Rushing Toward Laodicea (Part 4)
Returning the Focus to the Gospel
We have spent the first three parts of this series looking at the problem, now we will summarize here and take time to explore the solution from the word of God. Keep in mind the foundational principle found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Many will say that it is unbiblical to ‘go fault-finding’ and criticize unbiblical practices of the church and from some of its influential leaders. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Look at our passage just mentioned; scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. Can you reprove and correct without identifying a problem? As Christians we are not to approach a teacher or a sermon with the intent of scrutinizing and finding fault; however, if a message or doctrine is presented to us or the church which goes against the stated word of God, we are commanded by scripture to expose it and corrected it with the word of God. We are commanded to be on guard and beware of wolves who pretend to be sheep and secretly introduce false doctrine to the brethren (2 Peter 2) and rebuke them sharply (Titus 1:13). We are also commanded not to believe everyone who teaches (1 John 4:1) but to test all things by the word (1 Thes. 5:21).
The solution to the problem is found within the pages of scripture. Thirty-six times in the New Testament alone we are instructed to learn, obey and heed doctrine. Dozens of more times we are instructed to heed the word, obey the commands of God, and to know the word of God in the New Testament. Eleven times we are instructed to give heed to the word in the book of Proverbs, and twenty-three times we are told to listen, learn, heed and obey the instructions given to us and forty-one times we are told to gain knowledge and understanding. This is in the book of Proverbs alone. Knowledge alone cannot make you a victorious Christian but it is equally true that you cannot be a victorious Christian without knowledge of God’s word. Without it, you cannot recognize error, know the truth, obey God or hear the voice of wisdom. Proverbs 8:33 states, “Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.” You cannot be wise without instruction and you cannot receive instruction without the word of God.
You must know it and explore it for yourself. If you are dependent on a teacher, as the teacher goes, so you go. If your teacher is a fool, you will be taught to act with foolishness. If your teacher is wise, you will gain some wisdom but God only reveals Himself to those who seek Him diligently. Only those who are studying to show themselves approved can recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Only the word can reveal the heart and mind of God to us and the lack of knowledge causes us to wander in our own foolishness. Look at these two passages:
Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.
Proverbs 5:22-23 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin. 23 He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
Why does the fool go astray? He dies for a lack of wisdom and instruction. Wisdom comes from instruction and instruction comes from the Word. Without instruction, the wicked man is entangled in his own sins and becomes a fool without life and hope. As a whole, the church has taught the world to accept foolishness and a lifestyle outside of the paths of life. Instead of teaching individuals to walk in life, we are comforting those destined for destruction rather than giving them hope and life. Instead of soothing their guilty conscience, we should show them how to be delivered from their guilt and depart from the path of death. Look at Matthew 7:13-16
13 " Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 " Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
The gate is narrow and the way is difficult. Jesus did not say the gate is narrow but after that is ease and carelessness. I once heard a man teach that Jesus is the only way and we must acknowledge His sacrifice, but all religions have their benefits and we should not ask them to change. He went on to say that Jesus saved all men even if they do not recognize it. He went on to explain that we can follow our own paths and ‘religious traditions’ without fear of judgment. Perhaps we should read Luke 21:34-36
34 " But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Notice Jesus’ own words, “Watch…pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape…and stand before the Son of Man”. Jesus Christ is the Son of Man. If you are not familiar with this term. Jesus gave Himself this title so that we could recognize that He was the one who would come in clouds of glory to judge the world (Daniel 7:13-14). Jesus warned that we should be on guard, watching and praying so that we can escape judgment and be counted worthy to stand before Him. Those who obey all that has been commanded and walk by faith will be rewarded. This passage in Luke agrees with Matthew 7 – narrow is the way and difficult is the path. The path of life is difficult, trying and goes against our human nature’s desire for lust while the world around us promises us pleasure and distractions that take our eyes off the will of God. The path is narrow because there is only one way – through Jesus Christ. The way is difficult because we must walk in the Spirit and put to death the flesh that continuously rises up against the Spirit.
According to research, the average churchgoer spends 15 minutes a week reading the word. Less than 40% of those claiming to be Christians say that they read the Bible at least once a week and only 37% of professing Christians could name the four gospels. Why do most people not read the Bible? Over the years, the main reason I have heard from Christians for not studying is almost always a lack of time. “I just don’t have the time to study” almost every Christian will say. This is one of the very things Jesus warned us against. In the passage above, Jesus stated, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with … the cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly”.
