Religion or Relationship?
Mark Pittenger
“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.’’” Revelation 3:1
The “angel” of the church is often identified as the pastor, bishop, elder, or leader of the church. The fact that those who are in this position are the ones being addressed here, gives credence to 1 Timothy 3:1, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” This would explain why He goes so hard on the “angel” in Sardis.
The passage gives an interesting description, “The words of Him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars?” Who is this speaking of? The “He” referenced here is Jesus. We see that Jesus “has” the spirits and the stars in John 10:29 when it reads, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
When I said He goes hard on the angel of the church of Sardis, I mean it! He says, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” Ouch! Imagine being on the receiving end of that statement being made by Jesus. That one cuts pretty deep. It is especially harsh because when He addressed every other church, He gave them a pat on the back before He corrected them. However, with Sardis, He went straight to the tough talk. There are no compliments found here for the church of Sardis. In fact, it says the only “good” thing going for them is their reputation, but even that is not justifiable.
It is believed that the church of Sardis was very active in the community and appeared to be thriving. However, the church had taken their eyes off of Christ and therefore were practicing “religion” instead of a “relationship.” To the outside world, the church of Sardis was alive and well, but to Jesus, they were on the verge of death! That may hit home for some of us, huh? Do you get up and go to church on Sundays because “that is what we do”? Are church gatherings, activities, and events just part of your routine? Or is it more than that for you? Is there a relationship with Jesus? We need a consistently “under construction,” always growing relationship being built on the truth of Christ and what He accomplished for us. I pray that your relationship is real.
Matthew 7:21-23 says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Mark Pittenger
“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.’’” Revelation 3:1
The “angel” of the church is often identified as the pastor, bishop, elder, or leader of the church. The fact that those who are in this position are the ones being addressed here, gives credence to 1 Timothy 3:1, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” This would explain why He goes so hard on the “angel” in Sardis.
The passage gives an interesting description, “The words of Him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars?” Who is this speaking of? The “He” referenced here is Jesus. We see that Jesus “has” the spirits and the stars in John 10:29 when it reads, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
When I said He goes hard on the angel of the church of Sardis, I mean it! He says, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” Ouch! Imagine being on the receiving end of that statement being made by Jesus. That one cuts pretty deep. It is especially harsh because when He addressed every other church, He gave them a pat on the back before He corrected them. However, with Sardis, He went straight to the tough talk. There are no compliments found here for the church of Sardis. In fact, it says the only “good” thing going for them is their reputation, but even that is not justifiable.
It is believed that the church of Sardis was very active in the community and appeared to be thriving. However, the church had taken their eyes off of Christ and therefore were practicing “religion” instead of a “relationship.” To the outside world, the church of Sardis was alive and well, but to Jesus, they were on the verge of death! That may hit home for some of us, huh? Do you get up and go to church on Sundays because “that is what we do”? Are church gatherings, activities, and events just part of your routine? Or is it more than that for you? Is there a relationship with Jesus? We need a consistently “under construction,” always growing relationship being built on the truth of Christ and what He accomplished for us. I pray that your relationship is real.
Matthew 7:21-23 says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Posted in Revelation
Recent
Archive
2023
January
Reach • Devotion 1Reach • Devotion 2Reach • Devotion 3Reach • Devotion 4Reach • Devotion 5Reach • Devotion 6Gather • Devotion 1Gather • Devotion 2Gather • Devotion 3Gather • Devotion 4Gather • Devotion 5Gather • Devotion 6Grow • Devotion 1Grow • Devotion 2Grow • Devotion 3Grow • Devotion 4Grow • Devotion 5Grow • Devotion 6Giving • Devotion 1Giving • Devotion 2Giving • Devotion 3Giving • Devotion 4Giving • Devotion 5Giving • Devotion 6Galatians 1Galatians 2
February
Galatians 3Galatians 4Galatians 5Galatians 6God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 1God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 2God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 3God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 4God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 5God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 6Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 1Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 2Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 3Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 4Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 5Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 6Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 1Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 2Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 3Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 4Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 5Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 6Delights • Devotion 1Delights • Devotion 2
March
Delights • Devotion 3Delights • Devotion 4Delights • Devotion 5Delights • Devotion 6Final Class • Devotion 1Final Class • Devotion 2Final Class • Devotion 3Final Class • Devotion 4Final Class • Devotion 5Final Class • Devotion 6A Place for You • Devotion 1A Place for You • Devotion 2A Place for You • Devotion 3A Place for You • Devotion 4A Place for You • Devotion 5A Place for You • Devotion 6The Helper • Devotion 1The Helper • Devotion 2The Helper • Devotion 3The Helper • Devotion 4The Helper • Devotion 5The Helper • Devotion 6True Vine • Devotion 1True Vine • Devotion 2True Vine • Devotion 3True Vine • Devotion 4True Vine • Devotion 5
April
True Vine • Devotion 6The World • Devotion 1The World • Devotion 2The World • Devotion 3The World • Devotion 4The World • Devotion 5The World • Devotion 6Peace • Devotion 1Peace • Devotion 2Peace • Devotion 3Peace • Devotion 4Peace • Devotion 5Peace • Devotion 6Focus on Jesus • Devotion 1Focus on Jesus • Devotion 2Focus on Jesus • Devotion 3Focus on Jesus • Devotion 4Focus on Jesus • Devotion 5Focus on Jesus • Devotion 6The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 1The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 2The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 3The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 4
Categories
Tags
no tags