May 24, 2016 - Seven churches, seven letters all in the book of Revelation, seven letters letting the seven churches of Asia Minor know how they stood with the Lord.
Today we look at the seventh church, the church at Laodicea. The people at the church at Laodicea had become comfortable and self righteous, feeling that they were maybe just a little better than everyone else, a little richer, and a little more righteous.
Actually, according to the Bible, they even said; "I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing" but instead the Lord said they were; "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked" (Rev 3:17)
The comfortable church was just that, it's members were comfortable in their lives, they had plenty, their daily needs were adequately filled, they were probably comfortable in their worship as well.
They probably did the same things from week to week feeling that they were being "good Christians" and I suspect they really had no idea that they had become so disconnected from the Lord.
The church was satisfied, with their level of effort and respectability. The people were comfortable with their easy going way of doing things, they were satisfied with "good enough".
The Lord did not rebuke this church for it's doctrine or organization, no His compliant was against it's lukewarm, half-hearted attitude and lack of effort. No one there had any zeal for the gospel and that was the complaint against them.
In verse 15 God says; "I could wish you were cold or hot". In the next verse He says; "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."
Self-satisfaction ate the heart out of the church. She was rich in worldly goods, every year the people had increases and felt they had need of nothing, all the while being destitute in the Lord.
The people thought worldly prosperity was a sign of God's favor on them. Many times this is not so and worldly prosperity is a sign of future torment, much as Jesus told the Pharisees that they should enjoy their life on earth for that was their reward and would be all they ever got.
This church and it's membership was on the same path to destruction as were those Pharisees.
Yet, God had not given up on Laodicea, no, in His great love he offered them the opportunity to change and redeem themselves as He does for the churches of today.
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent." (Rev. 3:19)
God gives everyone a chance to serve Him, a chance each day to be zealous for the gospel, a chance to work each day living and walking in the light of Christ so others will be drawn, by our lives, to Christ. Let's work to never be lukewarm, but always be alive-for-Christ. May God bless you and keep you, please feel welcome to join us any Wednesday evening for Bible Study. More more info call: 936-615-1427...
