Laodicea – The Lukewarm Church

Revelation 3:14-22 (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:
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." ' "

Introduction:
 What is the worst thing that can happen to a Church?
 The Greatest Problem a Church can have is to feel it is self-sufficient and needs nothing!

1. Laodicea – The Wealthy ‘Cool’ City!

 Had a vast and wealthy banking system!
 Had a large and famous Vision Hospital!
 Had a huge black cloth textile industry!
 Did NOT have a Natural Water Supply!

Revelation 3:14-16
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.

2. Laodicea Was A Complacent ‘Lukewarm’ Church!

 They were familiar with ‘Lukewarm’
 They were familiar with Spitting and Vomiting

May end First Part of this Message Here???????

Revelation 3:17 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—

3. Laodicea Was Rich But Poor!

 Laodicea understood God’s Challenge of Their Wealth:
 In Their Lukewarm Rich Condition They Had Drifted Away From God:
 Laodicea Understood Vision Problems:
 Laodicea Understood and Knew about Clothing:
Revelation 3:18 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.

4. God Was Furious And Serious About Their Condition!

 God Wanted them ‘Spiritually Rich’
 God Wanted them ‘Spiritually Clothed’
 God Wanted them to have ‘Spiritual Vision’

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

5. God Wanted Laodicea To Know That He Loved Them!

Revelation 3:20 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.

Conclusion:
Revelation 3:21 & 22
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." ' "

There is no middle ground between heaven and hell, or between commitment and no
commitment to Christ!

Being Lukewarm, mediocre, half-way, straddling the fence – Makes God Sick and Furious!
 Laodicea – The Lukewarm Church
Revelation 3:14-22 (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:
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." ' "

Introduction:
1 - What is the worst thing that can happen to a Church?

 Lack of Finances?
 Lack of Members?
 Lack of Church Activities?
 Lack of a Pastor?
 Lack of Facilities?

2 - The Greatest Problem a Church can have is to feel it is self-sufficient and needs nothing!

 The Reason is Simple – The Church that has no needs becomes Complacent.
 God ends up on the outside of the Church knocking to get in – The very picture we find in Rev. 3:20!
 Feeling self-sufficient and self-satisfied brings Spiritual Lukewarmness!
 When a Church is Lukewarm it makes God sick – “I Will Vomit you out of my mouth.”

3 – As all the other 6 Churches, God addresses Laodicea in relation to the attributes of the city.

4 – Laodicea is the most condemned Church of all 7 Churches addressed.

5 – God’s Judgment and Correction of this Church parallels the needs of the Church today!

1. Laodicea – The Wealthy ‘Cool’ City!

A. Laodicea was probably the wealthiest city in the world in the first century.

 After a massive earthquake in 60 A.D. it was able to rebuild with its own wealth - without any
financial help from the Romans or any other outside source.

There are many strong parallels between Laodicea and the US

 B. Laodicea was know for 3 major things:

1st – It had a vast and wealthy banking system – A New Testament Wall Street!

2nd – It had a large and famous Medical School which was famous for an eye salve called Cellyrium - that
was sought after by all of the known world at that time.

3rd – It also had a huge textile industry who specialty was black wool cloth.

C. Laodicea had one Major Problem - No Natural Water Supply!

 With their wealth, they constructed Aqueducts to bring water into the city from two outside sources:

1st – Hot Mineral Water was brought from springs 6 miles away in Hierapolis that was used for its healing
properties.

2nd – Icy Cold Water was brought from springs 6 miles in the opposite direction which fed fountains in the
middle of the city.

Let’s go to our TEXT before I go into greater details about Laodicea’s water supply…..

Revelation 3:14-16
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.

2. Laodicea Was A Complacent ‘Lukewarm’ Church!

A. Laodicea understood what God was telling them:

1) They were familiar with ‘Lukewarm’

 Climate and Weather conditions affected their water supply.

2) In Cold Weather the Hot Mineral Spring water cooled in its 6 mile aqueduct journey:

 The water became ‘lukewarm’…

 The minerals seeped out…
 It lost its healing properties…
 In fact, it became poisonous and sickening when swallowed….