Jesus gave a list of things that weigh our hearts down. Some pertain to a sinful lifestyle but most of us do not recognize that neglecting our spiritual life is also a sinful lifestyle. It is my responsibility to make the necessary changes in my life so that I am not weighed down. We all have to work, spend time with our families and do our daily business. I am no exception. I have a secular job and I know what it is like to work 60 hours a week. One thing that I have found is that we always find time for what we desire. A golfer always finds time for golf. Those who have a hobby always find time for their hobby and almost everyone finds time to watch TV.
I know I rail on TV a lot but this is because it dominates almost everyone’s life. I do not know a single person that does not have some type of cable or TV service. I had it for years. I found that even while watching wholesome programming, it still became a snare to me. It was so easy to sit down at the end of a hard day and just ‘vegetate’ in front of the TV. The next day, it was harder not to get into the same mode and the hours flew by. Computer gamers fall into the same trap. I also know people who spend 20 hours or more playing online games. I have been there to. There was a time when I looked up at the clock and realized I had been playing a game for 5 hours. I then realized that I had lost three weeks of my life on a game that had no value in my life whatsoever. I then discarded the game and got it out of my life. There are times in life that we must sacrifice what is enjoyable for what is valuable. Unfortunately our human nature tends to sacrifice what is truly valuable for what brings us enjoyment for the moment. TAKE HEED least you be caught up in the cares of this life and miss the promises and eternal benefits God has placed within your grasp.
Summarizing the problem
There is no question that the church has lost its focus and the world is now influencing the church rather than the church influencing the world. Jesus even warned that we are the salt of the world, if the salt loses its savor, what is it good for? Nothing, its only use then will be to be trampled underfoot by men (Matthew 5:13). This also is a missed warning to the church. We are repeatedly warned that judgment will begin at the house of God and this also alludes to this judgment. When the church finishes its decline and judgment begins, it will be trampled by the men of this world. If you keep an eye on the news, you will see that this is already beginning. While scripture foretells that the church as a whole will depart from the faith, individuals do not have to join this apostasy. There will be churches who hold true albeit they will be few. Anyone and any church can repent and obtain mercy. Repentance must be found by turning from the world and to the scriptures. The ONLY way a church can be found worthy by Jesus Christ is to obey this basic but vital command found in Matthew 28:19-20
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Let’s take a moment to examine the commission of Christ given to the church. You must
Make Disciples – not merely make converts. To make a convert all a church must do is persuade someone to agree to their beliefs. If making converts is the mission of the church, the church growth and emergent church movements would be correct. They are customizing the church and its beliefs with the purpose in mind to take away objections. If there are no objections, it is easy to make a convert. The Bible makes it clear, you cannot make a profession of faith or even call Jesus lord and believe that you now have a ticket to heaven without repentance and a new birth in the Spirit. There are no tickets to heaven. There is only a path of life that leads to heaven. A man or woman cannot expect to follow their own paths and then present a contract to God that He must somehow abide by. Jesus stated that many will say to Him ‘lord, lord’ but will still be cast away. To follow Christ, you must be a disciple. A disciple obeys all that Jesus commanded, counts his life in this world as worthless, and forsakes all in order to obtain a life that is valued far above anything and everything in this life.
To become a disciple you must know and understand the word. This is the command given by Jesus to the church. We are to make disciples and teach them to observe all the things God has commanded. A disciple does not pick and choose which commands they wish to believe or obey. This life is dead because of sin and we now live for the eternal life that has been given to us. All invested in earth will pass away; only obedience and faithfulness will be accounted worthy of a reward. Since the Bible has made it clear that this is true, the church’s role in discipleship is to teach others the word of God and how to understand it so it can be obeyed. This is the solution to the problem. The Laodicean church does not cling to the word, but the faithful church does. Look at the tale of two churches. We will review the warning given to the church of Laodicea and then compare it to the church of Philadelphia.
Revelation 3:14-19 14 " 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.
