Reading: Revelation chapter 3 verses 14-22.
• Nobody likes being sick;
• I nobody really enjoys having to go to the doctors.
Quote:
• David Grimes in Reader’s Digest:
• Doctors - What They Say and What They Actually Mean
• What they say: “It could be one of several things.”
• What they mean: “I haven’t the foggiest idea what’s wrong with you.”
• What they say: “Are you sure you haven’t had this before?”
• What they mean: “Because you’ve got it again.”
• What they say: “I’d like to run that test again.”
• What they mean: “The lab lost your blood sample.”
• What they say: “Insurance should cover most of this.”
• What they mean: “You’ll have to sell your house to cover the rest.”
• What they say: “These pills have very few side effects.”
• What they mean: “You may experience sudden hair growth on your palms.”
• What they say: “Why don’t you go over your symptoms with me one more time.”
• What they mean: “I don’t remember who you are.”
• What they say: “There’s a lot of this going around.”
• What they mean: “And we’ll give it a name as soon as we figure out what it is.”
• Nobody likes being sick;
• And to make matters worse, sometimes people just don’t believe you.
• Quote: Did you hear about the inscription on the tombstone of a hypochondriac? It read,
• "Now will you believe that I’m sick?"
• Question: How are you feeling today?
• Answer: Fine. That’s great – I’m glad.
• Actually there is a much more important question we should ask:
• How is Christ feeling today?
• As he looks at us individually and his collective people, the Church.
• How does he feel? Is he pleased or is he sick of us!
• The word translated as ‘spit’ (N.I.V.) actually means to vomit.
• K.J.B. uses the word ‘spue’.
Quote: The Message:
“I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot – far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit.”
• Strong pictures words; but let’s not miss the point;
• Here is an instant where Christ felt ill to the bottom of his stomach.
• The shocking thing is this;
• It was a bunch of Christian’s not sinful heathens that made him feel this way!
I want to look at this letter under 4 headings:
(1) A Picture of Laodicea:
• Antiochus II founded the city in the middle of the 3rd Century BC;
• And named it after his wife Laodice.
Laodicea an important centre of trade and communication:
• This was because it was situated on the most important road in Asia.
• It was on the main trade route linking Ephesus and Syria.
• You entered the city by the Ephesian gate and left by the Syrian gate.
• So to travel this important trade route meant you had to go through Laodicea.
LAODICEA WAS ACTUALLY KNOWN FOR 3 THINGS:
(1). it was known firstly for its wealth.
• It was the financial and banking centre of the whole region;
• You could say it had money to burn.
Ill:
• It was so wealthy that after it was destroyed in A.D. 17;
• By a great earthquake.
• Tithe people refused imperial help in rebuilding the city,
• Choosing rather to do it entirely by themselves.
• That would be like one of our cities;
• Refusing government aid after a natural disaster;
• And choosing to replace all the buildings and infrastructure itself.
• So it was a very rich city and had no need of any outside help.
(2). it was known secondly for its wool.
• Much of the cities wealth;
• Came from the production of its famous wool.
• A fine quality glossy black wool;
• Which would be exported throughout the known world.
(3). it was known thirdly for its school of medicine
• The school of medicine; produced a special ointment known as "Phrygian powder."
• This was famous for its ability to cure of eye defects
But for all its fame:
• Laodicea was also known for something else.
• Its horrible water supply.
• Despite its wealth,
• It did not have a local water supply sufficient to provide for its population.
• And so an aqueduct was built to bring water from hot springs 6 miles away.
• On its journey overland to Laodicea, it cooled until it was lukewarm when it arrived.
Quote: Ian Barcley:
“It was a standing joke in Laodicea that unsuspecting travellers approaching the city from the west would often try to drink from the outer pools in the area known as the Phrygian Gate.
The luke warmness of the water worked as an enetic and made them vomit, much to the amusement of all who knew about the dangers of drinking tepid water”.
(2) A Picture of Christ (vs 14).
• As with the other six letters in this chapter:
• Christ the author of the letter introduces himself with three word pictures.
"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen--the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation:”
In every letter so far, the introduction Jesus chooses to use;
• Is a key to the interpretation of the rest of the letter.
• So let’s look at what he says about himself.
(1). Christ calls himself the "Amen."
• Jesus identifies Himself in vs 14 as the "Amen",
• This was a title of God.
