The Message to the church at Laodicea

Revelation 3:14-22

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 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.” (Revelation 3:14-16)

Christ identifies himself to this church as the Creator and basis for the church. While the church is active, there is no real stance about anything. Doctrine is considered irrelevant, and people’s feelings have become the primary focus. II Timothy 4:3-4 describes this church. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

In Farmington, there is a church that used to take a strong and biblical Baptist stance. Today, I am told that if your background is Baptist, you can join the church as a Baptist, proclaiming that you hold Baptist doctrine. If you are not a Baptist, you can join by the standards of whatever group you identify with. Various services are held to meet the desires of the various groups, and arrangements can be made for you to conduct services of what ever type you desire if nothing else suits you. As one member said, “Anyone can feel at home in our church.”

Since changing their doctrine, the church has become the largest, and financially one of the richest in our entire area. Unfortunately, all of the people who were involved with starting the church and it’s original stance have been forced out because they believed the doctrine mattered. I believe this church is typical of the Laodicean church. It is interesting that God describes them as neither hot, nor cold.

If you have ever drunk lukewarm coffee, soda, or milk you understand the comparative loss of taste of the lukewarm. What may be overlooked it the fact that heat kills decay organisms, and cold prevents their growth. Lukewarm temperatures stimulate their growth, and hasten decay and spoilage. Most food items quickly become worthless, and potentially dangerous if stored at room temperature.

God says that he will spew the Laodicean church out of his mouth because of their total lack of concern. Even Jezebel, though she is opposed to God, cares what is taught. She considers their beliefs as important. Active support, or active opposition can be dealt with. but indifference is nearly impossible to break through. It sits in the way like a giant sand bag. unaffected by anything that happens.

“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: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (Revelation 3:17-18)

The Laodicean church is convinced that they have done everything right, and that their size and wealth qualifies them to tell others how to do the job. Such churches often hold seminars and training sessions to tell others how to duplicate their success. They fail to recognize their true state. Many of their people are not saved, and those that are have no spiritual understanding. They are not experiencing the power of God in their lives, are living in sin, and have nothing to offer to God.

The cure for their state is to replace their own ideas and efforts with what God is offering. Philippians 3:8-11 describes what is needed. “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith; That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” By allowing God to produce, rather than doing their own thing, They can have all the fullness of Christ.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:19-20)

Every child of God will be corrected. Refusal to listen just increases the discomfort. By correcting the sin, we can curtail the judgment. Christ is knocking and asking for the opportunity to help straighten things out Letting him have his way will produce fellowship and joy.

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3:21)
Those who have placed their trust fully in Christ will be seated with him in heaven, along side God the father. For the seventh time we are warned to listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. We better pay attention.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 3:22)