God’s Promises For Every Need: Lukewarm Faith Series

God’s Promises for Every Need: Lukewarm Faith

Revelation 3:14-22

#EveryNeed

INTRODUCTION

I will need 3 volunteers today from the congregation to come up here, sit at this table for a moment, try some food, and answer a few questions. None of it is gross like last time when we had flavored crickets, but I do need some younger people to come up. [pick 1] [pick 2] [pick 3]

What I need you to do, when I get to you, is tell everyone what you think the item is in front of you, taste it, and then tell us what you think of it. I might have some other questions along the way.

Item 1: Room temperature (lukewarm) ice cream.

What is it? How does it taste? What would make it better?

Item 2: Room temperature (lukewarm) french fries.

What is it? How does it taste? What would make it better?

Item 3: Room temperature (lukewarm) egg.

What is it? How does it taste? What would make it better?

Thank you all for helping me this morning, you may be seated. The keyword in the passage that we are looking at today is “lukewarm.” Each of these items up here today were “lukewarm.” They were neither hot nor cold. Ice cream is meant to be eaten cold. French fries are meant to be eaten hot. Eggs are meant to be eaten hot.

“Lukewarm” is not as easy to talk about as you might think. I first had a list of all the ways we can be lukewarm before God and then I realized I don’t want to be completely negative and I am not the Holy Spirit in our lives. I can point you to the Truth, convicting you of the Truth is His (the Holy Spirit’s) job.

Then I was working on the sermon notes and put in there a list of 20 questions that we can answer to see how hot or cold or “lukewarm” we are. I want to be helpful. I do not know if the sermon notes will be helpful or not in trying to help us be honest about where we are spiritually. I ended up with 20 questions and then wondered what number signifies being lukewarm on a scale of 1 to 20. So I went to trusty Facebook and asked people to respond.

[show post]

“Sermon Research: On a scale of 1-20... 1 being totally dead, non-existent, cold, not even noticed and 20 being alive and piping hot and active and passionate... what number is 'lukewarm?'

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20?”

I did not get a straight answer.

For those that gave one number as an answer, the lowest number was 7 and the highest number was 19. The average of all those who gave one number was 11. Others gave a range of numbers as to what is “lukewarm.” 9-11, 7-10, 10-14, 6-15, and 11-12. The most popular range given was 2-19 which had several agreements.

“Lukewarm” for some of us is right in the middle of hot and cold.

“Lukewarm” for some of us is anything that is not hot or cold.

As I said, the key word in the passage that we will be looking at today

BACKGROUND OF LAODICEA

Laodicea was a town on a hill with valleys on either side. It was about 100 miles east of Ephesus. It was the last of the seven churches to have a letter written to it in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Importantly, it was near Colossae and Hierapolis. It is on the great trade-route from Ephesus to the east and seat of large manufacturing and banking operations. They made famous black wool carpets and clothing. It was the center of worship of Asklepios and seat of a medical school that focused on eye treatments. On one side of Laodicea there was hot springs and on another side of Laodicea there were cold springs. Both types of springs were useful.

What does that mean? It means Laodicea was a very rich town. In fact, in the year 60AD the whole town was leveled by an earthquake and the citizens refused money from Rome to rebuild and paid for the whole city to be rebuilt themselves. It was full of trade. Laodicea was famous for making clothes and helping people to look good and feel good. It was famous for making people’s eye ailments better. This was a rich self-sufficient famous town. It was to this town that Jesus sends the last of the seven letters.

Let’s read from Revelation 3 today.

READ REVELATION 3:14-22 (ESV)

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s Creation. 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so 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 eat with him, and he with Me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also conquered 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.’”