• The prophet Isaiah used it (Isaiah chapter 65 verse 16), He speaks of "the God of Amen"
• Hebrew word ‘Amen’ means ‘truth’ (N.I.V. ‘Truth’)
• We are all familiar with this word.
• We enthusiastically utter it after grace or a long prayer,
• And occasionally it is said when a congregation want to express our agreement;
• With a meaningful statement the preacher may say.
Note: It was and is a word that Jesus used frequently.
• In the more modern versions of the gospels,
• He begins many statements with the words, "Truly, truly, I say unto you."
• The King James Version renders it, "Verily, verily."
• Actually, in Greek, it is "Amen, Amen."
• It indicates of course that Jesus is saying something extremely important;
• And always marks a significant truth.
• So when we come to this word in the Gospels,
• We ought to pay even more careful attention to it.
• Because Jesus himself is underscoring that what he is saying is not only true,
• But it is important truth.
And at the start of this letter:
• Jesus introduces himself then as the one who tells the truth.
• The whole truth and nothing but the truth.
• The trustworthiness of Christ is seen in sharp contrast; to the half-heartedness;
• Of the Laodicean church. They were blasé, indifferent to the Truth.
(2) Christ calls himself The faithful and true witness.
• Christ goes onto elaborate on this claim;
• By claiming to be the faithful and true witness.
Ill:
• A witness must have three qualities:
• (a). He must have seen with his own eyes, that which he tells about.
• (b). He must be honest,
• So that he repeats with accuracy that which he has heard and seen.
• (c). He must have the ability to tell what he has to say,
• So that his witness may make its true impression on those who hear.
Jesus describes himself as the perfect witness:
• He always tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
• And he is faithful and reliable, he will not let us down when we need him to testify!
(3). Christ calls himself "the ruler of God’s creation."
• The N.I.V. uses the word ‘Ruler’; the K.J.B. the word ‘Beginning’.
• It literally is ‘origin’ or ‘source’ of God’s creation.
Ill:
• It is the same word that the Gospel of John opens with:
• "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
• Two verses later in John’s gospel he writes:
• "All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made”.
Jesus is the origin, the beginning of God’s creation.
• Jesus presents himself here as the one who is able to go right down into the chaotic;
• Abyss of Laodicea’s failure and make her anew, as he once made the world”.
(3) A Picture of the Problem.
• In two out of the seven Churches in Revelation;
• Sardis and Laodicea there is no commendation from Christ.
• Sadly nothing good is said about them.
• Instead condemns them.
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”.
THERE WERE 2 PROBLEMS IN THIS CHURCH:
(1).The problem of their commitment.
Ill:
• The conductor of the community orchestra was almost out of his mind.
• At every single rehearsal, there had been at least one member who had been missing.
• Planning for a well organised concert was almost impossible.
• At the last rehearsal, he called for attention and said,
• "I would like to thank the first violinist;
• For being the only member of the orchestra to attend every rehearsal."
• The violinist smiled shyly and humbly said to the conductor,
• "Well, it seemed the least I could do since I won’t be at the concert tonight."
• This was a church that had a commitment problem;
• It was lukewarm, neither hot nor cold!
Ill:
• North of Laodicea was Hierapolis, famous for its hot mineral springs,
• A popular place to bathe for health reasons (like a spa).
• South of Laodicea was Colossae,
• Known for its pure, cold mineral waters which were refreshing to drink.
• In the middle was Laodicea.
• By the time water arrived by aqueduct to Laodicea it was lukewarm.
• Hot and cold water were useful;
• Lukewarm water was less-than-refreshing.
Now we might be tempted to think of a spectrum:
• With hot as being spiritual and cold as being totally unspiritual.
• That is not a correct interpretation here.
• Can you imagine Christ saying,
• “I’d prefer a person to be totally unspiritual, than sort of Luke warmish”.
But, this is not the right interpretation.
• The whole image is that cold and hot are refreshing.
• Lukewarm is unpalatable, undrinkable.
Ill:
• Café or bar or restaurant, they always serve a cold (chilled) drink of coke.
• No-where serves it lukewarm!
• How many of you love a hot cup of tea or coffee.
• How many of you like it when it is lukewarm?
• You see in the image of the water, hot water is useful and so is cold,
• But lukewarm – it just makes you GAG!
