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Sins of Laodicea - Part 8
Leonard Ravenhill
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0:00 5:06
Leonard Ravenhill

Sins of Laodicea - Part 8

Leonard Ravenhill passionately calls believers to awaken from spiritual complacency, embrace true vision through God's 'eye salve,' and commit wholeheartedly to prayer, service, and revival.
This sermon emphasizes the need for spiritual vision and discernment, likening it to an 'eye salve' that allows believers to see the work of God clearly. It calls for fervent prayer for missionaries in challenging regions like Venezuela and Paraguay, highlighting the importance of seeking worshippers rather than just converts. The speaker also addresses the worldly distractions and materialism that hinder believers from fully surrendering to God, urging a deeper commitment to spiritual growth and service.

Full Transcript

By eye salve. There was one of the greatest hospitals in early history in that very church, pardon me, in that very city, and yet he's saying to the church, you can make that eye salve, but I have an eye salve. Wonderful to have wonderful eyes. Wonderful when we can see the things that God is doing, we can see into the creation of God. Well, my time's gone. I'm going to ask you to pray for these precious brothers as they go back, dear wife, to Venezuela. Pray for Paul, our Paul down in one of the most difficult, all these other countries in South America, I think, every one of them, one time or another, have revival. All except Paraguay has never in its history had revival. Anthropologists say the people in that country are the most savage people of all the people in South America. I'm not asking you to pray because it's my son. I'm asking you to pray that the devil will be overthrown, that souls will be liberated. They're not trying to build a church. You remember when dear Irene was here, and she said, we are not in South America to get converts. We're in South America to get worshippers. That's wonderful. David Wilkerson's boy, Gary, is working in one of the darkest spots in America, right downtown Detroit. Vicious. Do you know there are more young people killed in Detroit in a month than are killed in New York City in a year? The murder rate in the schools, the devastation amongst young people is utterly wild. And yet there's people all over town, they've been lifting their arms up for months and years, and God Almighty, they've never done a thing. I'm tired of writing and reading about revival. I want to see God do it. The last thing here, somebody quoted tonight, I think, Romans 12, 1 and 2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your body a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable to God, which is only a reasonable service, and be not conformed to this world. What Philip says, don't let this world shape you in its mold. I read a statement by Dr. Crismel a while ago, he said, I'm amazed at the worldliness of the people of God in these days. How worldly we are. How caught up in materialism. How fascinated with the things we can say. The perishing things of clay, born but for one brief day. I've told you before, I say, now sit down. I do not want God to say to me in that day, my son, I had many things to tell you, but you couldn't bear them. I'm going to stand by myself, my darling wife won't be with me, my boys won't be with me, my friends won't. I'll be standing there with billions of eyes looking on me, the Apostle Paul, and Jeremiah, and Isaiah, and all the saints of all the ages, watching poor Leonard Ramel give an account of his life. And God said, you didn't go far enough into the checkbook. That's what Mr. Spurgeon called it. This is God's checkbook, it's signed in the blood of Jesus, and all the, everything you need for life, for time and eternity is in that book. I'm tired of working with dwarfs. I want to see God raise some Samson's, spiritual Samson's, who can pull down strongholds. So, next Friday night, God willing, I want to bring a message on Easter, part of the Easter message. As I say, David will be preaching on Sunday morning. We want to pray, pray for something that's on your heart tonight. Really pray. Doesn't matter if you cry, forget it. Pray for your own church, maybe it's bankrupt. Pray for your own pastor, maybe he's no power. Pray for your family, maybe they have no vision. Behold ye prayer. If I wanted God to look down and say there in eternity, look there, they're praying there. It's the most important thing we'll ever do after worship. Okay. Do you want to kneel a little while? Pray.

Sermon Outline

  1. I
    • The need for spiritual vision likened to 'eye salve'
    • God’s provision for seeing His work clearly
    • The historical example of healing and insight
  2. II
    • Urgent prayer requests for missionaries in difficult regions
    • Focus on worshippers rather than mere converts
    • The spiritual darkness in places like Detroit and South America
  3. III
    • Warning against worldly distractions and materialism
    • Call to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1)
    • The danger of spiritual complacency among believers
  4. IV
    • The accountability before God and the saints
    • The call for spiritual giants to pull down strongholds
    • The power and priority of fervent prayer

Key Quotes

“Wonderful when we can see the things that God is doing, we can see into the creation of God.” — Leonard Ravenhill
“We are not in South America to get converts. We're in South America to get worshippers.” — Leonard Ravenhill
“I do not want God to say to me in that day, my son, I had many things to tell you, but you couldn't bear them.” — Leonard Ravenhill

Application Points

  • Seek God daily for spiritual insight to discern His work in your life and community.
  • Commit to fervent prayer, especially for missionaries and spiritual revival in difficult areas.
  • Examine your life for worldly distractions and present yourself fully as a living sacrifice to God.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is meant by 'eye salve' in the sermon?
The 'eye salve' symbolizes spiritual insight and discernment that enables believers to see God’s work clearly.
Why does Leonard Ravenhill emphasize prayer for missionaries?
He urges prayer for missionaries working in challenging and spiritually dark regions to overcome the devil and liberate souls.
What is the danger of worldliness according to the sermon?
Worldliness and materialism distract believers from fully surrendering to God and hinder spiritual growth and revival.
How does the sermon describe true service to God?
True service involves presenting oneself as a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable to God, and resisting conformity to the world.
What practical action does the speaker encourage at the end?
He encourages fervent, heartfelt prayer for churches, pastors, families, and revival.

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