March 22, 2019
Revelation 3:1-6 New Living Translation (NLT)
Today is the fifteenth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.” Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. We must make time for reflection. When we sit quietly, meditate on the Word, and pray, the Spirit helps us enjoy fellowship and favor. When we choose to live differently than the Word commands, we need to repent. Repentance is a gift and blessing from the Lord, because it gives us the opportunity to change our direction and move once again in power toward oneness with God. Repentance, restoration, and the work of faith are key to Kingdom Living. Are you quick to repent, ask for the Lord to restore you, and use your faith to overcome further sin and worldliness?
In our passage today, the Apostle John writes a vision he receives from the Lord about the church in Sardis; a sleeping church out of fellowship with Christ. These believers had a form of godliness, but they failed to trust and follow the Spirit into repentance and restoration. The people started out right, but over time they stopped growing in righteousness and began living lives contaminated by the world. Christ calls his followers to remain stedfast through trials and temptations. “Whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith in Jesus Christ” (1 John 5:4-5). White garments are a reward for those who apply the Word and reject the world. Christ is our Overcomer. Are you awake, using your faith, and yielding to your Overcomer?
During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart. P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield. May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.
Revelation 3:1-6 The Message to the Church in Sardis
3 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:
“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. 3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.
4 “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.
6 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.
Prayer: Lord, I praise you for being my Overcomer. I repent for the times I have not listened to the Spirit regarding the use of my faith to overcome sin. Now, I ask for you to keep me awake and vibrant in my faith; alive to your work and obedient to your will. I will yield as you help me overcome.