The Church That Made God Sick

That women will send like correction of condemnation is trying to rebuke and not just he said it's only out of my sometimes God has some harsh words of correction, but his motive is always love. His goal is always to help us grow hello and welcome to Destin for victory with pastor Paul Sheppard who senior pastor destiny Christian Fellowship in Fremont, California. Today we come to the last of God's messages to the seven first century churches in Asia minor is listed in the book of Revelation chapter 3 the church in Laodicea had grown complacent in their belief compromising in their behavior and God is like he does to us from time to time offered a few choice words to his members. Pastor Paul explores this letter today.

Be sure to visit Pastor Paul.net to hear any recent Destin for victory message on demand. That's Pastor Paul.net you can also subscribe to the Destin for victory podcast at Apple podcast or Google podcast or wherever you get yours now there's Pastor Paul. Today's message the church that make God sick. My subject is the church that made God. We now come to the seventh and final word to the churches of Asia minor this word is to the church of Leo Bethea noted how the Lord introduces himself to this church.

He not only describes himself as the faithful and true witness, which we've seen earlier. He not only describes himself as the ruler of God's creation, which is a fairly common description of God throughout the Scripture, but here he describes himself also be a man I love that because the word amen. As you probably know means so let it be all it means it is so it is a word of affirmation is a word aligning your self with true it is a word that verifies that what has been spoken is so and is established and God said tell him that I found be a man.

What that means they have because he embodies through the Bible says that the law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ and by Jesus described himself as the true, the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but by me. He is true there is no lie in him everything he says is right and he said hi and be a man.

Not only am I right, but I don't need you to sanction that I'm right. Same old. Amen. I like that I like that you don't have to get an agreement with God for him to be right. He's right whether you think so or not. I just don't believe it takes all that well.

He's right. So that makes your role. He said hi and be a man. I sanction the truth by virtue of who I am. There is not been in me. He is the God of light in him. One writer said there is no shadow at all. He is completely the embodiment of truth, and therefore he describes himself as the amen we often say, God says that I believe it, that settles it. When you believe in, you can be blessed by the truth. Walking through the acknowledgment that you can be blessed by the truth. But make no mistake whether you believe it or not he's true and we need to acknowledge him as the amen the final word. The affirmation of all that is true.

He begins to move into what it is that he wants to say to them.

Notice that here is another church as we seen earlier in our study of these letters. Here is another church that receives no commendation at all. He has no affirming words to say about the way they are living their lives.

He only has admonishment and review.

This is like getting a bad report card. Y'all remember growing up that not all your report cards were wonderful and that's what this is. This church is getting a bad report card, but you gotta remember as it was in our lives. So it is true here a bad report card only says here's what you're doing. So far it does not seal your doom. It doesn't make you a bad student for life. It simply means I want you to know you're not doing too well right now there's some things that have to change. Always remember that when the Lord sends a word like this it is one of correction and admonishment. It is not a word of condemnation.

God is not condemning. He is trying to rebuke and discipline.

In fact we just read it. He said it's only out of my love that I'm rebuking and I'm disciplining you.

So when the beat you up. Gotta know it's only because the Lord loves me that he wants me to come up to a place where I can experience his highest and his best for my life and barely moves into helping them to understand what is wrong with their walk before him. Notice what he says. He says verse 15 I know your deeds that's been common throughout the study of these letters. I know your deeds, God knows exactly where you are. He doesn't just look at what we do. He knows who we are. I know your deeds, and then he says I know that you are neither nor hot.

I wish you were either one or the other.

So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. He says I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Now what is he talking about here.

That's rebuke centers on the state or condition of this church as being self-satisfied as being complacent at me in a church that is neither cold nor hot. He describes it as lukewarm. What is this have to do with well we have seen that often as God has spoken to a church in Asia minor. He has used something about that city itself to help the church understand the way it looks to him and so he uses the fact that this city was very wealthy. It was a very self-satisfied self congratulating city Laodicea was a city that was known for its well.

It was a city that was known for one of the medical breakthroughs that came out of Laodicea was they had a med school ancient med school that invented and I sow that became very popular to help people treat conditions that came out of that city, which is why God mentions it as he talks about the state of the church. It was also a city that was known for manufacturing a rare black wool that people would come there to get and so they were self-satisfied, self congratulating kind of silly, but they had a natural problem.

