Laodicia: A Message to the Saved and the Unsaved
Jesus's Letters to the Seven Churches • Sermon • Submitted
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Jesus’s Letters to the Seven Churches
Laodicia: A Message to the Saved and Unsaved
February 17, 2019
Introduction
This morning we are concluding our series on Jesus’s Letters to the Seven Churches by looking at the last of the seven letters: the letter to the church of Laodicia.
John Stott: Perhaps none of the seven letter is more appropriate the church in the 21st century than the letter to the church in Laodicia.
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Illustration: Different Kinds of Letters, Notes
Love Letter — Love Note
Publishers Clearing House
Letter from IRS
The letter that church of Laodicia received from Jesus might the equivalent of getting a letter from the IRS. This is a tough letter, a brutal letter.
Here is what you need to understand about this letter. The letter has a messaged for the saved in the church, but the letter also had a message from the unsaved in the church.
1. A Message for the Saved
This letter is addressed to the church in Laodicia. The letter contains a message for the believers in Laodicia. The letter contains a message for the saved.
I wish I could tell you that Jesus had high praise for the church at Laodicia. But Jesus had zero praises for this church. I wish I could tell you that Jesus had good things to say about the church at Laodicia. If Jesus did, I can’t find it this letter. It’s a tough, brutal letter.
A. The “Lukewarm” Church
Theological: Look at verses 15-16.
Let’s talk about hot water. Hot water is soothing, relaxing.
Illustration: Playing Sports — Hot Tub
Let’s talk about cold water. Cold water is refreshing, thirst quenching.
Let’s talk about the water supply of Laodicia. There was this town six miles to the North of Laodicia called Hierapolis. Hierapolis was known for it’s famous hot springs. Hot water has an important purpose: soothing, relaxing, therapeutic. 10 miles south of Laodicia was Collossae. Colossae was known for its cold streams of water from the mountains. Cold water has an important purpose: refreshing, thirst quenching.
The point is that the church in Laodicia was like the water in the city: lukewarm. The idea here is that the believer were lukewarm, good for nothing, had no purpose.
That is what Jesus is telling this church. You are lukewarm, you are good for nothing. You are not living up to your purpose.
Practical: Lukewarm Christians plague the church today. Many believers have become so complacent about their faith. Many believers today have become apathetic about their faith that they have become lukewarm, good for nothing, not fulfilling their God given purpose. We want just enough Jesus to get by. We want just enough church to get by.
The solution to lukewarmness. Look at v. 19. You might want to circle or underline the word zealous. It means to be earnest, dedicated, committed, fired up, passionate.
Illustration: Saints in Playoffs
We need that same kind of passion in the church today. We need that same kind of fire in the church today.
B. The “Self Sufficient” Christian
Theological: Look at verse 17. I am rich. I am wealthy. Laodicia was known for it’s wealth. Laodicia was the center of banking institutions. Laodicia was known for it’s black wool
Illustration: Fashion Trends
The city was known for its medical treatment of eyes.
In AD 60, an earthquake destroyed Laodicia and Philadelphia. The city of Philadelphia had to rely on Rome to rebuild their city. Laodicia rebuild their city on their own. Tacitus: Laodicea arose from the ruins by the strength of her own resources and with no help from us.
The city of Laodicia was “self sufficient.” The city didn’t need Rome.
That’s what happened to believers in Laodicia. They were self sufficient. They didn’t need Jesus. They didn’t depend on Jesus.
Practical: Today’s church has become so self sufficient that I am not sure that we know what real faith is anymore. When’s the last time you have heard this phrase uttered in the church — God will provide? We no longer rely on the power of God.
That’s the attitude of our culture is independence and self sufficiency. The attitud of the church should be dependence on God. But to often, we take up the self sufficient and independent attitudes of culture.
We need to realize that we are nothing without Jesus. But with Jesus, nothing is impossible. (Repeat)
Salutation for the “Self Sufficient” Christian. V. 19. We need to get on our knees and repent. We need to confess our need for God. We need to rely on his strength instead of our own.
That’s the message to the saved. Jesus also has a message for the unsaved.
2. A Message for the Unsaved
This letter is also message for the unsaved in the church of Laodicia.
Notice in verse 17, some words that describe the lost in Laodicia: wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked. All these are trigger words to describe the lost, the unsaved.
Illustration: Amazing Grace Lyrics
I want to key in on the word “blind.” The lost in Laodicia were blind to their own spiritual needs.
Illustration: I heard about a preacher who had a particular man in his congregation that he felt needed to get right with God. And so, when the preacher would prepare his notes, he’d almost have a picture of that man sitting on his typewriter, a mental image. And, he would think about that man, pray for that man, prepare for that man, and preach to that man.
But, the man would always meet the preacher at the door and say, “Preacher, boy, you really hit them today. Oh man, you really hit ’em today. That’s good. Oh, you really gave it to ’em today.” The preacher never could make him understand it was for him, until one very snowy day, just he and that man showed up—the preacher and that man. And, the preacher was ready. He had his message. And, with all of the fire, and vigor, and unction, and emotion of his soul, he preached to that one man. He said, “He can’t miss it now.” He went to the door, ready to shake his hand at the door. He said, “Preacher, if they had been here, you really would have been giving it to them today.” I wonder if you’re like that man.
Some of you are thinking that this part of the message is for somebody else. This part of the message may be just for you.
Do you know the hardest people to reach for Christ are the ones that think they are saved. The hardest people to reach for Christ are those who are blind to their own spiritual needs. Don’t be blind. See what Jesus did for you on the cross. See your need for salvation.
Our self sufficient culture creates pride. We think that we don’t need Jesus to save us. I can do enough good things to get to Heaven. It’s not really I can do enough. It’s more like I have done enough good to earn my way to Heaven. That’s pride talking. The Bible says there is none righteous, no not one. We got to let go of our pride and realize that we need Jesus to save us. Instead of pride and self sufficiency, we must come to Jesus with humility and dependence.
(NLT) God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
This word “Lukewarm” can also refer to lostness. Stott Quote: To be half hearted, complacent, and only casually interested in the things of God is to prove oneself not a Christian at all.
The solution for the unsaved.
Will you invite Jesus to come into your heart? Will you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life?
Illustration: Shocking
One of the most shocking statements I have ever heard about the church came from Billy Graham. Billy Graham said, “The greatest mission field in the United States is the pew of our church.”