HOW TO MAKE JESUS SICK! (9 OF 29)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22
This content is part of a series.
How to Make Jesus Sick! (9 of 29)
Series: Live Like You're Leaving
Keith Krell
Revelation 3:14-22
What is the greatest challenge facing the church today? Many suggest that it is Christian persecution. Yet, persecution is not the greatest challenge. Quite the opposite, persecution is the fastest way to grow a healthy and vibrant church. The greatest challenge to any church is not persecution but prosperity. Consider the situation in America. We are the wealthiest nation in the world. Our currency reads, ''In God We Trust.'' We have more churches, more Bibles, more Christian literature, and more Christian schools than any other nation in the world. Yet, in spite of all these blessings, we're not influencing our society. In fact, we're also the nation with the most psychologists and psychotherapists in the world. If money made people happy, would Americans be so unhappy? Of course not!
So why are we so unhappy and making so little impact? We can't handle prosperity. With freedom and prosperity comes the temptation to trust in our blessings rather than in the Blesser. If we have plenty, we tend to think we need nothing. If we think that we don't have enough, we tend to think we need what others have. Both extremes lead us to seek happiness in things, and security in wealth.
In Rev 3:14-22 Christ warns and instructs a church against the effects of trusting in material wealth rather than pursuing intimacy with Jesus Christ. The Laodicean church was a church that had lost its impact on the world because it had become preoccupied with the world. We must not make the same age-old mistake. Instead, may we recognize that true wealth is eternal wealth.
1. The Character (3:14). Christ identifies Himself here with three titles that cover His entire ministry from eternity past to eternity future. First, concerning the future Jesus is ''the Amen.'' This is an odd title, but it was one of Jesus' favorite words, typically translated ''truly.'' ''Amen'' means ''so ...
Series: Live Like You're Leaving
Keith Krell
Revelation 3:14-22
What is the greatest challenge facing the church today? Many suggest that it is Christian persecution. Yet, persecution is not the greatest challenge. Quite the opposite, persecution is the fastest way to grow a healthy and vibrant church. The greatest challenge to any church is not persecution but prosperity. Consider the situation in America. We are the wealthiest nation in the world. Our currency reads, ''In God We Trust.'' We have more churches, more Bibles, more Christian literature, and more Christian schools than any other nation in the world. Yet, in spite of all these blessings, we're not influencing our society. In fact, we're also the nation with the most psychologists and psychotherapists in the world. If money made people happy, would Americans be so unhappy? Of course not!
So why are we so unhappy and making so little impact? We can't handle prosperity. With freedom and prosperity comes the temptation to trust in our blessings rather than in the Blesser. If we have plenty, we tend to think we need nothing. If we think that we don't have enough, we tend to think we need what others have. Both extremes lead us to seek happiness in things, and security in wealth.
In Rev 3:14-22 Christ warns and instructs a church against the effects of trusting in material wealth rather than pursuing intimacy with Jesus Christ. The Laodicean church was a church that had lost its impact on the world because it had become preoccupied with the world. We must not make the same age-old mistake. Instead, may we recognize that true wealth is eternal wealth.
1. The Character (3:14). Christ identifies Himself here with three titles that cover His entire ministry from eternity past to eternity future. First, concerning the future Jesus is ''the Amen.'' This is an odd title, but it was one of Jesus' favorite words, typically translated ''truly.'' ''Amen'' means ''so ...
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