Laodicea the Left Behind Church

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Laodicea - the Left Behind Church

• Overcomers - Part 7 of 7
• Revelation 314-22 Selected
• Cross Creek Community Church
• Pastor Dave Martin
• September 22, 2002

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• Rev. 314-22 "To the angel of the church in
  Laodicea writeThese are the words of the Amen,
  the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's
  creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are
  neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one
  or the other! 16So, because you are
  lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to
  spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich
  I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'
  But you do not realize that you are wretched,
  pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
• 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in
  the fire, so you can become rich and white
  clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful
  nakedness and salve to put on your eyes, so you
  can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and
  discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
• 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If
  anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will
  come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To
  him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit
  with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat
  down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has
  an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
  churches."

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Written to seven individual churches which are
representative of seven periods of church history

• 1. Ephesus Apostolic Church 30-110 AD
• 2. Smyrna Persecuted Church 110-312 AD
• 3. Pergamos State Church 312-500 AD
• 4. Thyatira Tolerate Church 500-1500 AD
• 5. Sardis Dead Church 1500-1750 AD
• 6. Philadelphia Healthy Church 1750-Rapture
• 7. Laodicea Left-Behind Church 1910-Tribulation

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Jesus said to the Philadelphia Church(The
raptured church)

• Rev. 310 Since you have kept my command to
  endure patiently, I will also keep you from the
  hour of trial that is going to come upon the
  whole world to test those who live on the earth.

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PREVIEW Laodicea - Peoples Rights

• Situated on three major trade routes.
• Renowned for its Glossy black wool, eye
  medicine, and its wealth.
• Worshipped many false deities, they had them all.

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Water was piped in from distant hot springs.
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Uncovered 3 theaters, 30,000 seat stadium, lavish
public baths, shopping centers
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Some ruins of the city of Laodicea
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PREMINENCE Of Jesus Christ

• Amen An affirmation of the deity of Christ.
  (Is. 6516)
• Faithful and True Completely trustworthy and
  reliable.

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PERSPECTIVE A skin deep religion religious
but lost.

• I know- Our deeds reveal our true spiritual
  condition.
• Not Hot Not genuinely saved, no personal
  relationship.
• Not Cold Not total rejection of Godly truths
  or gospel.
• BUT Lukewarm Head knowledge yet unrepentant.
• Spit you out of my mouth To vomit, puke, to
  throw up.

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PITFALLS The people were

• Self- RIGHTEOUS. I am
• Romans 103 Since they did not know the
  righteousness that comes from God and sought to
  establish their own, they did not submit to God's
  righteousness.

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PITFALLS - The people were

• Self- SUFFICIENT Rich, acquired wealth, need
  nothing
• Mark 836 What good is it for a man to gain the
  whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
• 1 John 215 Do not love the world or anything in
  the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of
  the Father is not in him.

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PITFALLS - The people were

• Self- DECEIVED You do not realize
• 1 Cor. 318 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one
  of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this
  age, he should become a "fool" so that he may
  become wise.

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Blinded to their own spiritual condition, Jesus
said they were

• Wretched Spiritually contemptible
• Pitiful Spiritually despicable
• Poor Spiritually bankrupt
• Blind Spiritually darkened
• Naked Spiritually in need of Christ

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PROGNOSISJesus counsels this church and its
people to buy

• Gold Priceless riches of true salvation. 1Pet
  17
• White Clothes Robed in righteousness of Christ
  Rev 198
• Eye Salve Spiritual enlightenment - Gods truth
  Eph 118

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Jesus is knocking seeking ENTRANCE into our
hearts and His church.
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PROMISE to the overcomer

• To enjoy fellowship with Christ as we reign with
  Him throughout eternity.

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Points to Ponder

• Laodicea is the last church mentioned.
  1910-Tribulation
• True church is raptured before the Tribulation.
  Rev 310
• There will be many religious but lost people
  left behind.
• Are you absolutely sure you are ready to meet
  Jesus?

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• As Jesus knocks on the door of your heart
• Will you personally open the door and let Him in?
• 1 John 54-5 For everyone born of God overcomes
  the world. This is the victory that has overcome
  the world, even our faith. Who is it that
  overcomes the world? Only he who believes that
  Jesus is the Son of God.

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The Lords Supper1Co. 1123-33

• A Time of Remembrance
• Do this in remembrance of me  
• A Time of Examination
• A man ought to examine himself  
• A Time of Thanksgiving
• When he had given thanks  
• A Time of Proclamation
• You proclaim the Lords death until He comes