The problem was, the city was also known for having a very poor water supply. Here's why the water was so bad because they had to build an ancient wood.from another city that was known for its hot springs, hot springs of mineral water, and so there was this ancient aqueduct where the water from the mineral Springs would flow all miles and miles to the sea.

Here's the problem.

By the time it got there it was no longer. It was Luke warm and it was full of not only mineral deposits. It was full of all kinds of other impurities. So when the water gets the letter to Sia Leo to see Rick Shamir while popular for some of their manufacturing and their medical school, but the water is lousy and the water is lukewarm. It is typing it is full of impurities and when you drink it. It is not uncommon for those, especially those whose systems had not adapted to such a poor type of water, their reaction would be to throw up and what God says as he describes this up next the second half of today's destined for victory message with pastor Paul Sheppard. We want to thank all of you whose prayers and financial support help pastor Paul share the gospel all over the world and right now as we recover from the challenges of the past year.

Your support is even more critical today because more people than ever before are looking for answers that only Jesus can give. So as God leads prayerfully consider making a gift to destined for victory. You can give a secure donation in just a few moments@ourwebsitepastorpaul.net that's pastor Paul.net when God said to the church at Laodicea.

I wish you were either hot or cold me.

Stay tuned to find out because the answer might surprise you is pastor Paul was arrested today's message the church that made got sick. He says you like your water supply are neither hot nor cold you are warm and he says when I looked at you when I see ritual condition. If I were human.

It would make me want to throw up a powerful statement from God about the condition of some people's walk with God. Now let's explore.

He says I wish you were hot or cold. I used to believe and I used to preach that the hot represented.

I wish you were spiritually on fire, or cold. I wish you were spiritually cold. In other words, I thought that this passage was saying to people you need to get off the fence either be all away in Christ. Or if you're going to hell go first guy dongle from the chart you know what I mean now that could be made from other passages quite legitimately. You remember back in just what was said as he was telling the people what they need to know before he passed out the same piece that shows you you will fire the Bible tells you to get off the fence and he said to go to serve and if you think it's evil just saw the Lord been gone, and pick who you want to serve and he pretty much the same. If you're going to hell go first go around in the chart and miss God from the chart place that Ms. God is among God's people so you could make that point from some other passages and by the way that the mean that people who are seekers of truth should not continue to seek truth.

Absolutely those whose hearts are open and say God I want to know you really wanted to embrace her true just be open to those who seek truth don't have a hard time in church on hypocrite who noted not right now trying to get right. Come on, who just want to sit up and put in but don't have a legitimate walk with God seeker of truth, I don't care how unchurched you.

I don't care how much of a pagan you were raised with pagan values. That's fine because truth can set you free your heart is open the God that you know my philosophy give me unchurched people any day who are open to truth and let the power of the gospel their lives.

Our church is full of folks who have a testimony that before I got here. I didn't know anything about Christ. I wasn't raised in a Christian home. Now I'm experiencing God.

I now I am coming to know him for myself, and their lives are being transformed okay today.

I love pastoring X pagans absolutely love it. You know because you can teach them. It's part of the great commission. Teach them to observe all things that Christ commanded the lead vocal and everybody's church building. Everybody starts to hop from one place about whether I like this about, and I like that about them going around looking for perfect church and they criticize all the imperfections and they don't walk in the truth they already know, and then try to tell you how to run it. Also the people that were my nerves are people that are put on his gray beard because there self-satisfied they are complacent and not trying to grow go they think they made it already. What they try to do is wait for the rest of the church to catch up with them. They are deceived. Don't go around looking for perfect church for two reasons. Number one there isn't one. Number two. There was one, and you joined so perfect church just be a growing Christian, you don't have to be perfect you just have to have a heart that's opened the God say Lord I want to walk with you and so I used to think that this was telling full get off the fence like Joshua and be all away in Christ all the way out in the world that is not what is being said here as you focus on the fact that the analogy is based on the water system in the city. Same water can be wonderfully helpful if it is cold. He says I wish you the Greek word translated hop there is a common word that means boiling.

It means so that the water is jumping Siegel water tells you what I wanted to but I wonder if it's hot you want when you see it not right you know in their recall the elements are so until they are responding and God said to this church. I wish you were like the hot Springs your drawing your water supply from wish to know why because hot water is being purified just by virtue of the heat you know that if you need to ensure that your water is clear that your water is safe. The old-fashioned way that they put that on the stone wall before they had all this fancy distillers and all that stuff.

They would just boil it and try to some impurities out of there and so represents that it is number 158 and that it is.

