Sermon Tone Analysis

Revelation 3:14-22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2001

To Love The World Or The Word

 

Just one letter of the alphabet makes all the difference between us now, said a recently converted young woman to an unsaved friend, who could not understand the great change that had come over her.

You love the world, she said, and I love the Word.

That's the way it should be for every believer.

Our love for Christ and His Word should replace our love for the things of this world.

In fact if we don't think this way we can't have Christian fellowship.

Last Sunday we saw what Christian Fellowship is!

It means */to have all things in common./*

/What can ruin Christian fellowship?/

Last week we saw that unbelief, hatred and sin can do it.

This morning we will see the greatest threat  to Christian fellowship; being lukewarm./

/This isn't a new problem.

Jesus Christ personally warned the Laodicean Church of the dangers of being lukewarm.

In fact, He stood outside the Church knocking, seeking fellowship inside.

The Laodiceans lost their fellowship with Christ.

Today we will see three things in Christ's letter.

*/The Correspondence, The Condemnation and The Counsel.  /*

 

*/Firstly/*,    The Correspondence

/ /

*Revelation 3:14a: */And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write.

/

 

/a.

The City/

 

Laodicea was an illustrious city for many reasons.

The city was situated on an important trade route from Ephesus on the coast to inland Asia.

Laodicea was also known for its fine black wool which was exported far and wide.

Fine black garments were made from this wool also.

As well as this, they boasted of medical ointments to treat eye and ear complaints.

Because of all this trade, and tourism Laodicea became an important center of commerce.

The city boasted large banking assets.

In fact when Laodicea was destroyed by an earthquake in 17 ad.

they refused imperial help to rebuild it.

They completely financed the city's rebuilding themselves.

Yes, Laodicea was very self sufficient.

They had much to be proud of.

/b.

The Church/

 

The Laodicean Church had been involved in the Lord's service for many years.

Epaphras a convert of Paul himself had founded their Church.

Their Church had celebrated at least thirty years of ministry.

They probably had beautiful buildings and a good reputation in the community.

They had no debts and even had a surplus on their bank balance.

Surely they had accomplished all this because God was pleased with them.

Because of all these things the Laodicean Church thought that they were rich.

They believed that God had blessed them greatly.

After all they lacked nothing.

They had an impressive record of material and spiritual achievement.

/What need did they have?

Why shouldn't they be confident?

Why shouldn't they be content?

They were entitled to rest on their laurels, weren't they?

/The Laodiceans honestly believed that they were spiritually rich.

/c.

Jesus Christ/

 

*Revelation 3:14: */And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:/

 

 

 

 

Application

 

/How do we view our Christian faith?

Do you have a good Christian heritage?

Were your parents committed Christians?

Were they devoted to the Lord's work?

Have you followed in their footsteps?

Have you given your time and talents to the Lord?

Have you served as a Sunday School teacher, Boy's Brigade Leader or Youth Worker?

Have you witnessed for the Lord amongst your work mates and neighbors?

How do you rate your Christian life?/

/ /

*/Secondly,/*  The Condemnation

/ /

Let's see How Christ rated the Laodiceans.*

Revelation 3:14* /And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:  /By introducing Himself this way Christ was emphasizing that His testimony was true.

The Church was blind to its own needs and unwilling to face the truth.

So Christ revealed to them the plain truth.

He revealed four areas of need that they had.

/ /

/a.

They Had Lost Their Vigor/

/ /

*3:15-17a:*/ I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.

I could wish you were cold or hot.

So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing./

/ /

The Springs At Hierapolis And Colosse

 

The city of Hierapolis was only seven miles north of Laodicea.

Hierapolis was famous for its hot springs.

Many people sort after the hot water from these mineral springs for medicinal uses.

The City of Colosse was also located near Laodicea.

It was famous for cold pure water.

A drink from this spring was very refreshing.

By the time that the hot mineral waters of Hierapolis flowed to Laodicea they became lukewarm.

Lukewarm water is useless for medicinal purposes and cannot refresh your thirst either.

After you drink a mouthful of it you spit it out on the ground.

Jesus gave a special warning for Christians living in the last days.

*Matthew 24:12:* /And because lawlessness will abound, the *love of many will grow cold.*/

/ /

*/Firstly,/* Christ complained that they were /lukewarm/.

/How does water become lukewarm?/

If you fill a mug with hot water from the tap it starts out hot.

But if you leave it sitting still it will soon become luke warm.

For water to remain hot it must remain in an energy source like an earn or hot water system.

There was a time that the were on fire for God.

They loved the Lord fervently.

But now they were resting on their past achievements.

They sat around and their love became luke warm.

God was not at all happy with them because they were half hearted.

The Laodicean Church was complacent, self-satisfied and indifferent to the real issues of faith in Him and discipleship.