Wake Up, Strengthen, and Remember: A Call to True Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Beware of Hollow Activity—Jesus Sees the Heart

It is possible to be busy with church activities, good deeds, and even Bible reading, yet remain spiritually empty inside. Jesus warns the church in Sardis that while they have a reputation for being alive, they are actually dead—demonstrating that outward appearances and religious activity can mask a lack of true spiritual vitality. He sees beyond our actions to the true state of our hearts, calling us to examine whether our faith is genuine or merely a label we wear. Let us not settle for a hollow faith, but seek a living relationship with Christ that fills our hearts with His presence and purpose. [12:09]

Revelation 3:1 (NIV)
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

Reflection: In what area of your life are you relying on reputation or activity to appear spiritually alive, rather than seeking a genuine relationship with Jesus? What would it look like to invite Him into that area today?

Day 2: Realign Your Heart—Wake Up and Strengthen What Remains

Jesus calls us not just to activity, but to a realignment of our hearts. He invites us to wake up from spiritual complacency, to strengthen what remains, and to reclaim the right motives for our actions. This means honestly facing where our faith has grown dull or routine, and allowing the Holy Spirit to stir us to new life. When we surrender our lives to Christ, our motives shift from impressing others or maintaining a reputation to loving and serving God with all we have. This transformation leads us to live every part of our lives with Jesus, for Jesus, and to Jesus. [25:53]

Revelation 3:2-3 (NIV)
“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.”

Reflection: Where has your faith become routine or lost its passion? What is one step you can take today to “wake up” and realign your heart with Christ’s love and purpose?

Day 3: Remember the Gospel—Let Repentance Rekindle the Fire

The way to move from hollow religion to vibrant faith is to remember the gospel and let it take deep root in your heart. Jesus urges us to recall not only what we have received—the message of His death and resurrection—but also how we received it: by the power of the Holy Spirit. When the fire of our faith grows cold, repentance is the way to stoke it again. Turning from self-reliance and returning to the grace of Jesus brings new life and spiritual vitality, making our relationship with Him personal and powerful once more. [31:58]

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NIV)
“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Reflection: Is there an area where you need to repent and return to the core of the gospel? How can you let the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection rekindle your spiritual fire today?

Day 4: Live with Urgency—Hope in Christ’s Return

Jesus reminds us that He will come again, suddenly and without warning, and urges us to live with a sense of urgency and hope. The church in Sardis had lost sight of this expectation, but Jesus calls us to recover it, to let the hope of His return shape our daily lives and priorities. This hope is not meant to create fear, but to inspire us to live authentically for Him, keeping our hearts awake and our lives aligned with His purposes. Let the promise of Christ’s return motivate you to live each day with intention, faith, and readiness. [31:58]

1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 (NIV)
“For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”

Reflection: If you truly believed Jesus could return at any moment, what would you do differently today? What is one way you can live with greater urgency and hope?

Day 5: Embrace Redemption—Walk with Christ in White

Jesus promises redemption and restoration to those who respond to His call. He offers the hope of being clothed in white—symbolizing forgiveness, purity, and acceptance—regardless of our past failures or brokenness. Our worthiness does not come from our reputation or good deeds, but from turning our eyes to Jesus, trusting in His grace, and allowing Him to make us new. One day, we will walk with Him in white, fully redeemed and beloved. Until then, let us live as His bride, devoted and alive in Him, embracing the fullness of His love and redemption. [37:06]

Revelation 3:4-5 (NIV)
“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, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.”

Reflection: What brokenness or feelings of unworthiness do you need to bring to Jesus today? How can you embrace His promise of redemption and walk in the confidence of being His beloved?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered as a family to reflect on the heart of our faith and the dangers of hollow religiosity. As we enter the Advent season, we’re reminded that this is a prime opportunity to invite others into the story of Jesus, to give generously, and to engage deeply with God’s Word. But all of these activities—no matter how good or well-intentioned—can become empty if they are not rooted in a living relationship with Christ. The church in Sardis, as described in Revelation 3, had a reputation for being alive, but Jesus saw through the façade; their activity masked a spiritual deadness. This is a sobering warning for us: it is possible to be busy with church work, to give, to serve, and yet be spiritually hollow.

