Untitled Sermon (5)

A couple of months ago, John asked me if I could fill in for him this Sunday.  When he called, I didn’t have a passage of Scripture or topic lined up but I wasn’t concerned because October 26 was a long way away.  Two days later, Charlie Kirk was martyred. 

Initially there were reports that he was shot then taken to the hospital in critical condition.  Eager to figure out what was going on, I jumped online and quickly saw the close up video of his death.  I’ll never watch that video again.  I was rattled not so much by the graphic video itself but by the fact that he was assassinated in such a public and obviously politically motivated way. 

As the hours and then the days went by, I realized that I was impacted quite significantly by his death.  Much more so than I would have thought.  It took me several days to realize why: Charlie Kirk wasn’t really assassinated for his political beliefs; he was martyred for his Christian faith. 

And I had heard Charlie speak enough to know that he and I were coming from the same place in terms of thinking about political and cultural issues from a Biblical worldview.  I knew that the starting point for all of Charlie’s beliefs was the Bible and a genuine, sincere faith in the completed and perfect work of Jesus Christ. 

That’s when it hit me: if the spirit of this age would kill Charlie for his beliefs, and I believe the same things as Charlie, then why wouldn’t that same spirit of the age kill me?  The math on this isn’t hard: if A equal B and B equals C, then A also equals C. 

But are the stakes really that high?  Was he really killed for his Christian faith or am I making too much of his death because I want to claim him as a martyr?  After all, he wasn’t a pastor; he wasn’t a seminary professor; he wasn’t the head of some large evangelical organization.  If the target was Christianity, wouldn’t someone like that have been killed instead?  If the target were Christianity, wouldn’t the scene of the crime have been a church instead of a college campus?

I’m convinced that Charlie was the prime target because he was taking the fight that matters to the enemy in a way that the American and western church, by and large, is not.

I’ve had several weeks to choose my words carefully and prayerfully.  I stand before you today convinced of this proposition:  Charlie Kirk demonstrated on college campuses more evangelistic zeal for the gospel and defended the truth claims of the Bible more effectively and more passionately than most churches do from the pulpit.  And that’s why the enemy took him out.   He was strong and uncompromising whereas so many of our churches in the west are weak and accommodating to comfort and culture.

You may say, well how can you say that?  You’re painting with a pretty broad brush.  Have you surveyed all the churches in America or for that matter the west?   You sound too judgmental and dramatic. 

Maybe. 

But I don’t think so because I have eyes to see and ears to hear what the spirit says to the churches.  Or put differently, I believe Jesus, the supreme author and finisher of our faith, has told us how the church is doing in these last days and it’s not good.  He’s already taken our temperature and we need only look to his precious word to see where we’ve gone astray.  All this to say that in the days after Charlie’s departure, I do believe the Lord laid this passage of Scripture on my heart for today’s sermon.  So please turn with me to Revelation 3:14 and let’s consider our Lord’s letter to the church at Laodicea.     

But before we read it, let me just note a few things by way of background.  The apostle John is writing Revelation at the end of his life, most likely in the early to mid 90s AD.  He’s been exiled on the island of Patmos for being a witness for Christ.  And it’s during this exile that he experiences a series of visions that comprise this book. 

In chapters 2 and 3, John records seven letters from the resurrected and enthroned Christ to seven different churches in Asia minor (modern Turkey).  The first letter was written to the church at Ephesus, and the last letter—which is our text this morning—was written to the church at Laodicea.  These letters function as a unified whole in light of the structural pattern they all follow:  They all begin with a direct address, followed by a self-description by Christ, followed by a unique message to each church consisting to some degree of a commendation and a warning, followed by promise to the ones who overcome and then ending with an exhortation. 

When we read these letters, there are three things we must understand:

1) They are written to specific assemblies in the late first century.  Christ is calling out what’s uniquely praiseworthy and lamentable in these churches at that point in time, a generation after the ministry of the apostle Paul. Think report card.

2) These letters are symbolically representative of the entire church throughout church history.  I say that for three reasons:

a. Their similar structure suggests they are to be considered as a whole

b. The exhortation:  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Is found in all seven letters.  And churches is plural each time, not singular, demonstrating a wider audience than just that particular church.

c. There are seven letters, the number of completion and a very important number in the book of Revelation.

3) When you read these letters, you can’t help but notice a progression.  For example, the first letter written to Ephesus reads as though all the members of that church are genuine believers.  By the time you get to the last letter to Laodicea, as we’ll see, there are almost no genuine believers left in the church, and there is no question that Jesus reserves his harshest assessment for this church—it’s the only one of the seven that Jesus doesn’t have at least something good to say.  While there’s a wide range of views on this subject, I believe that the order of these letters seem to be divinely selected to depict the overall movement of the church throughout its history.  All this to say, there is likely a prophetical component to these letters, meaning that the last letter to Laodicea, is depicting the church in its final days before the return of Christ. 

