The Laodicean Church
Rev.3: 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Backsliding begins with indifference because indifference destroys dedication.
The attitude of “do just enough to get by” has hurt Gods work more than we realize.
The Laodicean church was living indifferent Christian’s lives.
1. The Church.
Rev.3: 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Laodicea was a few miles of Colosse.
This message is from the one who stands firm
The faithful and true witness
Ver.15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Problem God new their works
They were not hot are cold they were lukewarm.
Jesus said if you are not for me you are against me
Matt.12:
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
2.Gods Complaints
Ver.16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Sickness the Laodiceans way of life made God sick
God said I will spew you out of my mouth.
Satisfaction
Ver:17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
I am rich yes in earthly things
We are increased with goods I have no need for material things.
I have need of nothing not earthly things.
When get to this stage you are in great danger.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
3. Counsel
Ver. 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
The Lord has a four fold request for the people.
1.buy gold tried by fire.
1st Peter 1: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
This means faith.
Buy me white raiment
This means righteousness
Anoint thy eyes with eyesaleve
This means enlightenment
Psalms 19: 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Be zealous and repent this means sorrow
Luke 13: I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Chastening
Ver.19: 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
4. Christ
Ver. 20:Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Behold I Jesus
Stand at the door
If any man hear my voice
5. Compensation
Ver. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Overcoming gives a home in heaven
John 14: 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Keep your heart open to the spirit
Allow him to speak to you
Christ has no room for indifferent or slipshod workers. The only cure is dedication
This church once had but lost it.
