Revelation 3:14 "And to the angel [messenger] of the church of the Laodiceans write,

A. The letter written to the Church in Laodicea is the last of the seven letters of Jesus. Laodicea is a city that is no longer around today. It’s rubble. However, many other fellowships and believers like Laodicea still exist. In fact, they are without number in America.

B. One thing that the Lord requires of us is that we approach this passage with humility. Never forget what Jesus said in verse 19. He loves this church and the believers who are stuck in its mire.

C. Revelation 1 through 3 describes Jesus as standing in the midst of the lampstands (churches) holding the angels (leaders) in His tender hands. Jesus is not on the outside looking in, pointing the finger at all their issues. No, He loves the church and is standing with her. He wants her to overcome, but also knows what is keeping her from His fullness.

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves…

Revelation 3:14b “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

A. The Amen- Jesus calls Himself the Amen! Amen is not a question. It’s an absolute truth. It’s a command. A fact. Something to be stated firmly. So be it! Jesus is the Amen. He’s the guarantee that what is spoken and prayed will come to pass.

B. The Faithful and True Witness- Jesus is true in His witness. He doesn’t lie, flatter, exaggerate or denigrate. His opinion is the only one that matters. Laodicea lived with a false image and reputation from others, but Jesus saw right through their Church.

C. The Beginning of God’s Creation- Jesus is the beginning of God’s creation. This is misunderstood by some that Jesus is the first creature that God made. However, the rest of the New Testament tells us that Jesus is not a creature or a creation, but the Creator. He was there at the beginning. He made all things, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.

Revelation 3:15 "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--

A. I know your works – Notice that Jesus gives no approval. He didn't say one thing positive about the Church, though it had wealth, money, and influence. Interestingly, there is also no mention of immorality, false teaching, idolatry, or any other sin. They seemed to be ok. Yet that very thing is their problem. They were indifferent, half-hearted, nominal, “Sunday morning” Christians.

B. You are neither cold nor hot - Jesus goes right for the jugular. He says, “You’re not piping hot. You’re not freezing cold. You’re warm. You’re content. Your self-satisfied and spiritually blah.” How often we pride ourselves on being a “warm fellowship,” wanting to give the new guests a “warm welcome.”

a. Warmth here is not a good thing. It makes Jesus sick. Why wouldn’t He just say, “He wishes we were hot?” Why cold? Because when you are cold, at least you recognize your need. You know the depravity of your own heart, and if you see it, you can repent and deal with the issue.

b. Charles Spurgeon, the great prince of preachers, described lukewarmness saying,

They were not cold, but they were not hot; they were not infidels, yet they were not earnest believers; they did not oppose the gospel, neither did they defend it; they were not working mischief, neither were they doing any great good; they were not disreputable in moral character, but they were not distinguished for holiness; they were not irreligious, but they were not enthusiastic in piety nor eminent for zeal: they were what the world calls "Moderates," they were of the Broad-church school, they were neither bigots nor Puritans, they were prudent and avoided fanaticism, respectable and averse to excitement. Good things were maintained among them, but they did not make too much of them; they had prayer-meetings, but there were few present, for they liked quiet evenings at home: when more attended the meetings they were still very dull, for they did their praying very deliberately and were afraid of being too excited. They were content to have all things done decently and in order, but vigour and zeal they considered to be vulgar.

Such churches have schools, Bible-classes, preaching rooms, and all sorts of agencies; but they might as well be without them, for no energy is displayed and no good comes of them. They have deacons and elders who are excellent pillars of the church, if the chief quality of pillars be to stand still, and exhibit no motion or emotion. They have ministers who may be the angels of the churches, but if so, they have their wings closely clipped, for they do not fly very far in preaching the everlasting gospel, and they certainly are not flames of fire: they may be shining lights of eloquence, but they certainly are not burning lights of grace, setting men's hearts on fire.

In such communities everything is done in a half-hearted, listless, dead-and-alive way, as if it did not matter much whether it was done or not… The right things are done, but as to doing them with all your might, and soul, and strength, a Laodicean church has no notion of what that means. They are not so cold as to abandon their work, or to give up their meetings for prayer, or to reject the gospel; if they did so, then they could be convinced of their error and brought to repentance; but on the other hand they are neither hot for the truth, nor hot for conversions, nor hot for holiness, they are not fiery enough to burn the stubble of sin, nor zealous enough to make Satan angry, nor fervent enough to make a living sacrifice of themselves upon the altar of their God. They are "neither cold not hot."

C. I will vomit you out of My mouth - We’ve seen Jesus as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. We’ve seen him as the Physician who heals. We’ve seen him as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who is coming soon in glory. But have we seen Him like this? Have we considered Him as He is bent over a toilet throwing up his breakfast, saying “You make me sick, you make me want to throw up!”?

a. Jesus understands that there is nothing worse than a lukewarm relationship. Think of your love interest. How does it feel when one is half in and half out; kind of wants you, kind of not. Jesus won’t have it. He is a Bridegroom with a passion for His bride.

