I ask that you turn with me to Revelation 3, verses 14-22. It's taken us a little bit of time to get through our consideration of the seven churches for various reasons, but this morning we consider the seventh of those seven churches in Christ's state of the church address, the church in Laodicea. Revelation 3, 14-22, we read together a portion which also is our text this morning. The Word of God says, To the angel of the church in Laodicea write, These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither hot, cold, nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other, so because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, I am rich. I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so you can become rich and white clothes to wear so you can cover your shameful nakedness and salve to put on your eyes so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says. to the churches. Dear people of God, about a week ago, the eyes of our nation and maybe some of us here were focused on Timothy McVeigh as the hours counted down to his execution for a crime that he had committed. And of course, as the newspapers reported, the families of those who died in the Oklahoma City bombing some six years ago tried to read his facial expressions and look in his eyes, looking for some sign of remorse for what he had done. But there didn't appear to be any. In fact, the opposite seemed to be true, especially as he believed he was the master of his own fate, the captain of his own soul. He believed that he had won the war that he had set out to wage. In his own mind, he depended upon no one. but Himself. But upon whom are we dependent? As individuals and as a church. Now the church in Laodicea, of course, was the last of the seven churches in Asia Minor, which our Lord addressed in His state of the church address. But even though this church was last, she definitely was not least. And you recall, I trust, that Jesus considered a number of different problems with the churches that we considered so far, but Laodicea was in the worst condition. You may also recall that Jesus didn't have anything to say against two of the six churches we considered so far. And with the four others, He commends them for something on the one hand, but He also had something against them. But He has nothing to commend the church in Laodicea for. He only has something against them. With His address to this church, Our Lord warns of the danger of not founding our dependence completely upon Him. So I preach to you this Word of God. Jesus Christ summons the lukewarm church to get serious about their faith. Notice, first of all, the condition of the church. Secondly, the counsel from Christ. And then third, the call to repent. Now as we consider together the condition of this church, there are actually two conditions that we need to consider. a true condition and a false condition. The condition of the church as seen through the eyes of the church and the condition of the church as seen through the blazing fire eyes of Christ as He is described as having in chapter 1. Now, as we've considered these churches together, we've seen that Jesus Christ always somehow makes a connection between the church and the city in which the church was located. And the church in Laodicea more than any of the other six churches, closely resembled the city in which she was located. The church was a carbon copy of the city. Now, some facts about the city. First of all, Laodicea was a rich and a prosperous city. Because of its location on a major trade route, the city became an important banking and financial center. Also, the city was world famous in the textile industry, which included beautiful black wool cloth. As well, there was a famous medical school located in Laodicea where pharmaceutical products, medications were manufactured, one of the most important being a special eye salve. Laodicea was rich, was prosperous, but also self-sufficient. And the city proved her self-sufficiency after she was destroyed by an earthquake around 60 A.D. At that time, she refused financial resources from the Roman government to rebuild. Instead, she paid for the rebuilding herself. Yet with all of these so-called good things that could be said about her, she had a problem. The city did not have good water, that necessary staple of life. There was a town called Hierapolis located about six miles from Laodicea, which was known for hot pools which had a medicinal or a healing effect. Ten miles in another direction was the city of Colossae which was known for cold, pure, drinkable, life-giving water. Laodicea had neither. This city only had gross, muddy water that made one nauseated. And the city had to somehow pipe good drinking water into the city and by the time it got there, it too was lukewarm. Yet in spite of all that, the city was proud and arrogant with a self-sufficient attitude that said, we don't need anybody else. We depend upon nobody but ourselves. We can take care of ourselves. And that was the same attitude that was found in the church when it came to spiritual matters. Jesus says of the church in verse 17, You say, I am rich, I have acquired wealth, and do not need a thing. But notice also that Jesus, the Lord, doesn't say like He does with some of the others. He doesn't say anything about this church suffering any sort of persecution such as losing their jobs because of their faith. He doesn't say anything about the faithful in the church struggling because of the teachings of the Nicolaitans or of Balaam or of Jezebel. Why is that? Because there was no fight. This church also fit in well with the city. It was a rich church, rich members. They had money and material possessions. They had the good life. They were self-sufficient. They had life under control and dependent upon no one but themselves. And they didn't even really need a Savior. They thought they had spiritual