A Lukewarm Church World

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. (Spue means to expel large quantities of (something) rapidly and forcibly, vomit.)

As I watch what is happening in our world today and among so much of the church world I have to wonder if we are not now as the church at Laodicea. We know the world in general has become indifferent to what is right and what is wrong. Their actions speak to the fact the world does not care what God says is right and wrong. The world has come to a place where they believe they can do as they please and there will not be repercussions for their actions. I am saddened when I see so much of church world having the same attitude.

The church, as God’s people, are not to be or act as the world does but we are to be a light to the world, showing and telling those in the world of God and what He says is right and wrong. Yet I see and hear so many Christians saying there is nothing I can do to change what is happening. As long as we are indifferent and unwilling to move for the Lord I will agree nothing will change, but that is the only part I agree on. The truth is we as God’s people are the only ones who can make a difference in what is happening in our world. Each one of us together just as James, John, Peter and Paul did can make a difference in our world.

So my question is this, “Are we in the church age of Laodicea?” Have we allowed ourselves to become lukewarm through simple laziness and becoming too comfortable with our blessings our Lord has blessed us with? Has our indifferent allowed Satan to overtake us?

In Revelation chapter 3 verses 14-16 Jesus tells the church he is very displeased with them. Have you ever drunk lukewarm water? It is nauseating. The Lord is saying the church has become as lukewarm water to Him. It is distastefully sickening to Him, to the point He will spue it out. (expel it).

As we read on into verse 17 Jesus tells us why the church is in the saddened state it is in.

17 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:

The Lord blesses us with so many wonderful blessings (riches) in life. Yet so many forget where those blessings come from and feel they don’t need the Lord anymore. When we become weak Christians comfortable in our worldly comforts and turn away from the truth of God’s Word we may have all we need physically but spiritually we have become wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked and our works have become worthless in the eyes of the Lord.

Our world, the age we now live in has forgotten Christ is Lord. It has forgotten Christ will one day return to judge this world.

God is calling his people to part of his army; an army (church) that will stand up for Him,  an army (church) that is on fire for him, full of the Holy Spirit following his Word and not the ways of the world, an army (church) willing to reach out to a lost and dying world. A church willing to stand for him in this hour we live in.

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire (refined, purified), that thou mayest be rich (spiritually rich in Christ); and white raiment (made pure), that thou mayest be clothed (spiritually clothed in Christ), and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear (that we not be found as one not covered with the blood of Lamb); and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve (clean up and open your spiritual eyes), that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Jesus says repent, get rid of the impurities you have allowed to creep into your lives, become clean again, clothed spiritually in the Holy Spirit, covered with the blood of the Lamb. Open your spiritual eyes and see the truth of God’s Word and repent.

Jesus does not call the church to repentance for his sake but ours because he loves us.

Isaiah 55: 2-3 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Hebrews 12: 7-11 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they (our earthly Father)verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he (the heavely Father) for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

20 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 (we will have communion with each other).

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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Jesus says I stand at your hearts door knocking, pleading for you to hear my voice and ask me again into your heart and life. Then when we hear him and allow him to clean us up, he promises, “I will come to you and walk and talk with your daily.”

There is great reward in this life and our eternal life if we will listen to his Word, stand strong for the Lord and not allow this world to turn us away from him.

Jesus pleads listen to me before it is too late.