A Responsive Church in a Changing Society: Laodicea

Text: Revelation 3:14-22

Theme: The Lord of glory has a message for the church today: "Luke warm churches make him want to throw up!"

We come this morning to the last of the seven churches of Revelation that Christ gave a specific message to. For seven weeks we have tried to answer the question, “What makes a church relevant?” What we’ve discovered—and what I hope you’ve heard in this series—is that what a secular culture thinks makes a church relevant to its society, are often the very things that make it irrelevant to God for Kingdom advancement. I began this sermon series seven weeks ago by sharing with you some statistics gathered by George Barna, a Christian pollster. The good news is that 93% of practicing Christians firmly believe that the church remains relevant in our culture. I would hope and pray that if you’re a member of this congregation that you believe this church is relevant to your life and to our community. It should not surprise us, however, that much of the U.S. population is not as quick to sing the praises of the Church. Non-Church goers are inclined toward indifference with 39% believing that the Church in America is irrelevant while 18% actually believe that churches are harmful to the society.

These numbers challenge the Church’s place in society.

Why do almost 60% of non-church goers believe the church is irrelevant and superfluous to their lives? The answer is partially found in our Lord’s message to the believers at Laodicea. Society often views the church as irrelevant because many churches are irrelevant.

What is our Lord's message to this particular congregation at Laodicea? Jesus is very clear. They make him sick! "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Rev 3:16, ESV).

The words of our Lord to the church at Laodicea are tragic. Jesus says, "I know your works and to tell you the truth, you ain't got any!" The church at Laodicea is a congregation characterized by indifference and complacency. Christ’s message to this church begs the question, “Are you indifferent and complacent in your faith?” If enough believers of a congregation have become lukewarm in their faith then outsiders will certainly begin to perceive that church as a whole as lukewarm.

What is the Lord’s message to this congregation at Laodicea?

The Christ of the Church of Laodicea

The Christ’s Criticism of the Church at Laodicea

The Christ’s Correction for the Church at Laodicea

Some Lessons from the Church at Laodicea

I. THE CHRIST OF THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA

1. as we have seen in all of his brief missives to each of the seven churches, Jesus identifies himself in some unique ways

a. it is no different with the Church at Laodicea

“ “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.” (Revelation 3:14, ESV)

A. CHRIST IS “THE AMEN”

1. our English word Amen is merely a transliteration of the Hebrew word amēn

a. the word can be translated in various ways

1) “so, be it,”

2) “so it is,”

3) “there you have it“

b. in the Old Testament it is primarily used as a response by listeners to affirm their assent to a truth spoken by another

ILLUS. As such, it was a custom that passed directly from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian assemblies. When truth—especially the Scriptures—was proclaimed or when someone closed a service in prayer, other worshipers would respond with Amen confirming their agreement with the spoken word and the worship that has taken place.

2. here in our text, however, is the only instance in Scriptures where Amen is used as a proper name

a. Jesus is the Amen just as he is the Christ; he is the Amen just as he is the Great Shepherd; he is the Amen just as he is the Bread of Life or the Water of Life

1) these, and many more, are names that describe our Lord’s character, and his redemptive ministry

b. when Jesus declares he is the Amen he is reminding his Church that his life is the ultimate Amen to all of God the Father’s truth, all of God’s revelation, all of God’s redemptive work

c. once the Christian has confessed that Jesus is Lord—there you have it—we have confessed all we need to confess to have eternal life

1) there is nothing more to say

B. CHRIST IS “THE FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS”

1. because He is “The Truth,” the Apostle John reveals Jesus to be the One Who is about to reveal the truth concerning the wretched condition of this Church

a. in the end, it doesn’t matter what we think about the Church, it matters what Jesus says about the Church

2. because Jesus is the Faithful and True Witness he will never lead his church astray; he will never tell his church something that is untrue, meaning Jesus will never lead the Christian astray and never tell the Christian something that is untrue

a. our responsibility, then, is to hear what the Lord says to his people

1) in fact, he tells all seven churches, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church”

2) hearing our Jesus is job #1 for the believer

b. and once we hear what Jesus says we are to seek to conform our mind, our will, our soul and our bodies to his word

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3, ESV)

C. CHRIST IS “THE CREATOR”

1. the English translation of this verse can be misleading

a. as a result, false teachers have used this verse as a “proof text” that Jesus Christ is not eternally God, but the first thing God the Father created before speaking the rest of the universe into existence

b. in the original language of the New Testament, however, the meaning is not ambiguous, but crystal clear

1) the Christ is not the first person created by the Father, rather ...

