In “Strengthening Our Spiritual Vitals,” I walk through Jesus’ warning to the church in Sardis in Revelation 3:1–6 and use it as a mirror for our personal and corporate spiritual health. Jesus tells this church that although they have a reputation for being alive, they are spiritually dead. I explain that complacency often develops when comfort replaces dependence on God. A church, or a believer, can continue going through the motions while losing spiritual vitality.
I unpack how complacency shows up in everyday life: relying on past spiritual successes, becoming disengaged in worship, reading Scripture without reflection, and settling for routine rather than transformation. I challenge believers to stop depending on yesterday’s victories and instead pursue ongoing faithfulness. Growth requires intentional effort, not spiritual autopilot.
Jesus’ command to “wake up” and “strengthen what remains” becomes a central theme of the message. I explain that incomplete obedience and unfinished spiritual work weaken our witness. God has given each of us gifts, callings, and assignments, not just within the church, but also in our workplaces, relationships, and daily interactions. Strengthening what remains means finishing what God has started, stewarding our gifts well, and recognizing that our everyday environments are mission fields.
I also focus on repentance as a spiritual discipline, not as condemnation, but as humility before God. I address the tendency to blame others for spiritual stagnation and emphasize personal responsibility in our walk with Christ. True spiritual maturity requires self-examination, forgiveness, reconciliation, and a willingness to let God deal with our inner life.
Despite Sardis’ condition, Jesus acknowledges a faithful remnant, those who have not “soiled their garments.” I highlight how God often begins renewal with a few faithful people and remind the church not to despise small beginnings. I stress the importance of identity, emphasizing that our worth is not defined by past failures, criticism, or insecurity, but by Christ’s redemption. In Him, we are worthy, clothed in white, and secure in our salvation.
I conclude by calling believers to live as overcomers, persevering through trials, trusting God in weakness, and remaining faithful to the end. Jesus’ promise to acknowledge us before the Father reminds us that our faithfulness matters eternally. I challenge everyone to listen attentively to the Holy Spirit, respond with obedience, and pursue spiritual health with renewed urgency, leaving behind complacency and walking fully in the life God has called us to live.
My Faith Journey 