The complacent church

The complacent church.

Revelation 3:14-21.

Today we visit the last of the seven churches of Asia. As we enter this church we find this church infected with the disease of complacency.

Complacency is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “Contentment, self-satisfaction, or smugness.”

The name Laodicea actually means “The rule of the people” and it suggests a democratic church which no longer follows the leading of the Holy Spirit, spiritual leaders or the authority of the word of God.”- Warren Weirsbe.

1. Description of Laodicea physically.

It was located in the Lycus valley, 45 miles southeast of Philadelphia and 90 miles east of Ephesus. Laodicea was situated between the two churches of Hierapolis and Colosse. It had been damaged by an earthquake in A.D. 60. Its reputation boasted of banking, commerce, manufacturing of nice clothes. It also had a medical school which produced a salve to cure eye disease.

Laodicea had a water problem. They had to pipe in cold water from Colosse and hot water from Hierapolis. By the time the water was received at Laodicea, it was lukewarm and good for nothing.

2. Description of Laodicea spiritually.

First we must notice the words of the Amen, the true and faithful witness, the ruler of God’s creation. Christ is God’s amen to His promises. Christ has sovereign rule over the created order.

Christ informs this church that they are self absorbed. “I know you works/deeds.

You are like the water, you are not hot or cold, I wish you were one or the other.”

Cold water represents refreshing.

Hot water represents healing.

So when you attended this church you were neither refreshed nor ministered unto.

This church was boring and taking up space.

These people had a higher evaluation of themselves than Christ did.

The smugness of these people made Christ want to vomit. This church had no spiritual value in the community which means the lost did not benefit from this church.

Mark 7:6-9 NIV

The people had a form of godliness.

Christ says they had no power.

The people had lip service.

Christ said their heart was far away from Him.

The people had membership status.

Christ knew they needed to repent.

The people had outward profession.

Christ knew there wasn’t much true Holy Spirit possession.

This church seems to be a dead apostate church and many believe the church be like this church when the Lord returns.

Christ rejects their half-hearted efforts of self-absorbed Christianity.

They said, “We are rich, we have acquired wealth, we are self-sufficient.”

Christ said, “You are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”

3. A deplorable reality.

Here is a church so absorbed with itself that Christ tells this church to repent. This church thought they had it all together so much that they excommunicated Christ outside the church.

Christ has to knock on the door of His own purchased possession and ask to come in. He is the Master of the house and seeks immediate response from His servants.

The church must return to:

The bible which is gold tried in the fire.

Christ righteousness which is the white raiment.

The Holy Spirit which serves as the eye salve.

You can’t purchase these three but you can receive these three by faith and obedience.

Have you become a complacent Christian?

Do you have a higher evaluation of your life than Christ?

Are you useful in God’s kingdom?