The Church at Laodicea pt. 1

Introduction

Today we are continuing our studies into the Seven Churches in Revelation.

We’d looked at the various ways to examine these churches:

Historically

Practically

Chronologically

The best use for us today is looking at them in the practical sense. In that the characteristics of these churches can resemble those of churches today.

Ephesus - The Laboring but Loveless Church

Smyrna - The Suffering Sinless Church

Pergamos - The Compassed & Compromising Church

Thyatira - The Seduced & Sinful Servants

Sardis - The Dead & Dying Church

Philadelphia - The Limitless, Living Church

Today we’re going to look at the final church - the church at Laodicea

A couple things to note before we begin:

First, I would like to point out that it’s my belief that the attributes of this church speak by and large to the attitude of the church body as a whole today - especially of that in America.

There are doctrines & denominations that by their teachings lend themselves to the churches of Pergamos and Thyatira, but regardless of doctrine - the majority of Christians - and by proxy Christian churches - are not on fire for God. God is not a consuming part of their life. Their schedules do not revolve around the things of God, their schedules revolve around themselves and they try to fit a little of God in when they can.

We are without a doubt living the church age of Laodicea. It is a sad but true fact.

Now church I want to encourage you in something. We are living in the Laodicean age, but that doesn’t mean we have to be that way. (Ill.) I could live in the house of a bunch of drug addicts, but that doesn’t mean I have to be one. I don’t have to be lukewarm - and neither do you!

Secondly, I want to address this from a Chronological standpoint. If you look back over the last 2,000 years you will see that the mindset, attitude and results of the Christian church lines up with the periods mentioned in these 2 chapters.

Just as from the 1600’s to the late 1800’s with the great awakenings resemble the Philadelphia church - from the late 1800’s to present resemble the Laodicean church.

This is important because of what we see directly after this church: Rev. 4:1-2 “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.”

This quite deliberately looks like what we call the rapture illustrated after this church.

Jesus said in Joh. 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Jesus is coming back! And I believe it to be very soon!

I. The Preacher

The Amen

We hear this word a lot in church (or at least we should). It is a word that we may or may not know the definition for, but given that Jesus here is calling Himself The Amen, I think it a good idea to spend a few moments on to define.

Trustworthy

Trustworthy (worthy of trust) is the first.

When we say ‘Amen’, we are saying that whatever preceded that is worthy of trust.

In regards to Jesus being the ‘Amen’, it is stating that Jesus is trust worthy.

Firm; Sure

It’s also stating that a things is Firm, Sure & Stable. It’s affirmation that a thing is sound

In regards to Christ - He is Firm, He is Sure & He is Stable!

Ps. 40:2 “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”

Mt. 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

1Cor. 3:11 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Christ is the Solid Rock upon which I stand!

Have Confidence In

Lastly, it’s stating that you can have confidence in the thing it’s attributed to.

(Ill.) If I in my preaching stated ‘Faith in Christ is the only remedy for the sins of man’, and you said ‘Amen’ to that, you are in effect stating:

‘That’s a trustworthy statement preacher!

That’s a sure statement preacher!

Those are sure words with a solid foundation preacher, I have confidence in that preacher!

This is what you’d be saying if you said ‘Amen’

But looking unto Christ we see that Jesus Himself is Trustworthy, Firm, Sure & able to have confidence in!

We see the Amen

The Almighty

Faithful

I preached on Faithfulness this morning - church we should be faithful, but do you know who the object is that is spoken of most in Scripture concerning Faithfulness? God!

2Pet. 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Our God ALWAYS

Conforms to Truth (see next point)

Cleaves to it - as He never falters

Is Consistent - and He never waivers

consider this:

Jesus stated His Purpose: Luk. 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus stated His Apprehension: Mar. 14:36 “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”

Jesus submitted Himself unto death: Php. 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Heb. 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Our God is Faithful - and He’s True!

True

Jesus said: Joh. 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Truth is not subjective

Truth is not individually personalized

Truth is sure

Truth is defined

Truth is Jesus Christ!

One may not like that, but it’s still true!

I think given the hot topic in our country today ‘my truth’ nonsense - This description is given for this very purpose to remind us of this fact!

Original

Look at Joh. 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Rev. 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

Our God is not some fly by your pants Johnny-come-lately - He’s the Original!

This I believe is significant - for this reason. By stating this, He is saying - From the Creation of man until now, I HAVE SEEN IT ALL! BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN IT ALL I KNOW WHAT I’M ABOUT TO SAY MAY SOUND HARSH - BUT I KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!

II. The Positives

None

Honestly, this is very eye-opening. When you consider that the other - what we consider to be more wicked - churches, Christ had some good things to say about them. Thyatira (v2:19); Sardis (v3:4).

But here, this church wasn’t being led astray, they weren’t following ungodly wickedness & practices - but Christ had nothing good to say about them!

I think that this teaches us something:

It’s better to care but err, than to not care at all.

This church (Laodicea) just didn’t care or concern themselves about what God thought about anything!

III. The Problems

Their Indecisiveness (v15-16)

As we look on these verses, they are truly striking.

Christ’s knowledge

‘I know they works’

Nothing gets by Jesus. He KNOWS your HEART

(Ill.) I’ve heard people out in sin and they make that statement: ‘Well, God knows my heart’. Yup. He does. Jer. 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

The same people who say that are the ones deceived by their heart. God knows it, but they don’t. If their heart was right, their actions would follow!

Christ’s preference

He would rather them to be cold or hot - than be in the middle

Imagine this: Christ would rather you hate Him than simply pretend as though you love Him

This (to me) sounds so strange, but I feel the same way: I’ve had people that detest me - yet they pretend before others as though they love me. I would rather them just be authentic instead as well.

Christ’s Pronouncement

It’s found in v16 - the imagery is that lukewarm Christians make Jesus want to puke. This is just about as strong a language as you can find. It’s written in the old english, so it sounds eloquent, but the language is harsh!

Their Immorality (v17b)

Wretched

Sunk into deep affliction or distress

Miserable

To be pitied

Poor

They have no riches

Christ instructed the church: Mat. 6:19-20 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”

God’s method of accounting is different from man’s. Warren Buffet’s & Bill Gates of the world are looked on as very successful men - but not in God’s eyes. In God’s eyes, I don’t think it’s braggadocios to say that I’m far wealthier than either of these two.

Blind

They cannot see

More on this in a minute

Naked

They have no cloak for their sin

They have no covering - they have no ability to hide their shame and reproach. They are found out! All their imperfections are on display!

Their Ignorance (v17a)

Now the question to be pondered is this - is this a blinding through no fault of theirs or is it a willing ignorance? I think that the answer is found right here ‘I am rich and increased with goods’ - the Laodiceans weren’t looking to Christ, they were looking to themselves. This is a willing ignorance.

IV. The Proclamation

Attain Christ’s Riches (v18a)

Attain Christ’s Raiment (v18b)

Anoint with Eye Remedy (v18c)

Understand His Rebuke (v19a)

Repent (v19b)

V. The Promises & Pleas

A Redeemer is Willing & Waiting (v20)

Overcomer’s will have Worthy Company (v21)

Conclusion