Revelation 3:2; Strengthen the Things which Remain
Revelation 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
The verb there is a command, and in the middle voice meaning the subject himself or herself, the remnant in the church must keep awake!
When the leaders and members become complacent and not watchful, the enemy made in-routes that now threaten to destroy the church.
This is a church where the gospel is not preached, if I may assess. The people were still in their sins. The Spirit of God is stirring up the remnant to strengthen the things that remain. Preach the Word, in season, out of season. That evidently was missing. As Paul said to Timothy:
2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…
The believers in Sardis need to affirm their faith in the truth of God’s Word – of sin, of salvation, of sanctification. The remnant was not active at all, ready to die, these needed to be strengthened. Amen.