The Flower Child Church

WE’VE GOT MAIL #7/7 Stockwell Road MBC
August 23, 2009 MW
THE FLOWER CHILD CHURCH
Revelation 3:14-22
INTRODUCTION:
A. These two chapters in the Book of Revelation contain 7 letters written to 7 Churches located throughout Asia. They are love letters written by the hand of John from the heart of God. Jesus had a word for each of these churches and He also has a word for us as well. You see THEY GOT MAIL and today WE’VE GOT MAIL. There are 3 ways that we need to view these letters this morning.
1. PROPHETICALLY…each one represents a different time period in Church history; Laodicea represents the time from 1960’s to the present day. The period of time that includes the decline of the Church till today.
2. PRACTICALLY…a letter to the Church at Laodicea is a letter to Stockwell Road MBC.
3. PERSONALLY…Churches are made of individuals, of families of people.

B. The city of Laodicea was located high above on a plateau which made it very protected. The only problem was that the city had no ready supply of water. Water had to be piped in through aqueducts. Cold waters from above and hot waters from below were piped in to the city of Laodicea. On a very cold day the hot water they expected was often tepid and lukewarm…conversely on a hot day the cold water from above had become tepid and lukewarm. Can you imagine expecting a hot bath after a long day and all you get is lukewarm air temperature water? Pretty worthless isn’t it? This helps us to understand verses 16-17. Laodicea was a very wealthy city and it was no for the fabrics, the money and the medicines which were developed there. However, the Church located there had become stale and lifeless. Unlike Philadelphia which received nothing but commendation, the Laodiciean Church received nothing but condemnation.

C. Prior to the 60’s preaching was much different in all Churches than it is today. The holiness of God, the justice of God and the authority God had over all things were the preferred sermons. As a result of this preaching people lived more chaste and holy lives. Then the generation of the 60’s came and the era of flower children. Peace, love and tie-dye shirts were all the rave. Preachers began to change the message to a love based message. UNDERSTAND, God is love, I John 4:8 and love is the chief attribute of God that motivates all that He does. However, with that being said, when the only focus is His love and forgiveness a mentality develops: a lukewarm mentality. An attitude of being middle of the road and riding the fence. In other words, many so called Christians try to have a Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana kind of deal…the best of both worlds. It CAN’T happen according to Matthew 6:24…you will either love one or hate the other...you can't have it both ways.

D. The Church at Laodicea represents the prevailing attitude of Churches and many Church members today.

BODY:
I. THE IMAGE OF CHRIST vs. 14-16
note: This is perhaps the harshest introduction of all of the Seven Churches. This Church wasn’t serving the Lord and He comes to them with a very real and relevant introduction of Himself to these believers.
A. The Exalted Christ
1. He is the SUPREME example of Truth
2. He is the SOURCE of everything created
B. The Examining Christ
1. He knows our effort
2. He knows our energy
C. The Exhausted Christ
1. His patience
2. His penalty

II. THE IMPRESSION OF THE CHURCH vs. 17-18
note: This was a very wealthy city. In AD 61 it was destroyed by an Earthquake. They refused the help of Rome and rebuilt the entire city from local funds. That means that this Church’s membership was probably very wealthy as well. Sadly, by the world’s standards they had much but according to God they had little of what matters eternally.
A. No Spiritual Value—buy gold
B. No Spiritual Virtue—white raiment
C. No Spiritual Vision—eye salve

III. THE INVITATION TO COME vs. 19-21
note: We need to realize, again, that the Lord always has a remnant. Even though we live in the Laodicean Church age we do not have to be overcome with the prevailing attitudes! Notice as the Lord invites the people of Laodicea and know that He also invites us!
A. He Invites Us to Repent v. 19
B. He Invites Us to Receive v. 20
C. He Invites Us to Reward v. 21

CONCLUSION:
Have you ever heard the saying “a line drawn in the sand”? It comes from the story of the Alamo. According to legend, two days before the Alamo's fall (and the slaughter of all Alamo fighters) Commander William Barret Travis drew a line in the mission floor's sand with his sword, stating that all who were willing to stay (and presumably die) in the Alamo should cross over it to stand with him. All but one crossed the line, a man who buried not too far from here down in Logansport, Moses Rose. He was the only man that refused to cross the line of dedication and sacrifice. He is known as “The Coward of the Alamo”.
If I drew a line on this floor and asked all of those who were willing to live for the Lord and possible give their lives for the Lord would you be willing to cross over it?
What decision do you need to make for the Lord this morning?