Book of Revelation: The Lukewarm Church: Revelation 3:14-22
Part of Book of Revelation—Part 1: Chapters 1-3
November 11, 2021

Book of Revelation: The Lukewarm Church
Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22
Date: 11142021
Bible Version: NKJV

BOTTOM LINE: Our faith needs to burn hot in a cold and lukewarm world.

Vs. 14

The church of the Laodiceans- Laodicea was located 6 miles south of Philadelphia, and was a wealthy city with a significant Jewish population.

Says the Amen- Jesus identifies Himself as the Amen or So Be It.  He wanted them to know it was Him.

True witness- The word witness in the Greek is martus. It’s where we get our present day word Martyr.

The beginning of the creation of God- The idea for the word beginning is origin.  Some have used this verse to say that Jesus was created and is not equal with the Father.  This is an incorrect position because He has always existed.  He is God and was not created.  

Vs. 15

I know your works- Jesus reminds this church (and us) that He knows their works. No matter where we are, the Lord knows what is going on.

You are neither cold nor hot - The original audience would immediately identify with this statement because the water they drank everyday was lukewarm.

In the spiritual sense, lukewarmness is a picture of indifference and compromise. —David Guzik

We need to be guard against being apathetic and self-reliant.  They both can lead to spiritually tepidness.

Vs. 16

I will vomit you out of My mouth- This was the Lord’s response to their lukewarmness.  It is undesirable.

Satan will have us any way he can get us, but he prizes a lukewarm religionist far above a cold-hearted sinner. —David Guzik

Vs. 17

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’- The church at Laodicea thought they had everything but they lacked spiritual richness.  They had money and entertainment, however from the spiritual perspective they had nothing.  

The Laodiceans had prosperity, luxury, and health.  In their eyes they did not need anything.

Here Jesus debunks a prominent lie of prosperity theology: being materially successful means God has blessed you. —Tony Evans

You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked -  Jesus throws out some hard truth to this church.  We can note that this was not simply an opinion, this was what He observed.

Vs. 18

Buy from Me gold refined in the fire- Jesus is telling them to get back into the fire and engage Him.  Let Him work the impurities out of their lives.  

white  garment- Jesus is calling them back to grace.  He desires for them to be refined by Him, so that they can be spiritually rich.

The shame of your nakedness - We can note that Jesus did not commend this church on anything.  They were busy commending themselves.  Even though they had the means to purchase fine woolen garments, in reality, the Lord saw them as being naked.  

The Lord desired for them to be clothed with His grace.

eye salve- This city was known for the eye salve it produced.  Eye salve first produces an irritation but that irritation is needed so that illumination can occur. 

The way of the Great Physician is to allow irritation to produce illumination. —Jon Courson

Vs. 19

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten- The Lord’s love involves correction. To get us back on track we sometimes have to deal with things that we may not like or even enjoy.

Be zealous and repent- Jesus asks them to be zealous and repent.  Don’t rest in your strength and apathy, be bold in the spirit.

Vs. 20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock - Even though this church was lukewarm, Jesus was standing at the door.

Christ stands, waits long, at the door of the sinner’s heart; he knocks… —Clarke

If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him…- Here is the promise.  If anyone hears and responds by opening the door, the Lord WILL come in to him.  This speaks of the fellowship that we can have with Jesus.  We can note that this invitation is open to ‘anyone’.

Vs. 21

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me - To the one who overcomes they are granted to sit with Jesus.  Heaven is opened up to us when we open our hearts to Jesus.

This is the worst of the seven Churches, and yet the most eminent of all the promises made to it, showing that the worst may repent, finally conquer, and attain even to the highest state of glory. —Clarke

Vs. 22

He who has an ear- Most followers of Christ would rather identify with the Church in Philadelphia however this letter is a reminder to us to warn against a lukewarm, self reliant faith.

The lukewarm Christian has enough Jesus to satisfy a craving for religion, but not enough for eternal life. —David Guzik

Three temperatures in the Christian Heart:
1. Burning heart. Luke 24:32
2. Cold heart. Matthew 24:12
3. Lukewarm heart. Revelation 3:16

Four Ways That We Can Lose the Heat In Our Spiritual Lives:
1. We stop reading the Word.
2. We stop connecting with God (we just go through the motions).
3. We stop being challenged to grow in our faith.
4. We rebel against what is good.

Deep down, there is no one more miserable than the lukewarm Christian is.  They have too much of the world to be happy in Jesus, but too much of Jesus to be happy in the world. —David Guzik