D. You say, “I am rich… I have need of nothing” – The problem with Laodicea is the issue that we are facing in America. Because of our prosperity, we’ve become proud and self-sufficient. Too complacent to see our actual spiritual condition, that we are poor, miserable, wretched, blind, and naked.

a. The size of our offerings and the size of our congregations mean nothing as far as God is concerned. They have absolutely zero to do with the size of our heart or passion for the things of God.

“Five thousand members of a church all lukewarm will be five thousand impediments, but a dozen earnest, passionate spirits, determined that Christ shall be glorified and souls won, must be more than conquerors; in their very weakness and fewness will reside capacities for being the more largely blessed of God. Better nothing than lukewarmness.” Charles Spurgeon

b. Wretched and miserable - The joy of the Lord is no longer in our midst. The worship doesn't move our emotions anymore. We stand there like a bump on a log, miserable and complaining.

c. Poor – We have money in the bank, but are poor in the things of the Spirit. We’re not rich toward God, as Jesus said. To Jesus we’re like the poorest beggar on the streets.

d. Blind and naked - We are blind spiritually. We can't see God or recognize our condition, and because of that, we can't see the lost who are dying around us.

Revelation 3:18 “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.

A. Buy from Me - Jesus’ advice is that everything you need you can get from Him. Jesus didn’t tell them to start doing spiritual warfare to get back what the enemy had stolen. No, Jesus said, “I have it. Come and Buy from Me. I have the solution to your problem. Don’t go into the enemies camp trying to get it back. No! Come into the Holy of Holies. Come to Me. Come and buy.”

Isaiah 55:1-3 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you--The sure mercies of David.

B. Gold refined in the fire – Laodicea was a center known for the trading of gold and jewelry. Spiritually gold speaks of buying true faith that’s refined and tested in the fires of hardship and suffering.

1 Peter 1:7 “That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory…

C. White Garments – Laodicea was known for the selling of fine apparel, namely black, high-end garments that were the ‘Versace’ of the day. However, Jesus wanted them to put on white garments and robes of righteousness, purity, and holiness.

Revelation 7:13-14 “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 …These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

D. Eye Salve – Laodicea was a city known for its advancements in medicine especially related to healing the eyes and the ears. Both, Jesus says, they desperately need spiritually. They need to be able to see their actual condition and they need ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Churches. Anointing our eyes with salve speaks of applying the wisdom and revelation of the Word.

Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

A. Be Zealous and Repent – Because He loves us He disciplines us. He doesn’t love to disciple us. Truen repentance requires zeal. If you’re not zealous about it, you won’t repent. Get on fire! Get in the Word! Stop playing games and playing Church! Get serious with God. Stop deceiving yourself that you are spiritually ok. You’re not ok. Get on fire and full of the Holy Spirit!

Revelation 3:20 “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.

A. I stand at the door and knock - Imagine Jesus being outside of your church, outside of the door, tapping away. This verse is not a verse for unbelievers, but for lukewarm fellowships today. The Sunday morning service and programs go as they have always gone, but the presence of Jesus is not in our midst. Even the best media, lighting, and relevant messages do not attract the presence of God.

“Today, more than ever, we have learned how to “excel” without the abiding presence of God in our midst. With our slick marketing techniques, professional staff, and motivational speaking, we are able to operate successfully without God. As someone wisely said, “If the Holy Spirit were to be withdrawn from the earth today, most churches would never realize He was gone.”1

B. Jesus never pushes the door down because He wants in. He's powerful but He's not forceful. He won't bust down the door to the Baptist church if they don't want Him. He'll knock and knock and knock, until they either welcome Him in or close the church.

Revelation 3:21-22 “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."

A. When we open the door to Christ through repentance four things happen.

a. Jesus will come in [vv.20]- His presence will be restored. With His presence is His power (salvation, miracles, healing, prophecy, and deliverance).

b. Jesus will dine with us [vv.20]- Jesus will make a feast for us in the presence of our enemies. We will commune with Him and know Him in intimacy like we have not known before. We will grow in the revelation of His Word and go deep in the things of God.

c. Jesus will cause us to overcome [vv.21]- The reward for forsaking lukewarmness is that we will be victorious. Overcoming is both an invitation and a promise. We will be those who overcome.

d. Jesus will increase our influence and authority [vv.21]- We are granted a place with Him on His throne. It speaks of new leadership and influence, now and in the age to come.

B. The sad thing is that from the looks of it Laodicea received this letter and did nothing about it. They never let Jesus in. They were too rich and proud to humble themselves and repent. History tells us that Laodicea died off. Not only did the city disappear but the Church as well. Nothing from Laodicea was passed down to the Church. If you go there today, not one thing of the Church remains.

a. So too, if we do not cast off our lukewarmness in America and let Jesus into the Church, we are finished. No matter how much wealth we may have, or how large our buildings are, nothing of spiritual substance will be passed down to the next generation.

1 David Ravenhill. The Jesus Letters. Pg. 139