LAODICEA: LUKEWARM, LEAFY, AND FRUITLESS

So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth – Revelations 3:16

The church at Laodicea represents the lukewarm, leafy, fruitless church; full of leaves, but lacking in fruits. The accounts of the fruitless trees in Mark 11:12-14 and Luke 13:6-9 are reminiscent of the conditions prevailing in the Laodecian church. Hear the Lord’s assessment: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev.3:17). Majority of the members of this church had material treasures to the exclusion of spiritual substance. They had money in excess but lacked merit in the spirit. They possessed positions, popularity, properties, fame, fortune, and material things, and these in turn, possessed them.

The Laodecians were living large, living big, and sprawling in material prosperity and secular success, but the fruits that Jesus really desires were lacking. They had derived so much blessing from the Lord only to consume all on themselves, and fail to acknowledge the Source of the blessings. They were arrayed in expensive attires, resided in mighty mansions, and sat with the high-and-mighty in the land, but with little or no positive impact or influence on other lives, or for the Lord Jesus. The verdict of the Lord of the Church on the fruitless church is frightening: “I will spew you out of my mouth”!

Satan uses the instruments of worldliness, including immorality (lust of the flesh) and materialism (lust of the eyes), to weaken the Church, with the intent of discrediting and destroying her (1Jh.2:15-17). These vices have made havoc of many ministers and churches today. Materialism has drawn many Christians away from their service to the Lord. Churches are hindered when members are rendered fruitless by worldliness: “and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity” (Lk.8:14). We must stand against the infection of corruption and the invasion of worldliness.

Thank God for the window of mercy and the door of repentance: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev.3:20). The Lord is willing to give every fruitless tree – individual believer or corporate Church – another chance for fellowship and fruitfulness! We must become fruit-bearing, soul-winners and soul-winning churches, fruitful and abounding in every good work.