The churches of Christ in the New Testament 10 of 18

1
The churches of Christ in the New Testament 10 of
18The church in LaodiceaRevelation
314-22Colossians 416

• Don R. Taaffe,
• Gospel Preacher
• Dunedin, FL
• 12/13/2009

2

• 14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea
  write The words of the Amen, the faithful and
  true witness, the origin of God's creation 15
  "I know your works you are neither cold nor hot.
  I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16 So,
  because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor
  hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17
  For you say, 'I am rich, I have prospered, and I
  need nothing.' You do not realize that you are
  wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18
  Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold
  refined by fire so that you may be rich and
  white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame
  of your nakedness from being seen and salve to
  anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 I
  reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be
  earnest, therefore, and repent. 20 Listen! I am
  standing at the door, knocking if you hear my
  voice and open the door, I will come in to you
  and eat with you, and you with me. 21 To the one
  who conquers I will give a place with me on my
  throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down
  with my Father on his throne. 22 Let anyone who
  has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to
  the churches." (NRSV) Revelation 314-22

3
churches of Christ in the New Testament 18
Lessons

• Origin of Lords church
• The church in Antioch
• The church in Colosse
• The church in Corinth
• The church in Crete
• The church in Ephesus
• The church in Galatia
• The church in Dunedin
• The church in Jerusalem

• The church in Laodicea
• The church in Pergamum
• The church in Philadelphia
• The church in Philippi
• The church in Rome
• The church in Sardis
• The church in Smyrna
• The church in Thessalonica
• The church in Thyatira

4
The city of Laodicea

• Laodicea was situated in a valley, positioned 18
  miles west of Colossae and 6 miles south of
  Hierapolis. One of the Chief cities of that area
  and had an abundance of wealth.
• Laodicea was the banking center of Asia minor,
  its vaults were filled with gold, and it was the
  garment industrial center of Rome, its black
  wool was treasured by many.

5
The city of Laodicea

• Laodicea had an excellent Noble medical school
  which produced and exported to the rest of the
  world, an excellent eye power.
• It lay in the Roman providence Asia a mile
  south of the river Lycus, in Maeander Valley
  between Colossae and Philadelphia.

6
(No Transcript)
7
The city of Laodicea

• The wealth of this church ( arising from its
  excellent wools) most likely led to a
  self-satisfied Lukewarm state in spiritual
  things, which we will see the Lord condemns.
• The epistle to the Colossians, written by Paul
  there is also An epistle from the Laodicea
  Colossians 416
• The apostles epistles were publicly
• read in every church (Rev. 111)

Colossians 416 16 And when this letter has been
read among you, have it read also in the church
of the Laodiceans and see that you read also
the letter from Laodicea. (NRSV)
8

• Colossians 415-16
• 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters
  in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her
  house.
• 16 And when this letter has been read among you,
  have it read also in the church of the
  Laodiceans and see that you read also the letter
  from Laodicea. (NRSV)

9
The church of Laodicea

• The letters to seven churches number seven
  symbolic of completeness. Proverbs 91
• Perhaps these seven churches from Asia
  represented the condition of all the churches of
  Christ at the time of these letters.
• Two churches were good, five were bad, the worst
  and last church mentioned
• was Laodicea.

Proverbs 91 1 Wisdom has built her house, she
has hewn her seven pillars. (NRSV)
10
The church of Laodicea

• The church is most likely established by Epaphras
  Colossians 413
• Mentioned six times in the New Testament ( four
  times in Colossians and two times revelation)
• It was neither hostile towards Christ nor was it
  zealous towards Christ.
• We should note the cities of Ephesus, Sardis,
  and Laodicea are only ruins
• today!

