DO YOU MAKE GOD SICK?
REVELATION 3:14-20
Introduction: I am sure that every one of us have heard someone who has said upon learning of another person?s offensive or obnoxious action(s), ?I can?t believe he (she) did that. They make me sick.? There is a place in the Bible where God said that the actions of some Christians were nauseating to Him ? they were making God sick. The question I have for you is ?Do you make GOD sick??
Please turn with me in your Bible to Revelation 3:14, reading through verse 20.
REVELATION 3:14-20 "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things says 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 you were cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. [17] Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. [18] I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that you may 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 hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me."
I. The Background of the Charge against the Church.
A. The city of Laodicea, located south of Philadelphia, was a prosperous center of banking and commerce. It was famous for clothing made from the wool of black sheep, and for a popular eye salve produced by its medical school. The city was so affluent that following an earthquake in 17 AD, the city was rebuilt without any financial assistance or aid.
B. The city greatest problem was the lack of an adequate and convenient water supply.
C. The city of Hierapolis, just seven miles north of Laodicea, was famous for its hot springs. Colosee, less than ten miles away, was known for its pure, cold mineral water. Not having proper water Laodicea used an aqueduct to pipe water into the city from springs 6 miles away. By the time water arrived by aqueduct to Laodicea it was lukewarm.
II. The Charge against the Church ? Complacency
A. This letter to the Laodicean church contains our Lord?s sternest and sharpest rebuke. There is not one word of commendation.
B. In verses 15-16, Jesus tells this church, in a manner they could easily understand that they were neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. He says? ?I KNOW YOUR WORKS; THAT YOU ART NEITHER COLD NOR HOT: I WOULD YOU WERE COLD OR HOT. SO THEN BECAUSE YOU ARE LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WILL SPEW (VOMIT) YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH.?
C. Hot and cold water are useful. Hot mineral water can be used to soothe and refreshes aching muscles and provides a multitude of benefits. Cold mineral water quenches thirst, refreshes and invigorates. Lukewarm water is less-than-refreshing.
D. The church?s lack of devotion was distasteful to the Lord. It had become useless, bland, and nauseating to Christ.
E. They had lost the zeal in serving Christ. They had become blasé, indifferent to the Truth, to Christ. They had without realizing it (note verse 17 "?THOU ?KNOWEST NOT THAT THOU ART WRETCHED, AND MISERABLE, AND POOR, AND BLIND, AND NAKED:") had reached the state they were in.
F. The root of the problem was they had shut Christ out of their lives and their church. Note verse 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." Christ was OUTSIDE of HIS Church.
G. They left Him out of their plans and programs. They were too busy in their everyday lives for Christ and the things of Christ. They had shut Jesus out of their lives.
H. This complacency and indifference was and is nauseous and repulsive to Christ. Note verse 16, "SO THEN BECAUSE THOU ART LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WILL SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH."
I. You might say, ?I am a Christian. I have not shut Christ out of my life. I love him. How can you ask such a thing?? But let me ask you if Christ came to your house visibly, physically and said that He was going to be your houseguest for an extended stay how would your life change?
? On Sunday evenings would you look over at Christ and say, ?Lord, We?re not going to go to Church tonight. You see there?s a program on TV we want to see and our kids have to get ready for school tomorrow?
? Wednesday nights would you come home and look in your Master?s eyes and inform Him that you?ve had a hard day at work and are too tired to go to Bible Study?
? Can you ever imagine Christ at anytime saying, ?I just don?t feel like going to the synagogue or temple this Sabbath?? Or ?I can?t go because my stepbrothers and stepsisters are in for the weekend??
? If you could envision Christ sitting next to you in the congregation when a call for volunteers to work in some ministry or to help with a building project, would you look over a Him and say ?Been there, Done that, Let someone else do it??
? If Christ asked you to audit your checking account would He find it honored Him?
? At mealtime would you be embarrassed, as some family members didn?t give a thought to pausing a second to thank Him for providing the meal set before them?
? Before you allowed Christ to view your videos or reading material would you have to hide or pitch some of it?
? When you get a phone call from one of your friends with a pet peeve or piece of gossip would you change the way that you normally handle that call and ask them to call back at a better time?
? Could you imagine Christ asking you to invite a particular person or family over to your house for an evening and you respond to Him with ?Lord, I really don?t care for them??
? If Christ went with you to the mall, your work, or for a walk in your neighborhood, how many of the people that you run into would you introduce to Christ ? people that you haven?t shared Christ with to this point?
J. Have you really made room in your life for Christ? Do you enjoy what He enjoys? Do you want what He wants more than what you want? Do you consider Him to be a listener in your every conversation? Is He the apple of your eye?
III. The Remedy for the Church
A. Revelation 3:20 "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."
B. You?ve heard me tell the story before of the stained glass window on of Holman Hunt?s ?Christ Outside the Door? The door has no handle. People thought this was a mistake, but the artist explained that this door must be opened from within. Christ will not force Himself into the church nor will He force Himself into your heart. It?s up to you can invite Christ into your life or shut Him out.
C. If you do let Him in He will radically revolutionize your life filled with the cool and abundant springs of living waters that will provides a multitude of benefits to the church, your family, your community, anyone who comes in contact with you, and to yourself.
