What does Christ see in the church today? (Laodicia example)

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 written in 1879---146 years ago

"The last 25 years has found many to be little spiritually able to detect where the rights of Christ or the principles of truth were encroached upon as we as a church have been in the Laodician 'luke warmness', as found in the end of Revelation 3."
 Abridged from W. T. Turpin in "The Voice,"

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Episode Transcript

Cedric (00:00):
Laodicean Unreality.

(00:01):
Abridged from W.
T.
Turpin in"The Voice," 1879.
We are living in a day when menand their principles are plainly
manifested as"Man's day," andthere is a revelation of that
expression of the Spirit, solemnand momentous.
The lapse of more than a quartercentury has found many to be
little spiritually able todetect where the rights of

(00:21):
Christ or the principles oftruth were encroached upon.
In that period a character ofprofessed Christianity has
sprung up which finds itsappropriate expression in the
title"Human." A degenerate seedhas been produced of this stock
in whose hands the honour ofChrist and interests of truth
are unsafe.

(00:41):
There are to-day the anti-typeof the two and a half tribes, as
well as of Lot.
In former times,"coming out" and"separation" meant what they
conveyed.
Nothing is now challenged whichthose who first separated left
behind them! There is muchcoming in or brought in; in the
modern phraseology, exclusivemeans inclusive, separation

(01:02):
means toleration; unity of theSpirit, coalition;
unworldliness, as much of theworld as you can keep; that
which scripture designates ascovetousness, money loving and
making, means being prudent; andexalts itself to occupy a place
which spirituality alone couldsecure in past days!"Judgment is
turned away backward and justicestandeth afar off; for truth is

(01:24):
fallen in the street, and equitycannot enter.
Yea, truth faileth, and he thatdeparteth from evil maketh
himself a prey"(Isaiah59:14-15).
The insensibility to grossoutrages upon the truth are
lamentable.
This is the spirit ofLaodiceanism, the last phase of
the professing church(Revelation3).

(01:44):
It is the characteristic featurewhich will brand it when spued
out of Christ's mouth.
There are some peculiar snaresimportant to detect; there is
nothing in it that would outragethe conscience; it is not a
denial in terms of the truth; onthe contrary, the truth is owned
(not opposed) save that which isso practical that worldliness in

(02:05):
connection with doctrinalacquiescence would be condemned
by any with some conscience, orwhere the acknowledgment of it
would interfere with the worldwhich so many hold fast! Alas,
it is sorrowful to own that theLaodicean shroud is being fast
wrapped round the church.
Satan's great aim is to presentin the same person or company an

(02:27):
acknowledgement of the truthwith a certain credit and at the
same time be a practical denialof it.
In this way, he especiallydamages the truth; because
exhibited by those on whoseconscience it has no power.
It is equally true as regardsthe position to which the truth

conducts the soul (02:43):
this is boasted in so that the truth and
the ecclesiastical positionsuited to it are both accepted.
Herein consists the greatestsnare of lukewarmness! That the
truth can be accepted withoutany divine answer to its claims
is worse than if openly refused,because in the latter case it
might be supposed what effectswould follow.

(03:06):
But the other presents theglaring inconsistency of truth
accepted and its practical powerdenied; this is the moral swamp
in which Satan will land thechurch, so nauseous to Christ.
This leaven is rapidly at workand finds its most apt
expression in principles andways openly adopted and
contended for on every side.
There is nothing so well suitsthe devil as saints holding a

(03:28):
position without practicaleffect, while open worldliness
and looseness creeps inunchallenged, under the garb of
divine position.
In 2 Timothy 2:5, the Apostle bythe Spirit describes the state
as"having a form of godliness,but denying the power thereof."
This answers to Israel'sdescription in Ezekiel 33:30-31;

(03:50):
and in Jeremiah 7:3-4.
When the Lord Jesus as Son ofMan turns His eyes as a flame of
fire upon this great unreality,mark His words,"I would thou
wert cold or hot, so thenbecause thou art lukewarm I will
spue thee out of my mouth"(Revelation 3:15-16).
Another snare connected with theLaodicean state is the way man

(04:11):
imitates the real.
This is clearly made known in 2Timothy: 2, Satan will reproduce
the character of past days, hewill have his Jannes and
Jambres, and as Moses waswithstood, similarly is the
truth being resisted.
How solemn! May the Lord keep usvery near and true to Himself!
Where this principle is notdetected, the Laodicean haze

(04:32):
blinds the eye.
The leaven is permeating theChurch rapidly.
It was foreseen long ago in manyphases of service; the way in
which what professed to be theLord's mind was carried on has
been disquieting to many.
Man had been acknowledgedinstead of ignored, addressed
through his intellect or senses,given a place, so planting the

(04:53):
seeds that ripen in the end.
What began in the Gospel comesto a head in the Church.
The skilful wile of Satanintroduces a principle which
violates the truth of God.
Truly as the acorn contains theoak so do such thoughts embody
the great unreality spreadingabroad.
The state of characteristicindifference is tested by Him

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who is"the faithful and truewitness." How soon then must the
moment come when it can be nolonger fit for God on the earth!
Well may we say,"How is the goldbecome dim Her Nazarites pure as
snow their skin cleaveth totheir bones, it is withered and
is become like a stick"(Lamentations 4:1, 7, 8).
May the Lord in mercy in themidst of this growing evil

(05:36):
preserve to Himself a few ofwhom it may be said,"they that
feared the Lord spake often oneto another"(Malachi
3:16).Abridged