With that foundation, let’s read together with reverence and attention Christ’s letter to the church in Laodicea: Rev. 3:14-22. 

14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

15 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; 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 will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down 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.'"

May God bless the reading of His word.

Verse 14

This letter begins like the other letters by addressing the messenger of the church.  Most translations use the word “angel” but the Greek word simply means messenger and is likely referring to the pastor or representative of the church.

Now let’s consider some background on Laodicea.  This is the “history lesson” part of the sermon.  But pay close attention because perhaps more than the other 6 letters, Laodicea’s historical context helps us understand the letter. 

Notes about the city itself:

· It was located in the Lycus Valley in modern day Turkey.   This valley was one of the most frequently traveled routes from the interior to the west because of the ease of travel. 

· It lacked a water source sufficient for the size of the city.  Water had to be imported via aqueducts.  This is important. 

· It sat at the cross-roads of trade, thus making it an important commercial and financial center.  Laodicea was rich, very rich.

· It was known for its sheep that produced a very fine black wool that was manufactured into clothing and highly prized.

· It was a pharmaceutical hub—well known for its compound medicines for treating ailments, especially of the eye.  They had an eye ointment they either manufactured or distributed. 

· Commerce, manufacturing and medicine (big pharma) combined to make Laodicea a very wealthy city, despite the fact that they had to import their water.

· Earthquake in AD 60 destroyed the city.  The city was rebuilt without financial assistance from Rome as its citizens were able to contribute significantly to the rebuilding efforts.

With that background, let’s go back to verse 14.  Christ introduces himself with three titles:

• The Amen

• Only time in the NT “The Amen” is used as the personal name of Christ. 

• The Greek word is a transliteration of the Hebrew word “amen” which means to be firm.   In Greek it means verity or truly. 

• “The Hebrew source word signifies what is “fixed,” “true,” or “unchangeable.”

• Is. 65:16 Whoever pronounces a blessing in the earth will do so in the name of the faithful God; whoever makes an oath in the earth will do so in the name of the faithful God. For past problems will be forgotten; I will no longer think about them.

• You may have a translation that reads God of truth. 

• Faithful God, God of truth—that’s the word Jesus is alluding to here.  Interestingly, in the very next verse in Isaiah 65, the Lord says: 17 For look, I am ready to create new heavens and a new earth!”  This could be a very subtle indication that the letter to Laodicea personifies the church in its final stage.

• One writer says this: “The concept of [ho] Amen is credibility, the certainty that all this person says will be accomplished.”

• In short, Jesus is the one who personifies truth and in whom all promises are fulfilled.

• Faithful and True Witness

• Faithful: expresses Christ’s entire trustworthiness as a witness.

• Witness is the word “martys”—where we get our word martyr. 

• John is the only writer in the NT to use this term for Christ. 

• Christ is described as the faithful witness five other times in Revelation.  It’s use in verse 14 is probably best understood as comprehensive—it covers Christ’s reliability as a witness to every divine revelation.

• The Beginning of the Creation of God

• Christ’s use of this title suggests that the Laodicean church had fallen to the same false teaching that prompted Paul to write Colossians—the idea that Christ was reduced to the level of different mediating powers that refereed creation.   Christ is making the point that He’s supreme and unique.

• “Among professing Christians whose devotion to Christ is lax or even nonexistent, one reaction of self-justification is to downgrade the Person of Christ by rationalizing that He is not so exceptional.  Christ’s choice of this title hints that such may have been happening.”

• These titles prepare the way for the pointed and severe criticisms of the Lord.

Verses 15-16

15 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

• “I Know” depicts intimate and complete knowledge.  This statement is sobering enough without even getting to His assessment of their deeds.  I know your deeds.  It’s a sharp, direct punch in the stomach.  I’m the faithful, true witness who by the way created the universe.  I know your deeds.  You may deceive others, you may even deceive yourself, but you can’t run from Christ—he knows your deeds inside and out. 

• And in the case of the Laodicians, His assessment was arresting.  In His prior letters, He precedes His bad news for the church with good—He leads with what he commends them for.  In this letter, there is no commendation—He launches straight into the rebuke, which is the harshest of the seven.  They were neither cold nor hot.

• Hot:  Zestos.  Derived from zeo—to boil.  Think fervent. 