riches. In fact, God ought to be pleased with them because He can spend more time with those who really need His help. The church in Laodicea was spiritually arrogant. They had no room for growth because in their mind, they were strong and a faithful church. And we can almost hear the elders of the church say, things are running real smooth here because we don't get caught up in the issues. After all, the issues, they're not a matter of salvation. The community likes us. The community accepts us because we don't make any waves. We don't burden the community with evangelism. We respect and we tolerate the choices of others. because after all, we all have to live together. Everybody knows that. That was the condition of the church as seen through the eyes of the church. But Jesus tells a much different story about the condition of the Laodicean church. He says, I know your deeds. In other words, I know the intentions of your heart. I know what your motives are. I know that your real priority is not me, but it is yourselves. I know what you're doing. I know why you're doing it. I know what you're not doing, that you ought to be. I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other, so because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Three times, Jesus emphasizes the fact that this church is neither hot nor cold. Some take this to mean that Jesus is saying that this church was not hot in the sense of being spiritually on fire for the Lord, on the one hand, neither was she cold in that she was spiritually dead. Two extreme opposites. Instead, the church was somewhere in between those two extremes. And I used to think that that's what this meant as well. But notice Jesus says, I wish you were either one or the other. And that seems to suggest that Jesus is saying that either hot or cold is good. It would be a good thing. But we know that being spiritually cold and dead is not good. Therefore, I agree with those commentators who say that Jesus is speaking in terms the church could understand by making somewhat of a comparison between their condition and the poor water situation. He says the church is lukewarm. Therefore, Jesus wants to spit them out of His mouth. Now, most of us like our beverages either cold or hot, but not lukewarm. Whether it's lukewarm coffee, or lukewarm milk, or lukewarm Coke, or lukewarm water, whatever it may be, it doesn't taste good. You take a drink and no sooner does it hit your taste buds, you want to spit it out. And a stronger and also an accurate translation here is that Jesus wants to vomit them out of His mouth. In other words, the church's spiritual condition affected Christ like their water affected them. It was nauseating. They were not on fire for the Lord. They were not dynamic in their Christian life. They were indifferent. Going through the motions. And when it came to the things of the Lord and of the church and of the kingdom of God and of spiritual things, this church was half-hearted and limp and always ready to compromise. Indifferent. Listless. The take-the-convenient-way-out type of people. There was no true spiritual passion in this church. Very simply put, the members of this church didn't think they needed God. They had material riches. They had the good life. They had it made. Church membership, well, that can't hurt anything. It's kind of like an extra credit card in the wallet. It's kind of safe. They were deceiving themselves, which is a dangerous thing to do, as Paul says in Galatians 6, when he says, do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. They were blinded to the fact that they were not right with God as they thought they were. They could not see that they needed repentance and that Jesus was really outside of their lives, not in their midst. Their spiritual apathy and I don't care attitude also affected their calling. Remember from chapter 1, the churches were lampstands to shine forth and witness for Christ. But this church's witness was in grave danger. She was not hot to provide spiritual healing by God's grace like the hot pools of Heropolis. And she was not cold like the cold, refreshing, life-giving waters of Colossae holding forth the living water Jesus Christ which satisfies one's eternal thirst. Now, which condition was true? The one that the church thought she had or the one that Christ says she had? Well, there's no question, is there? Jesus says in verse 14, these are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. He is the Amen. That means what He says is firm and abiding and sure and true. And because of that, He alone is the faithful and true witness. He cannot lie because He will not lie. His fire-blazing eyes see the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and that's what he speaks. In verse 17, he contrasts what the church thinks she is with what she really is. You say, I am rich, I have acquired wealth, and do not need a thing, but you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. That's quite a description. Quite a harsh description. But the truth is, this church, the members of this church would never beat their breast and say with a publican, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Instead, they would say with a publican, God, I thank You that I am not like other men. But Jesus speaks here in their own business language. Language they can understand. Even though they were a rich banking and financial community, He says they were poor. Even though they had a famous medical school complete with eye salve, medication for weak eyes, to heal those weak eyes, He says they are blind. And even though they were manufacturers of cloth and black wool clothing, Jesus says they're naked. What Jesus says, practically speaking, doesn't fit them at all. They were rich. And all those sorts of things. But you see, they were spiritually poor. Spiritually blind. Spiritually naked. Which meant that all of their material wealth was good for nothing. Oh, indeed, they identified themselves with the riches of the world, but not with the riches of Christ. And therefore, He was about to spit them out and away from His presence. The church in Laodicea, you may recall, is just the opposite. It was just the opposite of the church in Smyrna, which was materially poor, poverty-stricken, reduced to the point of being beggars. But Jesus says of them, You are rich! But the church in Laodicea was spiritually poor, not possessing the riches of grace, faith, hope, love, patience, understanding of the truth. She was spiritually blind, not able to see her own misery, her true condition. And she was spiritually naked standing without a covering for her shame. Beloved, Jesus could clearly see the condition of this church just as He still can see the church's condition today very clearly. And what does He see when He looks at the church? You know, we could come up with a long list of what we think Christ sees in the visible evangelical church at large because we, of course, we're so good at this, we can look at the churches outside of ourselves and find all their faults. But what does he see here in this place when he looks at us? Does he see a church filled with believers who are humbled because of their sin and misery? And who are also filled with joy because of their Savior to whom they belong? And therefore desire to be obedient to God in thankful service, striving to demonstrate love for God above all and their neighbors as themselves? Or, does he see those who are self-righteous, self-saving, and self-serving, who say they don't need anyone or anything else, who are independent? Does he see those who are governed and led by the Holy Spirit of God on God's terms? Or those who are content to live on their own terms? Are we way too comfortable with the world not converting or reforming the world, but instead blending in with it? Does Christ see those who try to see how worldly they can be, who try to step as close to the line as possible without being downright pagan? Or does He see those who desire to see how close they can walk with Christ? Beloved, it's a terrible thing to be spit out and away from Jesus Christ. That's spiritual death. But notice the grace of God in our text. Having said all that, notice the grace of God. Jesus doesn't say, I will definitely, or I have already spit you out. He says, I am about to. It hadn't happened yet. There was still hope for this church. Therefore, notice in the second place, Christ's counsel to this lukewarm church. Verse 18 says, I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so you can become rich and white clothes to wear so you can cover your shameful nakedness and salve to put on your eyes so you can see. Notice Jesus says, buy from Me these particular things. He's talking about salvation. Now we know that not one of us can literally buy our salvation. That's impossible because Jesus Christ purchased it for us. We could never do that. But again, our Lord uses business language that these business people can understand. You remember what Isaiah 55 says. Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters. And you who have no money, come buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. You see, this is not the conventional purchasing that we are used to. When we take control, We pay for something with our own money in order to make it our own. The truth is, congregation, and listen closely, only those who cannot pay and know they cannot pay may partake. Only they may purchase these things from Christ. To buy these things from Christ is to submit to Him in faith. How does one purchase these from Him? He says in verse 19, Be earnest or zealous and repent. Zealousness, spiritual zealousness congregation comes only from recognizing that one is completely destitute and completely empty in oneself and also recognizing that only Christ is sufficient for all our needs. And notice what Christ alone provides. Notice how salvation is beautifully described here in the text. Salvation is pure, refined gold. The impurities washed away. It's pure, refined gold because it makes us one spiritually rich for eternity. It is white robes because it covers the nakedness of our guilt and shame and clothes us instead with the righteousness and holiness of Christ. And it is eye salve because when we possess it, beloved, We are no longer spiritually blind, but by the grace of God, we are brought to see the truth. These are the precious possessions of those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He is saying to the church in Laodicea and to us today, don't mess with your money in the bank which will rot, or your clothes that will wear out, or your eye salve which will only work for a short time. Don't find your comfort and satisfaction in these things that are only temporary and will pass away. But look to Me for eternal blessings. Depend upon Me. Christ's gift of grace to His redeemed people includes faith that removes the blinders of sin. Faith that will become sight. It includes justification that all of our sins are forgiven and we are clothed in Christ's righteousness. And it involves the Holy Spirit's power of sanctification by which we are being refined toward the perfect purity of heaven. Finally, let's consider together the call to repent. Praise God that in Hebrews 12, He says, The Lord disciplines those He loves and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son. Verses 19 and 20 tell us those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline, so be earnest and repent. Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me. Now that last verse about Christ standing at the door knocking is a verse that is often misused in evangelism. as an evangelism tool. And then it's explained that Jesus is standing at the door of your heart, knocking and calling, but there's no doorknob on His side of the door. There's only a doorknob on your side of the door. Poor, poor Jesus. If you don't open the door, He can't come in. People of God, that is not our Sovereign Lord. Not at all. This is not an invitation to be converted, but to be restored to fellowship with Christ. He is standing at the door of a lukewarm church that has lost fellowship with Him. He's telling them that if they want fellowship with Him, they have to come on His terms. Be earnest and repent. Our Lord calls for repentance. He takes the initiative. He comes to the door. He calls. He softens hearts through His Holy Spirit so that they hear and are moved by the same Spirit to open the door by faith and repentance. And when that door is opened, Jesus promises blessed fellowship. The most blessed fellowship which we experience both in this life on this earth than in fullest measure in heaven for all eternity. The church in Laodicea was in the worst shape of the seven. But like the other six, Jesus promises also to this church eternal life for those who hear and overcome. And this church, which is the worst in a sense, receives the most glorious of all the promises. Verse 21 says, To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne. Congregation, what an awesome promise. Because the throne of God is the best seat in the house of heaven. Christ counsels and calls the lukewarm, the nauseating church to get serious about their faith, to know whom they have believed, to put their trust in the One, in the only One who can provide. And God calls His people to identify with Christ, the rock of our salvation. And then that identity with Christ is to be identifiable in this life. Others must see it. In other words, our dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ is to be visible in every aspect of our lives, Every moment of our lives. Beloved, a true spiritual life is a life that is living and growing. It does not stay the same. It cannot stay the same. It cannot be stagnant. And the opposite of being spiritually lukewarm, which is the last step before spiritual death, is to depend wholly and completely on God. The opposite is to find joy in this life because of His saving sacrifice. It is to recognize that all of life is to be lived in relation to Jesus Christ. It is to desire to be used in the advancement of His kingdom. To desire to grow in faith, hope, and love. The opposite of being spiritually lukewarm is to thirst for Christ, the living water. To long for and look expectantly for His return. It is to desire to serve and to be of service to Him both in the church and outside of the church. And of course, we could come up with a number of illustrations here as well, but this includes taking advantage of every and using every opportunity for praise and worship. No matter who's preaching. No matter who's leading the lesson. No matter who's attending. It includes not only putting your name on the top of the sign-up sheet for the church basketball team and for potlucks, but also for Bible study and work needs in the church. It means using the Lord's Day for Him, not for selfish purposes. We need to remember that when we go on vacation, don't we? How many of us don't take a vacation from God too and use Sunday as a travel day? It's still His day. It belongs to Him. It means working diligently and faithfully as unto the Lord in all of our life, in our work, in our play. It means looking and praying for opportunities to share the love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ and defending His name when it's presented to us. It means knowing that we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ every moment of every day because He is the Master of our fates, the Captain of our soul. I want to close with a short poem that I came upon a few years ago and I apologize, but I don't know who wrote it. It's called The Gospel According to Many. And I believe it gives an indication and part of what it means to be spiritually lukewarm. It goes like this. I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord. Real service is what I desire. I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord, but don't have me sing in the choir. I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord. I like to see things come to pass. But don't make me help boys and girls, dear Lord. I'd rather not teach any class. I'll do what You want me to do, dear Lord. Your enemies cause me to rise. I'll give You my nickels and dimes, dear Lord, but please don't ask me to tithe. I'll go where You want me to go, dear Lord. I'll say what You want me to say, but I'm busy just now with myself, dear Lord. I'll help You some other day. Beloved, never be satisfied with your spiritual condition, but always crave to be a growing Christian. Increasing in faithfulness. Always crave to be a more faithful servant of the Lord. We've seen in this series of sermons that with God there's absolutely no compromise. And Christ's letter to the church in Laodicea sums it up. You can't have it both ways. Either you will dine with Christ for all eternity or He will spit you out of His mouth forever. what's it going to be with you? Do you depend upon Him completely? Amen. Shall we pray? Father, as we come before You at the close of this time together, this sermon, we pray for Your strength. We pray for Your teaching. We pray that You would increase our faith. That You would increase our dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ. We know in our heads that we are totally depraved. That we can do nothing in and of ourselves. Not one thing. We know that. But Father, help us to know it in our hearts as well that we depend upon the Lord Jesus Christ for everything. Everything in this life and in the life to come. We thank You that You are pleased. to give all that we stand in need of for Jesus' sake. Hear our prayer for Jesus' sake in His name. Amen.