G. Letter to Laodicea. 3:14-22 - The lukewarm Church. I. Church period - Year 1900 A.D. to the tribulation. The Apostate age. The Church period that we are in presently, where the world has come into the Church, the Church of the bench warmers that makes no serious decisions for Christ, selfish Christians with purposes like: What can God give me and how can He make me prosper, where all kinds of fellowship rather than with Christ are placed above within the Church. II. Connection to the 7 churches of Paul: Colossians (Hold on to Christ) III. Connection to the 7 parables of Jesus: The dragnet. Matt. 13:47-52 IV. “ Lao” means laity, “ dicea” means rules - The laity rules. (It suggest democracy and self-confidence) V. . A. Placed about 19 miles from Ephesus. B. Was a banking centre and very wealthy. C. Had a famous medical school. D. Was famous for there black woollen cloth. E. Today Laodicea is called Eski-hisar F. It was called the “ The Gate of Phrygia” because the caravans from the east came through Laodicea. VI. To Smyrna and Philadelphia Jesus had nothing bad to say, to Laodicea Jesus has nothing good to say. VII. Laodicea had at least 35 years earlier received an epistle from Paul the apostle. Col.4:16 V.14 a) The Counsellor - Jesus reveals Himself in 4 ways to this church: A. Amen means surely or verily. Jesus is the surety of the promises of God. 2.Cor.1:20 B. Faithful and True witness - What He says to the church is true and He will be faithful to do it in their midst. C. The Beginning of the creation of God - 1. Beginning (Gr.arche) means first or chief. The chief of the creation of God. Col.1:15-18 2. Jesus is saying to the church: You belong to Me, I am your Lord, you were created to Me. V.15-17b) The Chastening - V.15 Jesus wants us either hot (on fire for God) or cold (unbelievers). Why cold? An unbeliever have yet hope to become a believer that is on fire for God, A lukewarm believer is unstable and a hypocrite. V.16 I. Laodicea had an aqueduct that led from the mountain (Their tops were covered with snow) to the city, it was ice cold water at the beginning, but as it streamed down the aqueduct (about 6 miles to the city) it became lukewarm. The church also became lukewarm in their relation with Jesus. II. Nearby Laodicea where hot steamy mineral springs, but when they would bring this steamy hot water up to Laodicea by the time they reached the city it would be lukewarm, the water could only be drunk if it were hot, if it became lukewarm it was distasteful. III. Jesus also don’ t like lukewarm water, He wanted to separate Himself from the church, because they had already separated themselves from Him through their lukewarm condition. 3:20 V.17 I. Enjoyment and Ease - The church had become material rich and wealthy, it had caused the church to fall into a spiritual sleep. Hosea 12:8; Matt.6:24; Luke 12:13-21 II. They didn’ t know their true spiritual state, they were blind and had lost true spiritual vision. They had worldly eyes and thought that God’ s blessing was material goods and riches. III. 5 characteristics and the evidence of being lukewarm: 1. Wretched - (Gr.talaiporos) means afflicted and troublesome. They had great spiritual problems. 2. Miserable - (Gr.eleeinos) means pitiable. When Jesus or mature believers saw them only pity would be their response. 3. Poor - They lacked everything concerning spiritual matters. Very little revelation, understanding of the Truth and fellowship with the Lord. 4. Blind - They didn’ t see clear any more, they had no spiritual vision. 2.Peter 1:5-9 5. Naked - They had lost righteousness, holiness and the fear of God. V.18 c) The Counsel - Recognize your spiritual need: The cure from being lukewarm, the 3 steps: 1. Buy fiery gold - Gold speaks of faith and purity in Scripture. 1.Peter 1:7 Faith and purity would cause true spiritual riches in the church. Isaiah 55:1 2. Buy white garment - a. Speaks of righteous Acts 19:8. The Righteous acts would cause them to be clothed with honour and glory. b. Laodicea was famous for their manufacture of shinning black cloths, but Jesus wanted the church to be famous because of their spiritual white cloths. c. Jesus speaks to them as the bridegroom wanting to cover the nakedness of His bride. 3. Buy anointed eye salve - a. Speaks of spiritual revelation and wisdom. 1.John 2:20, 27; Eph.1:17-18 b. Laodicea was famous for their eye salve called Cellyrium or Phrygian powder used for eye problems, but the church didn’ t need this salve but a spiritual salve. V.19-22d) The Challenge - V.19 Realize and Repent. I. The love mentioned is (Gr.phileo) brotherly love and not agapeo that is full devoutly love, perhaps because of their lack of fellowship with Him. 3:20 II. Through this letter He rebukes them but if they didn’ t repent He would chasten the church. Prov.3:11-12; Heb.12:5-6 III. Let your heart be set on fire, let love burn again. Songs 8:6 IV. Repent, turn around mentally and directionally. V.20 I. Through this letter Jesus was knocking but also every day He is knocking at the door of their heart. Even through Revelation He says Come. II. 2 steps for the church to do: 1. Attention in hearing His voice. Chew on my words, meditate on it. 2. Action by opening the door of their heart. Invite Me in, through your need and cry for Me. Matt.24:33; Luke 12:36; Jam.5:9 III. 2 steps Jesus would do: 1. Enter in, into their lives and situation. Jesus would enter into the troubled boat. John 6:15-21 2. Enjoy fellowship with them, He would give them His life and His blood. John 6:27-35; Luke 21:14-20 IV. Jesus is inviting the church to the evening meal, the last call for dinner before the night of the great tribulation. V. The supper in view might be the supper we will enjoy in His millennial reign on earth. Matt.26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:30 V.21 I. To him who overcomes, who does not loose faith. 1.John 5:4-5 II. The overcomers would sit with Jesus on His throne - Receive authority, dominion and power, just as He received from the Father. Matt.19:28; Luke 22:29-30; Acts.2:30, 34; 1.Cor.6:2-3; 2.Tim.2:12; Psalms 45:6; 110:1 III. The throne of Christ in view here is possibly the messianic throne of David on earth. IV. If they opened the door, then they would experience His Abiding Presence (I will come in) and His Authoritative Position. V.22 Those who has spiritual desire to hear the voice of the Spirit will be Attentive to the words and Act on it. Matt.13:9 Smyrna and Laodicea connected: A. In Smyrna is mentioned: Poor 2:9, suffering 2:10. B. In Laodicea is mentioned: “ Rich” 3:17, enjoying (Need of nothing) 3:17