Sermon Tone Analysis

The Seven Churches of Revelation Week 7

Restart Your Relationship

Robert Morris

We’re ending our series today “The Seven Churches Of Revelation”

Today is the church at Laodicea, the lukewarm church

Today’s message is “Restart your relationship”

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.”

’ ” NKJV

They needed water!

They had no springs or mountainous run-off!

They had to pipe in all of their water!

(SHOW MAP)

Colossians 4:16

Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

Hierapolis was about 6 miles north and Colossae about 10 miles east

Hierapolis was famous for its Hot Springs

Colossae was famous for its cold springs and mountainous run-off

Laodicea had an aqueduct from Hierapolis

And underground clay pipes from Colossae

But the water from both was lukewarm by the time it got there

They were literally famous for lukewarm water

And it was full of lime and sediment

They were famous for making people want to vomit when they drank it!

The water was filled with so much sediment by the time it got there

That you wanted to vomit! (Calcium and lime deposits)

Some have Sulfur so it smells like rotten eggs

Most people misinterpret this passage about being cold or hot

They assume hot means fully committed and on fire for God

And cold means completely uncommitted and unbelieving

But Jesus said I would rather you be cold than lukewarm

Would He rather wish a person to be an unbeliever and be separated?

Than a lukewarm Christian and still be saved?

I’ve been with many people who reheat their coffee about halfway through

I order an extra glass of ice with my iced tea

We want our drinks either hot or cold but not lukewarm!

Cool water on a hot day or a hot drink on a cold day is refreshing

It was not their state of spiritual growth he was rebuking

It was the way they made God taste to the unbelievers in the city

Psalm 34:8

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good

They were the wealthiest city of the seven

They had the largest banks of any of the seven cities

They had the largest clothing manufactures of the seven cities

This was because they had great grazing nearby and had black wool

They also had the largest medical hospital and school of the seven cities

And guess what they specialized in and the largest part of their school

Ophthalmology!

Banking, Eye remedies, and Clothing

Revelation 3:17

“‘“… 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’”’”

Banking – Poor Ophthalmology – Blind Clothing – Naked

Wow! Do you think Jesus knows our inner thoughts?

And do you think He knows our true needs!

Remember they thought they had Wealth, Clothes, and Eye remedies

Spiritual wealth, Spiritual garments, and Spiritual health!

And what does the world try to get us to focus on?

Material wealth, the clothes we wear, and physical fitness

But before I give you one application of each of these

Let’s talk about the word buy! Jesus said to buy these!

They’re all free!

Remember contextual exegesis!

Laodicea - Water

Isaiah 55:1 (NIV)

“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.”

Everything you get from Jesus is free

So why does He say to buy it

Because it cost your faith, you putting your faith in Jesus

1. Spiritual Wealth

Revelation 3:18

“‘“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich”’”

He’s not talking about material wealth

He’s using an analogy that they can understand

Most of their wealth came from gold

1 Peter 1:7

that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ

1 Peter 1:18

knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

1 Peter 1:19

but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Psalm 119:72 (The Message)

Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine.

How can you restart your relationship with Jesus?

Set your mind back on the eternal not things that perish and are corruptible

Lord, I thank you that you shed your precious blood for me

And truth from your mouth means more than a gold mine

So, I put my faith and set my mind on you and not on material gain!

I wrote 19 books in 19 years.

14 became bestsellers, 7 perennial bestsellers

I saw my passion wain and I told the Lord I wanted to restart

And He put out His hand and said deal!