When it seems as if evil has the upper hand, remember God is on His throne-

Selected scriptures. An interlude between sermons on Rev ch. 3 - ch. 4.

How do you make water lukewarm- By doing absolutely nothing with it. Leaving hot or cold water out to sit unattended, it will eventually reflect the temperature of the room around it.

Faithfulness is being committed to what God gives you the opportunity to do. Jesus gave open doors for evangelism to the church at Philadelphia, just as He gives us open doors.

Are you one of the faithful few or one of the walking dead-

The church that tolerated sin. The pendulum swings from the extreme at Ephesus -the church with sound doctrine that was overly critical- to Thyatira -the church that allows sin to corrupt their church-.

Smyrna means Myrrh. Myrrh is a highly valued spice which gives out a sweet aroma when it is crushed. That is a fairly accurate picture of this church. A church being crushed under relentless persecution as they stood for Christ.

-Sometimes a focus on doctrinal purity will make a congregation cold, suspicious, and intolerant of diversity.- - C.H. Spurgeon

Jesus reveals Himself to John in a vision.