Laodicea: The Drag-Net

Temple Baptist Church - 5-10-2020

Matthew 13:47-51

Introduction:

A.  Laodicea: The End Time Church, The Lukewarm Church, The Materialistic Church.

B.  The Parable of the Drag Net is a not-so-beautiful type of the Laodicea Church Age.  But it shows us the real picture of where we are today as far as the “run of the mill” local churches of the Bible Belt.

C.  I do not want to rehearse the “How did we get from there to here” tonight but do want to use this parable to get a better understanding of what is going on.

D.  Where are we at in the Laodicean Church Age?

1.  The Kingdom of Heaven – an earthly kingdom: the end of the world and the beginning of the Millennial Reign of Christ.  A lot of people confuse the Kingdom of Heaven with the Kingdom of God.  The Kingdom of God is a heavenly Kingdom.

a.  This parable is the end-time church of the Laodiceans.  The Lord is coming and the body of Christ is leaving.  The Tribulation Period will last for seven years, while we are in heaven at the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

b.  In Revelation, chapter 19, the Lord is coming back to set up His earthly Kingdom where He will rule and reign for 1,000 years.

c.  I will not deal with Eschatology in general tonight because that is a series unto itself but just want to look at the parable.

2.  The Net is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

a.  The Net is a finished work:  the death—according to the Scriptures, burial, and resurrection—according to the Scriptures.

b.  The Net is a tool used to catch fish.  Mark 1:16  Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.  

3.  God’s children are “fishers of men.”  Mark 1:17  And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.  (Notice that these men were casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.)

a.  These are to sow indiscriminately.  “cast a net into the sea.”

Matthew 13:3  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;  (The sower did not pick just what he thought would be “good ground,” but broadcast the seed.)

b.  The “sea” is a type of the masses of humanity in this world.  “all the world” and to “every creature.”

c.  The net gathered “every kind.”  Our work is to cast the net and trust the Lord with who we catch.

1)  Some seed will fall on good ground and people come to Christ by faith.

2)  Some seed will fall on bad ground and, though they may make a profession, the hearer will remain lost.

Possessors – Good ground

Professors – Good seed

4.  There will be a separating.  John 5:28-29  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,  (29)  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Matthew 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

a.  There will be a gathering of the good.  Those in the net who are truly saved.

John 10:14, 27  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine … My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  

b.  There will be a casting of the bad.  Those in the net who are not saved.

Revelation 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

5.  The problem with the Laodicean Church Age: this age has churches with both saved and lost members.  Generally, the unsaved have certain characteristics:

a.  A lack of holiness. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

b.  A lack of faithfulness.  1 Corinthians 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

c.  A lack of brotherly love.  1 Peter 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

d.  A lack of spiritual discernment.  1 Corinthians 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

e.  A lack of obedience to Scripture.  Romans 2:7-8  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:  (8)  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Conclusion:

a.  I am glad that I do not have to judge between saved and lost.  Sometimes lost people act better than saved people.  Sometimes lost people are more faithful than saved people.

b.  We will take everyone at their word concerning salvation and try to make a difference in this world while letting God do the separating as He knows the heart.  We can only look on the outside.