worthy are blessed. Revelation 3:4-5 - "Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels."

God does not hold us accountable for other people’s failures. If we follow Christ in a cold church, we’ll still have our reward. This not corporate Christianity. Individually we stand before the Throne, and our good works are remembered. It’s refreshing to know that God sees us, and we don’t need to impress people. The One who rules his church knows who’s good and evil. He knows all of our spiritual conditions, and rewards uprightly. The pastor may be consumed by love for the world, but every diligent disciple continues to shine brightly. Your love, faith, and good works are not unnoticed. Your ambition for Christ is seen, and he rewards you openly. Do not be afraid, flustered, or discouraged. Keep going until the good day that we put off these rags and walk with Christ in heaven. Walking with God is the most rewarded thing in the world and in eternity.

Finally, we have a calling: “Hear what the Spirit says.” Revelation 3:6 - "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" The Spirit is doing the talking. These are not the words of a man. The Lord Jesus speaks, and the Spirit speaks by him. We have the authentically recorded authoritative word of God. These are not suggestions. These are commands. These are not words of a mean preacher, but of the Comforter himself.