8/14/25

I read of a man who had an injury causing him to get out of shape and unhealthy. One day he woke up and saw a picture of who he used to be and decided to strengthen his body again. After much work, he is healthy and a fitness trainer.

What happened to him in his physical life can happen to Christians and Churches in their spiritual life. A Christian can have a problem at home, work, or church, and then turn away from the church, the study of God's word, and time spent with God. It starts out slowly but builds until they are relationally deficient of God, because they have gradually left Him one item at a time. It might start with less prayer, lead to less study of God's word, then less attendance in God's house, and then less fellowship with their brothers and sisters in Christ. Finally, they have become deficient in God's relationship.

The same can happen to a church as members fall into sin. This affects their relationship with God. It then affects the Church's relationship with them and God until finally the church is relationally deficient in God.

Notice all of this has to do with mankind leaving God and becoming self-focused. We fall asleep to the realization that we are turning away from God.

Jesus says to the Church, which is the believers in the body at Sardis these words. Revelation 3:2 NASB95 ‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.

Wake up. Stop napping, sleeping, and missing out on what is happening. You have stopped doing the deeds that bring YOU and YOUR Church into the sight of God.

When you wake up start exercising your actions of doing the deeds that bring you back into the presence of God. As you exercise them they will become strong again. Do it quickly because they are about to die. However, it doesn't happen immediately it takes much work. It dies while you are sleeping, so it seems fast, but it strengthens while you are working, so it seems to take much longer.

This verse is spoken by Jesus. His half-brother James said this. James 2:17 NASB95 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

Faith without works (actions, exercise) begins to die. You will not lose the measure of faith God gives everyone, but the strength of your faith built through works will die, leading you back to a weak baby in the faith.

Don't let this happen to you or your church.

Listen again to the words of Jesus to the church at Sardis (the church is made up of each individual believer). "Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God."

Are you completing your deeds or are they dying? Start exercising your faith that remains! Be consistent and persistent, and your relationship will not be deficient!

Love Bro. Scott