What Have We Become? 12

Check Your Temperature!

Text: Revelation 3:14-22

Introduction

Historical Facts:

Laodicea was a banking center, so wealthy that when the city was destroyed in A.D. 60 by an earthquake, it refused Roman aid. Gwyn Pugh, “Commentary on the Book of Revelation,” in 1, 2, 3 John & Revelation, ed. Robert E. Picirilli, First Edition., The Randall House Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Randall House, 2010), 199.

The wealthiest city of Phrygia, attributing its prosperity to the textile industry: the city was famous for the production of a unique, glossy-black, soft wool for clothing and carpets and for a certain highly desirable tunic (Ramsay 307). Gwyn Pugh, “Commentary on the Book of Revelation,” in 1, 2, 3 John & Revelation, ed. Robert E. Picirilli, First Edition., The Randall House Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Randall House, 2010), 199.

There was also a famous Phrygian powder used as an eye salve (Ramsay 309), manufactured in tablet-like form, suitable for export, probably produced in connection with Laodicea’s medical school (Hemer 179). Gwyn Pugh, “Commentary on the Book of Revelation,” in 1, 2, 3 John & Revelation, ed. Robert E. Picirilli, First Edition., The Randall House Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Randall House, 2010), 199.

Weaknesses of Laodicea:

Emperor worship.

A large Jewish presence characterized it’s heresy and worldliness.

Lack of adequate water supply!

It’s natural water supply was undrinkable.

Adequate water supply was miles away.

Hierapolis — six miles to the north, had hot water.

Colossae — south had cold water.

After the water supply traveled through a three stone pipe aqueduct, both would become tepid (lukewarm).

There was a discovering five miles south of Laodicea of an aqueduct of three stone pipes.

Heavy lime deposits which would have made the water nauseating.

1) Jesus’ Characteristics

Once again, Jesus prioritizes His divine authority.

“The Amen”

What Jesus said was valid and binding.

“The faithful and true witness”

The evidence of Calvary and the resurrection gives valid evidence to this claim being uniquely true to Jesus.

(slide) John 8:12–18 “12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. 14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. 15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.”

Jesus undoubtedly sets the norm for the discipleship of His children.

Jesus is to be trusted to reveal the “whole truth.” What Jesus says speaks to reality no matter the location; Heaven, Hell, or on earth.

Illustration: “Why is it that new Christians create problems in the church?” a young pastor once asked me. “They don’t create problems,” I replied. “They reveal them. The problems have always been there, but we’ve gotten used to them. New Christians are like children in the home: they tell the truth about things!” Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 579.

“The beginning of the creation of God”

The cultist have taken this to associate Jesus as “created.”

This phrase speaks to His preeminence of ranking over all creation.

(slide)Colossians 1:15–17 “15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

(slide)Hebrews 1:3 “3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

2) Jesus’ Commendation (Silence)

While despairing, not entirely hopeless!

3) Jesus’ Concern

“I know your works”

Christ is being impartial, accurate, exhaustive, and urgent.

Remember, Jesus is the “faithful and true witness.”

How did Jesus describe their works?

“Lukewarm” — “…neither cold nor hot…”

In one sense, cold and hot water are “useful.” So, Lukewarm would be to describe these people as being ineffective or useless.

We can also look at HOT to indicate spiritual life and living with a real zeal for God and COLD describing the unsaved or the person who makes an insincere profession.

LUKEWARM is in the middle somewhere.

Someone who’s new birth has weakened over time and has become unrecognizable.

They have become apathetic and passive towards God.

Illustration: We enjoy a beverage that is either hot or cold, but one that is tepid is flat and stale. That’s why the waitress keeps adding hot coffee or fresh iced tea to our cups and glasses. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 580.

This description made sense in their cultural context:

Remember the state of the water supply?

It would always be lukewarm and would everyone nauseated!

Jesus was saying, “At any moment I am about to vomit you out.”

This was a threat that was soon coming.

What is so dangerous about be “lukewarm?”

Knowledge — 1 Peter 2:2 “2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

Turn to: (slide)2 Peter 1:5–9 “5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

2 Peter 3:18 “18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Fruitful — (slide) John 15:4–6 “4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Maturity — (slide) Philippians 3:13–14 “13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

(v17) “Because thou sayest” — they say themselves a particular way.

(v17) “Knowest not” — severe ignorance of how Jesus saw them.

Turn to: (slide) Luke 12:18–21 “18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Matthew 6:19–21 “19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Philippians 3:19–20 “19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”

And to think, they were probably very proud of the ministry!

Replaced spiritual values with human standards.

4) Jesus’ Correction

God always has a perfect plan to renew His children! (v19) Comes from a heart of love!

Jesus gives a four steps process:

First — Get true spiritual wealth; “gold refined in the fire.”

Turn to Matthew 5:3–12 “3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

“buy” = seek; acquire

“buy white raiment”

They made some of the finest clothing.

HOWEVER…God saw them as having not a stitch of spiritual clothes.

Illustration: To see someone streaking through a public place is evidence to very bad decision making.

God did not want the fine “black wool.” He wanted them to have a “white spiritual raiment” on.

Revelation 19:8 “8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

Second — “anoint your eyes with eye salve”

There was a school of ophthalmology at Laodicea (Beale 306), and the region was famous for its production of “eye-salve” (Greek kollurion), identified as “Phrygian powder” (Worth 217) and used for various eye ailments: Gwyn Pugh, “Commentary on the Book of Revelation,” in 1, 2, 3 John & Revelation, ed. Robert E. Picirilli, First Edition., The Randall House Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Randall House, 2010), 203.

They prided themselves on their eye salve, yet the spiritual vision was extremely poor.

Third — “rebuke” (shame and conviction must be produced in the heart)

Fourth — “repent” (a definite change once and for all!)

If there is no change in behavior, there had been no real repentance!

5) Jesus’ Compensation

James 4:6 “6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

“Behold” — This is an announcement from Judge Jesus who still loves them!

The gift of restored fellowship will always be given to the repentive!

(v20) The context is not about being born again. It is for the backslidden believer!

Jesus wants back in fellowship with His church.

Imagine Jesus standing outside the door of this lukewarm church and knocking to be let back in.

Here are Jesus’ conditions to restoration of fellowship:

“Hearing His voice”

“opening the door”

Both of these are completely VOLUNTARY.

Jesus had invited them back to the same atmosphere of fellowship they would have with family and friends in the warmth of their own home.

Jesus extends a second compensation (future)

Who is seated at the right hand of God? JESUS!

To be “in Christ” classifies you as an overcomer!

Those who overcome the world will rule and reign with Him!

Conclusion

The letters to the seven churches are God’s X rays, given to us so that we might examine our own lives and ministries. Judgment is going to come to this world, but it first begins at God’s house Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 581.

1 Peter 4:17 “17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

I would invite every church member to comes pray that we will have ears to hear what Jesus is saying to this church!