Colossians 413 13 For I testify for him that he
has worked hard for you and for those in
Laodicea and in Hierapolis. (NRSV)
11
The condition of this church

• Jesus completes the pattern of telling each of
  the seven churches that he knows of their
  works. Revelation 315
• Jesus (God) knows our sins but he also knows our
  temptations, our struggles, our sorrow, and our
  love 1 John 320
• I am the Amen, the faithful and true witness,
  the beginning of the creation of God
  Revelation 314

Revelation 315 15 "I know your works you are
neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were
either cold or hot. (NRSV)
Revelation 314 14 "And to the angel of the
church in Laodicea write The words of the Amen,
the faithful and true witness, the origin of
God's creation (NRSV)
1 John 320 20 whenever our hearts condemn us
for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows
everything. (NRSV)
12
The condition of this church
Colossians 115-17 15 He is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn of all creation 16
for in him all things in heaven and on earth
were created, things visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers
all things have been created through him and
for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and
in him all things hold together. (NRSV)

• We are in the habit of saying, Amen to conclude
  our prayers but Jesus is the Amen?
• Jesus is the creative force behind all things in
  which the Laodiceans trusted Colossians 115-17
• The Laodiceans had lost their fire and were going
  through the motions of playing church.

13
The condition of this church

• Lukewarmness (inactive and unconcerned). God
  threatens to vomit them out of this fellowship
  Revelation 316
• The Laodiceans had knowledge without zeal. The
  Jews had zeal without knowledge Romans 102
• Consider the condition of Ephraim and Judah
  Hosea 64
• The church could easily go either way.

Revelation 316 16 So, because you are lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you
out of my mouth. (NRSV)
Romans 102 2 For I bear them witness that they
have a zeal for God, but not according to
knowledge. (NKJV)
Hosea 64 4 "O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O
Judah, what shall I do to you? For your
faithfulness is like a morning cloud, And like
the early dew it goes away. (NKJV)
14
The condition of this church

• Many like them have a feeling of security and
  self-satisfaction saying I am rich, have need
  of nothing Revelation 317
• Today, many think because they have obeyed and
  accepted the first principles of the gospel of
  Christ they are assured of salvation.
• But it just aint so! They are blind as the
  Laodiceans were to their real condition thou
  knowest not that thou art wretched, miserable,
  poor, blind and naked Revelation 317

Revelation 317 17 For you say, 'I am rich, I
have prospered, and I need nothing.' You do not
realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor,
blind, and naked. (NRSV)
Revelation 317 17 Because you say,'I am rich,
have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'
and do not know that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and naked (NKJV)
15
The condition of this church

• God has given us a spirit of power, love and a
  sound mind, and a sound mind is equipped to
  distinguish between truth and fiction.
• As the Laodiceans we are charged
• Buy Christs Gold,
• White Robes,
• Eye Salve
• Revelation 318

Rev 318 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold
refined in the fire, that you may be rich and
white garments, that you may be clothed, that
the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed
and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you
may see. (NKJV)
16
The condition of this church

• Buy Christs Gold earthly gold and money has
  no bartering power in heaven but we are to lay
  up treasures in heaven Luke 1233-34 (Matthew
  619-21)
• White Robes blackish wool would be hideously
  out of place among the righteous in their white
  robes (penitence and faith) Revelation 611
• Eye Salve their eyes salve only treated
  physical vision Christ Eye SaIve treats
  spiritual vision Matthew 1513-14

Luke 1233-34 33 Sell what you have and give
alms provide your- selves money bags which do
not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that
does not fail, where no thief approaches nor
moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also. (NKJV)
Revelation 611 11 Then a white robe was given to
each of them and it was said to them that they
should rest a little while longer, until both
the number of their fellow servants and their
brethren, who would be killed as they were, was
completed. (NKJV)
Matthew 1513-14 13 But He answered and said,
"Every plant which My heavenly Father has not
planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone.
They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the
blind leads the blind, both will fall into a
ditch." (NKJV)
17
Lukewarmness of The Brotherhood

• Lukewarm congregations make up a lukewarm
  brotherhood
• About half the membership of any congregation
  will not attend Bible classes
• Many excuses are given but it simply boils down
  to lukewarmness and indifference towards the
  truth and towards the success of the cause of
  Christ.
• The reason we at Dunedin do not have gospel
  meetings is because of the lack of interest of
  its members

18
Lukewarmness of The Brotherhood

• Let us bring the discussion closer to home by
  talking about lukewarm elders and members!
• Most members of the church as well as the elders
  cannot get off ready
• Let me explain I have sat in meetings where the
  members and/or elders spent 2 to 3 hours talking
  about where to move the clock, what color carpet
  to put in the building, etc. etc.
• These elders or members set themselves up as
  guardians of the Lords money instead of
  spiritual matters 1 Peter 52