3) In Hot Weather the Icy Cold drinking water went through a similar fate in its 6 mile journey:

 It also became ‘lukewarm’…

 When they took a drink, expecting cold water only to be surprised by the ‘lukewarm’ water they
could be seen spitting it out in disgust!

B. Laodicea was familiar with Spitting and Vomiting:

 1) Here God is telling the Church they are making Him sick!

 They are not a HOT Healing Church – bringing spiritual healing to those spiritually sick….
AND
 They are not providing the Refreshing Water of Life to those thirsty for God…
 They are ‘lukewarm’…
 They are sickening…

2) God is about to ‘vomit’ them up because of their spiritual indifference.

May end First Part of this Message Here????

Revelation 3:17 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—

3. Laodicea Was Rich But Poor!

A. Laodicea understood God’s Challenge of Their Wealth:

1) The Church no doubt was wealthy…

2) Christ repeats their own claim – ‘Because YOU SAY, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have
need of nothing….’

 Probably had great beautiful facilities…

 The Church surely operated in a most business like fashion…
 Had plenty of Money…
 Had Wealthy Members and Leaders…

3) BUT they were Spiritually POOR!

B. In Their Lukewarm Rich Condition They Had Drifted Away From God:

Wretched = confusion of the mind; confused spiritually

Miserable = Not happy; indecisive; bewildered

C. Laodicea Understood Vision Problems:

 They Had the Vision Hospital in their city.

 They had the eye salve ‘Cellyrium’ they everyone wanted…
 BUT They were ‘Spiritually Blind’

D. Laodicea Understood and Knew about Clothing:

 They were famous for their black cloth for clothes…

 Black was the primary color for everyday clothing…
 Nakedness was the most insulting, disgraceful, degrading and unethical thing one could do….
 BUT Christ tells Laodicea that they are ‘Spiritually Naked’..
Revelation 3:18 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.

4. God Is Furious And Serious About Their Condition!

A. God Wanted them ‘Spiritually Rich’

 Because they were ‘Spiritually Poor’ God wanted them to go through the Furnace of Spiritual
Awakening…
 Burn Out all the Impurities…
 Rich – not in earthly things BUT Rich in Spiritual Things…

B. God Wanted them ‘Spiritually Clothed’

 They were in the clothing business but they were ‘Spiritually Naked’
 They were to put on ‘White Garments’ of Purity and Spiritual Dedication…

C. God Wanted them to have ‘Spiritual Vision’

 They had the vision center in their town…

 BUT they were ‘Spiritually Blind’
 God wanted them to put on the ‘Spiritual Salve’ of the Holy Spirit so they could see Spiritually!

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

5. God Wanted Laodicea To Know That He Loved Them!

A. God was judging and correcting Laodicea because He Loved them….

B. ‘Tough Love’ is difficult but necessary…

C. The Message is 2-Fold:

1st – “Be Zealous” = sincere; honest; true - Not half-hearted; Be Serious!

2nd – “Repent” – Turn around and go the other direction…

Revelation 3:20 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.

D. God Was not going to FORCE them BUT He was PLEADING with them…

1) God Wanted Fellowship with them again…

2) God Wanted to Forgive them…
3) God Was Not Forcing Himself on them… (knocking)

Conclusion:
Revelation 3:21 & 22
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.

 The Final Promise is that of power and authority.

 To those who would put aside their self-sufficiency, stop being lukewarm, and purify themselves,
God promises rulership with Him in Heaven.
 God doesn’t ask anything of us that He has not already accomplished.
 Christ says He had overcome the world and now sits at the Right Hand of God in Heaven.
 Christ is speaking of the Church – His Bride – ruling with Him in the New Jerusalem.

There is no middle ground between heaven and hell, or between commitment and no
commitment to Christ!

God’s call is to be “Hot” – providing the healing power of God…

OR “Cold” – providing the Water of Life to those who are thirsting.

Being Lukewarm, mediocre, half-way, straddling the fence – Makes God Sick and
Furious!