The Church at Laodicea

Today we'll be looking at the seventh and final church of the "Letters to the Seven Churches in Asia Minor."  Today we'll be taking a look at the Church at Laodicea.  I hope you've enjoyed the series.  It's been enjoyable in studying about each of the seven churches.

(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.  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: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white rainment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  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.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcome, 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." 

The city of Laodicea was founded in 250 B.C. by Antiochus II of Syria.  The city was named after his wife Laodice who later poisoned him.  The city was located on the main route between Ephesus and Syria.  It was renowned for being a commercial and financial ceter, as well as being a great manufacturing center.  Laodicea was probably most noted for its great medical school: famous for the ointments which were used for eyes and ears.  They took great pride in these ointments.  Paul struggled to help this church (Colossians 2:1), and told the church in Colosse (the epistle to the Colossians) to specifically make sure the letter he wrote to the Colossians be shared with the church in Laodicea (Colossians 4:16).  What was written to Colossians also applied to Laodicea.  God is very disgusted with this church.  He says they're "lukewarm,".  In other words the Lord is saying they're guilty of apathy, complacency, and indifference.  They needed a revival, and a renewal of their relationship with God.  God makes reference to the eyesalve the city was famous for and tells them they need "to play salve on their eyes" so they could see spiritually.  This is the only church out of the seven churches God didn't have anything positive to say about it. 

This particular church age is described as the "lukewarm church".  It was neither hot nor cold.  Which is something God was displeased with.  The Lord said he would've rather they either be hot or be cold; but not lukewarm.  The Apostle Paul told Timothy that in the last days, churches and believers would be characterized as "having a form of Godliness, but denying the power therof" and ot stay away from such (II Timothy 3:5).  The letter claims this church is self-deluded.  The church views itself as rich and in need of nothing.  They may have had what they needed as far as the goods of the world was concerned, but spiritually they were poor and wretched.  This church was diametrically opposed to the church in Smyrna which was poor in the world but had a zeal and fervor to serve the Lord. 

The Laodicean church age applies to the contemporary church today.  Today we're taking our ease in Zion and we're asleep.  The world is growing darker and darker.  We're content with all the goods of this world.  However, we've lost sight of the fact that we're cold on God and our relationship with him isn't what it ought to be.  Today we've traded church programs such as festivals, carnivals, seminars, contemporary Christian music, etc.  in place of preaching, praying, singing, and shouting.  We're utilizing worldly methods in trying to reach sinners today.  Once we drag them in to church we persuade them to repeat a prayer to appease their conscience which in essence doesn't save them.  Then you won't see them again.  Churches today are in the the numbers and dollars business.  We want to drag sinners into church so we can publish in one of the church journals that church attendance stands at a few thousand and we've had "x" amount of people saved and baptized.  God's not pleased with that.  We are to reach sinners with the gospel and persuade them to come to church, but we won't convert them with worldly business techniques.  If the preaching of the gospel won't save them, then nothing will save them. 

I'm thankful that the Lord is standing at the door and knocking.  He says if anyone hears his voice and opens the door, he will come in and sup with them.  We can have fellowship with the Lord if we will open the door and let him in.  God's plea to the callous, complacement, and indifferent Laodicean church today is to open the door.  He desires to commune with us. It's up to God's people to recognize that we're not we should be with the Lord.  God wants to commune with those who want to worship and follow him.  It's our responsibility to open the door.  He's not going to force the door open.  If we don't desire the presence of God in our churches, he's not going to force himself in.  That's the state of many of our churches in America in these last hours.  We have a choice.  Are we going to open the door and allow him to come in and sup with us or are we going to refuse?