Laodicea

Opener

William Randolph Hearst was a very wealthy newspaper publisher who had an incredible art collection. Yet he was always wanting more. On one occasion he learned of some artwork that he was determined to obtain and sent his agent abroad to search for the treasure. After months of investigating, the agent reported that the treasure had been found and it wouldn’t cost him a dime. Because he already owned it. They found it in Hearst’s warehouse with many other pieces of art that had never been uncrated.

Michael green makes this comment about the matter, “The desire for acquiring more can blind us from what we already possess.”

And this in the most simple terms is the story of Laodicea. So how can we, as Christians, guard from this? How can we not miss the most valuable treasure in the world for passing pleasure and fleeting wealth?

Point 1: Self-sufficiency will leave you spiritually bankrupt.

Revelation 3:14–22 NASB95

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.’ ”

Historical Explanation of what it means to be “lukewarm”

“15b 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”

This passage is a great exercise in Biblical hermeneutics. Hermeneutics is fancy word for the proper study of Scripture. To properly interpret it you must understand what it meant to its original audience. Once you understand what it meant to its original audience and you understand what it means in its literary context (we don’t have time to get into that) you can then cross the “principlizing bridge” and apply it to today.

What it doesn’t mean

I have heard many times this passage used to say I wish you were “hot” as in “spiritually on fire”, fervent zealous, and so forth or “cold” meaning spiritually dead or asleep, but because you are kind of in between… your lukewarm… maybe a half hearted Christian I will spew you from my mouth. One would go on commonly to say something like you see if they were “cold” at least they could be honest with themselves and maybe get some help. Whereas the Lukewarm person thinks there okay.

BUT that is not what the passage is saying. Not at all. If I can make this land with each and everyone of you and each and everyone of you will never use this passage to teach God would prefer you to be cold vs lukewarm we will have achieved Bible Study milestone today.

History of Water around Hierapolis, Collasai, and Laodicea

Hierapolis a handful miles north of Laodicea had hot springs. The hot water was useful for washing in. Everyone knows this. Hot water is better for cleaning.

Colassai, 10 miles to the east from Laodicea, had natural cold water. You know what cold water is good for? Drinking.

Laodicea, Leon Morris notes, was one of the “richest commercial centers in the world”. The Ancient Roman Historian Tacitus cloud say that after an earth quake destroyed the city in AD60, “[Laodicea] without any relief from us, recovered itself by its own resources’.” But guess what they didn’t have, cold water. Nor hot water. You know what they had they had this water from an aqueduct that traveled 5 miles and by the time it got to them it was lukewarm. And this rich city hated it and complained about. It was a known thing that the Lukewarm water in Laodicea was bad.

That’s still true in our day. Some cities have poor water supplies. And its a known thing. And what do people do? They complain!

Coffee and Tea example

Let me put this to you another way. You can go to any coffee shop and get hot coffee or iced coffee. Hot tea or iced tea. You know what they don’t sell. You know what I have never seen on a menu? Lukewarm coffee?

So what is Jesus saying here? He is saying that I wish you were hot or cold.... I wish that you were useful to me? But you are not. You are like lukewarm water. I will spew it from my mouth.

Take A Step Back - Rebuking Laodicea

They had mighty banking and manufacturing industry. The city that pulled itself up by its bootstraps after an earth quake and rebuilt itself. They were self sefficiant! But Jesus says, “I know your deeds, that YOU are neither hot nor cold.” In other words they were not doing what they were called to do. It wasn’t that they were half-hearted, or spiritually mild, they were entirely spiritually bankrupt! That is why Jesus could say this in verse 17:

Revelation 3:17 NASB95

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,

He is not saying something different when he called them lukewarm in verse 16 and then “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked” in verse 17. He is saying the exact same thing!

Friends the last church on this list is a dosey! This is the only church where there is nothing positive said about them and it is the entire church that is error. Ephesus it was entire church in error but they had also done some thing well. Smyrna and Philadelphia had nothing to repent from they were just encouraged to hold fast. Pergamum, Thyatira, and Sardis has remnants who had not compromised though some of those churches had. Laodicea is the only one that was collectively entirely in error!

What was their mistake? What was their error? How can we avoid being like Laodicea?

