The Church of the Laodiceans
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The Church that made the Lord sick
The Church of the Laodiceans
The Church that made the Lord sick
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore 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 dine with him, and he with Me.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
These 7 letters were to 7 churches that excited in that day. It for churches today to see where they are at. It is for believers today to see where we are at. So what you and I have to do is see which one is us, and what are we going to do?
So far in the churches we have studied a few of them have been good, but most of them have had some serious problems. This church had gotten far away from the Lord that it made him sick.
Intro: Being sick is no fun. Sometimes it’s something that you eat, something that just doesn’t agree with you. When something gets into your stomach that isn’t right it comes back up.
Well the things that were going on the Church at Laodicea didn’t set right with the Lord. To the point that he said I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Intro: VS 14
Revelation 3:14 (NKJV)
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
Notice to letter is to the church of the Laodiceans. In the other letters it was addressed to the church of, or the church in. Here Christ calls it the church of the Laodiceans. In others words it wasn’t His church it was theirs.
These things says the Amen
The word Amen here means “So be it” In others God said it that settles it. The matter can’t be changed, so be it. It’s the affirmation of the truth of a statement. Like when Jesus would say, Verily, verily I say unto you……. He was making a guarantee.
The faithful and true witness
The Lord is the faithful and true witness. But the church of the Laodicean’s were not faithful to him, and they had nothing to do with his true witness.
The beginning of the creation of God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
I. The Problem VS 15-17
I. The Problem VS 15-17
VS 15
Revelation 3:15 (NKJV)
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
I know your works. He knows your works, he knows your heart, and he knows your intentions.
He knew the works of the Laodiceans.
that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot
This church had come to the point where they just didn’t care anymore. We should never get that way. (People being saved) (Baptisms)
Nothing moved them.
If the preaching was hot and passionate great, but if not that was ok too.
If people got saved that was great, but if not they didn’t care.
They might like to see growth in their church, but they weren’t going to put themselves out to do anything about it.
This was a church that did not represent Jesus. Jesus was a man of passion, the disciples were men of passion, and Paul was a man of passion. That passion and fire showed in their life’s’ and their ministry.
That is what the Lord wants in churches today, that is what he wants in the lives of believers today.
Fired up Christians. Willing to do, willing to go to reach the lost. If you’re not going to be fired up (hot) then he would rather you just be cold. (Give your all or go home)
What does it mean to be cold? Totally cold to the things of Christ. Unconcerned, unresponsive.
The Lord did have a desire for the church. Be hot or cold. But they had a problem. They were nether they were lukewarm.
VS 16
Revelation 3:16 (NKJV)
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
The Lord tells of his discuss with this church. They were lukewarm. Luke warm means: Tepid. This means a lack of force or enthusiasm.
If we’re not careful we can become this way. Elab what can this. Look at what the Lord thinks about being lukewarm.
I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Revelation 3:17 (NKJV)
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
VS 17a
Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’
The problem with this church was perception. When the people of the church of Laodicea looked at themselves they saw themselves as the perfect church.
They were wealthy, they were powerful, and they had all they needed. They had the attitude we have arrived. But the truth was they were apathetic, indifferent, and unmoved.
VS17b
and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
“Wretched” Means vile, and sinful. Rom 7:24 “Oh wretched man that I am’
“Miserable” Means pitiful. They deserved pity not praise. They were a sad mockery of the truth.
“Poor” The word poor here beggar. In the Greek language it is the most extreme poverty. They claimed to be rich and fashionable, but they were poor beggars.
Blind, naked.
Spiritual blind, they could not see how shameful they has become.
Even for a church like this there is hope, if they do as the Lord tells them. He will tell them exactly where they can find what they need.
II. The Perception. VS 18-19
II. The Perception. VS 18-19
Revelation 3:18 (NKJV)
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
VS 18a
“I counsel you” To give advice.
to buy from Me gold refined in the fire
In the Bible, gold often symbolizes divine righteousness which only comes from Christ. Man can not establish his righteousness before God.
The only thing that allows us to be right before God is when he gives us righteousness that only comes though Jesus Christ.
When we receive Christ God imputes righteousness to us. Rom 3:22
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
With all their money there was one thing their money could not buy, righteousness. Righteousness has been paid for.
VS18b
and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed;
White garments Symbol of purity. Referring to something that is real, something that is true.
The Laodicea’s had gotten so far from the Lord, they acted like the world.
They should have been shamed for their ways. They needed to be clothed with the righteousness of Lord. Their sin had become a shame. They should have been shamed.
VS 18c
and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see
Eyesalve: To cake. Meaning of plaster.
It was used to the treatment of eyes.
Worldliness always clouds spiritual vision; lack of spiritual vision is serious .
Prov 29:18 “Where there is no vision the people perish”
He told them they were blind because they had lost their vision.
He wanted them to return to him and he would give them true riches.
He wanted them to return to him and he would clothe them with spiritual garments.
He wanted them to return to him and he would restore their spiritual sight.
In VS 19 we see why and how.
VS 19
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
“As many as I love”
He loved them dearly, he loved them tenderly. Even though they did make him sick.
How does the Lord show his love to those that have gone astray?
“I rebuke, and chasten”
Rebuke, chastisement is a sign of real love. Sin in the life of a believer causes God pain. Here it was more them pain it was sickness.
“be zealous therefore, and repent”
There needed to have a burning zeal, a real desire to repent. The last thing a sinner wants to do is repent. You have a true desire to repent.
False repentance: Some people repent only because they get caught, they are sorry because they got caught. Things go wrong they turn to God, but as soon as things get better, its good bye God.
True repentance: II Corinthians 7:9-10
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Read and Elab
God was calling the church of the Loadiceans to true repentance.
He still loved them. Because he loved them he chastised them. They needed to repent.
III. The Promise. VS 20-22
VS 20
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 dine with him, and he with Me.
A present promise: He stands at the door and knocks. He wants get this church back. He continues to knock.
A personal promise: Jesus didn’t need the whole church to open the door. “even if any man open the door, I will sup with him and him with me”
The word sup has a meaning of fellowship. You cannot have fellowship with the Lord with sin in your life. Repent.
VS 21
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Overcomer. He that overcometh luke warmness.
Sitting at the throne with Christ. Because you are an overcomer.
VS 22
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”