The heart of man is described three different ways in the New Testament. The Disciples on the Emmaus road had a burning heart (Luke 24:32) and Matthew 24:12 speaks of a cold heart. But in the Laodicean church had a third kind of heart, they were "lukewarm neither cold nor hot." A lukewarm Christian has compromised his faith. He is no longer fervent in spirit (Romans 12:11) or prayer (Colossians 4:12). He is afraid to take a stand on anything, afraid to offend anyone. The church at Laodicea was the saddest of the seven churches addressed by Christ. It was a lukewarm, indifferent church. It is interesting that in His letters to the churches Christ was angered by apostasy, but He got sick at indifference: "I will vomit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:16). This Sunday we will be looking at the last Church, The Laodicea Church which had closed the the door in the face of her Lord.

This Sunday we will be looking at the Church at Philadelphia which was one of the few churches that were commended by the Lord in his letters. This one is found in Revelation 3. I would have most wanted to be a part of this church on the day the mailman delivered these letters to the churches. I would not have wanted to be identified with some of the other churches who were rebuked for their compromise or lack of fervent love. This church received a letter of encouraging words from Jesus Christ, words which would have been a great motivation to continue in the faith and ministry for the Lord. The Church at Philadelphia was commended particularly for being a church of overcomers. I pray that we will clearly see how we can be like this church of brotherly love!

This Sunday we will be looking at the Church at Sardis which was called the Dead Church from Revelation 3. Christ designates Himself as the One who operates the churches through the ministers of the churches by the seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit. Christ's relationship to the church follows a simple principle: The Church works by the power of the Holy Spirit through the leadership in the church. Christ wanted the church at Sardis to know that He wanted to control the church by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 provides the key. God says "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit " says the Lord. Sardis was operating without the Spirit. There was plenty of human activity because Revelation 3:1 says "I know thy works" They were an active and organized church, but the missing ingredient was the Holy Spirit. Consequently no matter what they did, it was to no avail, they were dead. Christ reminded them that the Holy Spirit needed to be in control of the leadership. This Sunday we will heed this warning to keep us from becoming a dead church.