WHY DO MANY BELIEVE THIS COULD BE THAT CHURCH AGE?
When you read Rev. 3:15-19, you can easily see why many think this is the age in which we live.
For example, look at some of the things we see about this Laodicean church age.
First, the Word of God reveals-
(A) WHAT GOD THINKS ABOUT THEM
Look at Rev. 3:15-16, we read, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
Notice, the Lord says, “I know thy works”.
Look at the word “know” here.
This is the Greek word, “eido” which means to examine or consider.
That is, the Lord is saying to the Laodicean church, “I have considered or examined your works, and based on your works I have come to the conclusion, ‘Thou are neither cold nor hot…’”
WHY WOULD THE LORD MAKE THIS COMPARISON?
Laodicea was located in a very unique place.
• They had the high mountains where snow would gather on top and melt and run down into Laodicea. However, by the time it got to Laodicea the water was lukewarm.
• They also had the Lycus River join the Maeander River that produced hot springs. However, when they reached Laodicea the water was lukewarm.
The Lord said he had examined their works and had come to the conclusion that this church was LUKEWARM!
The reason that many think that we live in the Laodicean church age, is because our churches are filled with people who want to hold hands with the LOST WORLD and the LOVING SAVIOR at the same time.
God said the Laodicean church was a church that was lukewarm.
It is not that they denied what this Bible teaches, it is simply this, they wanted to straddle the fence and not take a stand.
God says such a church MAKES HIM SICK!
The Laodicean church age is Lukewarm. This is WHAT THE LORD THINKS OF THEM.
But look at:
B. WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES
It is obvious they had some difference of opinion with the Lord Jesus.
Look at Rev. 3:17, we read, “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.”
Based on what they had been blessed with, they assumed they were all right!
But listen, if we are going to base spiritual success on THE WORLD’S RICHES, then some of the most wicked people on this earth are spiritually successful because they have riches.
This is exactly what they were basing their success on.
Look at verse 17. We read, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…”
A lot of churches today have their beautiful buildings to worship in, and they gloat about their large budgets, and they think they are in excellent shape - BUT THEY AREN’T!
God’s instruction to the church of Laodicea was that they needed to REPENT!
From this passage of scripture, it is obvious what God thinks about the Laodicean church, and what they think about themselves, are not the same.
So that we do not make the same mistake and become a part of this Laodicean church age, we must...
I. BE PREPARED TO WORSHIP
We live in a physical world, where we have to spend much of our lives doing things like going to work, cooking, cutting the grass and etc..
These are things that must be done, but the fact is none of us feel very spiritual doing these things. (Humor) Especially when the lawn mower is hard to start.
But as we leave this PHYSICAL WORLD in which we live each day, and we come to church, we are coming into a SPIRITUAL ENVIRONMENT.
The Laodicean church came in saying, “We are rich and we do not need a thing!”
But they were wrong. Every time we come to church WE NEED SOMETHING FROM THE LORD.
As we come from the SECULAR WORLD to the SPIRITUAL WORLD, sometimes it takes a few minutes to get acclimated to this spiritual world after being in the physical world as much as we are.
Illus: Dr. Ron LaFlam was working out in the gym. He was walking at a very fast pace around the gym track for almost an hour. He then started walking slow. Someone said to him, “You are slowing down?” He said with humor, but with a tad of truth to it, “Yes, I am trying to wind down. If I don’t, when I step outside of the building I will be in the middle of the road in the traffic before I know it.”
Now what he said makes sense spiritually also. This is a fast paced world in which we live, and it is important that before we come to the worship service, we start winding down and preparing our hearts for worship.
When Some Christians come to church, rather than fellowship with the saints of God, they prefer to visit with them after church.
When they first enter the church building, they prefer to go find themselves a seat and sit in the sanctuary in a prayerful mood getting their hearts prepared for worship.
If we do not want to be a part of the Laodicean church age, we need to BE PREPARED TO WORSHIP.
We certainly do not need to come to church bragging about our riches and declaring we do not need anything.
But also, WE MUST -
II. BE PREPARED TO FELLOWSHIP
One of the reasons people choose a particular church to worship in is because they love the people that worship there.
This is what the early church did.
Look at Acts 2:46,47, “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
The early church was a church that was full of gladness, and they enjoyed the fellowship with each other.
This kind of atmosphere is what God wants in every church. And notice the Bible says this is the kind of church that can grow. The Bible says, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
But remember the Laodicean church does not love God or God’s people, THEY LOVE THINGS.
This is the church that boasted, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…”
It is obvious they loved things, not people.
Illus: This explains why in the Laodicean church you can hear some of ugliest comments about people, and no one will get upset! If you talk about some of their possessions in a negative way, they will get mad!
Why? Because the Laodicean church loves THINGS, not people.
God’s TRUE CHURCH loves a beautiful church to worship in, but something they love more than that is the Lord Jesus Christ and His people.
Look at John 13:34,35, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
We are to “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Rom. 12:15
We must be PREPARED TO WORSHIP, PREPARED TO FELLOWSHIP, and ...
III. BE PREPARED TO GO
A GOING CHURCH is a GROWING church.
The “Laodicean” church today, in their effort to evangelize the world, has taken on a circus type of mentality.
Illus: Have you ever gone to a state fair and walked down the midway and seen the side shows, side by side? Each show is competing for the crowd to enter their tent. They will do anything to lure people into these shows.
HOW DO THEY DO IT?
They will do anything! Usually they have a man on a platform with a microphone in his hand saying:
• Come on in folks and watch a man swallow a sword
• Come on in folks and watch a man swallow fire
• Come on in folks and see a man with three heads
These side shows will do anything to draw a crowd.
This is exactly what the “Laodicean” church is doing today. They invite people to church with ads that read:
• Come on in folks, and watch a fellow swallow a live gold fish
• Come on in folks, and watch the pastor get a pie shoved in his face
• Come on in folks, and watch this fellow break a concrete block over his head
• Come on in folks, we have bingo every Friday night
• Come on in folks, we have line dancing on Saturday night
Some are quick to say, “But this draws a crowd!” Yes, it does, but so does the circus!
Now that is not to say a church should not have a contest every now and then.
But God never intended for His church to be reduced to a cheap side show.
Listen, God’s method has always been “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
But a person will never go, until they love souls. When they get that burden for lost souls they will GO!
Conclusion:
This could very much be the “Laodicean” church age.
While many churches around us today fall into this category, God has always had a church that He could work through.
Let us ask the Lord to help us not to be a participant of this “Laodicean” church age.
The song, “Set My Soul Afire”, by Gene Barlett has this beautiful prayer. It goes like this-
• Set my soul afire, Lord, for Thy holy Word, burn it deep within me, let your voice be heard: Millions grope in darkness in this day and hour, I will be your witness, fill me with Thy Power.
• Set my soul afire, Lord, for the lost in sin, give to me a passion as I seek to win; Help me not to falter, never let me fail, Fill me with Thy Spirit, let Thy will prevail.
• Set my soul afire, Lord, in my daily life, For too long I’ve wandered in this day of strife; Nothing else will matter but to live for Thee. I will be your witness as You live in me.
This is the prayer the “Laodicean” church of today desperately needs to pray.
We must:
I. BE PREPARED FOR WORSHIP
II. BE PREPARED FOR FELLOWSHIP
III. BE PREPARED TO GO
LET’S GET READY TO GROW GOD’S WAY
