Iliff and Saltillo UM Churches
July 18, 2004
“The Church on the Fence--Laodicia”
Rev. 3:14-22
INTRODUCTION: Of the seven churches, this is probably the one you are most familiar with. It is the church that seems to parallel today’s society the most because of an INDIFFERENCE toward spiritual things. The believers at Laodicia had once been fervent for God but at the time of this writing they were described as lukewarm. Sad to say, this church had no COMMENDATION even though its people had many opportunities in their life. The city was a great banking center, and they had much wealth. When the town was destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 62, the wealthy citizens rebuilt it without asking for any government aid. They had a medical school there, and they manufactured eye salve. The city was also known for beautiful black woolen clothes and wool carpets.
The church was not condemned for having idolatry, false teaching, immorality or any of these things, but they didn’t have any good things to commend them on either because of their lukewarm spiritual condition. They were not troubled by false doctrines and didn’t suffer any persecution. You might only remember the verse where they were told, “Because you are neither cold nor hot I will spew they out of my mouth.” There is a lot more contained in these verses than that. Let’s take a look at this church and see how it applies to us.
1. The problem pointed out in terms they could understand--Although these people thought they were self sufficient and had need of nothing materially, this was not quite the case. One great problem was their water supply. They had a poor water supply and had to bring it 6 miles through an aquaduct from Colosse (cold water) and the hot water from the north where there were hot springs. But in either case by the time it got to them it was lukewarm. At feasts either cold or hot drinks were served--NEVER LUKEWARM. They could easily relate to the idea of lukewarm water and once again John uses a situation they were very familiar with to point out their spiritual problems. Physicans used lukewarm water to cause vomiting so that also was something they could understand.
This letter comes from Jesus who appears as “the AMEN, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” In each letter He appeared to them in a way they could relate to Him--the Amen--the finality or the last word--the final authority on it. The faithful and true--firm, established, true (Isaiah 65:16--the God of truth).
Then He says, “I know your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot.” He had their attention because they could relate to the terrible lukewarm water they had to drink. He says, “I wish you were either cold or hot.” Why would he say this? Cold? Why would that be preferable to lukewarm?
(1) Cold is not necessarily bad--a cold refreshing glass of water or ice tea or an icy cold glass of milk--NOT LUKEWARM
But also COLD Spiritually would have advantages over lukewarm because a person who is COLD would recognize their need more than the self-satisfied lukewarm and indifferent person. The church had ceased to be a refreshing cold drink of water to anyone and didn’t stand for anything. They were as distasteful as a glass of lukewarm water. Their indifference had caused them to become idle, hardened and self satisfied. The worse thing about a half hearted Christian is that they are not easily moved one way or another. Just SITTIN on the FENCE and not useful or productive. Don’t even recognize their need of anything. There is more hope for the cold person because that person can realize the need for warmth. These people have been within reach of a holy fire without being kindled into fervor.
Romans 12:11 says, “be fervent in spirit.” Are you fervent in your Christianity? Are you taking it seriously?
Jesus is saying to them and to us today, “I wish you were cold or hot--take me SERIOUSLY.” The Laodician’s were no longer taking their Christianity seriously.
STORY: They were like the man who had a license plate on his new Mercedes that spelled GENERIC. Someone was following him and wondered why in the world would anyone put GENERIC on a new Mercedes. So he followed the Mercedes to see if he could talk to the driver. He went through a car wash and he followed him in. When he got out, the man went up to the driver and said, “Why would you want GENERIC on your license plate?”
The man said, “Well, I’m a Christian but I don’t want people to think I’m a particular BRAND OF CHRISTIAN--I’m not a Baptist or a Pentecostal or a Methodist--I’m just a GENERIC Christian.”
The church at Laodicia we well as many believers today have not taken a stand for anything, and they are just come kind of generic Christian who is not making any impact on the world. Just some sort of generic Christian in NAME ONLY>
He said “because you are neither cold nor hot I will spew you out of my mouth (KJV)
The NIV says, “I am ABOUT TO spit you out.”
The every day Bible says, “So I am READY TO spit you out.”
The Message Bible says, “You make me want to vomit.”
Because these letters are a message of warning but also of HOPE, the church still had time to do something about their situation.
ILLUSTRATION: You have heard people say, “I have HALF A MIND to whip you...”
He’s saying to them, “I am about ready to--or I have a HALF A MIND TO--it wasn’t final yet--but if they didn’t repent and change their ways it soon would be too late.
LUKEWARM to them was a mistake for a SAFE state to be in--but it wasn’t safe. It was leading them to destruction. It was a dangerous state to be in because they no longer were hot enough to respond to the Spirit’s moving. They were no longer convicted of sin. Yet they were not cold enough to recognize their need.
They didn’t oppose Him yet they didn’t draw near to him. This is what is happening in our society and churches today. Many people have been connected in some way to church throughout their lives--don’t oppose it but don’t respond. Just SITTIN on the fence.
Jesus wishes they were cold or hot so he could do something with them.
Then he goes on to say “because you say I am rich and have need of nothing, YOU DON’T EVEN REALIZE THAT YOU ARE:
1. Wretched--hard and calloused spiritually
2. pitiful--miserable like a drunk on the street that people pity
3. poor--like beggars trying to live on crumbs
4. blind--no spiritual insight at all--can’t see or understand
5. naked--these people were used to being well dressed people
They were proud, trusting in themselves. This church as “religious” but basically useless. They had excluded Christ from their fellowship. They were apathetic to His word that convicts of sin. They had left Him standing on the outside. Do you ever let this happen in your life? I’m so busy I don’t have time to:
go to church
pray
read the scripture
2. The Remedy--HOPE-- What to do about this pitiful situation. Does He just “spew them out” and “write them off? Kick them out of the church?”
No he loved this church. He gave counsel:
I counsel you to
1. Buy (ACQUIRE) (See Isaiah 55:1-2) from me gold tried in the fire. This was speaking of the gold of faith. (I Peter 1:7 that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus.)
2. white raiment--Christ offers a better garment than the famous Laodician wool. Rev. 19:8 speaks of the righteousness of Christ
3. anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see (not the eye salve that they manufactured and were familiar with) John 9:39 says, “I am come into the world that they which see not might see).
Even their nauseating condition did not quench His love for them and He gave this church a promise just like He did the other ones. He said, “those I love I correct and discipline. So repent and get off the fence. Take your Christianity seriously.”
The promise is not made to the church COLLECTIVELY--this is important. You might say, “the church is not interested, my family is not interested, my friends are not interested--but are YOU interested???? He says, “If ANYONE hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”
2. To him that overcometh I will grant the right to sit with me on my throne. He will share with them. The highest place is within reach of the lowest person because of HIS GRACE. The Eastern throne is broader than what we think. The Eastern throne admits others beside the chief in the center.
CONCLUSION: Are you lukewarm in your commitment to the Lord? Do you sometimes not even hear him knocking at your door? Do you sometimes even keep his life changing presence and power on the other side of the door deliberately? So busy doing our own thing? Jesus will never be accused of breaking and entering--He knocks, but we make the choice to let him in or keep him waiting on the outside. To the faithful--the OVERCOMER, He promises a seat with Christ on His throne.
Verse 22 says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches--what is the spirit saying to you today????
Shall we pray:
