With Pastor Dan Nickerson – April 29th, 2021
(Revelation 3:15-17)…..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 –
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. This is not a good place to be. This means they have lost their passion for the Lord. Can I say it this way, like I said before, they were probably indifferent and apathetic toward the cross and the gospel of Christ. Yet, 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, and no one can walk in the middle of the road when it comes to Jesus.
When we are indifferent and unmoved and unconcerned of the things of God, it gives a false impression of Jesus and what the gospel is all about. No one can hear the claims of Christ and be indifferent. Yet, that is where we see the “Church of the Laodicean’s,” lukewarm and indifferent. As a result, they looked at themselves as the perfect church who had it all (3:17).
They were proud of their achievements and yet Jesus says they are wretched, which means troubled; and miserable, which means to be pitied. They were proud of their wealth, but Jesus says they are actually poor, this word means destitute and reduced to begging – used in (Matthew 5:3). They were proud of their vision of themselves, and yet Jesus says that they are blind they cannot see themselves as they really are. They were proud of their fashions and fine clothing, and yet Jesus says they are naked to be naked in that culture was the ultimate humiliation, and they stand humiliated before Him
The change in the Laodicean’s had to begin with understanding their spiritual poverty. As long as we believe that we can meet our need for – spiritual wealth, spiritual clothing, or spiritual sight ourselves, we can never receive from Jesus. We must seek these things from Jesus instead of relying on our own ability to gain them. Then hearing what the just what the Lord is saying to them…..(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.” – (3:18). The counsel of our Lord is something we see in our lives, and declared to us in Scripture (Psalm 16:7) (Psalm 32:8) (Psalm 73:24) (Proverbs 19:20). Notice, “buy from Me,” Listen, If something has to be bought, it is because one doesn’t possess it. Buy from Him gold refined in the fire, white garments, and eye salve. All are a counterpart to the industry in Laodicea – they were wealthy, they produced expensive (black wool) garments, and they made eye cream for better vision. The Lord uses each of these items to show them their need for salvation. What the Lord has in His possession is worth much more than anything man can gather, earn, or find on this earth (Isaiah 55:1-7) (Proverbs 23:23) (Matthew 13:44).
They might see their wealth disappear down here, but they will be laying up treasures in glory (Matthew 6:19-21) (1 Peter 1:3-7) (1 Corinthians 3:12-13). Notice, that it is by invitation for the reader to come to Jesus for a white garment, the same garment that is seen in (Revelation 3:4-5) (Revelation 7:9-17) (Revelation 19:6-8).
Jesus invites them to come to Him for a white garment (a garment of righteousness) (Isaiah 53:11) (Romans 3:21-26) (2 Corinthians 5:21) (Romans 10:3-4) (1 Corinthians 1:30). This is an invitation to come to Him for salvation. They are naked and lost in their sins, but if they would come to Jesus He would clothe them in the pure robe of righteousness and they will be no longer naked in the sight of God (Isaiah 61:10) (Revelation 19:8).