In someways the American church, which we are no exception, have a lot in common with Laodicea. America has the strongest economy in human history. The Church in America as a whole is wealthy. Now I am not saying we or anyone here has gone the way of Laodicea.... but just hang with me hear. That if nothing else should be able to identify with the spiritual dangerous they had become complacent with and then complicit in.

Desire to get rich

1 Timothy 6:9–10 NASB95

9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation”. Now it doesn’t say it is a sin to “be rich”. But the desire to get rich? Is very dangerous. And that doesn’t mean that you are rich you can be poor and have that desire and be rich and have the desire for more. Wealthy Laodicea had fallen into spiritual bankruptcy.

Listen to Revelation 3:17 again

Revelation 3:17 NASB95

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,

Jesus says this in Matthew

Matthew 6:24 NASB95

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

What is the Danger of Wealth?

Again I am not saying it is a sin to be wealthy. The Scriptures don’t say that, but if you are ignorant of its lures you likely already have the hook in your mouth.

So what is the danger of wealth. Wealth can be worshipped. It can easily become a god to you. Love of this present world is a religion. Just because it doesn’t have an idol, a place of worship with stained glass windows, or people arrayed in spiritual garb doesn’t mean it’s not.

Secular

We have this word we like to use in Western culture. We use it in regard to entertainment, activities, and even politics. It is called “secular.” The word means, “denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis.” So we segment it out. Be careful! With that word, even that definition I just read you, there is a worldview behind. There is a spirit behind it. And you better believe people can worship the secular. They can worship wealth. They can worship the things of this present world. In fact this present fallen world is constantly at work luring weary travelers to rest a while, then to eat drink and be marry, and pretty soon your belly will be full and you will have forgotten about God and your neighbor in need.

I see Christians all the time giving the secular a free pass when it comes to politics. Not understanding political matters are spiritual matters. I see Christians think that, in the political sphere, throwing money at things will solve our problems. I see Christians show a faith in government to solve our problems that human being should be placing upon another creature or an institution created by man. How did that mindset work out for Laodicea? Not well. It produced spiritual bankrupcy.

I see others who in the political guard against the excess growth of power and wealth putting put into the hands of sinful men yet then in their personal whole heartedly and without reservation pursue the desire to be rich and lose sight of God and neighbor. What they guarded against outside their home they did not guard against in their own hearts!

We must not fall in Love with this present world

We as Christians must not fall in love with this present world! Demas, one of Paul’s coworkers, is said to have deserted him in 2 Timothy 4:10, having loved this present world.

The Bible tells us to not love the world nor the things of the world in 1 John 2. In contrast to that is the one who does the will of God. Much like Laodicea their deeds were lukewarm, useless.

I see two things in the Laodicean Church that either are symptoms or catalyst to this problem.

Self Sufficency

One was self sufficiency. Verse 17, “I am rich… and have need of nothing.” Really? Have need of nothing? Was Christ wasting his time dying for you? A Christian is one by definition sees their spiritual poverty. They see Jesus as the only solution to it! They see the things of this world to be stewarded and even at times enjoyed, but the focus of the way they live their life is to see themselves as faithful stewards of the grace of God and to use their resources #1 for the glory of God and advancement of His kingdom, and #2 for the keeping of their brothers and sisters in the Lord, and #3 to do what Christ did and lay down their rights, benefits, privledges, and wealth to reach a lost and dying world. In other words we live more like soldiers on a mission then like kings on vacations.

Sacrificial living. God calls people to give things up all the time. Jesus died literally naked on a cross. He gave the shirt off his back and so much more. We will all in this life continually be growing into that! In Romans 12 we are called to be living sacrifices. Jesus didn’t come to be served but to serve!

Generosity. Generosity requires two things. One a heart for others. You have not be self focused but others focused. Jesus was generous. The Gospel is a gift. He has withheld nothing from us. How then can we not follow in His footsteps. two, it requires faith. Do you trust in the fleetingness of riches or do you trust God who supplies all things. If you trust God then you will have no problem following his instruction to live sacrificially and generously.

Stewardship. Now most people need to hear the first two only but some need to hear this third one. Stewardship. Now no one should feel guilty for being rich. It is not what you have it is what you do with what you have. And what you do is a testament of your heart. Some seeking to be spiritual poorly manage what they have. And abandoning responsibility can be incredibly unloving. Paul for example could say “any man that doesn’t provide for his own is worse than an unbeliever.” and Jesus could rail on the Pharisees for spiritualizing away their need to financially support their parents. Do you think people do this today? Do you think people neglect responsibility and spiritualize it way. You bet your socks they do! The instructions to the rich in the Church from Paul was to be rich in good deeds. Let those who have be rich in good deeds. Laodicea was not.