Jesus cares more about the state of our hearts than the busyness of our hands. He calls us to examine whether our faith is merely a label or a living reality. The challenge is not just to do Christian things, but to be people whose hearts are alive to Christ, whose motives are shaped by love for Him, not by reputation or self-preservation. Our stewardship—how we use our time, resources, and money—reveals what we truly treasure. If Christ is our greatest love, our lives will naturally flow toward Him and His purposes.

Jesus offers a remedy for hollow religion: wake up, strengthen what remains, remember the gospel, and repent. Waking up means allowing the Spirit to shake us from spiritual slumber, to face honestly where we have grown cold or complacent. Strengthening what remains is about reclaiming the right motives, doing good not for appearances but out of love for God. Remembering the gospel roots us in the reality of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ongoing presence by the Spirit. Repentance is the ongoing turning of our hearts back to Him, allowing His grace to revive us.

The promise is beautiful: those who respond will walk with Christ, clothed in white, redeemed and beloved. Our hope is not in our own efforts, but in the love of the Bridegroom who looks on us with joy and washes us clean. Let us not settle for a hollow faith. Instead, let us live with Christ, for Christ, and to Christ—fully alive, fully His.

Key Takeaways

1. Beware the Danger of Hollow Activity It is possible to be outwardly busy with spiritual things while inwardly empty. Jesus sees beyond our reputation and activity to the true state of our hearts. The call is to move from mere appearances to authentic spiritual life, refusing to settle for a faith that is only skin-deep. [08:52]
2. Realign Your Heart, Not Just Your Habits Jesus desires a realignment of our hearts, not just an increase in religious activity. True transformation begins when we wake up to our spiritual condition, strengthen what remains, and remember the gospel. This is not about self-improvement, but about surrendering to the Spirit’s work and letting love for Christ be our motive. [20:11]
3. Repentance and Remembering the Gospel Bring Life Repentance is not a one-time event but a continual turning back to Christ. Remembering how we first received the gospel—with humility and dependence on the Spirit—rekindles our spiritual fire. This ongoing process brings genuine vitality and keeps us from growing cold or complacent. [28:51]
4. Redemption Is Promised to the Awake and Faithful Jesus promises that those who respond to His call—who wake up, repent, and persevere—will walk with Him in white, fully redeemed. Our worthiness is not based on our record, but on His grace. The hope of being united with Christ as His beloved bride gives us courage to live wholeheartedly for Him. [37:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Advent: A Season to Invite
[02:46] - Give the Gift: Generosity in Action
[04:30] - Reading God’s Word Together
[06:01] - Harvest In Gathering: Worship Through Giving
[08:52] - The Danger of Hollow Activity
[12:09] - Nominal Christianity and Reputation
[15:38] - The Heart Behind Our Deeds
[17:59] - Money Reveals the Heart
[20:11] - What Jesus Wants: Realignment
[22:47] - Wake Up: A Spiritual Call
[25:53] - Strengthen What Remains
[28:51] - Remember and Repent
[31:58] - The Urgency of Christ’s Return
[34:06] - Redemption: Clothed in White
[37:06] - The Bride of Christ: Our Hope
[39:53] - Prayer for Awakening and Devotion

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Revelation 3:1-6 (NIV) — “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. 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, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Observation Questions

What does Jesus say about the reputation of the church in Sardis compared to their true spiritual condition? ([08:52])
According to the passage, what specific instructions does Jesus give to the church in Sardis to address their spiritual state? ([20:11])
In the sermon, what examples were given of “hollow activity” that can look spiritual on the outside but be empty on the inside? ([06:01])
What is the promise Jesus gives to those who “wake up” and remain faithful? ([34:06])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus cares more about the state of our hearts than the busyness of our hands? How does this challenge the way we often measure spiritual health? ([08:52])
The sermon described “nominal Christianity” as having a label but lacking substance. What are some signs that someone’s faith might be more about reputation than a real relationship with Christ? ([12:09])
Jesus tells the church to “remember what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.” What does it look like to “remember the gospel” in practical terms? ([28:51])
The promise of being “clothed in white” and walking with Jesus is given to those who respond to His call. What does this image communicate about our identity and hope as believers? ([34:06])

