The Hope for America

Introduction- Revelation 3:14-22

There is no question that for many years now our country has been in a downard spiral moving further and further away from the Biblical principles which were such a integral part of her founding.

Attempts have been made to place the blame upon any number of factors.

Some blame the unbelieving and their anti-God and anti-Christian philosophies. Some may blame the scientists and their absolute denial of the existence of God and their promotion of evolutionary theory. Others blame the politicians and their hunger for power and wealth.

Yet the truth is America is in the state that it is in because local churches across America are in the state that they are in.

In this passage the Lord Jesus speaks to the church at Laodicea, but what is said of this church could easily be said of the vast majority of churches across America today.

There was a time not so long ago when churches burned with a passionate burden for souls, pastors thundered from the pulpit, the members of local churches across this country were sincere in their desire to follow Christ and passionate in their intention to live holy lives, a time when the majority of believers held strong unwavering convictions formed by careful study of the Word of God.

Today it seems that so many (even those who hold to biblical doctrine and standards) now exist in a state that is accurately described as lukewarm.

There can be no denying that the state of our nation is directly correlated with the state of its churches.

In this passage we find first...

Diagnosis (Vs. 14-16)

You will notice first that this diagnosis is from the Lord Jesus Himself (the wording being in red) and thus it is most definitely an accurate diagnosis.

The witness which the Lord provides concerning the state of the Laodicean church is a true witness.

The truth is that the only opinion that we should be concerned with is that of the Lord Jesus Christ for it is He who is the head of the church.

It does not matter what “the brethren think” what the unbelievers think or what carnal Christians looking to indulge their flesh think for that matter.

Notice the Lord states that He knows their works- it was not as though the Laodicean church had ceased from the work altogether. One could say that they were still going through the motions but something was missing.

The Lord states that He would rather that they were cold or hot but they were neither.

There was a serious problem because though they were carrying on with the work they had grown lukewarm.

They were no longer passionate in their service to the Lord and had lost the zeal that they once had.

This is an all too common occurence. So often we start out zealous and excited about the work that God has called us to do but over time we too fall into this same lukewarm state.

A church becomes lukewarm because its leaders and its members are lukewarm.

We as pastors play a significant role in setting the spiritual temperature of the churches we lead. The members also play an important role for the spiritual fire of a few members may renew the flame of a lukewarm leader.

The Lord rightly diagnoses their condition.

Delusion (Vs. 17)

I want to suggest to you this morning that their lukewarmness was not the worst of the problem for the Laodiceans. The greater issue was that they had deluded themselves into believing that nothing was wrong.

They were not even aware that they had grown lukewarm.

The Laodiceans had assessed themselves but had come to an entirely different conclusion than the Lord had come to.

They had come to believe that they were rich. This speaks not primarily of their physical wealth but their belief that they possessed an abundance of spiritual riches.

They were increased with goods such that they had concluded that there was no need any longer to rely upon God for anything they desired.

This is the sad state of many churches in America. We have convinced ourselves that because we have the right standards and the right convictions and right doctrine that there could be nothing wrong.

Like the Laodiceans it seems that in many cases we have become convinced that we have all that we need and we conduct our services and lead our ministries with no notice that God power and presence is missing.

If there is any hope for America we must stop the delusion that Christianity is thriving and growing when we can plainly see that opposite is true.

Lets stop trying to convince ourselves that we are on fire for God when in reality we are merely lukewarm.

Directives (Vs. 19-22)

The Lord does not just diagnose the problem and uncover the delusion but He also gives them the directives to correct the problem.

He counsels them to recognize their condition and to repent and turn back to Him.

He counsels them to buy of Him gold tried in the fire.

This hearkens back to the gold which is spoken of in I Corinthians 3:12 in reference to the judgement seat of Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:12 KJV 1900

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

In Him they would find the true riches which are not temporal but eternal, there they would find the white raiment that would make them acceptable in God’s sight.

If they would return to Him they would be truly rich, truly acceptable, and able to see clearly to assess their condition.

In turning back to Him they would be able to clearly see once more.

Notice that the rebuke from the Lord was not in anger or frustration but was in love that they might turn back to Him.

He challenges them to be zealous and to repent.

He illustrates the situation as though He is standing outside of the church knocking waiting for someone to invite Him in that He may commune with them once more.

Conclusion

America is in the condition that she is in today, primarily because of the lukewarm state of churches which is the result of so many lukewarm “Christians.”

Are you hot or cold today or are you like the Laodiceans only lukewarm?

Have you deluded yourself into thinking that everything is ok while in the Lord’s sight you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked?

Will you follow our Lord’s directives and be zealous in turning back unto Him?

If you have been convicted today, remember it is the Lord’s love which brings chastening and correction!

It is His desire that you would have a renewed passion and that you would answer as He knocks at the door and grant Him entry once again into your heart and life.

If we would once again be stirred so that our hearts are aflame for the Lord in short order our nation would be drastically changed!

The only hope for America is that Christians and churches would once again be set aflame with a passionate zeal to do the will of God and to reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The only hope for America is that Christians and churches would once again be set aflame with a passionate zeal to do the will of God and to reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.