Introduction: In Revelation Chapters 2 and 3, God is writing to the angel of seven different churches that existed in the first century in Asia Minor. In this passage of scripture we see that the angel of the Laodicean Church is being addressed. This church was controlled by its people and not by God. This church represent us, this is the church of today.
Regarding the Laodicean Church:
- What God Says About The Church– Vs 15-15 “I know thy works”. God gets right to the point and begins to tell this church what he sees in them. God says of them that they are neither hot or cold, God is not pleased with neutrality.
- A Luke Warm Church Member:
- Will Not Fully Commit to Christ- Luke 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”.
- Will Not Share or Support those that Preach the Gospel- Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost”.
- Will Not Live Holy and Pure Living for Christ- II Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you”.
- Will Not Attend Consistently- Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”.
- Unfortunately, this the state of the current church; we are half-hearted, comfortable, complacent, lethargic, indifferent, and neutral.
- A Luke Warm Church Member:
- What The Church Thinks About Itself- Vs 17 “I am”. God knows that the church of today is saying these things about themselves, right now. They think that they’re rich, and increased with goods, and they have need of nothing. They focus on their capability instead of Christ- Galatians 6:3 “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself”. They depend upon their ability instead of Christ- Proverbs 20:6 “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find”.They rely upon their resources instead of Christ- I Corinthians 10:12 “Werefore let him that htinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”.
- What The Church Truly Is- Vs 17 “Knowest not”. They don’t even know what they really are. This is their true condition based on how God sees them. Wretched- “Very Miserable; sunk into deep affliction or distress”. They were lacking spiritually, more focused on the fellowships instead of Teaching and Preaching. Miserable- “Very unhappy” When you try to do things in your own power instead of the power of God, a person is miserable. Missing out on the presence of God. Poor- Compared to riches of God, they were poor. Gold, Silver, precious stones or Wood, Hay, Stubble. Only focused on the material things of life and not eternal riches. Blind- Surrounded by people that are lost and going to hell. People that are poor and need help. People that are fatherless and neglected (nursing home). Naked- They didn’t have the clothing of Christ’s righteousness. Thinking that their religious works would get God’s approval. Thinking that it’s okay to live for the world all week long and go to church once a week.
- What God Counsels The Church– Vs 18 “ I Counsel thee”. The Lord’s rebuke and chastening toward Christians is because He loves us. Jesus Christ wants us to see what wrong and he wants us to correct our behavior. To change our lives and to live fully committed to Him. Vs 19 “be zealous therefore”. To be zealous means to boil and burn with zeal. We are zealous for many things except God. Here God wants us to be zealous for Him! Vs 19- “Repent”- A change of mind. Turn from the direction that you are going and go the other way. This is Great Counsel from God!
Conclusion: This message is an eye opener for the church of today. We should consider what we’ve heard and take the counsel of God to heart.
Anchor Baptist Church 