In short are you living for yourself? Are you living for this present life? For things that will faid a way? Or have you in Christ put on the mind of Christ who loved with a love stronger than the grave.

Point 2: The Solution to Stuff is Relationship.

Revelation 3:18–20 NASB95

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.

Notice some of the language in these three verses!

Jesus is the only place they can go to buy the spirutal goods that will never run dry. They must come to him personally. Relationship.

He says those “He loves He rebukes.” That is relationship. I have said this before but I am not interested in discipling someone elses kids. Why is that? They aren’t my kids. But my kids? Oh with ferver, passion, zeal and great love. Why? Because they are mine! You friends are God’s children. And He will zealously discipline you. Relationship.

Perhaps most importantly He says he stands at the door and knocks.

At the Door

And do you know what the most important relationship you ever have will always be. Your relationship with God. So he says:

Revelation 3:20 NASB95

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.

We know that in our personal life stuff can get in the way of family. Stuff can get in the way of intimacy with your spouse. It may be your phone, TV, games, work, hobbies etc. We know that. We know how dangerous it can be. We know there have been many a people who take for granted their relationships, neglect them, only to wake up one day and realized they have lost what they thought they had. Any objective observer could have warned them. But they were blinded by the present world.

But the most important relationship you will ever have is your relationship with the Lord. The Laodiceans who once had this relationship with the Lord had fallen back in love with this present world. And He stands at the door and knocks. As Wayne Grudem says, “not as traveler, or homeless” but as Master of the house who expecting servants should be ready to let Him in. Yet He patiently knocks. And what will happen if anyone opens that door? He will dine with Him. Not take you out to eat. But you have to understand these are the words of close personal fellowship and friendship. He will dwell with you.

God says, “He lives in a high lofty place, but He also dwells with those who are humble.” And if you let Him in, He will fix that spirtual bankrupcy. He will give water that never runs dry, food that does not parish, and adorn you in robes of white. You see the problem with love for the world cannot be fixed by behavior modification! It is a spiritual problem. It a heart problem that no earthly surgeon can fix. You see the world may provide temptation. But you provided the love for self! and you and me provide the pride that says I can do it on my own.

Point 3. The Gospel destroys self and self-sufficiency

The beauty of the Gospel is that it is built on the principle of GRACE! The Bible says this:

But the self sufficient person who has no need for God will never experience that Grace because they don’t see themselves as in desperate need of His grace:

If you are full you don’t go out to eat

If you are not tired you don’t go to sleep

If you are happy you don’t morn.

Not only that but the self sufficient person will never experience that Grace because it is a gift and they think it can be bought by their own means!

Revelation 22:17 NASB95

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

Romans breaks this down at great length how this works.

Romans 3:21–28 NASB95

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Listen to to this key phrase again: “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiations in His blood through faith.”

Grace, Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, through faith. We are justified. We are declared right when we put faith in the atoning work of Jesus! As I said last week it isn’t just that he pardons all the wrong we have done. He applies the righteousness of Christ to our account!

They can’t earn it. They can’t add to it. They can’t buy it. There is no earthly way, not religious, nor morally, not philosophically, not naturally, not ceremonially, not materialistically and on and on that you can acquire the heavenly gift. Instead you must come to Christ “wretch, miserable, poor, naked and blind”. You must come not seeking to justify yourself… but trusting alone in the work of Christ!

There is then no room man to boast before God, especially as sinners, there is no such thing as the self sufficient Christian. There is only the Christian who is sufficient in Christ by His grace. By His Grace alone through Faith alone!

Conclusion: Harsh words in love.

Jesus has some harsh words today: “I will spew you from my mouth.” It is as every bit insulting as it sounds. But it is done in love. He disciplines those He loves. And He longs to have the fellowship He created them to have.

Don’t exchange the Creator for the creation. Don’t exchange relationship for stuff. and don’t try to earn God favors. Open the door. Invite the Ruler of Creation in. And to the one who overcomes you will rule with Him forever and ever.