“WHAT THE CHURCH NEEDS TO SEE” Revelation 3:14-20
Introduction: The church is a ministry of born again believers carrying on the work of Christ in winning lost souls and education the children of God so they might grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. The last part of verse 18 says, “anoint our eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” We can’t see what God wants us to see unless we first get our eyes opened. The church at Laodicea was right doctrinally but they had no enthusiasm, no zeal, no urgency. It is possible to have a large measure of doctrinal correctness without the FIRE of spiritual fervor and affection. The Laodiceans were rich in material possessions but poor in spiritual things. II Peter 1:5-9 tells us to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity. Those Christians who lack those things are blind and cannot see afar off and have forgotten that they were purged from their sins. Let’s pray that God will open our Eyes to:
I. THE CONDITION OF THE CHURCH vs. 16-So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
A. BECAUSE THOU SAYEST---A COLD HEART CAN BE CONVICTED AND MADE RIGHT BUT A LUKEWARM HEART DOESN’T THINK THEY NEED GOD.
B. AND KNOWEST NOT THAT---OUR CULTURE TEACHES US TO RELY ON OURSELVES AND NOT GOD. WE BECOME TOO SELF RELIANT THAT WE LEAVE CHRIST OUT OF OUR LIVES AND THEREFORE WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE HAVE MISSED IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK.
II. THE COMPASSION FOR THE CHURCH vs 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. IN CHAPTER ONE JESUS IS WALKING IN TH E
MIDST OF THE CHURCH BUT NOW HE IS POSITIONED OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH. MANY CHURCHES HAVE PUSHED CHRIST OUT BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY ARE IN NEED OF NOTHING. THEY ARE INCREASED WITH GOODS AND RICH. THEY HAVE NO PLACE FOR CHRIST IN THEIR MINISTRY ANY LONGER. GOD HELP US TO OPEN OUR EYES AND SEE THAT WITHOUT HIM WE ARE NOTHING, WITHOUT HIM WE CAN DO NOTHING. WHILE JESUS IS ON THE OUTSIDE:
A. THERE CAN BE NO PASSION FOR SOULS
B. THERE CAN BE NO POWER FOR VICTORY
C. THERE CAN BE NO PROGRESS FOR THE FUTURE
III. THE CONCLUSION OF THE CHURCH
A. FELLOWSHIP
B. FRUITFULNESS
C. FULFILLMENT
Conclusion:
1. IF THE CHURCH IS TO CHANGE THE CHRISTIAN MUST LET GOD CHANGE THEM.
2. IF YOU ARE ONE THAT IS RUNNING DOWN THE CHURCH, THEN RUN TO CHRIST.
3. IF YOU THINK THAT YOU NEED NOTHING, THEN YOU ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF CHRIST.
4. UNLESS WE OPEN OUR EYES AND SEE WHERE WE ARE AND LET THE LORD BE LORD IN OUR PERSONAL AND CHURCH LIFE, THEN WE WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THE POSSIBILITIES THAT AWAIT US TODAY. “AS MANY AS I LOVE, I REBUKE AND CHASTEN: BE ZEALOUS THEREFORE AND REPENT.
