Ministry Resources

The Lukewarm Church

Author: Joan

Revelation 3:16-22

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”

John was left forsaken on the island called Patmos, but God never left him. In John’s time of abandonment on some of the worse piece of property; God showed him things to come. In this particular chapter, John was told to write what he saw and send it to the seven churches of Asia.

Church at Laodicea

The seventh and last church was the Laodicean Church, which seems to represents the coldest and hardest of all the churches. They had left their first love. The first and greatest commandment is to, “love the Lord thy God with all of our heart, mind and soul.”

Being cold in this passage speaks of being formal or without spiritual life. Lukewarm represents straddling the fence or indifferent, as having religion but not a relationship with Christ. Hot would represent that believer that has a passionate love for Christ and walks in the path God has ordained for them.

This Church had grown indifferent in their commitment to God. Satan had deceived them into thinking they were in need of nothing. The church was self-absorbed and self-satisfied, they thought that outward riches made them righteous. They were high on the social record; they had bank accounts, investments, you name it, they were at the top of the list; however, the Gospel was not being preached and truth had been abandoned. Inside, Laodicea was poor and blind.

The Wake up Call is here! It is unfortunate, but many in our churches are making the same mistake as the Laodicean Church. Materialism and greed is so rampant in our world today. Some church members have been lulled to sleep by a pill called materialism. Like today, this church had been blinded by Satan; Christ said they needed eye salve so that they might see. The Holy Spirit is the only one that can give clear vision. The enemy will distract us and make us think we are OK when we are not, we must wake up and stay alert!

This proves that you cannot measure God’s kingdom by how much you have on this earth.
Man will look on the outward appearance but God sees the heart. It is not bad to have material things, as long as you recognize that they came from God and therefore must use what He has given us wisely.

There is a way back for those who have left God out of worship. The Lord said to ‘REPENT.” But we must hurry! Judgment will fall for our disobedience to put God first.

Prayer

Father in the name of Jesus let us wake up to the times. Make us aware of you love and open our eyes to the price you payed for us to receive it. Help us to get off of the fence and turn back to our first love, the true and living God.

1 Peter 4:17 “For it is time for begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God.”

Revelation 3:2 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ”Those whom I love, I reprove 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. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'”

2 Chronicles 7:14-15
” if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Acts 8:22
“Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.”

Revelation 3:3
“So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.”

God Bless You!

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