Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die

Revelation 3:1-13

To the angel of the church in Sardis write: I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 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.

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life.

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 

I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it.

Sardis: For all its reputation, the church at Sardis was dying on its feet. It is not opposition this church has to overcome but apathy, indifference, and self-satisfaction. Yet there are a few whose faith is untarnished.

Philadelphia is present-day Alacehir in Turkey. This letter, like the letter to Smyrna, contains no word of blame. To judge by these letters, it is not the biggest, most impressive-looking churches, or those with the most prestige, which are necessarily in best spiritual shape. Christ opens the door for effective work, not to those who are strong, but to those who are faithful.

Why?

Don't be a false Christian, Jesus holds the key of David, who holds the key of the door to heaven.

Even we are living in this world, but if the spirit is sold to Satan, then we will be like the dead man on the world. No action, no love, no the Spirit of the Lord. 

Wake up! Strengthen what remains in Christ and keep God's command to endure patiently. Do not compromise with this world.

Who is victorious will be dressed in white. His will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life.

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撒狄教會在山上，三面緊臨500公尺的懸崖，自以為安全的城市。後來因為守衛輕忽，被敵人從懸崖攻入。

行為，在神面前，沒有一樣是完全的，空有基督徒的名，看來活力十足的教會，有敬虔的外貌，沒有實意在心中。唯一優點是還有少數人配得穿白衣，真聖潔，沒有污穢自己。即使在這樣污穢環境中，還是可以保持聖潔，不要以環境為藉口。要警醒、回想悔改，成為真正重生得救的人。得勝的人，現在就可以身穿白衣。能夠做到如此，人沒有辦法，就是要靠聖靈的工作。我們在教會可能參加許多活動、也有奉獻，是否只有外貌。深入人群，成為光與鹽。

非拉、鐵非：愛、兄弟，有兄弟之愛的教會。這門是天國的門，也是地上道路的門。這可能是小教會，給你一個敞開的門，一條道路，沒有人可以關，沒有人可以阻擋他們的拓展 ，往前行。

得勝的，我要叫他在我神殿中作柱子：柱子撐起聖殿，即與神同在。藉讓人看到基督徒的生命，看到耶穌。有神的生命、屬性、榮耀。這不就是神創造我們的目的嗎？非拉鐵非教會做到了。

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How?

Wake up and Strength to walk with the Lord. For God is the living Lord!