REVIVAL MESSAGE/ SUNDAY MORNING MESSAGE JULY 13, 2008 CHRISTIAN HOPE CHURCH OF CHRIST, PLYMOUTH, NORTH CAROLINA BY REGGIE A. BRAZIEL (REVISION OF A MESSAGE I PREACHED IN A NUMBER OF REVIVALS. ORIGINALLY TITLED: CHURCH MEMBERS WHO MAKE JESUS SICK) The Church s Final Days On Earth Revelation 3:14-18 18 Read Scripture Text P R A Y E R I N T R O D U C T I O N When we look at THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA here in REVELATION 3, we must understand that we are not simply looking at a Church that existed almost 2,000 years ago. PROPHETICALLY SPEAKING, we are looking at THE CHURCH that CHARACTERIZES THE CHURCH S CONDITION in her final days on earth before the return of Christ. You see, while each of THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA in Revelation chapters TWO and THREE were actual Churches that did exist long ago..each OF THOSE SEVEN CHURCHES also represents a specific period in the Church s History from the Church s beginning on the Day of Pentecost until the Second Coming of Christ. ************************* If f you would bare with me for just a few moments, I would like to give you a BRIEF, THUMBNAIL SKETCH of CHURCH HISTORY. I believe this is something every Christian needs to hear so we can get a better understanding of WHERE THE CHURCH HAS BEEN..WHERE THE CHURCH IS NOW and WHERE THE CHURCH IS HEADED IN THE DAYS TO COME. So here in a NUTSHELL is the 2,000 YEAR HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
2,000 YEARS OF CHURCH HISTORY THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS in Revelation chapter TWO represents the FIRST PERIOD IN CHURCH HISTORY. This period started on the Day of Pentecost and concluded around the end of the first century when JOHN, the last living Apostle, died. During this period, the Church was strong and vibrant and growing. But toward the end of the first century, the Church was already beginning to lose her first love for Jesus Christ. ******************************************* THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA in Revelation chapter TWO represents the SECOND PERIOD IN CHURCH HISTORY. This period started after the death of THE APOSTLE JOHN and concluded around the beginning of the FOURTH CENTURY. The Christians who lived during this period were so terribly persecuted that the Church was forced to meet underground in the catacombs or in secret caves. These meeting places were often marked with a fish symbol which was only recognized by true believers. Of course this fish symbol is seen on the back of many vehicles today. It was from this period in Church history that symbol originated. During this period thousands upon thousands of Christians were brutally tortured and martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ. **********************************
THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS in Revelation chapter TWO represents the THIRD PERIOD in Church History. -This period took in most of the 4 th and 5 th Centuries. -The name PERGAMOS or PERGAMUM meant thoroughly married which was very indicative of the Church s condition at that time, because it was during this t period the Church became thoroughly married to the WORLD. - During this period CONSTANTINE appointed himself the Ruler of the Church, headquartered in ROME. As the self-appointed ruler, CONSTANTINE sent out an EDICT that everyone eryone in the Roman world had to adopt CHRISTIANITY as his or her official religion. While Constantine s intentions may have been good, his edict did nothing but WEAKEN THE CHURCH because people became Christians in name only because it was the law of the land, rather than out of a GENUINE LOVE FOR and FAITH IN the Lord Jesus Christ. ***************************** THE CHURCH AT THYRATIRA in Revelation chapter TWO,, represents the FOURTH PERIOD IN CHURCH HISTORY. - This period began around THE START OF THE 6 TH CENTURY and lasted until the beginning of the 15 TH CENTURY. -During the THYRATIRAN period, the Church became extremely WORLDLY and LIBERAL, moving farther and farther away from the authority of the t Scriptures. -During this period there became a very DISTINCT separation between CLERGY and LAITY. Common people were prohibited from studying God s Word on their own. This is why this period is commonly known as THE DARK AGES. - It was also during this period THE CHURCH IN ROME began selling what was called INDULGENCES..which was basically a SIN LINCENSE that allowed Church members to engage in any kind of immoral behavior so long as they paid money back to the Church to have their sins forgiven.
