Sardis was one of the wealthiest cities of the time. It sat up on a hill and was heavily fortified. Historians do not know who started the church there or how large it was. We only have reference to this church in the book of Revelation. What we do know is that the Holy Ghost worked there as it had in another first-century church. Also, like the other early churches, the church at Sardis began to be affected by the culture of their surrounding and began to slip from the vision they had in the beginning. John's letter was a call for them to get back on track. They were going through the motions, but God told them they were dead. This condition was not terminal. God speaks to them about how to recover. He tells them to be watchful. If we are not watchful, we cannot receive the message. Then He tells them to strengthen that which remains. They had not lost everything. Do not ruminate about the failures. Focus on what is remains and build from there. God will take those things left and equip us to make it with what we have. God is interested in what is left that He can use to bless us.
