Christians That Make God Sick, To the Church In Laodicea

A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church Sunday, June 7, 2009 by Pastor Joe Alain.

Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:14-22
If the title of my message today seems extreme, it is! But it is stern because the message to the Laodicean church was stern. The title is based on verse 16 which tells us that the Laodiceans were living in a way that made God sick. Opposite of the city of Laodicea stood Hierapolis famous for its hot springs. It may be that similar springs were located south of Laodicea and affected the water temperature of the water supply. “I am about to spit (lit., emesai, ‘vomit’) you out of my mouth” seems to allude to the lukewarm water. The Laodicean Church has the grim distinction of being the only church of which the risen Christ has nothing good to say! Their sin was that of being lukewarm.

Their condition was serious. Drastic measures would need to be taken. Their condition could be reversed if they would turn fully back to Christ. They could leave their lukewarmness behind and be passionate for God again. We too do not have to be satisfied with a lukewarm lifestyle, halfheartedness, and lack of passion. We too can renew our passion for God and being His disciples. Will you and I have ears to hear what God is saying today? Will we as a church have ears to hear what God is saying to us?

This message contains an introduction (3:14); two main sections: our condition (3:15-17) and God’s counsel (3:18-20); and concludes with a promise and a plea to hear what the Spirit of God is saying (3:21-22).

I. Introduction (3:14)
The letter is addressed to the church in Laodicea.
1. It was a great banking and financial center. In A.D. 17 the city was destroyed by an earthquake. However, the city was so wealthy that the citizens refused help from Rome to rebuild
their city.

2. It was an important center of trade. Their sheep were famous for their soft glossy black wool. They also produced an inexpensive outer garment.

3. It was famous for its school of medicine; and a special ointment known as “Phrygian power,” famous for its cure of eye defects. They also manufactured ear ointments. So it’s medical school was famous for two things throughout the world, ointment for the ear and ointment for the eyes.

In this introduction we see that the letter is from the risen Christ who is described in a three-fold way: As . . .
“The Amen” (See Isa. 65:16, “God of truth”) Amen was often put at the end of a statement to guarantee its truth. It means the acknowledgment of that which is sure and valid. If God is the God of the Amen, he is totally to be relied upon.

“The faithful and true witness” Jesus fulfills all the biblical requirements for being a reliable witness. (1) He must have seen with his own eyes that of which he tells. (2) He must be absolutely honest, so that he repeats with accuracy that which he has hear and seen. (3) 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 Christ perfectly satisfied these conditions.

“The ruler of God’s creation” The word “ruler” in the biblical language, “arche” has the idea of “source” or “origin.” Christ is the both the source of all creation and as a result, He is the Lord or ruler of all His creation. See Colossians 1:15, 18;
John 1:3. When Christ addresses a church that is failing in loyalty and obedience, He is to them the “Amen” and the “Faithful and true witness.”

II. OUR CONDITION (3:15-17)
Their condition stated is that they are “neither cold nor hot” (v.15). Instead they are lukewarm (v.16). Jesus is not saying that it would be ok if the Laodiceans were “cold” or lost. Both of these word used together point to the lukewarm condition of the church. That is to say, according to Christ they were useless because they were complacent, self-satisfied, and indifferent to the real issues of faith in Him and of discipleship.

Lukewarmness can mean halfheartedness or self-satisfied (vv.15-16). Halfhearted – “lacking heart, spirit, or interest” (Webster’s)

Helpful for us to know is “how did they get in this condition?” The deeper problem in the Laodicean church was not simply their indifference. It was their ignorance of their real condition. They viewed themselves as rich in material possessions and self-sufficient. The spirit of the surrounding culture had crept into the congregation and had paralyzed their spiritual life.

They said “We’re rich, we’ve acquired all this wealth, and we do not need a thing!” (See v.17). They trusted in their financial wealth. They were the Wall Street of their day. They trusted in their manufacturing and trade. They were the Paris of their day. They trusted in their medical technology. They were the Mayo Clinic of their day.

Pelts, Health, and Wealth – In “Need of nothing.” But how did God view them? (v.17). As Broke, Blind, and Barren! What was the real condition of the church in Laodicea? “Wretched” “Pitiful” “Poor” “Blind and Naked” Christ’s revelation of the Laodicean’s actual situation shatters their illusions and calls them to repentance.

