Revelation 2-3 reveals what Christ said to the seven churches, a select group representing all early believers. His message to them speaks across the centuries to us today.
Seven Messages, Seven Applications:
But Only One Acceptable Response
Each church has a distinct message that resonated with those who first heard these words and with us today.
• Ephesus, the careless church, left their first love. Christ said to them and us, “Come back to Me!”
• Smyrna, the crowned church, suffered persecution. Christ said to them and us, “Be faithful to the end!”
• Pergamos, the compromising church, tolerated evil. Christ said to them and us, “Separate yourselves!”
• Thyatira, the corrupted church, joined the world. Christ said to them and us, “Un-Friend the world!”
• Sardis, the feeble church, wasn’t on guard. Christ said to them and us, “Wake up before it is too late!”
• Philadelphia, the faithful church, was pleasing to God. Christ said to them and us, “Keep on keeping on!”
• Laodicea, the foolish church, needed nothing. Christ said to them and us, “Watch out, you’re making me sick; and I will vomit you out of my mouth unless you repent and see that you need Me!”
Jesus reports that what is needed is for them to repent of their apathy in seeking Him; and start whatever it took to get restored.
What exactly is Jesus pointing at in their lives when He issues this “Vomit Alert” to them? If we unpack this passage word by word, we can conclude that there are:
Seven Bad Habits of Believers
That Sicken Christ
v. 14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works” Jesus said.
They had cultivated some very bad habits. These are habits that made them unacceptable to Christ and, even worse, sickening to Him. What patterns in the life of a believer sickens Christ to the point of vomiting? Here are the seven Jesus notes:
(CLW-26; 111030AM)
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