Quote: William Booth founder of the Salvation Army:
• When asked how he liked his tea replied;
• “Like my religion, hot and strong!”
Ill:
• As humans we hate extremes.
• Sorry for Paul and the heating of the Church.
• I always moan at him that it is too hot;
• Someone else moans that it is too cold.
• He has to try and set it so that we are all nice and comfortable,
• Rather than to hot or to cold.
I can’t help feeling that there is a spiritual parallel there.
• All to often as Christians we want to be comfortable.
• To avoid extremes.
• Yet Christians in their comfort zones are actually are nauseating to God.
• Because the more comfortable we are the less grow in our faith.
Question: But how do I know if this church is lukewarm.
• One suggestion are we exercising faith (Spelt R.I.S.K.)?
• Are we standing on the promises or just sitting on the premises!
Question: How do I know if I am lukewarm, you ask …
• Do you have a heart for seeking God?
• Do you have a heart to obey God?
• Do you have a heart for communion with God in corporate prayer?
• Do you have a heart for a lost world?
• Do you give of yourself so that others can see Jesus in you?
• Do you place knowing and doing the will of God before all things?
(2). The problem of Wrong standards.
• The second problem with the Laodicean church was that they;
• Were evaluating themselves by the world’s standards rather than God’s standards.
Ill:
A factory manager found that production was being hampered;
• By the late arrival of his staff returning from the lunch hour.
• When the whistle blew few were at their machines.
• He posted a sign by the suggestion box offering a cash award;
• For the best answer to this question:
“What should we do to ensure that every man will be inside the factory
when the whistle blows?“
• Many suggestions were submitted, and the one that was selected solved the problem.
• But he manager, a man with a sense of humour, liked this one best,
• Even though he could not use it:
• It read: “Let the last man in blow the whistle.”
• The second problem with the Laodicean church was that they;
• Were evaluating themselves by the world’s standards rather than God’s standards.
Verse 17:
“You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
• In the world’s eyes this Church was doing fine:
• They were wealthy, self sufficient, comfortable, accepted.
• Remember how I spoke of Laodicea being a wealthy banking centre.
• The church was materially rich also.
• But the church Christ desires isn’t meant to be a country club;
• Run for the benefit of its members.
• His church is to be salt – something that makes a difference in the world.
• Christ’s church is to be a light – shining in the world which is blinded to God’s purposes.
Instead of being spiritually rich, these Christians were spiritually bankrupt in all aspects.
• Remember the three things that made this city famous:
• Their wealth, their eye ointment and their fine cloth.
• Well Christ is saying to them that in actual fact, in his reckoning,
• They are poor, blind and naked and nothing they can do can change this.
Ill:
• Like Hans Christian Anderson’s story of the Emperor’s New Clothes,
• These affluent, well-dressed believers were exposed.
• Their sense of spirituality was an illusion
• And they were spiritually naked before the Lord.
Ill:
A United Press release in a Midwestern city in America;
• Told of a hospital where officials discovered that;
• The fire fighting equipment had never been connected.
• For 35 years it had been relied upon for the safety of the patients in case of emergency.
• But it had never been attached to the city’s water main.
• The pipe that led from the building extended 4 feet underground and there it stopped!
• The medical staff and the patients had felt complete confidence in the system.
• They thought that if a blaze broke out, they could depend on a nearby hose to extinguish it.
• But theirs was a false security.
• Although the costly equipment with its polished valves and well-placed outlets;
• Was adequate for the building, it lacked the most important thing --WATER!
Like the Laodiceans, we can trust in things which can not help us in times of emergency.
• What are you trusting in?
• Would Christ say of you that you are poor, blind and naked, just like the Laodiceans?
• So we see the problem of the church;
• They lacked commitment and they were relying on their worldly possessions.
• We are so often as guilty of these things as were the Laodiceans;
• Which is scary considering the violent reaction of Christ.
(4). A Picture of the Solution
ill:
Charles Eliet had a problem.
• He had a contract to build an engineering marvel;
• A suspension bridge over the Niagara River.
• But he had no way of stretching his first cable between the shores.
• Any boat that tried to cross the falls would be swept over.
• Then Eliet hit on an idea.
• If a kite carrying a cord could be flown across the river,
• The cord could then be used to pull larger cables across.
