Love Notes
Part 7
“Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church”
Rev. 3:14-22 “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.”
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We’re wrapping up our series on Jesus’s love letters to the church.
In summary, the churches Jesus addressed were:
• 1st: Ephesus–Loveless
• 2nd: Smyrna–Loyal
• 3rd: Pergamos–Lax
• 4th: Thyatira–Loose
• 5th: Sardis–Lifeless
• 6th: Philadelphia–Loving
• 7th: Laodicea–Lukewarm
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So today we’re looking at the 7th church, located in the city of Laodicea.
Laodicea was 48 miles south of the church at Philadelphia.
It was a wealthy city from its exports of gold, garments, and eye salve.
Laodicea was struck hard in AD 62 by an earthquake, but because of their wealth they rebuilt without the help of the state.
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Apparently there was a thriving congregation in Laodicea.
Paul mentions this church several times in his letters.
Some believe that a man named Archippus was the pastor.
Paul advises Archippus in his letter to the Colossians, “Tell Archippus: See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”—Col. 4:17
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Though it was a thriving church in numbers of attendees, Matthew Henry writes that “Laodicea was the last and worst of the seven churches of Asia.”
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Now, some believe that these seven churches are not only real churches in John’s day, but also represent 7 historical phases the church would pass through before Christ’s return.
If that’s true, then the Laodicean church is certainly the church of these Last Days!
The Bible predicts a great falling away in the Last Days, and the lukewarmness and apostasy described in the Laodicean church could very well be the end-time trait of many professing Christians.
Even Jesus wondered, “…when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 NKJV)
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We note that Jesus finds nothing in this church to commend.
There is not one word of affirmation!
First, Jesus declares them:
I. Spiritually lukewarm
Jesus, the master Physician, has taken their spiritual temperature and gives the diagnosis:
“…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.”
They are spiritually lukewarm!
And their lukewarm spiritual condition is utterly distasteful and repulsive to the Lord.
Jesus tells them he would rather they be HOT (all in with Him) or COLD (all out).
But to Jesus lukewarmness was a deal killer.
We feel exactly the same way about a lot of things that may be lukewarm.
For instance, give me hot pizza or cold salad and I’m good.
But lukewarm pizza, or a lukewarm steak, or lukewarm chili, or lukewarm enchiladas, I’d rather go without!
And please, lukewarm coffee is anathema!
Thank God for deliverance from lukewarm by microwaves!
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Jesus’s point is that their spiritual lukewarmness means they’re kind of with him, kind of not, kind of in, kind of out.
It’s like your spouse saying “I kind of love you,” or a friend saying, “I sort of like you, it depends on the day!”
There are some things in life that require an “all in” love, and our relationship with Jesus is one of them!
So Jesus tells them, “you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
What Jesus actually calls us to is found in Matt 10:37:
“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.” NLT
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And then secondly, this church had:
II. Equated materialism with spiritual health
“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”—3:18
The Laodicean Church equated spiritual well being with having wealth, and prominence, and tons of stuff!
They had placed their security in financial riches.
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But in God’s sight they were in deep spiritual trouble.
Jesus read their mail by calling out their inner thoughts:
Revelation 3:17 “You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want.”
How sad!
They had no sense of their deep need for spiritual riches.
As Jesus said, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”—Matt. 6:19 NLT
“Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].”—Col 3:1-2
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Now, if this Laodicean church is indeed predicting the spiritual condition of the church of these Last Days—this describes to a tee the attitude of many church folks today that equate material riches with spiritual health.
They brag, “I’ve got lots of money. I don’t need a thing!’
Jesus disagrees: “You don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”
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The Bible warns about the deceitfulness of riches.
In his parable of the sower, Jesus talks about those“…who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”—Mark 4:19
This is what has happened to this Laodicean church.
Riches have deceived them into believing that they
don’t need prayer,
don’t need the word,
And they don’t even need Jesus, because in verse 20 we find Jesus standing on the outside and knocking on their door!
“Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me.”—LB
Imagine that!
Jesus knocking to gain entrance to His own church!
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But our Lord Jesus is ever merciful and offers them:
III. A pathway to restoration
“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.”—3:18
Gold refined in the fire would be His word, His instruction manual for living.
Psalm 12:6 NIV “And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.”
Jesus advises them to return to a daily dependence on and obedience to His Word!
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The “white garments” represent the righteousness Jesus’s shed blood gives to all that repent.
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And the “eye salve” with which to anoint their eyes would be the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit always open your eyes to see spiritual truth.
“Open my eyes so that I can see all the wonderful things in your teachings.”—Ps. 119:18 ERV
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—His word and obedience to it.
—Repentance, and
—The Holy Spirit’s help to see spiritual truth