Application Questions

The sermon warned that it’s possible to be busy with church work, giving, and serving, yet be spiritually hollow. Looking at your own life, are there any areas where you might be “checking the box” rather than engaging from a living relationship with Christ? What would it look like to change that? ([06:01])
Jesus calls us to “wake up” and face honestly where we have grown cold or complacent. Is there a specific area in your faith where you sense you’ve become spiritually sleepy or numb? What might it look like for you to “wake up” in that area? ([22:47])
The sermon said our stewardship—how we use our time, resources, and money—reveals what we truly treasure. If someone looked at your calendar and bank statement, what would they say you value most? Is there a change you feel prompted to make? ([17:59])
Remembering the gospel is described as going back to how we first received Christ—with humility and dependence on the Spirit. When was the last time you felt that kind of dependence? How can you cultivate it again? ([28:51])
Repentance is not a one-time event but a continual turning back to Christ. Is there something you need to repent of today—not just in words, but in a real change of heart or action? ([31:58])
The sermon used the image of a fireplace with no fire to describe a church without the Spirit. What are some practical ways you can “stoke the fire” of your relationship with God this week? ([28:51])
Jesus promises that those who respond will walk with Him, clothed in white, redeemed and beloved. How does this promise encourage you in your current season of life? How can you keep this hope in front of you when you feel discouraged or unworthy? ([34:06])

Sermon Clips

In Sardis, they were about maintaining appearances. Their works evidently were done to impress people, and they were actually able to accomplish this because it says they had a reputation. And let’s assume that this was in the public sector, this was a good reputation. Whether they’re living off of past glories or if it’s empty activity, whatever it was, they were actually good reputation but dead church. They were not spiritually alive. That’s what Jesus says. [00:11:58] (32 seconds) #DeadChurchAliveReputation

Nominal Christians, they profess Christ, but their deepest desire is centered somewhere else. You know, desire really is approval, or the desire is comfort, or it’s self-preservation, or it’s material security, and it all ends up being reputation without actual regeneration in our lives. So Jesus teaches this, Jesus says this: that what we desire most will inevitably shape our lives. [00:16:51] (35 seconds) #DesireShapesLife

Jesus said, where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Jesus said this, he said, those people, they honor me with their lips, but man, their hearts are far from me. And the deal is this: nominal Christianity has lips, but it doesn’t have heart. And so what Jesus here is addressing in the church of Sardis, in this letter to them, to us, he’s asking about our hearts. [00:17:29] (31 seconds) #HeartNotLips

If comfort’s your thing, then your money will flow towards comfort. If security is your thing, then your money will flow towards savings. If reputation’s your thing, then your money will flow towards your image. In the same way, if Christ is your thing, then your money will flow most effortlessly towards Christ’s work, because that’s everything to you. [00:19:07] (29 seconds) #SpiritLifeNeeded

Repenting—the scripture says repent. Look at yourself, see your wrong attitude, see your wrong outlook, see it as unacceptable before God, and believe. Give yourself over to the grace of Jesus, receive his grace, turn towards him and let it take deep root in your heart. And here’s what Jesus will—he will impart life, the life of the Spirit in you. This is the circle of life we walk through: we repent, we believe. [00:31:36] (33 seconds) #WashedInGrace

There’s urgency for us in this question—the question I asked you beginning: how do you keep your hands full of activity while keeping your heart full of Christ? There’s urgency in responding to that question. Wake up to any way you’re faking it, there’s urgency. Repent, believe, we remember the gospel, there’s urgency. Live life with Jesus, for Jesus, to Jesus. [00:33:00] (23 seconds) #LookToTheGroom

Those who are counted worthy are not so because of their reputation or because they’ve lived good moral lives. Let’s be honest, let’s be clear, they were like us, they had not lived good moral lives. Their lives were broken, their lives were tattered, and even their best attempts to dress up couldn’t hide that. No, those who are one kind of worthy have washed their sins in the blood of the Lamb, and they’re worthy because they have turned their eyes away from themselves and they look to the groom. [00:38:17] (34 seconds)

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