THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA (A Lukewarm Church) Revelation 3:14-22

1. THE SALUTATION – “And unto the Angel of the Church of Laodicea write : These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the beginning of the creation of God.”

2. THE COMPLAINT – “I know thy works, that thou art neither hot nor cold; I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, neither cold or hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayeth, I am rich and increased with goods, and need of nothing, and knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

3. THE COUNSEL –  “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesaive, that thou mayest see.”

4. THE CHASTENING – “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

5. THE PROMISE – “Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His Throne.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.”

Christ has no “commendation” for this Church, but much to complain of.  He says “I know thy works, that art neither cold or hot; I would thou wert cold or hot.  SDo then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot or cold, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

There is nothing more disgusting and nauseating than “tepid” water.  So there is nothing more repugnent to Christ than a “tepid” church.  He would rather have a church “frozen” or “boiling.”  It was the “chilly spiritual atmosphere” of the Church of England that drove John Wesley to start those outside meetings which became so noted for their “religious fervor,” and it was the same “chilly atmosphere” of the Methodist Church that drove William Booth in turn to become a “Red-hot” Salvationist.  Our churches today are largely in this “lukewarm” condition.  There is very little of warm-hearted spirituality.  There is much going on in them, but it is largely mechanical and of a social character.  Committees, societies, and clubs are multiplied, but there is an absence of “spiritual heat.”

(continued until next week)