Some of you will recognize that phrase from The Princess Bride when Miracle Max diagnoses Westley’s condition. He goes on to say that “mostly dead is slightly alive.” Slightly alive is how Jesus diagnosed the church at Sardis. They had a reputation of being alive, but they were actually dead—mostly dead. That they were slightly alive is indicated by the instructions that Jesus gave the people who had not yet succumbed entirely to a false sense of reality. It is so easy to live in a dream-world or to hang out mentally in a dreamy and glorious past. We must face reality sooner or later and the love of Jesus for His church calls us to live in reality NOW. This requires mental energy, humility and honesty. It requires the Word of God, the Spirit of God and the people of God. Churches close every week in this country because they go from mostly dead to all dead. And, as Max said, “all dead means there’s only one thing you can do.” Jesus will build His church in this world, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it…that doesn’t mean a local church is immune to spiritual death. Let’s be watchful, faithful, sincere, prayerful, obedient and leaning into the power of the Holy Spirit who is the Giver of Life.