2) the Christ, himself, is the source of all created things

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:15–18, ESV)

2. as the Creator, Christ’s authority is final, and no one can question him concerning why he created what he created, or how he created it, or his final judgment on the things he has created

... the Christ of the Church at Laodicea Is the Creator Who Speaks Truth to His Church and the World

II. THE CHRIST’S CRITICISM OF THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA

“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17, ESV)

1. of all the seven Churches, Laodicea is most unsparingly criticized

2. we are forced to ask some hard questions about this congregation:

a. what is wrong with this church?

b. how did it get this way?

c. is there a danger that such complacency is contagious?

3. the church at Laodicea had four big problems

a. 1st, they were lukewarm

b. 2nd, they were proud

c. 3rd, they were arrogant

d. 4th, they were wretched, pitiful, blind and naked

4. Christ’s issue with this church is that they are living as though they had one foot in the world and one foot in heaven

a. that never works for Christ-followers

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4, ESV)

A. THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA WAS A LUKEWARM CHURCH

"‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!" (Revelation 3:15, ESV)

1. in terms we can understand, this church was complacent, spiritually arrogant, and self-satisfied

a. it is the only church Jesus has nothing good to say about it

1) that’s sad!

2. Jesus uses the city of Laodicea’s water supply situation to describe the congregation’s spiritual condition

ILLUS. Laodicea was located in a valley between two sister cities. One was Hierapolis which was six miles away and was famous for its hot springs. The other was Colossae which was nine miles away, and famous for its cold, clear mountain springs. Laodicea had no permanent water supply of its own and therefore piped their water in from both Hierapolis and Colossae. But by the time the water got to Laodicea it was neither hot or cold, but—you guessed it—lukewarm!

a. the spiritual condition of the believers at Laodicea was reminiscent of the city’s water—lukewarm

b. here was a congregation that had grown satisfied with who and what they were and that satisfaction led to indifference toward the community around them

1) as long as nothing bad was happening ...

2) as long as there were no financial difficulties ...

3) as long as the pastor hadn't said or done anything really stupid ...

b. their philosophy was "Let's maintain the status-quo."

2. this church looked at itself and thought "We have arrived" but Jesus looks at them and declares, “You are lukewarm and it makes me want to vomit”

a. lukewarm faith is faith that doesn’t affect the way you live

b. when Jesus looks at unzealous Christians, Christians without fervor, without ardor, without joy, without wonder in their walk, he doesn’t say, “I’m angry at you” He says, “You turn my stomach. You make me vomit. You gag me. You nauseate me”

c. that is not a place you want to be

B. BEHAVIORS THAT LEAD TO A LUKEWARM SPIRITUALITY

1. none of us sets out to be lukewarm in our faith—it just sort of happens

a. it’s a slow fade of the heart—backing off of some of the essentials of the Christian faith so that we might fit in better with the culture around us

b. so what are some of the signs of a lukewarm Christianity?

1) these things are not specifically found in this morning’s text, but I suspect that they help explain what was happening in the lives of believers at Laodicea

2. 1st, You’re Starting to Sound Critical

a. sometimes we don’t see it until someone else points out the cold hard truth about how negative, critical, and complaining we sound

1) when we are in a right relationship with God, reading His Word regularly, and surrounding ourselves with other believers, our faith will display mature characteristics such as gratitude and thankfulness

b. a critical spirit, however, is a spirit that assumes you’re entitled to more than life (or God) seems to be brining your way

3. 2nd, You No Longer Recognize Him Everywhere

a. you know your faith is alive and well when you can see evidence of God everywhere

1) when you can recognize blessings even in the bitterness

2) when you can praise Him, even in the pain, because you see His redemptive work in process

b. spiritual blinders keep us from seeing Christ at work in our lives, and will eventually lead to a lukewarm faith

