The Church in Laodicea

I love water… swim, kayak, waterparks, the ocean, a nice glass of ice water, hot tea.... water is wonderful.

We want water to either revive or refresh. That happens when water is either cold or hot.

There is nothing like a hot tub on a cold snowy day.

Or like swimming in a crisp cool river on a hot day.

We like hot tea or iced tea… Hot coffee or iced coffee. Nobody likes a nice lukewarm beverage.

This morning we are at that end of our journey… the last church in Revelation. The last church in Asia.

Laodicea was a wealthy city with powerful financial institutions, a lucrative textile industry, with cutting edge medical treatment but they were lukewarm.

Let’s read about the lukewarm church Laodicea.

Revelation 3:14–22 (NIV)

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.”

Pray

Why Laodicea?

The city was known for its banks

It manufactured of a rare black wool,

A medical school that produced eye salve.

Laodicea was between two major trade routes between Rome and the Orient.

The great earthquake of 17 AD destroyed Laodicea. Philadelphia and Sardis also destroyed Laodicea. But while the other cities had accepted financial help from Rome for rebuilding, Laodicea had enough wealth to rebuild on its own.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians was read by the church in Laodicea (Colossians 4:16).

This city would make the top 10 places to live in Asia but this city had poor water supply.

This city depended on a 6 mile long aqueduct that brought water to the city. By the time it reached the city, the water was lukewarm.

This city not only dealt with lukewarm water… the people and the church were lukewarm.

They were indifferent about the Lord and Jesus addressed their indifference and complacency.

Jesus begins with a Unique Characteristic of HIMSELF specific for this church.

Jesus only had criticism, correction, and a final commitment for those who overcome for this church. No complements.

Jesus’ Unique Characteristic (vs. 14)

Revelation 3:14 (NIV)

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.

To this church, Christ is described as the Amen, the faithful and true witness.

The word “amen” acknowledges something true and binding. Jesus Christ is still true and faithful, even though the Laodicean church was not.

Even though the church feels comfortable and content, Jesus sees the real church. Jesus sees what’s under the surface and loves us enough to reveal our blindspots but we have to have to be willing to listen to the faithful and true witness.

We have to be teachable and open to hearing things that challenge us. We have to be willing to change… we have to be willing to fight against our natural inclination, indifference and complacency.

Integrity means that our life lines up with the truth. Laodicea was rich and powerful, but they were not “faithful and true.”

Jesus gives no compliments because HE sees nothing good in this church.

Jesus’ Special Compliments - There are NONE

Jesus’s Constructive Criticism (vs. 15-17)

Revelation 3:15–16 NIV

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.

Jesus begins by saying that the faithful and true ONE knows your deeds.

He says that you are neither hot nor cold but lukewarm. You are complacent and indifferent and because of that, I’m going to spit you out of my mouth.

God threatens to spit them out unless they repent of their complacency, their lukewarmness.

Laodicea had always had a water supply issue. Hierapolis, a city to the northwest, was famous for its hot mineral springs so an aqueduct was built to bring hot water to the city from the hot springs. But when the water reached the city, it was lukewarm and filled with minerals (impure), so it tasted terrible.

The Hot water which would have been refreshing and therapeutic became the temperature of the environment because there was no insulation or heat source.

Jesus said that these believers were neither cold nor hot; instead, they were lukewarm. The people in the church was bland and tepid just like water that came into the city.

Many Christian’s see the hot/cold reference as spiritually cold and hot—

Being lukewarm was though to believe people who only partially believe.... those who straddle the fence. So the word “cold” was to be negative and “hot” to be positive, with “lukewarm” in between.

The truth is that both “cold” and “hot” should be taken as positive.

Jesus wants the church to be cold and refreshing or hot and therapeutic but this lukewarm church was neither.

This church was Lukewarm, Distasteful, Repugnant.

The believers didn’t take a stand for anything; their indifference led to idleness.

The church had become hardened and self-satisfied because it didn’t do anything for Christ.

As a result, Jesus was about to spit them out of HIS mouth. To Jesus, there is nothing more disgusting than a halfhearted, in-name-only Christian who is self-sufficient. Don’t settle for following Jesus halfway, be intentional about giving your ALL for Jesus.

Revelation 3:17 NIV

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.

Laodicea was a wealthy city, and this church may have been materially rich and assumed that riches were a sign of God’s blessing on them.

So with their wealth came an attitude of self-sufficiency—feeling like they did not need a thing.