THE CHURCH AT SARDIS in Revelation CHAPTER THREE,, represents the FIFTH PERIOD in Church history, which covered most of the 16 th and 17 th Centuries. *This period began when MARTIN LUTHER, the Great Reformer, nailed his 95 THESES to the Church door at Wittenburg, spelling out everything that was WRONG and UNSCRIPTURAL about the Church in Rome. *LUTHER S BRAVE ACTION ignited the Protestant Reformation, which saw hundreds of thousands of Christians pull out of the Church in Rome to form NEW PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS, many of which are still in existence today. But toward the end of the 17 TH CENTURY, the Protestant Reformation began to fizzle out as many of these NEW denominations became just as liberal and worldly as the CHURCH OF ROME from which they had separated. ated. ************************ THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA in Revelation CHAPTER THREE represents the SIXTH PERIOD in the Church s h s History. -This period, which took in most of the 18 TH and 19 TH Centuries was considered THE GOLDEN AGE of the Church. C -During the Philadelphian period, the Church became very evangelistic and missions-minded. minded. GREAT REVIVALS broke out all across Europe and America, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of souls being won to Christ. - It was during this Philadelphian period, our own RESTORATION MOVEMENT began, which gave birth to our INDEPENDENT CHRISTIAN CHURCHES C AND CHURCHES OF CHRIST. -This Restoration Movement was led by men of great faith like ALEXANDER AND THOMAS CAMPBELL, BARTON W. STONE, RACCOON JOHN SMITH and others. The whole purpose of the Restoration Movement was to RESTORE THE CHURCH to the NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN of being governed solely by the authority of God s Word and not by some denominational nal headquarter ruled by men. ***************************
THIS BRINGS US NOW to THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA here in Revelation Chapter THREE. -The Church at Laodicea represents the SEVENTH and FINAL PERIOD of the Church s existence here on earth. -Most Bible scholars agree this period started around the END OF THE 19 TH CENTURY or BEGINNING OF THE 20 TH CENTURY and will conclude when CHRIST COMES AGAIN to take His Church out of this world. Now let me ask you something. Does it trouble you as much as it troubles me to know THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA is the Church that MOST CHARACTERIZES the Church of our day and age? If f after our close examination of this Church over these next few minutes we don t all leave here deeply concerned ned about the condition of our Churches today and more concerned about the condition of our own hearts, then we need to do some deep soul-searching. searching. ***************************** Before we look at the Church in Laodicea, let me tell you a little bit about the City of Laodicea itself. Laodicea Was World-Renowned For Four Things (1) First of all, LAODICEA WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR FINANCIAL AND BANKING CENTERS of that day and time. Because of this, Laodicea was very rich and luxurious. As a matter-of-fact, Laodicea was so wealthy, the city officials actually refused any financial aid from ROME when the City of Laodicea was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in the year 60 A.D.
