073 – Coming Out of Laodicea

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The Laodicean Church that we are is blind to her true spiritual condition. Prophecy is the eye salve that can heal her spiritual blindness.

Introduction

We learned in our last study that irresponsible shepherds are preaching a message of cheap grace. This is just another deceptive wind of doctrine in the church that will result in many precious souls losing their eternal life.

The problem is that these irresponsible shepherds have a willing, Laodicean audience. Laodicea is the last of the seven churches of the Book of Revelation. It represents the church of the end time. Laodicea means people being judged.

Laodiceans are comfortable as they are. They feel they have need of nothing. In reality, they’re wretched, miserable, naked, poor, and blind. Their blindness prevents them from seeing their true spiritual condition. Yet, to be saved, we must come out of the Laodicean lukewarmness or the Lord will spew us out of his mouth.

The Glorious Church

The Apostle Paul described the condition of the church that will cross the Jordan into the promised land:

“25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)

If the church is to be holy and perfect, it means that each of its members needs to be holy and perfect.

Sadly, the irresponsible shepherds have contributed to the end time situation that Jesus described in Matthew 24 when speaking with His disciples about the signs of the end: “11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Matthew 24:11-12

The irresponsible shepherds with their false message of cheap grace have caused the church to lightly regard the law of God. Therefore the love of many has waxed cold, and their blood shall be upon the false shepherds’ heads.

Jesus added: “13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)

Eye Salve to Heal Laodicea’s Blindness

There’s hope for Laodicea. There’s an important scripture in Proverbs 29:18: “18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

The word for vision is the Hebrew word “chazon”. This word means vision, dream, oracle, prophecy and divine communication. It directs us to the Bible, God’s oracle, especially to the prophetic word which is able to revive even the dry bones of Ezekiel 37.

The law and the prophets go inseparably together. Those who reject the law reject the prophets. Those who reject the prophets break the law. Jesus came to fulfill both. “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” (Luke24:44)

Therefore prophecy and the Spirit of Prophecy are important for the revival of the Laodicean church, including God’s remnant church.

When Jesus intercepted His disciples on the road to Emmaus, their hearts burned as He explained to them the scriptures and the things concerning Himself. The scriptures have power to rekindle the first love in our hearts and remove our lukewarmness.

The podcast Bible study ends with 2 Peter 1, where the disciple understood that lack of diligence creates blindness, Laodicea’s condition. He gives us the recipe to stop being neglectful and come out of Laodicea:

“4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.” (2 Peter 1:4-13)

The More Sure Word of Prophecy

Yes indeed, the more sure word of prophecy can cause Jesus to arise in our hearts:

“19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:19-21)

This is one of the reasons (although not the only one) why we City Bible Group’s Bible teachings have a strong prophetic focus. Hope you’ll join us as a regular listener and allow the Word of God to cause your heart to burn with love for our Redeemer.