They were materially and financially secure and so they felt spiritually safe—with no need for further growth.

Unfortunately, they were blind to their own true condition. Jesus, speaking the truth, revealed the facts, that they were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

They may have been wealthy, but spiritually they were impoverished.

This city prided itself on extreme financial wealth, a productive textile industry, and the special healing eye salve, the church’s true spiritual condition left it poor, blind and naked.

Jesus wants us to be fully reliant on HIM. When we become so self reliance that we are unwilling to step out and be stretched because of fear. WE don’t want to be uncomfortable, we have what we need, why should we trust in the Lord’s endless resources?

Jesus has something so much better for us but we have to recognize our true condition in order for us to receive God’s endless resources.

Jesus’ Generous Command (vs. 18)

Revelation 3:18 NIV

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.

Laodicea was known for its great wealth, but Christ told the Laodiceans to buy their gold from HIM; then they would have real spiritual treasures.

The Bible talks a lot about money. Money can be a blessing but the love of money can be a curse.

1 Timothy 6:6–10 NIV

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:17–19 NIV

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

This church had fool’s gold in their bank accounts, gold from this world has no spiritual or eternal value. Only with Christ’s gold would they be rich.

The city was proud of its cloth and dyeing industries. They had developed a black wool that had become famous all over the Roman Empire and was bringing huge profits. Even though they had wealth in their clothing, they were naked before God because they were self centered.

Jesus told them to purchase white robes from HIM… being clothed in HIS righteousness. Jesus would hide the shame of their nakedness because Jesus would cover them.

Laodicea prided itself on its precious eye salve that healed many eye problems, but they were spiritually blind. Christ told them to get salve from him to heal their eyes so they could see the truth.

Christ was showing the Laodiceans that true value is not in material possessions but in a right relationship with HIM.

Their possessions and achievements were valueless compared with the everlasting future of Christ’s kingdom.

Jesus offers that great exchange but we have to let everything of this world go. That only comes when we realize our true condition without Jesus.

That’s when we can put on HIS righteousness, HIS vision, HIS riches, and HIS glory as we give up our poverty, our shame, and our blindness.

Jesus looks at things differently so delight in the Lord and not in the things of this world. Heed Jesus’s generous command.

Jesus’ Great Challenge (vs. 19-22)

Revelation 3:19 NIV

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

There was a second chance for this church; Christ offered them the opportunity to repent. His rebuke and discipline came because of HIS love for HIS church.

Nobody likes discipline but without it we will be judged for not being teachable.

Proverbs 3:12 NLT

12 For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

Christ will “spit out” those who disobey, but HE will discipline those HE loves.

1 Corinthians 11:32 NLT

32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

God’s discipline causes us to become more and more effective for HIM.

God’s purpose in discipline is not to punish but to bring people back to HIM.

God may discipline you to help you out of your uncaring attitude, but HE uses only loving discipline to lead us to repentance.

We must continue to draw near to HIM again through confession, service, worship, and studying HIS Word.

Just as the spark of love can be rekindled in marriage, so the Holy Spirit can reignite our zeal for God when we allow him to work in our hearts.

Revelation 3:20 NIV

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.

Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts reminding us of our need for HIM. Jesus wants to have fellowship with us, and HE wants us to open up to HIM. He is patient and persistent in trying to get through to us—not breaking and entering but knocking. HE allows us to decide whether or not to open our lives to him.

Do you intentionally keep HIS life-changing presence and power on the other side of the door?

Revelation 3:21 NIV

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.

All believers who endure to the end will reign with Christ. Jesus Christ won that right for all believers through HIS own victory on the cross. Jesus was Victorious over sin and death when HE rose again, HE sat with HIS Father on HIS throne.

This promise that everyone who is victorious will sit with Christ on HIS throne refers to the heavenly kingdom.

Matthew 19:28 NIV

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Romans 8:17 NIV

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Jesus gives us the promise if we endure to the end. If we listen, if we obey, if we stand for Jesus through the end. If we continue to seek to understand what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:22 NIV

22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Lord, help us to have ears that are in tune to Your voice and a heart that is teachable and responds to Your discipline.

Jesus, you love me and you are inviting me to delight in YOU and to enjoy the very best that only YOU Jesus can provide.

TAKE AWAY:

Are we becoming complacent and indifferent?

Are we willing to accept and live in our true condition without Jesus?

Is our investment in material life or eternal life?