• So Eliet announced a kite-flying contest.
• And a young man named Homan Walsh responded.
• On Walsh’s first attempt the kite’s cord broke with it caught in the river’s ice,
• But on his next try he succeeded in flying his kite to the opposite shore of the river.
• The vital link was established, and the bridge built.
To the Laodicean’s problem:
• Jesus Christ graciously provided a solution.
• He provides a way of escape from judgement;
• Not judgement in losing ones salvation;
• But judgement in losing ones reward.
“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent”.
If we want to be spiritually useful (hot or cold) and spiritually rich,
• We need to buy 3 things.
• Notice how Christ makes this so relevant to the situation at Laodicea:
• The 3 things we need – gold, clothes and ointment.
• They are exactly the three things most important to Laodicea.
• But notice, however, that the Laodicean varieties are useless.
• We need the spiritual versions which are only available from Jesus.
So what are they and what do they stand for:
(1). We need to buy Gold refined in the fire.
• These Christians had money and plenty of Gold,
• But their gold was no good.
• The "gold refined in fire" is something Peter referrers to in his letter; 1 Peter ch 1 vs 7):
• Speaking about persecutions, he says
“These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed”
• This statement from Jesus to the Laodicean’s;
• May suggest that they needed some persecution;
• They were too comfortable.
• Nothing makes God’s people examine their priorities faster than suffering!
(2). We need to buy White Clothes.
• The white clothes is quite a contrast to their spiritual nakedness;
• And the black cloth famous at Laodicea.
• White clothes always speaks of righteousness.
• We are all morally naked before God.
• We all have thing that we would like to hide, to cover up, but Christ sees them
• He sees us in our naked sinfulness.
• But what does he offer us?
• He offers His righteousness.
• It is by his righteousness that are seen to be justified by God.
• Not our own self-righteousness.
(3). We need to buy ointment.
• The city of Laodicea was famous for its eye ointment:
• But the ointment they needed could not be purchased in a chemist shop.
• The eye is one of the body’s most sensitive areas;
• And only the Great Physician can ‘operate’ on it and make it what it ought to be.
In conclusion:
(1). An Explanation (vs 19a):
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline”.
Ill:
• To bring healing may often require painful medical treatment or surgery;
• But after the initial discomfort or pain comes the lasting healing.
• Jesus reminds the Laodicean’s that because he loves;
• He corrects.
• Or as he says in verse , 19:
• “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent”.
• The Laodicean’s ‘Luke warmness’ did not lessen Christ love for them.
• In fact his love causes him to act on our behalf!
(2). An exhortation (vs 19b):
“ So be earnest, and repent”.
• This verse is like the final warning we give our kids;
• “I’m gonna count to three and then….”
• It’s time to make your mind up and do something;
• I want actions not words!
(3). An invitation (verse 20).
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me”.
Ill:
• William Holman Hunt’s famous painting, “The Light of the World.”
• Hunt was a famous Victorian artist and founder of the Pre-Raphaelite art movement.
• In the painting, Christ is holding a lantern and knocking at a door.
• Christ is knocking at the door of the human heart asking for entrance.
• As you have probably heard before there is no handle on the outside of the door.
• The reason is that even though Christ desires to come in, he never forces his way in.
• He must be invited, and the door must be opened from the inside.
• The decision is ours as to whether he will be allowed in or not.
• That is of course an application of this verse;
• But the context of the verse is NOT how to become a new Christian,
The context of this verse is for people who are already Christians:
• Although they are lukewarm ones.
• Christ is pleading for them to open their heart’s door to him.
• To open their lives up to him fully so that he can come in and commune with them;
• Literally dine in intimate fellowship with them.
Ill:
Greeks had three meals a day.
• Breakfast (‘akratisma’);
• Which was no more than a piece of dried bread dipped in wine.
• Lunch (‘ariston’), the midday meal. You did not go home for it.
• It was a picnic snack, equivalent to out sandwiches.
• Evening meal (‘deipnon’) the main meal of the day.
• People lingered over it, for the days work was done.
• It is the evening meal that is referred to hear;
• Jesus wants to linger in our presence, enjoying our company.
Note:
• Notice he speaks to the individual; “If anyone”.
• He appeals to us individually to get ourselves right with God!
• Yet verse 22 also makes it clear;
• This is a message for the whole Church.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
