This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Sardis:
I have the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. Listen to what I say.
I know what you are doing. Everyone may think you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up! You have only a little strength left, and it is almost gone. So try to become stronger. I have found that you are not completely obeying God. Remember the teaching you were given and heard. Hold firmly to it and turn from your sins. If you don't wake up, I will come when you least expect it, just as a thief does.
Revelation 3:1-3
Do you struggle with the fact that "everyone" thinks something of you that is not true? When the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation he exposed the truth about the believers in Sardis. The Sardis Christians were able to put on a great "front" which made everyone think that they were vibrant, alive and well as followers of Jesus, but they were not! In fact, John says they were dead.
So what was John's advice to the weak and dying Sardis Christians? It was simple: Wake up and try to become stronger! Then John gave some very practical advice about how to wake up and become stronger. He said they should begin by "completely obeying God." Then they must remember the "teaching" which of course was the Word of God and repent of their sins!
So there are the steps to waking up and becoming stronger. You must completely obey whatever God tells you to do and always remember the Word of God as you daily repent of your sins!
If you do those three things you will no longer need to be warned by the Holy Spirit of the deep trouble you are in as a believer!
That is the way you can wake up and grow stronger in Jesus. If there is something the Lord has spoken to your heart, then begin today to be completely obedient to it. Make the Word of God a big part of this and every day of your life. And finally you must repent! When you spend time in God's Word, your own sins will become quite clear.
"Lord Jesus, others may think that I am strong, but You know how weak I am. Help me today to be completely obedient to You as I fill my mind and heart with Your Word and repent of my sins! And may You be praised forever! Amen."
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