The Laodicean Church Age

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.”