1 Peter 52 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is
among you, serving as overseers, not by
compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain
but eagerly (NKJV)
19
Lukewarmness of The Brotherhood

• Let us talk for a minute about what the work of
  congregations should be?
• Ephesians 411-12
• Evangelism building up the body of Christ
• Edification edifying the body of Christ
• Benvolence -- the work of
• ministry

Ephesians 411-12 11 And He Himself gave some to
be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the
equipping of the saints for the work of
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
(NKJV)
20
Lukewarmness of The Brotherhood

• Evangelism building up the body of Christ
  (including personal evangelism)
• Lukewarm preachers preach lukewarm sermons -- 2
  Timothy 42
• There are some preachers that never say you,
  but rather say they.
• I would rather be buffeted for well doing than
  for evil doing - 1 Peter 219
• Let us never forget that the power of salvation
  is the gospel Romans 116

2 Timothy 42 2 Preach the word! Be ready in
season and out of season. Convince, rebuke,
exhort, with all long- suffering and teaching.
(NKJV)
1 Peter 219 19 For this is commendable, if
because of conscience toward God one endures
grief, suffering wrongfully. (NKJV)
Romans 116 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ, for it is the power of God to
salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew
first and also for the Greek. (NKJV)
21
Lukewarmness of The Brotherhood

• Edification edifying the body of Christ
• I preach for a brotherhood of people who claim to
  be New Testament Christians, some spend more
  money on tobacco and alcohol than in teaching the
  gospel -- Matthew 2818-20
• Things that hinder the growth of the church are
  lukewarmness, indifference, wickedness, guile,
  hypocrisy, envies, evil speakings -- 1 Peter 21-2

Matthew 2818-20 18 And Jesus came and spoke to
them, saying, "All authority has been given to
Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and
make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to
observe all things that I have commanded you
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of
the age." Amen. (NKJV)
1 Peter 21-2 1 Therefore, laying aside all
malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all
evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the
pure milk of the word, that you may grow
thereby, (NKJV)
22
Lukewarmness of The Brotherhood

• Benevolence -- the work of ministry
• There is a congregation in our area that has over
  100 members and spends less than a dollar a
  person on benevolence -- yet they would divide
  the church because other congregations spend more
  as individuals -- 2 Corinthians 812-14 (2 Cor.
  83-5 18-21 1 Cor. 161-2)
• Benevolence was a part of the mission of the
  early church Roman 1213 (1525-27 1
  Cor.1615)

2 Corinthians 812-14 12 For if there is first a
willing mind, it is accepted according to what
one has, and not according to what he does not
have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be
eased and you burdened 14 but by an equality,
that now at this time your abundance may supply
their lack, that their abundance also may supply
your lack that there may be equality. (NKJV)
Romans 1213 13 distributing to the needs of the
saints, given to hospitality. (NKJV)
23
In conclusion to Laodicea

• Many church members give the left over scraps to
  their dog, and they treat God the same manner.
  Spending more on their pets than in service to
  Christ.
• The Laodiceans were lukewarm but could repent and
  return to their first love!
• If you intended to correct your lukewarmness,
  then we must begin to reform our self today --
  Matthew 71-5
• This church could be on fire if you become the
  spark, why not start today?

Matthew 71-5 1 "Judge not, that you be not
judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you
will be judged and with the measure you use, it
will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you
look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do
not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or
how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove
the speck from your eye' and look, a plank is in
your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the
plank from your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to remove the speck from your brother's
eye. (NKJV)
24
In conclusion to Laodicea
Acts 528 28 saying,"Did we not strictly command
you not to teach in this name? And look, you
have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and
intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" (NKJV)

• If you havent been baptized, thats the starting
  point -- Acts 2216 (Acts 238 Mark 1616)
• If you have been baptized, wheres the fire? --
  Acts 528

Acts 2216 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise
and be baptized, and wash away your sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.' (NKJV)
Every Soul in Pinellas County
Word spread