In this 3rd of 4 episodes in his “Church of the Laodiceans” Podcast series, Brian emphasizes the spiritual condition of the Laodicean church described in Revelation 3, drawing connections to the present-day state of believers and their walk with God.

Here are the main points:

1. Spiritual Temperature: The analogy of heart temperature—hot, cold, or lukewarm—serves as a metric for one's passion for God. God desires believers to be "hot," or fully committed to His purposes.
2. Fire as a Symbol of God's Presence: Fire represents God’s presence, power, and purifying work. The "fire" in a believer's heart reflects their connection to and reliance on God. Maintaining this fire involves a continual relationship with Him.
3. Reliance on God's Power: Brian highlights the futility of self-reliance, emphasizing the need to work in cooperation with God's Spirit rather than attempting to achieve righteousness through human effort.
4. Role of the Believer: Believers are likened to wicks that draw oil (God’s Spirit) to sustain the flame of God. Without God's power, the wick cannot burn or shine.
5. Transformation Through Trial: Hardships and "breaking" of our self-confidence and self-will are difficult but oh so necessary for God’s light to shine through us, and for us to overcome, similar to the breaking of Gideon's pitchers in order for Isreal to overcome the Midianites.
6. Holiness and Grace: The call to holiness is a central theme, achieved not by personal merit, but through God's transformative work. This requires acknowledging and recognizing personal shortcomings, as well as abandoned yielding to His will.
7. Practical Faith: Everyday acts of obedience, guided by the Spirit, are seen as a means to let God's light shine, leading to a deeper communion with Him and greater spiritual influence in the world.

This challenging message is a call for believers to deepen their spiritual commitment, embrace transformation through trials, and allow the life of Christ to shine through our lives as a testimony to His power and glory.

Message by Brian Troxel in 2018

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