Saints Who Sicken The Savior

Saints Who Sicken The Savior

Text: Rev. 3:14-17

Intro: In the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation, the Lord Jesus Christ speaks to the seven churches of Asia Minor, which is equivalent to modern-day Turkey. As one reads the messages of Christ to these seven churches, a basic format is noticed: Commendation, Rebuke, Exhortation, and a Promise. There were two exceptions to this format: (1) When Christ addressed the church of Smyrna, He offered no rebuke; (2) When Christ addressed the church of Laodicea, He offered no commendation. It is with the church of Laodicea that I concern myself today.

What a shame it would be for Christ to look down upon this church, and find nothing commendable. But as awful as that thought is, this is exactly the condition that was present in the Laodicean church.

The saddest commentary on the Laodicean church was not only the fact that Christ found nothing commendable, but also that their spiritual condition figuratively made the Lord sick to His stomach. This is born out by Christ’s statement in verse 16 of our text: “…I am about to vomit (translates the word “spue” in the KJV) you out of my mouth.”(1) This statement reveals our Lord’s utter abhorrence of the Laodicean church’s spiritual condition.

However, I want to look beyond the Church in general this morning. I want rather, to look at the individuals who make up the Church. You see it is the individuals that make up the overall spiritual temperature of any given church. Perhaps you’ve never thought of the fact that you, as an individual Christian, can actually affect the overall spiritual atmosphere of this body. But it’s true just the same. That’s a rather arresting thought don’t you think?

Let’s consider our own personal spiritual condition this morning. Does the Lord find our relationship with Him sickening? What does the Lord Jesus see as He looks down at our hearts today? I believe these are questions all of us need to consider.

Theme: The Savior is sickened by…

I. CARELESS SAINTS

A. Careless Saints Are Indifferent About Their Relationship With Christ.

Rev. 3:15 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.”

1. Concerning one’s relationship with God, Jesus gave His verdict.

Matt.6: 33a “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…”

Matt. 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

2. King David and the prophet Isaiah considered one’s relationship with God to be vital.

Ps. 27:8 “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”

Ps. 37:3 “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

5 Commit they way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Isa. 55:6 “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

NOTE: [1] Folks, there are some things that a person cannot afford to be careless and indifferent about; the most important of which is your daily relationship with the Lord Jesus.

[2] Have you ever heard the old saying that goes like this?

For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy; and for want of care about a horseshoe nail.(2)

B. Careless Saints Are Inconsistent In Their Daily Conduct.

1. Christians are to live lives that are blameless.

Phil. 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

2 Pet. 3:14 “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

2. Our behavior must back up our beliefs.

Matt. 23:1 “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”

James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”