III. GOD’S COUNSEL (3:18-20)
1. Seek Christ! “Buy from me” (v.18).
What do spiritually destitute people need? “Gold refined in the fire, so you can be rich” True spiritual riches!

What do spiritually naked people need? “White clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness” True righteousness!

What do the spiritually blind people need? “Salve to put on your eyes, so you can see” True spiritual sight!

True riches, righteousness, and sight is found in a living relationship with Jesus Christ! The Laodiceans are trusting in their riches, in their righteousness, in their vision. But what they have done has led them to lose interest, to lose their heart and passion for God.
1. Seek Christ
2. Repent from Lukewarmness (v.19) “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” We need to understand something here that is very important in the Christian life. God isn’t mad and He doesn’t hate the Laodiceans. On the contrary, He loves them very much! God disciplines His children (See Heb. 12:5-11) because He loves His children. Our response to God’s discipline is to accept His counsel and “repent” of the sin that has brought about our lukewarm condition.

Have you lost interest in becoming a disciple of Jesus? What has brought about this condition of halfheartedness? Have you become distracted? Have you become comfortable? Self-satisfied? Are you like the Laodiceans in “need of nothing”? What action or attitude has allowed you to become lukewarm? We must be “earnest and repent.” We must understand the discipline of God and turn from that which is causing us to stumble in our Christian walk. It might be a spirit of pride, self-sufficiency, selfish desires, or an unteachable spirit. Repent – turn away from it.

3. Accept God’s Invitation to Restored Fellowship (v.20)! Christ is standing at the door of your heart and He is knocking. He is doing that right now even as I speak. God is the seeker of men. God’s invitation is extended to . . .
“Anyone” who “hears my voice” Do you hear God speaking to you? Is He knocking on the door of your heart? Is He pointing out some areas in your life that He wants to work in? Some areas that need to be brought under His direction and Lordship?

“And opens the door” It’s not enough to hear God, after all, we hear from Him all the time. The question is, am I going to open the door? Am I going to put away the attitudes and actions that are leading me into a state of lukewarmness? Are you going to do what He is telling you to do? Christ cannot help the person who refuses to open the door. There is the element of human responsibility.

But, if you will open the door, Christ will “come in” a reference to the indwelling nature of Christ. What the half-hearted Christian needs is a fresh touch from God and that is what He gives to us. If you’re not as close to God as you once were, He desires to “come in” in a fresh way to bless you with His presence. The meal mentioned here was the “deipnon,” the evening meal, the main meal of the day in which people lingered over it, for the day’s work was done. This verse speaks of a renewed relationship with Christ.

While many commentators have taken this invitation as addressed to half-hearted Christians, the context may suggest that these Laodiceans were for the most part mere professing Christians who lacked authentic conversion to Christ, which is the essential prerequisite for true discipleship. Maybe if there’s no desire to worship, to learn from Jesus and follow Him, it may be because there is no relationship with Christ. I never desired to be discipled until my relationship with Christ began. If that’s you, you too can open the door and Christ will come in.

IV. A PROMISE AND A PLEA (3:21-22)
A Promise – “Sit with me on my throne.” Believers who suffer with Christ even to the point of death will share in the honor of Christ’s exalted position. A Plea – “Hear what the Spirit says” To individuals – “you” and to churches “us.”

Invitation
Are you lukewarm? Are you lacking zeal for God and the things of God? Is your passion for God what it once was? Does it still thrill you to worship Him because you have a living relationship with God? Are you deeply interested in becoming a true disciple who is growing and becoming like Christ? Have you become less interested in the things of God?

If not, God calls you to rekindle your relationship with Him through Christ. Seek Him! He calls you to be earnest and repent, turn away from the sin that has entangled you and brought you down the path of lukewarmness. Name it to God this morning. Ask Him for strength to follow only Him. Accept God’s invitation to restored fellowship. Open the door of your heart once again, let Him in. Don’t hold back. He cannot work where He is not wanted.

And if you’re here today and you have little interest because you have no relationship with God, then open your heart to Him today. Our gracious Savior is waiting! Turn your eyes upon Him!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe