Is The Western Church The Church of Laodicea?

 

Is The Western Church The Church Of Laodicea

 

 “To the angel of MESSIAH’s Community in Laodicea write: ‘Thus says The Amen, The Faithful and True Witness, The Originator of GOD’s creation: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. Oh, that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spew you out of My mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich, I have made myself wealthy, and I need nothing.’ But you do not know that you are miserable and pitiable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white clothes that you may dress yourself and so the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed, and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those who I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. To the one who overcomes I will grant the right to sit with Me on My Throne, just as I Myself overcame and sat with My Father on His Throne, He who has an ear, let him hear what The RUACH (SPIRIT) is saying to MESSIAH’s Community (Church).”’” Revelation 3:14-22 TLV

 

“Being a lukewarm Christian is so dangerous, because you blend in with everybody and impact nobody!” Unknown

 

There is a lot of teaching on Revelation and about the letters to the seven Churches of Asia. Some believe that the seven Churches represent seven ages of The Church from CHRIST’s resurrection to His return to establish His millennial reign. While I have not studied that, I believe the seven churches of Asia represent the seven ages of The Church. Based on that teaching many believe that today we are the Church of Laodicea, so it is important to know what JESUS is saying to us today.

 

So the first thing JESUS says is that He knows that we are lukewarm, not cold or hot. I see that today in the Church. There are lots of statistics about the decline in Church attendance, prayer and Bible reading. There are statistics about Pastors leaving the ministry and even committing suicide. There are statistics about Christians who no longer believe in the divine authority of The Bible and some that believe that you can be saved through any religion. All of these statistics are about people who claim to be Christians. So the Western Church is lukewarm tending towards cold. There is a lot of talk in The Church about “The great falling away.” found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, it seems evident by the state of The Church today it has already started.

 

The second thing JESUS says is that we claim to have made ourselves rich and in need of nothing, but that we are actually miserable, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. JESUS tells us that we need to buy from Him, fire refined gold, white garments and eye salve. The Church making itself rich goes back a long way, starting with the Roman Church, all denominations and sects have made themselves rich through various means. They have grandiose buildings many decorated in gold, silver and precious artworks; many ministers and leaders have made themselves rich and live luxurious lifestyles; all the while their parishioners are living in humble means or even poverty. Most Churches and ministries are named not after GOD, JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT or in reference to GOD’s Kingdom or Heaven but after denominations or leaders. In the first century Churches were named for their location. JESUS said, “No one has gone up into Heaven except The One Who came down from Heaven – The Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so The Son of Man must be lifted up, so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life!” John 3:13-15 TLV It is He who is to be lifted up so that men are drawn to Him! He told us to store up treasure in Heaven not in the world, Matthew 6:19-21, in 1 Corinthians 3:5-17 Paul tells us our works will be tested by fire. JESUS tells us to buy from Him white clothes to cover our shame, how do we buy these white clothes? Revelation 6:9-11 says that they are bought by those slain for the Word of GOD and their testimony. In 1 John 2:16 John warns us about “the lust of the eyes,” JESUS warned us about our eyes, “The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore, if your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23 TLV Throughout the Gospels and in the letters to the seven Churches He states or asks, “he who has ears to hear, let him hear…he who has eyes to see let him see.” JESUS is talking about Spiritual our eyes. The responsibility is ours to have clear vision to let in His Light, pure hearts so we are clothed in righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Ephesians 6:14) and have Heavenly treasures (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Corinthians 4:5-7)

 

Thirdly, JESUS calls us to repent because He Loves those He disciplines and rebukes. “My son, never despise ADONAI’s (The LORD's) discipline or dread His correction. For ADONAI Loves those He reproves, even as a father, the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs3:11-12 LTV (see Hebrews 12:4-11) “If I shut up heaven that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My People, when My People, over whom My Name is called, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 JESUS, John the Baptist, and all the disciples called the people to repent (or change their mind about) sinning and turn to GOD.

 

Fourthly, verses 20-21, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” These verses are commonly used for personal evangelism (and they will work for that), but JESUS is talking to The Church (both at Laodicea and today), because of The Churches condition JESUS is outside not inside as He should be. So He is knocking at the door of the Church to allow Him in so that we can have fellowship with Him and receive the life of His Word. JESUS is The Door to salvation! “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice….Then JESUS said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I Am The Door of the sheep…I Am The Door, if anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture…” John 10:1-21 NKJV

 

Finally, JESUS says, “To the one who overcomes I will grant…” Who are the overcomers? “Then I heard a loud voice in Heaven saying, ‘Now have come Salvation and The Power and The Kingdom of our GOD and The Authority of His Anointed One, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters – the one who accuses them before our GOD day and night – has been thrown out. They overcame him by The Blood of The Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives even in the face of death.’” Revelation 12:10-11 TLV “The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly!” John 10:10 TLV

 

Then JESUS concludes with, “He who has an ear, let him hear what The RUACH (SPIRIT) is saying to MESSIAH’s Communities (Church).” Again it is up to us to make sure that our ears (our Spiritual ears) are hearing what GOD is saying to His People through His SPIRIT and His Word!

 

Seek GOD First!

GOB Bless, Bob & Charlene