Old Testament Scripture: Genesis 3:1-10 (NIV)
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
New Testament: Revelation 3:14-22 (NIV)
To the Church in Laodicea
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 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. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Speaker: Pastor Classy Preston
Sermon Title: Are you being seduced by the Enemy?
Podcast Summary:
The city of Laodicea was a well-defended city on a hill, famous for banking, finance, fashion, and pharmaceuticals. It’s one major issue was a lack of water, but being a wealthy city, aqueducts had been constructed to alleviate the situation. Aqueducts brought in hot water from the north and cold water from the east, but by the time the water reached Laodicea, both sources had grown lukewarm.
Jesus told the church at Laodicea that they were just like the water there- lukewarm. The members of this church were indifferent and apathetic- they were going through the motions. Their focus was no longer on the cross, scripture, or even reaching the lost. They had lost their passion for God and the refreshing and renewing power of the Gospel. Like many churches today, Laodicea enjoyed power, wealth, and influence and thought these things made them perfect, but they were unmoved by the things of God. What do you have in common with the Church of Laodicea?
The Fall
