Msg#2542 From Philadelphia to Laodicea

Msg#2542 From Philadelphia to Laodicea

What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan’s Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

We now come to the solemn close; and it is striking that it comes immediately after the epistle to Philadelphia, in which more than a little gleam of light and blessing shown out. The two things are very closely connected: the blessing of the church in Philadelphia leads us to the judgment of the church in Laodicea. The name means “people’s rights” and stands against “Christ’s glory.” He says, “thou art neither cold nor hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot.” God does not accept lukewarm-Laodicea as an improvement upon the coldness of Sardis. And why? Because the heat is not that of revival but of decline and moral deterioration. It is failure of all the highest, richest, and most wonderful truths – God’s heart poured out without reserve to man, that he might know him, enjoy him, be at home with him.

“I will spew thee out of my mouth.” This is the solemn end of professing Christendom. He will not spew his own beloved out of his mouth; he will take them to himself before he can reject the whole mass as nauseous to him. He has addressed Philadelphia and tells them he is coming quickly, and that he will keep them out of the hour coming. He cannot reject even the poorest, weakest, and most wayward of his own. He cannot spew his own out of his mouth; he must take them out before the first hot drops of the storm of judgment fall. The Laodicean says, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; but they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Their riches are but paper money, manufactured out of the rags of self-righteousness; Christ is what they lacked. Don’t be Laodicean. (Grant,1902).

An Essay for week #42, Oct 19, 25
See F.W. Grant Lectures in Vol 09 www.GSBaptistChurch.com/theology
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs251019.mp3

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