• Hot describes a person with a healthy spiritual zeal; genuine spiritual fervor that leaves no question as to their faith in Christ.

• Cold:  Describing an unbeliever who has rejected the gospel openly and aggressively. 

• Spurgeon: “They are neither hot for the truth, nor hot for conversions, nor hot for holiness, they are not fiery enough to burn the stubble of sin, nor zealous enough to make Satan angry, nor fervent enough to make a living sacrifice of themselves upon the altar of their God. They are “neither cold nor hot.”

• “I wish…”  tinged with regret.  “It is an expression of a holy impatience over the half and half position of this people in regard to spiritual issues.”

• “Lukewarm” Only time used in NT.

• The historical background helps us understand the Lord’s use of this metaphor.  Remember I said Laodicea had no natural source for water?  Neighboring Hierapolis was famous for its hot springs, which were therapeutic and beneficial to people.  Colossi was also nearby and it was known for its mountain brook which brought cold, refreshing water.  By the time water made its way to Laodicea via aqueducts and pipes, it was lukewarm in temperature and dirty. 

• Christ is drawing on Laodicea’s water supply to frame his assessment of their spiritual condition, which was horrific.  These were “Christians” in name only. And any true believers in the church were so small in number Christ doesn’t even mention them, presumably because they had no influence over the church.  This, by the way, tells you that the leadership of the church was unquestionably apostate.  Claiming the veneers of Christianity, but embracing the world.    

• “So despicable did Christ find lukewarmness that He preferred to deal with an obstinate opponent of the gospel, recognizing the greater possibility of finding fertile soil for the message here than with a lukewarm, professing Christian.  Anything is better than lukewarmness.” 

• Like so much of the professing church today, this church had the outward appearance of Christianity, but no inward reality.  It was lukewarm.

• “There is something about lukewarmness that is utterly obnoxious to God.”

• Spurgeon:  “They were not infidels, yet they were not earnest believers. They did not oppose the Gospel, neither did they defend it. They were not working mischief, neither were they doing any great good. They were not disreputable in moral character, but they were not distinguished for holiness. They were not irreligious, but they were not enthusiastic in piety nor eminent for zeal. They were what the world calls “Moderates,” they were of the Broad-church school—they were neither bigots nor Puritans, they were prudent and avoided fanaticism, respectable and averse to excitement.”

• No specific sins are identified in this letter.  But being lukewarm—or “half heartedly indifferent to the things of Christ”—is sufficient sin to make a church intolerable to God. 

• Spurgeon:  “The world is always at peace with a lukewarm church, and such a church is always pleased with itself.”

• Let us not deceive ourselves—the American church, by and large is lukewarm and, at least until recently, has been trending in that direction.  The church’s worldliness, cultural accommodation and a disregard for the binding authority of God’s word have so dishonored Christ that we are either on the cusp revival if God in His grace permits it or profound judgement and persecution if His patience has run out.  I pray it’s the former, but there is no question we deserve the latter.  Consider this:

• According to 2024 polling:

• Only 4-6% of U.S. adults, including evangelicals, hold a biblical worldview (two different polls)

• 62% of evangelicals believe society should accept homosexuality, up from 44% in 2014

• 36% view gay/lesbian relations as morally acceptable (up from 14% in 2001)

• only 29% of evangelicals consistently apply biblical ethics to daily decisions

• What’s Christ’s response to a church typified by 2025 America?  Verse 16 says Christ wants to “spit [the Laodiceans] out of his mouth.”  The Greek is more explicit than our English translations.  Christ is saying he wants to vomit them out of his mouth.  A lukewarm, church disgusts Him so much it makes Him sick to the point of vomiting. 

Verse 17

Because of their comfort and spiritual complacency, Christ identifies another problem in this church:  they are completely unaware of their spiritual condition.

17 Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not knowthat you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,

• Lukewarmness and comfort and pride in material wealth naturally go hand in hand.  Their material wealth had rendered them spiritually numb, ineffective and hypocritical—which is utterly toxic to God. 

• Do I even need to remind us how wealthy and comfortable we are in the modern West? 

• Jesus uses five words to describe the spiritual condition of Laodicea in light of their materialism: 

• “wretched” – same word Paul uses in Romans 7 (Wretched man that I am).  Miserable.  Afflicted.

• “pitiable”—to be pitied, miserable.  Used in I Cor 15:19:  For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.”

• “poor”—materially rich, but spiritually poor. 

• “blind”—also spiritually blind.

• “The Laodiceans are typical of the modern world, which revels in that which the natural eye can see but is untouched by the gospel and does not see beyond the material world to the unseen and real eternal spiritual riches.”

