With Pastor Dan Nickerson – April 20th, 2021
(Revelation 3:14-22)…..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: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.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— 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. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 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. 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. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
Remember that water problem I spoke of earlier? Water from the hot springs in Hierapolis six miles away was brought into the city by aqueducts and by the time it reached Laodicea the water was no longer hot, it was lukewarm. Cold water from Colossae was also piped in and by the time it reached Laodicea this water was lukewarm as well.
This lukewarm water made getting refreshment in Laodicea difficult. Jesus tells them that, like the water in their city, they have become lukewarm also. This means they have lost their passion for the Lord. They were probably indifferent and apathetic toward the things of God, such as cross of Jesus, the Word of God.
Possibly they were not burning with a passion for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to the sinful culture that surrounded them. What ever the reason, their condition was sickening to the Lord. Think about this for a moment, can this be said of the modern church today? Are there many people who are just going through the motions of Christianity, where there is not a real burning passion for the things of the Lord? Are there church people in our day who are no longer moved by the cross? Where they read about the crucifixion, they hear about it, and they sit unmoved even to the plight of the lost? Lukewarm in there faith where they know people are lost and they know that lost people are going to Hell, but they really don’t care, never praying for the lost and not witnessing to them.
How can any person hear about Jesus, His love for their soul – His death for them and all that He has done for us and remain unmoved? How can any person know Him and never be moved by that relationship?
I certainly don’t expect everyone to respond the same way, but I do think there ought to be some signs of life, some show of emotion, some hint that we are moved by the word of God, the Spirit of God, and the work of God.
Where is our passion for the things of the Lord? No one who is in a right place with God can pass by and see the Lord, bleeding, broken, hurting, and dying for them and be unmoved. No one can hear the claims of Christ and be ambivalent. He claims to be God in the flesh, He claims to be the only Savior, He lays absolute claim to your life and mine, so no one can walk in the middle of the road when it comes to Jesus.
May we never be lukewarm in our faith, indifferent to Christ Jesus and what the word says of Him