Prelude
The Greek word Philadelphia means = “brotherly love” which occurs seven times in the Bible and the Greek word for Laodicea means = “lukewarm.” So our message goes from brotherly love to lukewarm.
The message this morning focused on “Brotherly Love” and now this evening we will focus on “Lukewarm.”
Scripture
14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 3:14-22
Prayer
Introduction
Laodicea is a beautiful location in Asia Minor. Nearby are the great ruins of the cities of Colosse and Hierapolis, known for their springs hot at Hierapolis and cold at Colosse.
Though reasonably strong from the trade of raven-black wool and its thriving agricultural base, the city did need the assistance of Rome after an earthquake disabled the city in 60 BC.
The garment industry recovered, and competed with Hierapolis and Colossae for the textile manufacture and sale.
There was also development of a medical industry, based on the eye salves and Phrygian powders used in eye treatment (Revelation 3:15-16) and the banking and money exchange industry also thrived in the city.
Lukewarm America
Here are some alarming statistics about America today.
• Within the Southern Baptist alone membership has drop for the past five years.
• Baptisms has declined about 5% each year of the past five years, that is a decline of 20% over the past years.
• 70% of Southern Baptist churches are plateaued or declining.
• About 37% of couples living together are not married.
• According to Gallup polls less that 20% of Americans regularly attend church.
It is easy to see that we are now living in the Laodicean church age.
The Laodiceans were lukewarm because they trusted in materialism. It seems that in America the driving force is materialism, just like the Laodiceans.
The Laodiceans They thought they were rich and secure, Americans think that they are rich and secure.
However Jesus said they were "poor, blind, and naked." Revelation 3:17
The cure for the lukewarm church: (1) chastening, (2) to be zealous for God and to repent, (3) to open their hearts to God. Revelation 3:19
Lukewarm World
Here are some alarming statistics about our World today.
• Feb. 17, 2013 - New U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has appealed to Senator Barbara Mikulski, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, to head off the automatic spending cuts that will go into effect next month. He wrote that “Cuts of this magnitude would seriously impair our ability to execute our vital missions of national security, diplomacy and development.” He also warned that the cuts will “lead to reductions in military assistance to Israel, Jordan and Egypt, undermining our commitment to their security at such a volatile time.”
• Feb. 15, 2013 - Gen. Hassan Shateri, the commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, was killed this week on the road between Damascus and Beirut. Guards spokesman Gen. Ramazan Sharif was quoted by Fars as saying "mercenaries and supporters" of Israel were responsible.
• The first month of 2013 is already a disaster for many farmers. Last week, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack declared 507 counties in 14 states natural disasters due to the ongoing drought.
America’s first official disaster areas of 2013 were designated because the 597 have experienced severe drought conditions for eight consecutive weeks, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Last year, 2,245 counties in 39 states were declared disasters by the USDA. With continued drought projected for much of the United States, farmers may have another hard year ahead of them. A hard year for farmers means a had year for anyone who eats. Global food prices are strongly affected by America’s harvests.
• Gerald Celente, the popular trends forecaster of Trends Research, cites the work of a former Treasury official and warns that the bonds are in a massive bubble that will burst in 2013 in what will be a financial collapse like nothing we've seen before. It will be worse than the Great Depression.
Lukewarm Laodicea and Today
The church at Laodicea, in between the two important places that helps one to understand verses 15 and 16, there where the hot springs at Hierapolis six miles away and ice cold water that came from the snow-covered peak of Mount Cadmus at Colosse.
The hot springs at Hierapolis provided healing baths for the sick and the ice-cold water from Mount Cadmus was famous for its refreshing taste.
The waters from Hierapolis and Mount Cadmus ran to Laodicea and merged forming a stream of lukewarm pungent water that ran through the center of Laodicea.
John wrote these words: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16).
The north east of Laodicea where the hot springs used as a place of healing to the body and to the south where the snow capped mountains that produce sweet cold and refreshing water.
Could not the Lord be saying in Revelation 3:15, to the Laodicean Church that because you are not like the healing hot springs waters, that people come too.
Hot healing water that heals the soul of a person.
Removing the hurt and pain and bringing a renewal to the soul.
Nor are you like the ice-cold waters that flow from the mountains in the south that refreshes ones thirst.
Ice cold water that refreshes the soul of a person. Bringing strength to carry on.
However, you are like the water that runs through Laodicea, which is a mixture of the hot springs water and the ice-cold water.
It’s lukewarm, smells because of the minerals that come from the hot springs. Luke warm and the smell of rotten eggs, nothing more could be repulsive to those seeking refreshment for the soul.
Conclusion/Invitation
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3: 22
Stop!
Look!
Listen!
Hear the Spirit!
Think through these letters.
Pay attention to them, because they are spelling out your future destiny.
The King of Kings, Creator of all things is coming again.