(2) Secondly, LAODICEA WAS WORLD RENOWNED FOR PRODUCING A GLOSSY BLACK WOOL which was used to make luxurious clothing that was only worn by the most elite people in society. (3) Thirdly, LAODICEA WAS THE HOME OF A WORLD RENOWNED MEDICAL SCHOOL,, which had produced a SPECIAL SALVE that had proven very effective in treating a number of eye diseases. (4) The fourth thing LAODICEA was famous for was something they would just as soon forget. LAODICEA HAD THE NOTORIETY OF HAVING SOME OF THE WORLD S WORST DRINKING WATER. THE CITY had built several aqua-ducts ucts to pipe in HOT WATER from the mineral springs of nearby HIEROPOLIS and ICE COLD SPRING WATER from nearby COLOSSE. But by the time these waters reached Laodicea, they were neither HOT nor COLD but nauseously LUKEWARM. Which now brings us to THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA. When a Church isn t what the Lord intends for her to be, she begins to closely resemble the wicked, worldly society around her. Such was the case of the Church at Laodicea. As we go back to our scripture text here in Revelaton 3, let us consider these three key points. FIRST, WE WILL LOOK AT THE LORD S SCATHING REBUKE SECONDLY, WE WILL LOOK AT THE LAODICEAN S SELF-DECEPTION. AND THIRDLY, WE WILL LOOK AT THE LORD S SYMPATHETIC PLEA ************************* First, let s consider
I. The Lord s Scathing Rebuke vs. 14-16 16 1. The name LAODICEA literally means, rule of the people or voice of the people. The Church at Laodicea governed herself by the WILL OF THE PEOPLE rather than the WILL OF GOD. This Church was a DEMOCRACY rather than a THEOCRACY. in other words, THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE took precedence over THE AUTHORITY OF GOD S WORD. 2. Many of today s churches are doing exactly what the Church at Laodicea did. They cater to the wants and wishes of people.the preaching of God s Word has taken a backseat or even been replaced by things like SKITS, VIDEO and INTERPRETIVE DANCE. Many of today s Churches seem to be more concerned about being SOCIALLY SOPHISTICATED than being SCRIPTURALY SOUND. THE SPIRIT OF LAODICEA HAS FALLEN UPON THE MODERN CHURCH. 3. No doubt JESUS had the putrid drinking water of Laodicea in mind when He gave the LAODICEAN CHURCH this scathing rebuke in verses 15, 16. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm---- ----neither hot nor cold---- ----I I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
4. The late evangelist, VANCE HAVNER used say, The Laodicean Christians were a little too cold to be hot and a little too HOT to be cold. They were a little too GOOD to be BAD and a little too BAD to be GOOD. 5. They weren t totally against JESUS, but they weren t totally for him either. They were INDIFFERENT.APATHETIC and COMPLACENT. The LAODICEAN CHRISTIANS could pray and sing and fellowship with the Church crowd on Sunday and drink and cuss and carouse around with the worldly crowd during the week and never give it a second thought. 6. Does this same LUKEWARMNESS not characterize many of today s Christians? Many Christians today get all excited and enthused about the things of the world and yet never get excited about spiritual things. And if someone does get excited about spiritual things we look at them funny or worse yet, we consider them a threat to the Church. Many of today s Christians aren t against JESUS, but neither are they totally for Him. They are Middle-of of-the the-road..one foot in the world one foot in the Kingdom of Heaven kind of Christians. They don t mind taking a ONE HOUR STROLL WITH JESUS on Sunday morning, but they don t want to WALK WITH HIM EVERY DAY. They will let JESUS be their BUDDY, but they won t let JESUS BE THE LORD OF THEIR LIFE.
7. It is this kind of LUKEWARM, HALF-HEARTED HEARTED CHRISTIANITY THAT TURNS JESUS STOMACH. He would rather we be TOTALLY AGAINST HIM ICE COLD. THAN TO BE LUKEWARM. Well from THE LORD S SCATHING REBUKE we now move to. II. The Laodicean s Self-Deception vs. 17,18 (pay careful attention to the sharp contrast between how the Laodiceans saw themselves in the first part of verse 17 and how Jesus saw them in the latter half of verse 17) 1. Is there anything more pathetic and pitiful than someone one who is SELF-DECEIVED? For instance, have you ever heard someone SING who thought they were the greatest thing to come along since ELVIS? Or have you ever known a man or woman who thought they were the best looking thing GOD ever put on His green earth, when in reality they were UGLIER THAN HOMEMADE SIN ON A POPSICLE STICK? 2. The Church at Laodicea was GROSSLY SELF-DECEI DECEIVED. They saw themselves as being a Church that had it all! They had all the money and material assets they t needed and therefore didn t need anything from anybody. INCLUDING THE LORD! 3. The Church at t Laodicea made the dreadful mistake of measuring her CONDITION by her MATERIAL ASSETS rather than her SPIRITUAL ASSETS.
