We’re continuing our series, “Word and Witness: Vision of the King in the book of Revelation” with the fifth church in Asia Minor, the church at Sardis.

Sardis is the “sleeping church.” The progression of churches 3-5 is compromise with culture (Pergamum), tolerance of sin (Thyatira), and spiritual slumber (Sardis). Jesus warns the church that he will come “as a thief in the night” and judge the church for her failure to be watchful. This indeed is a warning born out in history. Church buildings across Europe (less than 3% evangelical according to statistics from Greater Europe Mission) are empty. Many have been turned into museums. Mainline churches in the US are in steep decline. According to LifeWay research from my denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, more than 80% of Southern Baptist Churches are plateaued, 42%, or declining, 39%.

Churches who are not vigilant regarding doctrine (mainline) and spiritual/evangelistic growth (evangelical) are in danger of declining and dying. I believe Jesus’ warning to Sardis is prescient for churches in the West.

Here are some things I’m praying for this Sunday:

• Pray for us to heed Jesus’ warnings to wake up from spiritual slumber. Churches are made up of believers. As church leaders and members go, so goes the church. If members and leaders slumber, so will the church. I’m praying for any in our congregation who are spiritually sleepy to wake up and be alert.
• Pray for our church to seek the Lord and the revival only he can bring. “Revival” means to “re-vive” or to return to life. Jesus commands believers in Sardis to “wake up,” “strengthen what remains,” “remember” and “keep” (practice) what they’ve been taught, and “repent.” We can’t make ourselves alive, but we can seek God who can. We can wake up, repent, remember, strengthen, and keep what we have. I’m praying we will be attentive and alert to obey God’s commands.
• Pray for Christians to be vigilant about worldly and demonic influences that form us and lull us to sleep. We ought to be convicted regarding the things Satan uses to distract us (media, technology, busyness, idleness, etc.). Sleeping churches and slumbering Christians are those distracted by the enemy’s strategies.
• Pray for unbelievers to discern the difference between the comforts of today and the rewards of eternity. Today’s temptations to comfort and luxury dull us spiritually. Because primary needs are met, unlike many of the first century slaves who became Christians, today’s lack of need often keeps unbelievers from seeing their need for Christ. In a conversation with a lost friend, he basically said to me, “I don’t need God.” Pray for unbelievers to be confronted with their need to have their sins cleansed and to be known by God.
• Pray for believers to be serious about following Jesus and sharing the gospel. One of the key themes of Revelation is how the church is to function as a witness to the gospel of Christ. Jesus is the “faithful witness” (Rev. 1:5) who conquered through his death (Rev. 5:5). The church conquers and overcomes by their “witness” to the gospel and the victorious death and resurrection of Jesus (Rev. 6:9).

Would you join me in praying for us to wake up and be alert in our faith?