I am really humbled by the letters to the seven churches in the book of revelation. The people at Smyrna Church thought they were poor, but Jesus said they were rich – Rev2:9. However the church in Sardis had a reputation for vigour and zest but Jesus said they were stone-dead. You may think you have not made an impact in 2019 but God actually thinks highly of you. Also, be careful when people say you are doing well because they don’t actually know what God asked you to do. The church at Ephesus were working very hard without knowing they had fallen. How I wish many committed faithful in the church today will understand they may actually not be in the will of God. God is the only that can give you the correct rating!

Jesus introduced himself to the church at Sardis as the one who is holding his church together. The reason you are still standing is because he is the one holding you. If not for the mercy of the Lord, we would have been consumed by the enemies. Lamentations 3:22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

The church at Sardis had a good reputation from the people. Jesus said “I know what you do. People say that you are alive, but really you are dead”. Everyone thought they were doing well. Maybe they are a church where everyone goes to for prayers. They had formula for getting answer to every prayer. Jesus said something about prayer in Matthew 6:7-13 “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need”.

Jesus also said something about churches that are always doing programmes. He also said in Matthew 7:21-23 “Knowing the correct password-saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance -isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience-doing what my Father wills. I can see it now-at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’

Jesus said the church at Sardis looked very busy but none of God’s work has been completed. If you look at the church today, there are too many programmes but the knowledge of the word of God amongst church members is very shallow. The only scriptures that the members know are those shared from the pulpit. People can talk about what the pastors says but not what God says. He told the church to wake up and strengthen and reaffirm what remains [of their faithful commitment to him], which is about to die; for he has not found any of their deeds completed in the sight of God or meeting His requirements. This is the beginning of 2020, it’s important to write down the changes you want to make this year and start asking for the grace of God to make the changes.

Jesus said if they (and by default writing to us) don’t change, He will visit unexpectedly and take people away. Some people get some warnings…they notice things are not going on well in their lives and they can trace it to their commitment to Jesus, However, Jesus said people may not even get any signs, they will think all is well  and he will take some people away this year without notice. I pray you won’t be one of those people. Finally, he said everyone who wins the victory will be dressed in white clothes and he will not remove their names from the book of life. This clarifies the issue of once saved forever saved. People’s name can be removed from the book of life otherwise Jesus wouldn’t have said so. He told the disciples in Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Click this link to watch the video –https://youtu.be/FC_QOv2c7pg