Do You Make God Sick?

DO YOU MAKE GOD SICK?

REVELATION 3:14-20

Introduction: I am sure that every one of us have heard someone who has said upon learning of another person?s offensive or obnoxious action(s), ?I can?t believe he (she) did that. They make me sick.? There is a place in the Bible where God said that the actions of some Christians were nauseating to Him ? they were making God sick. The question I have for you is ?Do you make GOD sick??

Please turn with me in your Bible to Revelation 3:14, reading through verse 20.

REVELATION 3:14-20 "And unto 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 thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. [17] Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. [18] I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that you may see. [19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me."

I. The Background of the Charge against the Church.

A. The city of Laodicea, located south of Philadelphia, was a prosperous center of banking and commerce. It was famous for clothing made from the wool of black sheep, and for a popular eye salve produced by its medical school. The city was so affluent that following an earthquake in 17 AD, the city was rebuilt without any financial assistance or aid.

B. The city greatest problem was the lack of an adequate and convenient water supply.

C. The city of Hierapolis, just seven miles north of Laodicea, was famous for its hot springs. Colosee, less than ten miles away, was known for its pure, cold mineral water. Not having proper water Laodicea used an aqueduct to pipe water into the city from springs 6 miles away. By the time water arrived by aqueduct to Laodicea it was lukewarm.

II. The Charge against the Church ? Complacency

A. This letter to the Laodicean church contains our Lord?s sternest and sharpest rebuke. There is not one word of commendation.

B. In verses 15-16, Jesus tells this church, in a manner they could easily understand that they were neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. He says? ?I KNOW YOUR WORKS; THAT YOU ART NEITHER COLD NOR HOT: I WOULD YOU WERE COLD OR HOT. SO THEN BECAUSE YOU ARE LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WILL SPEW (VOMIT) YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH.?

C. Hot and cold water are useful. Hot mineral water can be used to soothe and refreshes aching muscles and provides a multitude of benefits. Cold mineral water quenches thirst, refreshes and invigorates. Lukewarm water is less-than-refreshing.

D. The church?s lack of devotion was distasteful to the Lord. It had become useless, bland, and nauseating to Christ.

E. They had lost the zeal in serving Christ. They had become blasé, indifferent to the Truth, to Christ. They had without realizing it (note verse 17 "?THOU ?KNOWEST NOT THAT THOU ART WRETCHED, AND MISERABLE, AND POOR, AND BLIND, AND NAKED:") had reached the state they were in.

F. The root of the problem was they had shut Christ out of their lives and their church. Note verse 20, "BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR, AND KNOCK: IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, AND WILL SUP WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME." Christ was OUTSIDE of HIS Church.

G. They left Him out of their plans and programs. They were too busy in their everyday lives for Christ and the things of Christ. They had shut Jesus out of their lives.

H. This complacency and indifference was and is nauseous and repulsive to Christ. Note verse 16, "SO THEN BECAUSE THOU ART LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WILL SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH."

I. You might say, ?I am a Christian. I have not shut Christ out of my life. I love him. How can you ask such a thing?? But let me ask you if Christ came to your house visibly, physically and said that He was going to be your houseguest for an extended stay how would your life change?