"My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice." (Ezekiel 33:32-33) A few months back, I was asked by a church to do a Sunday teaching on the 7 Churches of Revelation, chapters 2 & 3. .. I've taught this subject several times in the past, but this time, the words the Lord spoke to the 7th church of Laodicea has stayed with me like never before. (Revelation 3:14:22) ... And with the way the sinful world is going right now, and then the response to it, or lack thereof, from the vast majority of today's churches, makes it quite clear as to why. ... Allow me to briefly explain. .. When teaching about the 7 churches, the dispensational view believes that each church represents a period of time since Christ's Resurrection, with the Laodicean Church being the last church on earth just prior to the Lord's 2nd Coming. .. Cutting to the chase, this is the passage that I can't shake ... "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16) So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17) You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." (3:15-17) ... Sound familiar? ... Does this sound like the vast majority of churches today? .. You bet it does! .. I don't know how many of you who are sharing this has tried to find a church from the many thousands out there, only to end up disappointed because of the lack of 'spiritual depth.' ... Why is this the case? .. It would seem that as we march further into the 21st century, the stress to produce booming ministries has never been greater. .. As a result, there is a new way of 'doing' church emerging upon the scene. .. In this radical paradigm shift, solid Bible teaching is being replaced with performances, doctrine with drama, and theology with theatrics. .. Simply, 'consumer Christianity' is now the rage. .. Pastor David Jeremiah said it best when he stated, "Surrounding us in every country are church buildings which are no more than clerical caskets, lined in rich satin, gilded with gold, and buried in complacency." ... Amen! ... Simply, The world has slipped into the church, and the church has answered back and joined it. ... One can no longer tell the difference between them. ... 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says it clearly ... "For a time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." ... Once again, scripture nails the truth! ... Just look around for a brief moment. .. We are seeing false doctrine abound in the land ... *Wealth Teaching of which the sole focus is on getting rich with earthly wealth .. *Dominion Theology, which teaches that the church will conquer sin & then the Lord will come back .. *New Age Movement which believes, among many other things, that sin has no consequence and there is no hell .. *Seeker Friendly which will say & do anything to bring people into their buildings, regardless if it conflicts with the true teachings of God's Holy Word .. and on and on .... Jesus Himself warned of these spiritual 'conditions' when He said in Matthew 24:4, "Watch out that no one deceives you." .... Are you watching out? ..... Back to the 'Laodicean Church' and what our Lord said, He told us clearly to be vigilant as to our walk with Him .. to not be lukewarm, or passive about our walk with Him. ... Simply, He hates it & said quite clearly that He would 'spit them out of His mouth!' ... I don't know about you, but this is scary to me! .... What it boils down to is this ... provisional faith, or following Him with a half-hearted heart, is not going to bring the results one hopes for. ... If people keep going along indulging in sinful lifestyles, the consequences are terrible and eternal! .. Let me share this passage that really touches my heart, and convicts me to keep shouting out His words and fight against this famine of the truth ... " 'The days are coming,' declares the Sovereign Lord, 'when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the Word of the Lord, but they will not find it.' " (Amos 8:11-12) ... In the final glimpse of the '7 Churches' teaching, I want to sum up with this hope that the Lord gives to all of us, regardless of our 'self & church' condition. .. At the close of each individual church review, the Lord said this .. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ... I love this! .. This is the hope! .... No matter our situation, if we just 'turn our ears' to the truth of His teachings, will WILL prevail no matter the circumstances. ... Hallelujah! .... He is speaking of the remnant that will exist in most all churches in these last days. ... I urge you .... Fear God. .. Ask the Holy Spirit to crush every doubt in you. .. You have the choice to choose your eternal destiny. ... Choose to believe in the Lord. .. Trust Him in the face of all your circumstances. .. You have a God who will see you through everything in these increasingly difficult last days. .... Until next time, Red