• “naked”—they are stripped of spiritual clothing—which is the righteousness that comes from God. 

• Together, these words clearly are describing an unconverted church. 

Verse 18

18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

• Christ could have simply told them to repent, but he hits them where it hurts—His proposed remedy to their disgusting spiritual condition is couched in language that directly refers to those material conditions that have enriched them—don’t go to your marketplace for gold, clothing or medicine, but come to me—you don’t need this things, you need me!  You may think you’re rich from your commerce, black wool and pharmaceutical industry—but that’s not what you need.  You need spiritual refinement and riches (gold), righteousness (white garments) and spiritual insight (eye salve).

• Notice too how Christ almost ironically is telling them to buy from Him that which is free.

• Romans 3—we’ve been justified freely by His grace.

• Romans 5 describes salvation as a free gift

• Ephesians 2:8-9  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Verse 19

19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

We now have an abrupt change in tone.  Christ moves from judgement to encouragement. 

• “love” – not agape, but phileo, noting affection, in this context, affection that prompts discipline.

• “The word is probably chosen here to show that in spite of the church’s poor attitude toward Him, He still has tender and affectionate feelings toward it.  The surprising choice of this emotional word comes as a touching and unexpected manifestation of love toward those who deserve it least among the seven churches.”

• “reprove” –expose, convict or punish.

• “discipline” –word used to train a child.

• “zealous” (Zeloo)—to burn with zeal; to desire earnestly, pursue.  In context, be boiling hot with devotion to Christ. 

• Christ is saying: Be zealous in your repenting. 

• I like how one writer helps us understand this verse in an expanded paraphrase:

• “Let my strong criticisms of you open your eyes at once to the need of repentance and also to the fact that it is really love on My part that prompts Me to reprove and chastise you.  A realization of My loving concern, as well as your own desperate condition, should bring a resolute change of purpose and kindle within you a warm fervor of devotion that will dispense with lukewarmness.”

Verse 20

In verse 20, Christ’s encouragement continues.

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 will dine with him, and he with Me.

• This verse is often used in the context of individual salvation—Christ is standing at the door of your hear knocking, waiting for you to open it.  That’s not a fair use of this verse.  Christ is not knocking on the door of an individual’s heart, but knocking on the door of the church as a whole—it helps us visualize the fact that Christ is not a part of this church.  He’s outside the church.

• There’s also a likely eschatological meaning to this verse.  Christ standing at the door knocking is depicting the imminency of his coming.

• Matthew 24: 33 So also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the door.

• This view is further supported by Christ’s self-invitation to dine with the church, which, prophetically calls to mind the marriage supper of the lamb.  More practically, it demonstrates the Lord’s desire for fellowship with those He came to save.

Verse 21

21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

You see something of the grace and goodness of our Lord in just the mere fact that he even offers a promised blessing to his church despite their reprehensible condition.  To the one that overcomes—that is to the one who perseveres in the faith as a genuine follower of Christ—Christ offers that person a portion of his sovereign rule on his throne.  Christ is currently ruling at the right hand of the Father’s throne in heaven; but when he returns to earth, he will assume his rightful place on the Davidic throne and rule over the nations during the millennial kingdom as we read in Rev 20.  Here, Christ promises his church a delegated share of that rule during and over His kingdom. 

Verse 22

22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

Christ concludes this letter as he does the other six with an exhortation to all believers to heed his words.  Notice that churches is plural, emphasizing that all seven letters are intended for the instruction, rebuke and encouragement of all churches throughout history.  Put differently, while this letter was immediately intended for the church at Laodicea it was also written to Grace Bible Church. 

So, Grace Bible Church, let’s consider some application.

Being lukewarm is a direct insult to Jesus.   “yeah, I believe Jesus died for my sins and all that but I don’t think it’s important enough to change what I want to do.”  Would you ever say to someone, “I’ve got kids and love them, sure; but I never do anything for them.”  That’s madness and frankly sociopathic.  Are we living in such a way that dishonors God like that? 

Examine and judge yourself.  Take your temperature before the Lord takes it and declares you so tepid that he would spit you out. 

Comfort and contentment are mortal threats to our soul.  Spurgeon: “Self complacency is the death of repentance.”

Grace is the antidote for lukewarmness—for he who is rich in grace will be on fire for Christ.  This grace—the spiritual gold, white garments and restored vision we need is knocking at the door if we only buy it free of charge from Christ.

Take heart in the discipline of the Lord.  It’s a mark of His love and the security a believer has as one of Christ’s purchased possessions.  But be quick to recognize discipline when it comes and repent zealously. 