Secondly, having a purifying of wish the church was about its walk with me.said the discharge I am sickened by the fact that I have been so good to you and you have nothing but self-satisfaction in response you have to look I live sometimes and say you know God is been too good for me to be casual about my walk with him called me to be a person who has a carbon life in Christ you want to be excited about Jesus and his place in your life, and growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. The fact is, God has been to to be anything other than boiling with excitement and joy of the Lord, what a person's really brought about because you see it had that jumping elemental boiling water excited about because you can see it in you know when you have a sports enthusiast on your hand. You can tell by the way they dress they put on their team stuff. You can tell by the way they talk. You can tell by their priority in the way they live life. It is based around that and they're excited you can tell a person's all about that career because they spend all their time and energy and passion making a living and sometimes they're so busy making a living until they don't make a life not too sure but somebody on your role saying that a person making a living, but not a life, a person climbed a ladder of success not even stop to realize is leaning against the wrong building and God said, I don't want to be more excited about mundane things that you are about me.

Paul said to the church at Colossae. Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth.

You gotta make up your mind to be open about spiritual things to be wholehearted about spiritual things.

You know why because that is the way to live your life when you about the things you can relate. You are setting your affections on things below and you can't do that. That's not limited quality like we're not going to be here forever is not about your career, and the large eternal scheme of things. Who cares what your career was when you pass off the scene in the larger scheme of things.

Your name was in how many people know you and reference your life's work. It's all mundane. So God blesses us deliver quality like I'm going to have a quality career.

He doesn't mind that our career is impactful and helps a lot of other people. That is wonderful. You can use that to glorify God, but do not set your affection on things below, such as your career. If you haven't noticed your career that I love you as much as you love it if you had noticed your job love you as much as you love your job because they will downsize you right out the door. Oh come on now, they will downsize you right out the door. They don't need a whole lot of excuse whole lot of reason just have a few bad quarters. The bottom going in the wrong direction and focus it up in a board room swirl around and big and make a quick decision and the next thing you know you get yourself a pink and if you know they can't just you know they have to give me a parachute and all that time they'll strap it on your back and kick you out the play go for one will turn into a tool one just like that, so you cannot give your self things that are not eternal. You are to be a whole lot about your work, but your work should consume you. It should be your identity, your job shouldn't be the essence of who you are. They will get you out of there in a hurry told you what I was single I was running a department about car leasing company. We went to work one morning thinking all was well found ourselves in a board room with the big shots from headquarters and in a few minutes time. We've all notified that they were shutting down this whole part of their business. We set that one lady broke out in tears. One of the other department heads will get into your season. I just bought a house. How in the world am I going to take care that that wasn't their problem and Carly's economies. All of us who ran departments were driving demos and we had driven to most lark gas lot. We all had to find a way home. Somebody would bring about that everything was shut down as it will keep a few of you on just for a few days to clean up some things and get the records together and all that but for most of you today is your last somebody will bring those of us who are leading the departments and have demo I was the longest period of time. They said market. Thanks so much for being here for today's message. The church that made God sick is been another great week here in Destin for victory were so glad you are part of it. But before we say so long for the weekend. I want to thank you on behalf of Pastor Paul Sheppard and the entire ministry team for all you do to make the destined for Victor ministry possible is a listener supported ministry were counting on your continued prayers and financial support because so many people out there need the saving grace that only Jesus Christ can give your donations do make a difference. So please consider making a special gift today to help share the truth of God's word with the growing audience for your gift. This month we have a gift of her own to share with you. Pastor Paul's booklet traits of a virtuous woman based on Proverbs 31. This booklet dives into some of the ways that godly women can have a profound impact in the lives of her family and all those around her. Women will find biblical instruction. What a godly woman looks like and others will be strongly encouraged to honor those women were sowing seeds of wisdom and grace into their lives. That's traits of a virtuous woman, a book from Pastor Paul. Our gift to you today by request for your generous gift to Destin for victory call 855-339-5500 to give over the phone or visit Pastor Paul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. You can also mail your gift to Destin for victory PO Box 1767, Fremont, CA 94538 oh build it on your money, your portfolio, how diversified your portfolio is the wrong things happen and you got to figure out how long you can work beyond. When you hope to retire. Why because the things of this so easily changing this next time it Pastor Paul Sheppard's message the church that made God sick until then, enjoy your holiday weekend and remember he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.

In Christ, you are destined for victory