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There is a disturbing fact out there right now. Our churches have changed. There is no argument that our churches in America now days have become the prophetic Church of the Laodiceans. It is the last church spoken of by Revelation.

Are you in that church? Do you walk out of church the same way as you entered in without any change within? Was God's Word and his law from the Bible preached, or was it changed to entertaining subjects? Is there a band with contemporary music, maybe with light shows, dry ice, or flashy things, that seems to take up the majority of the church time? Is the music time twice longer than the sermon? Is your church afraid to offend anybody to preach about the convictions of the Bible? Does your church take a stand and speak out against the wrongs? Do you walk in and out, then say "I went to church and I did my part, happy now God?"



Maybe it's time to start noticing what's really going on.

The Church of the Laodiceans are the lukewarm churches we see everywhere right now.

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." Revelation 3:15

And being lukewarm is an abomination to the Lord. He vomits it out of his mouth. How can we be lukewarm about God, his salvation, gift of eternity shed through his blood, and all of these battles in the spiritual war against the flesh.

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Revelation 3:16

The churches have everything they want. They're well off, living the good life, and they have it all. They don't really need God anymore, since they have everything. They tell God, "hey, we've got it covered here, we're doing pretty good and don't really need you anymore." But if only they realize it.. they're actually the ones who need God the most. They are poor in the worst way spiritually, a stark contrast of the church of Smyrna who were materially poor, but the Bible calls them rich.

"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" Revelation 3:17


But where is God? Revelations tell us that he's outside of the church, knocking and knocking, saying "who will let me enter so that I may sup and dine with him?" Everybody's too busy and getting along without him. Who can stop, pause and hear the knocking? Who could that be? The Savior? What is he doing outside?

"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." Revelations 3:20




Jesus should be inside the church. Jesus should be the center of everything. Jesus should have the highest seat in the room, leading the pulpit, and holding everything together. But the churches are just carrying on without him.

Also notice this key word:

"And unto the angel OF the church of the Laodiceans write..." Revelation 3:14

The other churches all refer to the Angel IN the church, but the Laodiceans' Angel is only OF the church, but not inside the church. Is God of the church, a theme in the church, maybe a name on the sign outside, but not inside the church? Even churches everywhere are changing their names into a generic name: "Community Church," "the Vineyard church," etc.

And people are calling themselves Christians as a status. They say they are a "member of this or that church," were raised in a Christian home, were baptized as a child, and so forth. Christianity is not a status, or a membership of a church, or because your parents were Christians.. those won't do anything for anybody.

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Revelation 3:22

We need to take notice and pay attention. What is God trying to tell us? What does God want for us?

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Revelation 3:19

We need repentance. We need to be held accountable. We need to be convicted. We need to change and get better. We need God in the center of our lives. We need to go to the right church, the kind that isn't afraid to speak out God's Word and his laws, to rebuke and exhort one another, and to help us grow. We must. The time is at hand. Don't be caught in the wrong church going nowhere.

4 Comments:

  1. Anonymous said...
    Wow, I LOVE this post!! I can relate to it on so many ways so this will be a long comment!

    I used to attend a church in Roseville for about a year, it had over 2 thousand members and the worship service was like a rock concert! I admit, I fell into the trap and found myself going there because of their music.

    Last year, my heart became heavy. With so many people there, it felt EMPTY. There was no fellowship, no matter how many times I tried to join a course, it was too full! The pastor never saw my face or acknowledged my presence. The people crowded around the worship leader like he was a celebrity!

    Last year during the Olympics, the pastor centralized his theme around the Olympics and they all wore jerseys. I heard nothing but sports. One Sunday I had enough when the pastor remarked about how women wore bikinis in the volleyball games, and then he joked about wishing ALL women wore bikinis in ALL Olympics games. Even though it was a "joke", so many men battle with lust every single day and they certainly do not need to hear the pastor taking this matter lightly! I never came back after that Sunday... sadly, no one bothered to check up on me. I was part of the deaf ministry there and not one person bothered to use my e-mail address that I gave them (not even the interpreters, one of 'em was actually the principal of the church's school!). It was almost as if I was never there, what a complete waste of my time. I prayed to God and luckily he sent me to a church where there was abundant fellowship... and more importantly, there was an accountability factor. The pastor looked at each person and preached convicting messages. After my first service, I was already inspired!! Not because of the music, but because of God's words echoing in my heart :)

    I told you it was going to be a long comment LOL. Thanks for posting!!!!!!!
    Sisterlisa said...
    That's a good testimony Martha. It is the WORD that rings in our ears, even the deaf ;O), and that's what gets us closer to God. The Bible says that In the beginning was the WORD, not the MUSIC. Lucifer was the angel of music, it's no wonder he uses it in 'churches' to sidetrack them from what they SHOULD be doing, getting close to the WORD.

    Charlene, I think the Laodecian church could not only be a physical building, but in the Body of believers as well. Pastors should keep the entire church learning the Word, yet I think sometimes even the people in the midst of a good church have 'deaf' ears and ignore what is taught.

    Likewise I think there are GOOD Christians in ungodly churches that are begging God to show them where the Body really is so they can come together. I have seen the Body gather, even on Facebook.

    A physical church body that holds to the truth will be harder and harder to find and not everyone can afford to move to get there. Isn't in the Bible that God's people will be scattered?
    Clara said...
    So true... so many churches have watered down the truth to suit everyone until there is barely a scrap of truth left. The church is full of heretics and apostacy - too often churches become purely a social event or an entertainment or a fashion show (especially amongst the ladies - if you're dressing to please everyone else you are more than likely NOT dressing for the Lord)... It really is tragic. Real churches where politics and politically correct sermons are kept out of the service are rare and hard to find. We have no need to be politically correct - the Bible is the Word of God and should be preached as it is in the Bible - anyone who thinks they can improve on GOD'S WORD is a blasphemer - "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you"
    (Deuteronomy 4:2).
    LisaShaw said...
    Charlene, excellent post. I could add or say so much but I think you've hit the points well!

    May the spirit of John the Baptist arise and we all hear the call to REPENT in and out of the churches and reduce ourselves to the feet of Jesus where He is exalted not man and where His word is received in the depths of our hearts that we may draw others to His presence.

    Bless you.

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