SARDIS: A DEAD PREACHER, PREACHING DEAD SERMONS, TO A DEAD CHURCH - 3:1-6
This letter, except for a few words to the faithful, is one long rebuke. It is a sad letter. This church was conquered and crucified by Satan because it failed to watch! It became a dead corpse that had nothing to offer anyone. This is a dead church. Not every Christian was dead, but the church as a whole was. Oh, they made sure that someone cut the lawn, painted the rooms, and printed the bulletin - but they were dead! If we had visited that city back then, we would not have seen things in disarray, or filth or disorder. Oh no. They were planning to plan. We would have thought that this was one great congregation, because that was their reputation. They had built their reputation on missions, benevolence, evangelism, and teaching and preaching the Word of God. All they had left was a reputation. Their activity only sustained that reputation. The problem was that they had no activity in their hearts. They had become so engrossed with their activities, that they were no longer teaching and preaching the Word. This church had fooled itself into thinking it was alive. They allowed what others said about them, to determine what they thought of themselves. We must make sure that all of the appearance of Christianity that we portray, is not just that - appearance! It must be back up by an inward reality - a heart for God! This is not written to people who need to be converted, but to Christians who had already done so. He is writing to Christians whose fire has gone out or was going out! They are told to let Jesus raise the dead, awake the sleeping and strengthen the faithful.

PHILADELPHIA: AN EVANGELISTIC PREACHER, PREACHING EVANGELISTIC SERMONS TO AN EVANGELISTIC CHURCH - 3:7-13
This is one letter of commendation. There is no condemnation. This is an unusual church in that it is the most significant, and yet in existed in the most insignificant city in the area. Religious people told this church "you can't do that!" They personalized their words with their lips, hands, feet, money, goals, and talents. Let us have the strength to not be frightened by our inabilities or by our opposition. Jesus tells them over and over again - you are going to die, but die faithful! Rome was about to throw many of them into prison, throw many to lions, hang many on crosses and burn alive - then Rome was going to get mean!!! Jesus never told them it was going to get better, but worse! These people refuse to let their inability; their weakness; religious error; or persecution, trouble and trials; even death itself, keep them from their assigned task! I know it sounds like preaching to say this, but you and I must get to the point that we are not afraid of anything or anyone but God. Let us never get to the place where we look back and see where God had opened doors for us to evangelize in certain areas and because of our lack of faith, we did not see it, so he closed it, and opened it for someone else.

LAODICEA: A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING PREACHER, PREACHING GOOD-FOR-NOTHING SERMONS, TO A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING CHURCH - 3:14-22
The church of Laodicea was the richest of all the churches. Their wealth influenced their religious attitude. They become like the city in which they lived, instead of influencing the city to become like Christ. Jesus ha not one good thing to say about Laodicea. If there were any true believers there, they did not warrant a comment. Even Sardis the dead church had a few faithful. Jesus at this point STILL calls them the church, even though He says nothing positive about them. However, they are bordering on the edge of being not the church. This church is a backsliding church. They have fallen from grace. They had known the truth and have rejected it. They play church and make a mockery of Christ. They are religious pretenders who will be Christian if it will better them politically or financially or gain them power, prestige, or fame. Jesus wishes they this church were GOOD FOR SOMETHING! The church had become like the city around them. The city only had lukewarm water. No cold water to quench the thirst; and no hot water to bath in. Jesus says nothing good about them because they were GOOD-FOR-NOTHING. Things were so bad that this church "thought" they were doing OK. They were self-deceived. Jesus confronts them with the truth about themselves. Laodicea had the attitude: "Jesus, we don't need you because we have enough. We can handle everything by ourselves"! Christianity was summed up in what they had and what they were going to get and what they were going to do with what they had and were going to get. Life consisted of the abundance of the things which they possessed. There are churches who are truly interested in acquiring things to be used in service to Jesus. But people who are interested in acquiring things for their own benefit and comfort will become indifferent and lukewarm to Jesus. They thought they were rich, but they were poor, but Jesus could make them rich! They thought they were big time in their fashionable clothing, but they were naked, but Jesus could clothe them in righteous deeds. They thought they could see very well, but they were blind, but Jesus could open their eyes so they could see. In each case Jesus says "come back to me!" Then he warns them what will happen if they do not repent, and gives a promise if they do.The fact that he is pictured as standing at the door knocking, shows how close they were to being "removed."

• Purchase the online version here for only $9.95 (a 60% savings)
  
  
• Also avaliable on CD-ROM. Includes everything in WordPerfect 8, Microsoft Word, and Rich Text formats. This includes 500+ pages of class notes, full alleriatated outline, questions and answers, images and maps. Purchase at 51% off while supplies last.
  Click here to purchase the CD for $11.95