Revelation 3:7-9 7 " And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ' These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": 8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie -- indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
Both of these churches have works. The lukewarm church is neither hot nor cold. They have mixed the truth with the culture. They do not stand on the side of the word, nor have they abandoned religion. In stead, they have taken what they like in Christianity and taken what they like in the culture and are trying to live between two worldviews. Because they keep some of the word, they feel justified. They believe they are rich, healthy and prosperous, but in reality they are completely destitute and are on the edge of God’s judgment. Just before beginning judgment, God warns the church but as history reveals, the church of Laodicea did not heed that warning.
The church of Philadelphia is the opposite of Laodicea. They have good works out of a love for God and because of their obedience, God has set before them an open door that cannot be shut. God gives them the opportunity for ministry and good success. It all centers around the fact that they have kept God’s word. They don’t merely know the word, but they have kept it and the word is the central focus of true ministry.
I firmly believe that Revelation chapters 2-3 has a three dimensional view for the student of the word. First, it is a historical account. Each church in these chapters actually existed and were functioning during the first century when John delivered this book to the church. God chose seven churches that were examples of the various states of churches in maturity and obedience. God addressed these churches with commands that we also are to follow and obey. The second aspect to this passage is the state of individual churches that are in existence at any given time in history. If you search deep enough, you will always find churches that fit into each of these seven categories. Even if the church as a whole forsakes the word, God will always reserve a remnant from those who love Him and seek to walk in obedience. The church as a whole may become completely ineffective, but individual bodies of believers can remain faithful and still fulfill the commission of Christ. Finally, this passage reveals the overall state of the church. If you look at Christianity as a whole, it will fit into one of these categories as it journeys through history. When we arrive at the Laodicean church, we are at the end times. The end times church is spoken against throughout the New Testament as we saw earlier in this study.
The question is, where does the church stand today? Does Christianity as a whole claim wealth, health and prosperity while being destitute of doctrine? Does the church claim to see while being blind to the truth? If you watch TV, every preacher has a ‘new vision’ that supposedly comes from the Holy Spirit but none of these ‘visionaries’ are making disciples by teaching people to obey all that is commanded – including forsaking all to follow Christ. Preachers are sitting in their golden chairs and boasting about their Rolls Royce’s as they claim that they are in need of nothing. Sermons have become focused on gaining possessions and personal gratification rather than gaining godliness and storing up treasures in heaven. I have one clip available on my website where a popular preacher makes the statement, “I am sick and tired about hearing about streets of gold in glory, I gotta have it now”. He may have a wealth of gold in this world, but he does not know that he is blind, naked, poor and destitute.
It is for this reason that God foretold that He would judge the church and shake off the bad fruit so that only the things of God will remain (Hebrews 12:27). Also consider this passage 1 Peter 4:17-18
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
This is the fulfillment of the warning given to the church of Laodicea. Why does judgment begin at the house of God? It is because as the church goes, so goes the culture. In the beginning of the church age, the church pulled people out of the culture and focused on setting new believers on the path of life with an eternal focus. Now the culture is pulling in the church, taking their eyes off the eternal purposes of the church and now the church is adopting the world’s standards. Material wealth and popularity is becoming the standard of success in the church as it has always been in the culture. I had someone who is fairly well respected in a church organization tell me about one of their churches that was in a very corrupt part of Atlanta. He bragged that they were able to harvest millions of dollars by making people feel comfortable and accepted. This was considered a successful church because they were growing numerically and had become very rich financially. Why is it that no one in the church can see that if lives aren’t changed, this is a total failure regardless of how wealthy they have become?
The Word is the Solution
Biblical success all centers around the word of God. Jesus spelled it out clearly as we read earlier:
See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
In Proverbs alone we are told 23 times to listen to instruction from the word of God. In the New Testament, the issue of doctrine is addressed 32 times. Why is it that churches de-emphasize doctrine and the word of God while the Bible consistently stresses its importance? When Jesus taught something important, He often stressed it twice. When He said, “Truly, truly I say to you…”, the double emphasis on truly is like saying, “Listen, what I have to say is very, very important”. The New Testament stresses important topics by repeating a teaching more than once or even repeating a line twice. Here is a good example from Galatians 1:8-9
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
This instruction was so important that the apostle Paul repeated it with more emphasis. What kind of emphasis is God trying to make when something is repeated 20 times? Or 30 times? Should we stop and take notice? If God said, “Doctrine is important” thirty-two times and a preacher shouts from the pulpit, “Doctrine is not important”, who should we believe?
Eddie Snipes
Exchanged Life Outreach
http://www.exchangedlife.com
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