Revelation : Laodicea: The Diluted Church

Title: Revelation: Laodicea: The Diluted Church Pt 8

Text: Revelation 3:14-22

Vital Verse(s): I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. Revelation 3:15

Nugget to Nibble:Laodicea receives the harshest condemnation of the seven churches. Forty-five miles from Philadelphia and one hundred miles east of Ephesus, Laodicea experienced tremendous prosperity and many cultural features of its neighbors. A testament to their affluence occurs after the earthquake in AD 17. Laodicea experienced substantial damage to the city's infrastructure. Determined to build without assistance from outsiders, Laodiceans refused financial aid from Rome. The citizens used their resources to rebuild after the devasting destruction. Banking became a notable activity, with Cicero engaging in large cash transactions in Laodicea. Trade and commerce flourished in the Roman province. A fine, glossy black wool became a signature textile. Ultimately, their financial prosperity decreased the congregant's spiritual prosperity. Christ infamously branded the believers as "lukewarm," neither "cold nor hot" (Revelation 3:15-16). Members of the church in Laodicea believed they did not "have need of nothing" (Revelation 3:17). Yet Christ described the members as "wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked" (Revelation 3:17b). Worship and devotion have become diluted lacking the coldness of the non-believer, nor the passion and zeal of a committed disciple.

Outline of Text
1. The lukewarm church at Laodicea. Revelation 3:14-19

Jesus Christ is
1) The Amen
2) The Faithful and True Witness
3) The Beginning of the Creation of God (Rev 3:14).

Deeds of the Church at Philadelphia
1) Lukewarm-neither hot nor cold 3:15, 16
2) I am rich and have no need 3:17

Fact #1
Financial prosperity often creates spiritual poverty.

Fact #2
Spiritual mediocrity is repulsive to God.

Fact #3
Financial prosperity does not guarantee spiritual prosperity. Often, financial prosperity disrupts daily spiritual disciplines.

Christ's analysis of the church at Laodicea:
1) wretched 3:17
2) miserable 3:17
3) poor 3:17
4) blind 3:17
5) naked 3:17

Corrective measures for the church at Laodicea:
1) buy gold refined by fire from Christ 3:18
2) buy a white garment from Christ 3:18
3) buy eye salve to anoint your eyes 3:18
4) be zealous 3:19
5) repent 3:19

2. The love that discipline. Revelation 3:20-22

Authentic love corrects,
"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline" 3:19
1) love-
2) reprove-
3) discipline-

Reward for overcoming
sit down with Christ 3:21

Impact Fact
Examine the priorities of your life—prioritize devotion to Jesus Christ.

Impact Church of The Woodlands is convenientlylocatedto serve:
The Woodlands,Houston,Spring,Conroe,Humble,and surrounding areas.