4. 3rd, You Talk of Him less Around Others

a. Jesus, and worship and spiritual things are no longer topics you bring up with others—even other Christians

b. we begin telling others, “My faith is personal to me” which gives us an excuse never to talk about our faith

5. 4th, You Start Caring More about the World’s Opinion, than God’s

a. a sure way to grow lukewarm in your faith is when you start “blending in” with our culture and adopting its opinions and convictions—you become a “Christian incognito”

1) when we care more about what the world thinks than what God thinks, we’re on a downhill slide

b. God has an opinion about almost everything

1) what does God think about sex outside of the sanctity of marriage, about gender identity, pornography, oppression of the poor, materialism, pride, the love of money, abuse in any form, and victimization of children?

2) do we hate the things that God hates, and love the things that God loves?

6. 5th, You’ve Lost Your Interest or Desire for God’s Word

a. if you’ve lost your hunger, desire, or interest in God’s Word you will become a lukewarm Christian—it’s just a matter of time

7. 6th, You’re Okay Being Without a Community of Believers

a. it’s the most common assumption of our era—that Christians can grow and thrive spiritually without being connected to a local church

1) that’s a false assumption, and the biggest lie advanced by the Devil in our time

ILLUS. If some Christians missed a club event as much as they miss church, they’d be kicked out of the club. If some Christians missed a team practice as much as they miss church, they’d be kicked off of the team. If some Christian missed work, as much as they miss Church they’d be fired. If some Christians missed family events as often as they miss church, they’d be considered a “black-sheep” and ostracized from the family. Why is the church the only institution you can regularly not attend and still be considered a “member in good standing”?

8. 7th, You’re less Bothered by Sin

a. a right-standing relationship with God means you are sensitive to the things God is sensitive about

1) it means holiness is important to you, not an outdated topic

2) it means sin should still bother you—whether it’s in your life, in the lives of people you know or the events you see taking place or the talk you hear

b. losing our sensitivity toward sin means we are getting further from the heart of God and moving toward a lukewarm spirituality

C. CHARACTERISTICS OF LUKEWARM SPIRITUALITY

“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17, ESV)

1. once again, Jesus looks to characteristics of the community and contrasts the spiritual condition of the church to the economic condition of Laodicea

ILLUS. Laodicea was one of the most prosperous cities in the Roman province of Phrygia. It was the chief city of the region, and served in the capacity of what we would call a state capitol. It had a healthy agrarian economy due to the areas rich soil. It was a commercial center for banking, clothing manufacture—especially a famous black wool—and a medical school famous for it eye ointment.

2. in his criticism Jesus is being caustically ironic

a. in a city know for economic prosperity, the Church at Laodicea is called wretched—literally, the wretched ones and are to be pitied

b. in a city known for its banking wealth, the Church at Laodicea is called poor

c. in a city known for its healing eye salve, the Church at Laodicea is called blind, and

d. in a city known for its exquisite black wool garments, the Church at Laodicea is called naked

3. all of these characteristics were symptoms of a more serious condition: self-confidence

a. being lukewarm results from Christians assuming that as long as we satisfy the minimum requirement of Christianity like—”going to church regularly” (and we get to define regularly), or “being a good person” (and we get to define goodness), or by “being a charitable giver” (and we get to define charitable)—that our Lord is somehow satisfied with that minimal Christ-like behavior

1) it may fool the world, but it doesn’t fool our Lord, Jesus

b. Jesus says, “In spite of how well-clothed you are, in spite of how rich you are, in spite of how healthy you are, spiritually, before God, you are actually absolutely naked, absolutely poor, and absolutely blind”

1) there are some in the Church at Laodicea who need saving grace

a) some of the folks at Laodicea ain’t saved and they need to get saved

2) there are many in the Church at Laodicea who need sanctifying grace

b) most of these folks are lackadaisical about their faith and they need to get serious about their faith

... the Christ’s Criticism of the Church at Laodicea Is Harsh but Needed

III. THE CHRIST’S CORRECTION FOR THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” (Revelation 3:18, ESV)

1. for a church that claims we are rich and need nothing, Jesus tells them they need some really important things

