You Are Dead -Revelation 3:1-2

Revelation 3:1-2
1 “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. 2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

Christ knows our works because of His intimate relationship and position in the church. Not only is He the Lord, He is the head of the living body of believers. We are ever before Him, with no hiding place. He can see through all pretense to the reality underneath. One's reputation is not important, but the reality of our heart is. It's that reality where we are judged. An outward deed is not complete in the eyes of the Lord unless it arises from a pure and loving heart. Though the leaves on a tree might appear to be green and vital, it is the fruit which reveals the truth. This tree of the church has grown hollow and the life of faith is fading in their midst. Fruit of the Spirit is hard to find.
The grace and patience of our Lord is displayed here. "Wake up" He says. Though they have erred, there is still time to turn around, return and live. It is because He loves us He does this.

Dead -νεκρός * nekros * nek-ros'(CWS). A corpse. They are the walking dead in the eyes of Christ. They breathe the air of the world, but are void of the breath of life.

πνεῦμα * pneuma * pnyoo'-mah * From G4154; a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind.(CWS). I like the interpretation of the seven spirits of God as that "vital k,principle" of God. Christ represents God. He is the word spoken and is God. The seven spirits before the throne are possessed by Christ.


Revelation 1:4-5
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

Luke 15:24
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. ’ And they began to celebrate.

Hebrews 12:5-6
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Revelation 1:16
In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two- edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Revelation 1:20
As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

John 3:34
For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

Revelation 1:20
As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Matthew 24:42-44
Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 23:28
So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Revelation 3:3
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Matthew 24:43-44
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.