Laodicea, The Church Lukewarm Over Being Lukewarm (Part 2)
In Part 2 of “Laodicea, The Church Lukewarm Over Being Lukewarm,” we continue our journey through the “Revelation: Jesus Revealed” series by examining Christ’s striking message to the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:14-22. This sermon explores the grave danger of spiritual complacency—the curse, condition, and root causes of being “lukewarm.” Through an honest look at our own spiritual poverty, blindness, and wretchedness apart from God, we discover Christ’s ultimate counsel: an invitation to repent and receive His true riches, His perfect righteousness, and complete restoration.
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Sermon Notes:
Sermon Series: Revelation: Jesus Revealed: The View Behind The Veil
Laodicea, The Church Lukewarm Over Being Lukewarm” (Part 2)
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:
Revelation 3:15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could
wish you were cold or hot.
Revelation 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need
of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and
naked—
Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may
be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your
nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and
repent.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 3:22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
spue thee out of my mouth.
I. THE CHRIST WHOSE AGAINST LUKEWARMNESS.
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:
II. THE CURSE OF LUKEWARMNESS.
Revelation 3:15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish
you were cold or hot.
III. THE CONDTION OF LUKEWARMNESS.
Revelation 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will vomit you out of My mouth.
IV. THE CAUSE OF LUKEWARMNESS.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, —and do not know
1 Thessalonians 4:13 “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren …
John 15:5 “… for without Me you can do nothing.”
1. YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE WRETCHED.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, — and do not know that you are wretched … ”
Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Romans 7:25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Noel Jesse Heikkinen, Wretched Saints (quote)
“The truth of the gospel of Jesus is this: I am nothing more than a wretch … and yet
so much more than a saint. I am a wretched saint, and that’s exactly what I am
supposed to be. No more; no less. That is my identity; it is who I am.”
Voddie Baucham (quote)
“May I never get over the fact that God saved a wretched sinner like me.”
Blaise Pascal (quote)
“The greatness of man is great in that he knows himself to be wretched.”
2. YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE MISERABLE.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, — and do not know that you are miserable …”
1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable.
3. YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE POOR.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, — and do not know that you are poor …
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4. YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE BLIND.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, — and do not know that you are blind ….”
5. YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE NAKED.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, — and do not know that you are naked …”
V. THE COUNSEL FOR LUKEWARMNESS.
Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may
be rich;
1. WE NEED CHRIST’S RICHES.
1 Corinthians 4:7 (EASY) “… You received from God everything that you have.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He
was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might
become rich.
2. WE NEED CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Revelation 3:18 “… and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of
your nakedness may not be revealed;
Isaiah 64:6 “But we ‘are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like
filthy rags;
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for he hath clothed me with the the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with
the robe of righteousness …
3. WE NEED CHRIST’S RESTORATION.
Revelation 3:18 “… and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and
repent.
The wretch needs to retch.
Thomas Watson said, “Real repentance is the vomiting of the soul.”
Synonyms for wretched
despicable, contemptible, reprehensible, base, low, vile, loathsome, detestable
deplorable, dismal, dreadful, unspeakable, hopeless, pathetic, pitiful, sordid
1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