A. 1st, THEY NEED TO BUY THE REFINED GOLD OF GOD

1. they need refined spiritual wealth, as contrasted with its counterfeit, in which Laodicea boasted

a. Jesus borrows language from the marketplace and alludes to an Old Testament passage from Isaiah 55:1: “Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost”

b. he’s appealing to people who thought they needed nothing, to come to him and purchase refined gold from him

2. according to 1 Peter 1:7, buying gold is synonymous with having faith which Peter says is actually worth more than gold

a. gold, Pater says, will perish, but genuine faith will not

B. 2nd, THEY NEED TO “PUT ON” WHITE CLOTHS TO COVER THEIR NAKEDNESS

ILLUS. Martin Kiddle, pastor of Christ Church in Oxford, England wrote in his commentary of Revelation, “The Christians in Laodicea were spiritually naked, [for] all the looms in their city could not weave cloth to cover their sins. Laodicea might supply the whole world with her tunics and clothing materials; but righteousness was the white raiment which God demanded, and this they must get from Christ.”

1. if the church is going to be relative in a secular society they must see Christ in us

2. everywhere in the Scriptures white cloths are symbols of acceptance by God and true righteousness that comes from a born-again relationship with Jesus Christ who covers our spiritual nakedness with his blood

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

a. the Apostle Paul told the Christians at Rome that they were to be “servants of righteousness”

3. this kind of righteousness does not happen over night in the believer’s life—it is literally a life-long process

ILLUS. Years ago I attended a computer conference for churches in Dallas, TX. One afternoon I struck up a conversation with a man who, it turned out, consulted with some of the largest U.S. companies about their quality control. One of the things he told me really surprised me. He said, "In quality control, we are not really concerned about the end product. We are concerned about the process. If the process is right, the product is guaranteed." I couldn’t help thinking how relevant that is to our Christianity. We tend to be more oriented to the "product" of our faith than the “process” or our faith. But it’s the process we need to be concentrating on.

3. when it comes to righteousness, process is everything!

a. am I regularly reading the Word of God; am I regularly praying in faith; am I regularly worshiping with a body of believers; am I regularly fellowshipping with other believers; am I regularly using my talents and spiritual gifts to minister to those around me?

C. 3rd, THEY NEED TO ANOINT THEIR EYES WITH SALVE SO THAT THEY CAN SEE

1. these Christians at Laodicea were living such secular lives that the community couldn’t tell the difference between a member of the First Christian Church of Laodicea and the First Pagan Tabernacle of Zeus!

a. too often, we become satisfied with our own spiritual condition

b. we loose sight of the really important things of the Christian faith such as faith, obedience, praise and worship and Christ-likeness

c. we settle instead for a life lived by rules and regulations that become a substitute for true spiritual vitality

2. the Laodicean believers were blinded by self-deception, unable to see with spiritual eyes

a. with the eye salve that Jesus provides, the Laodiceans would be able to see their own sins in the light of God’s Word and to walk with Jesus, who is the light of the world

... the Christ’s Correction for the Church at Laodicea Is Meant to Correct the Church Not Condemn the Church

IV. SOME LESSONS FROM THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA

1. the things Jesus says to this church are harsh

a. he says them, because he loves them and earnestly desire fellowship with them

"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:19-20, ESV)

2. what is some application you need to take home with you?

a. 1st, You Need to Look Deep Into Your Heart and Ask the Question, Have I Become a Lukewarm Christian?

1) if the answer is yes then repent and recommit your love to Jesus and the truth of the Gospel

b. 2nd, Jesus Knows the Intense Pressure You’re Facing That Might Turn You Away From Him

1) the believers John is writing to in the Book of Revelation were under intense pressure from Roman authorities to compromise their faith

2) John is writing to encourage them to “hang tough” and remain faithful

3) Christ’s Spirit will strengthen you and enable you

c. 3rd, Pray, Trust the Lord, and Walk in Faith

1) always remember that God is in control no matter how things may appear

CON. This is the first of the letters in which there’s nothing good to be said. There’s nothing affirmed. At no point does Jesus say, “You’re doing well.” Every single thing Jesus has to say about this church is negative, and as we’re going to see soon, scathingly so. Is there any hope for this church? The answer is yes. Jesus gives this church—and us—a prescription for spiritual wellness.