“Take It To The Next Level (or get puked up)”

Revelation 3:14-22.  March 19, 2006.  Pastor Matt

14-16

Historical context:

Laodicea had no natural water supply near by! They constructed aqueducts to bring water to the city from 2 sources some distance from them: - There were hot mineral waters from springs 6 miles away in Hierapolis… …these waters were used for their healing properties… -There were icy cold waters from springs 6 miles in the other direction. …the cold waters fed the fountains in the middle of the city of Laodicea… The problem was this… The mineral hot spring waters cooled in their journey of 6 miles by aqueducts and by the time it arrived in town the minerals seeped out of the water and the temperature was only lukewarm -- thus the water was useless for the healing properties it originally had, and in fact, it was poisonous to drink! The icy waters went through a similar fate over their 6 miles journey. The cold water warmed up as it passed through the 6 miles of aqueduct so that by the time it arrived at the fountains in the center of the city the water had become lukewarm too. So when a new visitor came to the city having traveled the hot plains, would be seen taking a big gulp of water from a fountain expecting cold refreshment only to be surprised by the lukewarm water, and they could be seen spitting it out in disgust!

In verse 15, Jesus says, “I know your deeds...”

He knew their works:

Something you do, Something you are attempting to accomplish

Different from resting in that this is what you do

The church at Laodicea had become comfortable in their accomplishments and successes

(Even though a visitor to that city could see how bad things were for them)

They had reached a point were they were comfortable, feeling good about where they were and therefore losing sight of their need for Jesus. 

Just as the city’s water supply was quickly losing it’s usefulness, they as a church had gotten comfortable with were they were and what they were doing had lost its usefulness for the Lord.

It was obvious:     Just as lukewarm water is not very useful for people’s earthly needs, a lukewarm Christian is not very useful for people’s spiritual needs.

17

Because of their success, they did not feel like they needed anything outside of themselves. 

Now that things were going well for them, they felt they could sit back and cruise on autopilot for a while. 

“God, thanks for the help, but I’ll take it from here.”

They thought things were going well. 

On the outside/ on the surface/ at first glance, it may have appeared that way, but in reality, they were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

This happened because they went at it without Jesus,

They became lukewarm/ comfortable in their purpose,

as a result, they lost their usefulness. 

(Not only lost their usefulness, but went “in the negative.”)

18

In this section, Jesus lets them know how they can regain their usefulness for the Lord

I rebuke

To bring into light, to expose.  To cause shame in a person (once they realize what they are doing is wrong)

Discipline (or chasten)

          To teach as you would a child. 

To cause someone to learn.

The end result is the molding of a person’s character.

Table fellowship

          Close intimate relationship with someone

          Personal conversation and interaction

****Sorry guys and gals, this is all I have. 

The rest is lost in space.  However, if you want a copy of the sermon on tape, let me know and I can get it for you.****