“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things… do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim 4:1-5).
Christian, are we listening?
We are the Laodicean Church. We are the “lukewarm” Church filled with “lukewarm” Christians in local churches. We boast of our false wealth which is covering the wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked people we are. We are complacent and comfortable in our local setting.
Jesus says: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot” (Rev. 3:1421).
Jesus is the Judge as to whether we are doing His will. He is “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God” (Rev 3:14). His message to us is that we are a lukewarm people… a very foolish Church.
Why is Jesus telling us this? It is because we are compromising with the world. We have watered down our values, lost enthusiasm and vision and, have put on the worldly Laodicean garments. We are here! This is a picture of us today. We are backslidden!
We don’t seek sound doctrine. We want our desires, not God’s. We have ears that itch and accept lies and jokes from teachers and preachers. We don’t desire truth! but accept false teachers instead. (II Tim. 4:1-4).
Christian, what garment are you wearing?
Local church what are you wearing?
We have become so comfortable with our wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked garments that we don’t realize what is needed and right. We need a “burning heart” (Luke 24:32) for God, not a lukewarm heart. Lukewarm Christians build “lukewarm” churches!
If the Christian is not in The Word of God every day and in prayer as you study, you will become a lukewarm Christian and bring your lukewarm spirit into your church. His Word will cause a real burning for Him and lost souls!
We have compromised our values. We are in a declining stage and many are dead and go through the motion. Today we are more concerned with “human” standards rather than God’s standards. We are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked! Churches are closing daily, because of lukewarmness. Yes, there are beautiful building, programs, impressive reports and politics in our Laodicean Church.
Jesus says we make Him sick “I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Rev. 3:16). Evangelism is down! We can expect suffering on a big scale. It is called persecution! Judgment is at the door!
We have lost our values, energy, and vision. We are no longer healthy! We are religious “couch potatoes!” We have a blindness that hides true doctrines, but allows false teaching. We like a lie, a joke and story better than we like God’s Word from the pulpit. We are blind to the opportunities of evangelism.
Jesus is standing at the door, but we are deaf to His call to repent and be zealous. We are so cozy in our blanket of compromise and cuddle together as the world goes to Hell!
Jesus has what we need. It is “gold refined in the fire” and an “eye salve” Do we want His offer? No!
We need a white garment to cover our shame of nakedness. We need His eye salve to open our eyes. We need to glorify God. We are disgracing His Name.
Jesus calls us today as He stands at the door, inviting “Christians” to open it and He will come in and bless us with His presence. He says: “If anyone hears My voice.” Will we hear Him?
We must rise up, open the door and welcome Him! He will change our garments! We need to get excited, renew our vision and values! Evangelize the world today!
It begins with one Christian! One local church!
“I charge you… Preach the word… Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:1-5).
Open the door! Seek sound doctrine! Let’s shut the Devil down!