4. It seems to me many Churches today do the same thing. They measure their success by the size of their CHURCH BUILDINGS and their STATE OF THE ART AUDIO & VIDEO EQUIPMENT and HOW MANY PROGRAMS THEY OFFER and HOW MANY VANS OR CHURCH BUSSES they own. Now is wrong for a Church to have nice material assets? NO But is it wrong for a church to measure her success and her spiritual health by her material assets? YES! 5. Oh dear Christians, may we never lose sight of the t fact that JESUS could care less whether our Churches are STATE OF THE ART..JESUS only cares about THE STATE OF OUR HEART. 6, In VERSE 17 Jesus revealed the ugly truth to the Laodiceans about the condition of their Church. Jesus said, You are WRETCHED, PITIFUL, POOR, BLIND AND NAKED. JESUS SAW A SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY IN THIS CHURCH THEY COULDN T SEE BECAUSE THEY WERE SO BLINDED BY WORLDLINESS AND MATERIALISM. 7. It is interesting that the three things JESUS told them they needed from Him were the very things the City of Laodicea was world famous for. *Remember Laodicea was one of the world s largest FINANCIAL and BANKING CENTERS, a city that was rich and luxurious. And yet JESUS told them to buy from Him, gold refined by fire. In other words, You need spiritual riches, not material riches. * And remember Laodicea was world famous for their BLACK GLOSSY G WOOL used to make fine garments? Jesus told them they needed WHITE GARMENTS instead. WHITE GARMENTS are symbolic of RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS.
*And remember LAODICEA was also the home of that world famous Medical School that produced the SALVE that had been effective in treating a number of eye diseases. JESUS told them they needed a SPIRITUAL SALVE to open their blinded eyes so they could see their critical spiritual condition. 8. It is sad that this is the only one of the SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA of which JESUS had absolutely nothing good to say. And keep in mind, it is this Church that most represents the Church of our day and time. *************** Well we have looked at THE LORD S SCATHING REBUKE and THE LAODICEAN S SELF-DECEPTION. Finally and briefly, let s look at. III. The Lord s Sympathetic Plea vs. 19-22 1. In spite of His scathing rebuke for her lukewarmness, JESUS still loves the Church at Loaodicea and He desires that she zealously repent! Likewise in spite of all the lukewarmness in i the Church today Jesus still loves His Church and He desires that we likewise repent. 2. In VERSE 20 we see one of the most touching scenes in all the BIBLE. It is that scene of JESUS standing outside the door knocking. Preachers have often used this verse to plead with those who are outside of Christ to open the door of their heart and let Jesus come in. And certainly Jesus does desire that t those who are lost accept Him as Lord and Savior.
3. But in the context of this passage, it is not the heart door of non-christians Jesus is knocking on It is the heart door of those who profess to be Christians. Isn t that sad? It is as though the Lord has been locked outside His own Church outside the hearts of the very people who those who claim to love Him and worship Him. 4. Oh Christian, have you shut Jesus out of your heart? Have you gotten so wrapped up in worldly and material things that your heart has grown lukewarm toward Christ? Have you got a GOLDY LOCKS kind of Christianity one that s not too hot and not to cold but jjjjjjjjust right? 5. Is it you who has grown apathetic and lukewarm? Have you become HALF-HEARTED HEARTED and HALF-COMMITTED in your LOVE FOR CHRIST? Is it your heart s door Jesus is knocking on? ****************************** CONCLUSION Let me leave you with this closing thought. On your WASH MACHINE at home you have a TEMPERATURE CONTROL SETTING. You can either wash your clothes in HOT WATER..WARM WATER.or COLD WATER. IMAGINE IF YOU WILL, YOU HAVE A SPIRITUAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL SETTING. AS YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW IN YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST WOULD YOU SAY YOUR Y HEART IS SET ON HOT HOT COLD. COLD.OR OR OR LUKEWARM?