Sunday, May 31, 2020

The Church At Laodicea

Temple Baptist Church - 5-31-2020
Rev 3:14-22

Introduction:
A.  Laodicea, “The Rights of the People.”  Here we are in 2020.  Historically, how did we get here?
1.  Ephesus left her First Love.  A cooling off period.
2.  Smyrna allowed a mixed multitude to join the local church.
3.  Pergamos began to compromise doctrinally by allowing false teachers.
4.  Thyatira began to be tied with the upcoming Roman Catholic Heresy.
5.  Sardis became more dead than alive through ritualism.
6.  Philadelphia was a “break” from the norm by getting the gospel out to a lost world.
7.  Laodicea, here we are:
a)  Laodicean people became more Materialistic.  After WW II, industry remained in “full swing” as factories changed over from production of war materials to keeping people employed by making things available to them that they could have only dreamed of in years gone by.  People have access to so many things that are not all bad but things that have become distractions.  Automobiles in every driveway, cheap and plentiful fuel for them, places to go and things to do.  SUNDAY began to change from the Lord’s Day to Play Day.
b)  Laodicean people became more Humanistic.  People are all about self instead of others.  The invention of the television set brought people in from sitting on the porch with neighbors to closing the windows and curtains so as not interrupt their favorite TV programs.
c)  Laodicean people became more Socialistic.  Big government equals little rights and dependence.  The government ran the nation during the war effort and, as the fire desires more wood, government desired and got more power.
d)  Laodicean people became more Globalistic.  Alliances began to form after WW II such as NATO that were to stop any country from trying to take over the world again.  The world became the betterment of the whole over the sovereignty of it parts.  “We are world and we are one” is the slogan of the Globalist.  We are not one!
2 Timothy 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
B.  Temple Baptist Church can be like any of the above mentioned, the choice is ours.
C.  We live in days of rebellion against authority.
1.  Rebellion in the home.  Proverbs 30:17  The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
2.  Rebellion in the nation.  Romans 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
3.  Rebellion in the work place.  Colossians 3:22  Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
4.  Rebellion in the church.  Hebrews 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
D.  The Description of Christ – Verse 14
            1.  "The Amen" - let it be so, truly.  As God has spoken in His Word, so it will be!
2 Corinthians 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him                    Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
            2.  "Faithful and True Witness" - faithful to His word.  The Bible is right in all its parts.
                        Last word in the Bible - Amen
            3.  "Beginning of The Creation of God" - pre-eminence in all things.  God is still God.
E.  The Observation of The Church – Verses 16-17
            1.  The Spirituality of The Church - lukewarm
            2.  The Boast of The Church - need of nothing (Notice it is "thou sayest" not "I say")
            3.  The Condition of The Church – “I will spue thee out of my mouth”             
a.  Ignorant of their condition - "knowest not"
                        b.  Wretched - something to be pittied
                        c.  Miserable - never knowing the true joy of the Lord
                        d.  Poor - never knowing the true riches
                                    Revelation 2:9  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but                                                   thou art rich)
                        e.  Blind - Religion without salvation
                        f.  Naked - having no divine righteousness
F.  The Counsel To The Church – Verses 18-19
            1.  "Gold tried in the fire" - buy true riches that are eternal
            2.  "white raiment" - true righteousness
            3.  "anoint thine eyes" - spiritual discernment
            4.  "repent" – spiritual perception
G.  The Position of Christ – Verse 20  Outside of the door (Christ could not join most churches in our day.)
H.  The Invitation To The Individual – Verse 20  Notice it is to the individual, not to the church
1.  This is not the Door of Salvation as that Door is Christ and is never closed.
John 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

2.  This is the Door of Communion.  The sinfulness of man stands between himself and Christ in Communion. 

Isaiah 59:1-2  Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:  (2)  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

I.  The Promise To The Overcomer – Verse 21

1.  Fellowship With Christ

Luke 12:35-37  Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;  (36)  And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.  (37)  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

2.  Reigning With Christ

1 John 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
VS 17 - KNOWEST NOT - WHAT A DANGER – Laodicea is:
1.  Characterized by un-realization.
Psalms 78:35-37  And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.  Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.  For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
            Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth
me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
2.  Characterized by unholiness.
Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
3.  Characterized by un-lovingness.
            Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
4.  Characterized by un-faithfulness.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
5.  Characterized by un-thankfulness.
Numbers 14:27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
Numbers 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
6.  Characterized by un-carefulness.
            a.  Towards God's Word
          b.  Towards God's Work
          c.  Towards God's House

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