Bible Message – Week 27.  Laodicea, The Church That Makes Jesus Sick. Pst. Johan Venter

• Week 27
• Scripture Reading: – Rev 3:¹⁴
• Topic: – The Church That Makes Jesus Sick . . . A Church with NO PASSION!

The lukewarm church and to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans.

Rev 3:¹⁴

“The Lukewarm Church “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 

¹⁵ “[I know your works], that you are neither [cold nor hot]. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, [because you are lukewarm], and neither cold nor hot, I will [vomit you out of My mouth]. 

¹⁷ Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 

¹⁸ [I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see]. 

¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. 

²¹ To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ²² “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This was a warning to them and also to us!

The church in Laodicea is lukewarm.

Jesus says that the church in Laodicea is lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. In this letter, Jesus expresses His desire for this church to see the reality of their own condition and of the world around them. 

Any church that compromises with the culture becomes ineffective in impacting that culture….and a compromising church makes Christ sick!

How can you BE the Church if you don’t ACT / LIVE like the Church! This was the spiritual condition of this Church. They allowed their CULTURE to rule over their lives and not the Spirit of God. 

1 Cor 1:²² 

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, [Not my culture] to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

‘Lukewarm’ is used only here in the New Testament. 

Any church or church member can find itself in one of these three stages: – cold, lukewarm, or hot. Cold signifies without a spiritual life. Lukewarm means are indifferent. Hot expresses passionate zeal. 

Rev 2:⁴ 

Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love. You have lost your FIRST LOVE.

When I was a [Spiritual child]

1 Cor 13:¹¹ 

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

Laodicea had no water supply of its own, so it piped cold water all the way from Colosseo via aqueducts, so by the time it arrived it wasn’t cold anymore, but lukewarm. 

They piped hot water from Hierapolis [Col 4:¹³] Springs six miles away, so by the time it reached the city, it too was only warm. So you could find neither the refreshment of cold water nor the relaxation of hot water in Laodicea, only warm water that satisfied neither need. 

Churches and Christians of our day have lost their passion. The cross and the lost no longer move them. They have no passion for the Lord.

The church at Laodicea was in danger of God’s judgment.

1. These Are Hard Churches [People] To Pastor – The people believe they are right, but in reality they are indifferent. They simply don’t care about anybody but themselves.
2. These Are Hard to Move for the Lord – Nothing moves them anymore. If people get saved great, if not ok. If the preaching is hot and passionate, great, if not, ok. They might like to see growth, but they aren’t going to put themselves out to help create it.
3. These Misrepresent the Lord – Jesus was a man of passion! His disciples were passionate, and that fire showed in their life and ministry. When we are indifferent it gives the impression that Jesus is because we represent Him.
4. This church was satisfied with being complacent.
5. They were satisfied with what they have accomplished.
6. This church was physically wealthy but spiritually poor.
7. They were clothed in fine garments but naked in the eyes of Jesus.
8. They were wretched and miserable and didn’t know it.

Things that make Jesus sick:

• Empty praise makes him sick.
• Empty pews make him sick.
• Woeful and unenergized worship makes him sick.
• Heartless singing that sounds good, makes him sick.
• Lack of commitment makes him sick.
• Preaching that pleases the people, as opposed to glorifying God, and edifying the saints, and persuading sinners to change, makes him sick. 

2 cor 2:¹⁷ 

For we are not like many, [acting like merchants] peddling God’s word [shortchanging and adulterating god’s message]; But from pure [uncompromised] motives, as [commissioned and sent] from God, we speak [His message] in Christ in the sight of God.

• A church that is not concerned about salvation makes him sick.
• Churches that prey on the people instead of praying for the people, make him sick.
• A church that looks like the world, instead of making the world look like the church, makes him sick.

Jesus gives them the opportunity to change.

• Repentance.
• Turn back.
• Making a change in our lives under the conviction of the holy spirit.
• Light the FIRE of the Holy Spirit again in our lives. The FIRE on your ALTER has gone out! Read: – Leviticus 6:¹²

Church of the LAST DAYS

Just before Jesus comes back! The difference between Religious & Spiritual children. You can know the Bible, but not the Author, not the Father, not the Son! You know the rules of RUGBY but you have never played yourself! 

This was the problem of the Church of Laodicea. Start cleaning from the INSIDE! 

John 4:²³ 

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in [spirit] and [truth]; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

People have no backbone, they will fall for anything. Whichever way the wind blows! They can howl with the wolfs, and then just as good [blend in with the ‘sheep’]! Lukewarm people are dangerous people! Don’t hang around them! They have no ‘backbone’! Swear and curse in the workplace, and then praise God in Church!

We have to make the decision to fully serve God, or fully serve the world! Sing in church, lift your hands, praying! But you are lukewarm! 

Isaiah 29:⁸ 

As when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he is eating and awakes with his hunger not satisfied, or as when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he is drinking, and awakes faint, with his thirst not quenched. 

Matthew 5:¹³ 

“You are the salt [Preserves, gives flavour, makes thirsty] of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 

¹⁴ “You are the light [You are always light, you can’t put in on and off] of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

¹⁶ “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (NKJV)

Jesus told them four things were to be done. All were impossible except through the grace of God. All were part of what they thought they didn’t need:

1. Buy gold tried in the fire – [Salvation is purchased through Christ].
2. Buy white raiment – [righteousness God gives].
3. Anoint eyes to see – [man’s need for spiritual sight].
4. Repent zealously.

May God bless His Word

There is MORE Oil.