We should never stop repenting.  Not just a message for the lukewarm church—in 5 of the 7 letters Christ tells the church to repent, suggesting that more times than not, a church will have something to repent of.

There must be feeling within the congregation and an earnestness in the pastor and other leaders to engage in the ministry of Christ.

That said, let’s remember that the world would sooner judge this church not so much by what’s said from the pulpit, but by the testimony of those in the pew.  And if our profession is lukewarm, we have dishonored God and neutered our testimony. A lukewarm church is not a witness for Christ. 

If you attend church week after week and are not convicted of sin, humbled by the holiness of God, and stirred up to good works, then there’s a major problem either with your church or with you. 

The devil need not divide our church or destroy it—he is delighted merely to see us complacent and comfortable—stagnant if you will.  Because a stagnant church lulled to sleep by comforts of the world is no threat to the gates of hell. 

Christ stands at the door of the church knocking.  What does that knocking sound like?  How do we recognize it?  He knocks with earnest sermons, chance encounters that aren’t by chance, seared and restless consciences, and the convicting work of His Holy Spirit.  He uses all these means and many others to stir up his church, to bring it to a fervent boil, so to speak. 

While Christ knocks on the door of the church, the text says that any man may open.  This is the same point that Bill made Wednesday night:  revival within Grace Bible Church and beyond begins individually with each one of us.  Let us each examine ourselves.  Let us each repent where we must and, again, do so zealously.  Let us open the door to communion with Christ.  For if we don’t fear the Lord and seek him, if we don’t relinquish the high places in our hearts and follow Him, we can only at best be lukewarm and that’s a wretched, pitiful place to be.  It makes our Lord sick. 

Let us take to heart the danger of becoming lukewarm.  Let me make this very concrete.

Christians have been effectively bullied into silence on the issue of creation.  The world has mindlessly clung to Darwinian evolution since the 1850s, despite all the scientific discoveries over the last 170 years that scream out there’s a creator.  But we will be ruthlessly stigmatized as backwards and anti-science if we don’t believe DNA randomly appeared and started self-replicating to the point that fish transformed into humans.  It’s madness, but ask yourself, have you ever been bullied by the culture into silence on that issue? 

Consider the issue of abortion.  Christians in our culture have been effectively bullied into silence on that issue as well.  The world will blast you for being sexist and opposed to women’s health care if you voice even mild opposition to the murder of babies.  It’s madness, but ask yourself, have you ever been bullied by the culture into silence on that issue?

Consider the issue of sexuality.  Our culture is now doing its best to mainstream the notion that men can become women.  It’s deranged, sociopathic insanity.  But it’s accepted dogma in much of our media, education, corporate board rooms and half of our political leadership.  Maybe, just maybe, you haven’t yet been bullied into silence on transgenderism.  But what about gay marriage?  Has the culture bullied you into silence on that issue? 

My point is, that if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ve probably compromised our testimony by our silence on these issues at some point.  That’s our flesh responding to the spirit of the age’s attempt to lower our spiritual temperature one cultural engagement at a time so that we don’t even realize we’re becoming lukewarm.  We’re like the frog in the pot of water, except in our case, the temperature is going down, not up.  

Have any of you seen those meme’s online:  how it started…how it’s going?

In the letter to Laodecia, we have Christ’s final words to His church.  He’s addressing a toxic group of people that have become so indistinguishable from the surrounding culture that it makes Christ sick to his stomach. 

But at the beginning of this service, Steve read from the beginning of Christ’s first sermon when He launched His public ministry.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people! 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

Sadly, the church has fallen far from Christ’s initial marching orders.  He wants us to hunger and thirst for righteousness.  He wants us to be meek—not weak, but meek—meaning we live a life of spiritual power and zeal that is submitted to the authority of God’s word.  We are to flavor our culture with the salt of the Gospel; and our testimony is to be bright and radiant, illuminating and distinguished from the darkness of our culture. 

We cannot be meek, righteous, salt and light if we are lukewarm—if our faith is tepid.  We must be boiling over with a courageous and fervent heat for Christ and His gospel.  And the culture’s got to see it and feel it.  Here’s the bottom line:   Silence, moderation, and worldly contentment are revolting to our Savior and incompatible with being His follower. 

I’ll end with this exhortation from Spurgeon: “If our views are not in accordance with God’s Word, let us abandon them, but if they are in harmony with our Lord’s teaching, let us not hold our tongues concerning them. We have had too much of this guilty silence, let us boldly proclaim the whole truth…Bring on the clash of arms once again, and let Thy church win the victory! Give the victory to the right and the true, and let all error be trampled underfoot! So be it, O Lord, and unto Thy name be all the glory! Amen.”