THE DANGER OF RELIGION (LUKEWARMNESS IN THE CHURCH) There are three things God demand from every human on earth, DECISIVENESS,CONSISTENCY AND STRENGTH. What every woman is looking for in a woman are these three things. What every man is looking for in a woman are these three things. The letter to the church at Laodicea is the harshest of the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor. By His indictment against their “deeds,” Jesus makes it clear that this is a dead church. A church pursuing deadly things is known as RELIGION. In Revelation 3:14-21, the Lord is describing the “lukewarm” heart attitude of those in the Laodicea church, an attitude manifested by their deeds. They were neither cold nor hot in relation to God, just lukewarm. Beverages are better either cold or hot. Similarly, the Lord would rather that people be either hot (spiritually on fire for Him) or cold (rejecting Him outright). That is not to say that there were no true believers there, only that the church as a whole was spiritually uncommitted. Jesus frequently equates deeds, or works, with a person’s true spiritual state. He said, “By their fruit you will recognize them” and “Every good tree bears good fruit” (Matthew 7:16-17). Clearly, the deeds of the Laodiceas were not in keeping with true salvation because the deeds of the true believer will be “hot,” reflecting the spiritual passion of a life transformed. The spirit of religion kills the fire of God in men. When their spirit are not ready to go before God daily and inquired of Him. The Lord rebukes and disciplines the true believers in the church of Laodicea, commanding them to repent. He sees their lukewarm attitudes as “shameful nakedness” that needs to be clothed in the white garments of true righteousness. They might have rejected the grace of God that Jesus gave redemptively, sacrificially and unconditionally. God demand the same altitude in a believers life. That we accept what He has done to perfect us, without placing demand on us. One of the thing that Jesus addressed very much in His ministry was Hypocrisy and complacency. The Laodiceas Church enjoyed material prosperity that led them to a false sense of security and independence. The expression I am rich, and have become wealthy is a literary device that inverts the natural sequence for emphasis. Here it stresses that the wealth attained came though self-exertion. Spiritually, they had great needs. This self-sufficient attitude is a constant danger when Christians live lives of ease and enjoy prosperity. The highest level of all deception is when one thinks, he or she doesnt need God. We need the grace of God at every point in time. The grace will prepare us, keep us, uphold us whenever we fall short. It is only pride that will give us a sense of accomplishment without the spirit of grace. Because you can pray and fast and understand your religiosity, does not mean that you dont need God. This is the time not to be passive, but be ready to give it all and come to God Like King David said in Psalm 51: 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I ACKNOWLEDGE MY TRANSGRESSION: and my sin is ever before me. 4 AGAINST YOU, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shape in iniquity; and IN SIN,NOT TO sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, THOUGH DESIRES TRUTH in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shall make me to know wisdom. 7 PURGE me with hyssop (BLOOD OF JESUS), and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 MAKE ME NOT GIVE ME to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 HIDE YOUR FACE from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 CREATE IN ME a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 CAST NE NOT away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 RESTORE unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then WILL I TEACH transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. Please listen to this video for more. https://youtube/watch?v=J5i1AFnw1dg
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:12:47 +0000
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