Introduction

Individuals make up the church, and when they are not growing, the church, is not growing. In church in Laodicea, serves as the ultimate biblical warning against spiritual stagnation, where growth has stopped.

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Main Points

Why Stagnation Happens (The Laodicean Trap). In the context of our four stages of growth, the Laodiceans represent a "Mature Adulthood" that has soured into pride, or a "Young Adulthood" that stopped working because it felt it had "arrived".

• The Illusion of Self-Sufficiency: The church claimed, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing" (

  Revelations 3:17

  Verse text not found

  ). They believed that because they were physically or numerically healthy, they were spiritually growing.

• Blindness to Reality: While they thought they were "Mature Adults," God's perspective was that they were actually "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked" (

  Revelations 3:17

  Verse text not found

  ). They had lost the "holy hunger" required to move to the next stage.

• The Danger of "Lukewarmness": Stagnation is not usually a sudden fall into sin; it is a slow fade into indifference. It is the "automatic" physical life taking over the "intentional" spiritual life.

The Cure for Stagnation

In

• Buy Gold Refined in Fire: Return to the "boot camp" of sanctification and trials to produce true character (Young Adulthood).

  1 Peter 1:7

  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

  (Faith tested by fire).

• White Clothes to Wear: Seek "teaching about righteousness" to cover spiritual nakedness.

  Isaiah 61:10

  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh {himself} with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth {herself} with her jewels. {decketh: Heb. decketh as a priest}

  (The robe of righteousness).

• Salve for Eyes: Regain "discernment" to see things from God's perspective again (Mature Adulthood).

  Ephesians 1:18

  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

  (Eyes of the heart enlightened).

Memory Verse

Conclusion

God uses two primary tools to help us grow out of stagnation. Rebuke: This is an internal conviction. It often comes through the Word of God acting as a "mirror" or a "sword" to expose areas where our growth has stopped. Discipline: This involves external trials—the "Gold Refined in Fire". These are the "spiritual growing pains" that build endurance and true character.