Luke-warm Camels
The truth of God’s word is incredibly offensive to those that do not believe.
My job this morning is to communicate that truth.
Truth can be incredibly dangerous and at the same time, so powerfully good.
So, let’s start with the only source that we know to be true.
If you have your bible turn to Revelation chapter 3 starting in verse 14.
To the Church in Laodicea
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.
Would that you were either cold or hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich
and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so 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 into him and eat with him, and he with me.
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered 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.’”
This morning we are digging into the church in Laodicea
I have a problem.
I will paraphrase CS Lewis, “I am no shepherd, I am merely a sheep. Now I will begin my bleating”
My problem is that I struggle communicating well because the words that I use are not defined the same in my mind as those I am speaking to.
So, before we get into the historical context there are a few words that we need to understand and agree upon.
These three words will be Depend, Commit, Self-Dependent/reliant
- – Depend
- To hang; to be sustained by being fastened or attached to something above; followed by from.
- To have such connection with anything as a cause, that without it, the effect would not be produced.
- Commit
- To give in trust; to put into the hands or power of another; to entrust; with to.
- To put into any place for preservation
- To put or sent to, for confinement
- To do; to effect or perpetrate
- Self-dependent/Self-reliant
- Depending on or reliance on oneself.
Out of the seven churches, Laodicea felt like it was the most intimidating to teach.
I am sure that Dan and Nathaniel felt the same way each time they taught on their churches. Many messages have been preached from these nine verses.
So, if you are like me, the more familiar that I am the less I pay attention, until something, or someone causes me to re-evaluate my familiarity.
There is something that happens in my house on average about 2.5 times a week.
I will arrive home after work and within 5 mins my wife will ask a question.
Some of you men know what I am about to say.
The question she asks will always start with these three words; did you notice?
Did you notice I moved the couch?
Did you notice the plants on the porch?
Did you notice I painted the bathroom?
My respond 99% of the time, NOPE
The only time I think I could accurately answer this question is if she asked, did you notice all your socks are gone?
I love me a good pair of socks.
This is what familiarity does.
This happens all too often when I read scripture.
The longer I’ve been familiar, the more difficult it is to pick out the bits that have been there all along.
Or the bits that we saw from a different perspective.
Now the seventh church that Jesus wrote a letter too. Laodicea.
What are some of the bits of this passage that we are familiar with?
We have verse 16 “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. “
Right, Lets be on fire for God.
Where is the passion and commitment in your life?
Also, verse 20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Another one, we have heard this; “unbeliever, he is staying at the door of your heart. Let him in”
In Sunday school, a few weeks ago, we were discussing the importance of one interpretation of scripture and the many applications.
It is imperative that we keep interpretation and application in their correction order.
We may slip into incorrect beliefs when we attempt to apply scripture before it is properly interpreted.
“What does this means to me?”, is frightfully dangerous when we are attempting to use it to interpret what we read in scripture.
Have you ever seen small child do this?
They will put articles of clothing on a part of the body that do not belong on that part of the body.
You know the classic example of this, right? The diaper on the head.
They are proud and smiling as the dance throughout the house.
They have applied the clothing to their body before understanding the function of the clothing. Raise your hand if you have had underwear on our head, in public, this past week?
No many of you, good.
This is the danger of applying this scripture to our lives before we know what it meant when it was written.
I am afraid I have had many pairs of underwear on my head during my time as a follower of Christ.
I think we all have.
And I think this passage of scripture is one of those times.
When we look at Jesus’ ministry on earth, we see that He is surgical with his teaching, rebuke, and purpose.
He is as it says in verse 14
‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.”
Jesus is the Amen.
He is the last word.
He is the faithful and true witness.
Jesus always spoke with such precision and relevance that it is easy to overlook the obvious when in search of “what does this means to me?”
After we interpret scripture in its context we then ask the question,
“How does this apply to me?”
So, let’s take the next few moments and forget what this text has meant to us.
We are going to look at four areas of context that I believe are enormously important for interpreting Jesus’ message to this church.
We are going to look the geography, economy, healthcare, and textiles.
Economy
Laodicea was a wealthy city. Some refer to it as the wealthiest city in Asia minor. It was so wealthy that in 60 AD an earthquake had struck the entire city. Rome was known for coming to the aide of neighboring cities. Rome sent message to Laodicea to see if they would like aide to help rebuild the city. Laodicea refused. Where there is wealth, there is also plenty of opportunity. You could find the highest wages in Laodicea. It was the city of possibilities. They were in the middle of a trade superhighway.
Healthcare
Secondly, the city of Laodicea was known for their eye doctors. They used a special eye sav, made from clay, that would heal all sorts of ailments. People would come from all throughout the area to seek healing of their blindness. They were proud of their accomplishment in this area. Medicine in this area was on the cutting edge of eye healing methods.
Textiles
Lastly, Laodicea was known for a unique fine black wool. It had a glossy shiny finish. The finest garments were fashioned out of this wool. Laodicea was known for the tunics it would fashion from this wool. Appearance was the comfort that the people of this church fell into. They had the ability appear well off. To look the part. To be “put together”
Geography
Laodicea was here on the map. It had no natural water source.
Laodicea was located 6 miles from Colossae and 11 miles from Hierapolis.
Hierapolis was known for its hot springs.
Colossae was known for its icy cold water.
Because Laodicea hard no source of water they had to have it piped in from both sources.
Let me grab your imagination for a minute
We are here in Glenwood.
Imagine for a minute that you had boiling water coming from Malvern.
You wake up in the morning.
And if you are a morning showerers.
You turn on the hot tap and the begins its journey from Malvern.
By the time it gets to your shower head you are late for work and the temperature is _________
Frustrated, you head to work.
All day you work hard physical labor.
Sweat and soreness consume your body.
All you want is a nice tall glass of crystal-clear water.
The only problem is that your cold water is coming in from Mineola.
You turn on the tap and it begins is journey from Mineola.
By the time it gets there you are probably ready for bed and the temperature is __________, Yum.
I am not sure about you, but my involuntary stomach muscles would most likely be activated. You get the picture.
Message to the Church
Now let’s read the first part of this passage once again in the light of the geography, economy, healthcare, and textiles.
Try and pick out the areas in this letter that would have specifically hit home for the church.
To the Church in Laodicea
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Considering this let look at our areas of context again starting with economy.
Here is where we get to see the precision of Jesus’ message.
- “You are poor” – defined as destitute of value, worth or importance, of little use
- Here you see the economy.
- Jesus calling them out on their self-sufficiency.
- They needed no help from Rome after the earthquake.
- “You are blind” – Defined as destitute of the sense of seeing, either by natural defect, or by deprivation; not having sight. Not having the faculty of discernment; destitute of intellectual light; unable to understand or judge
- Here you see healthcare.
- Jesus is calling them out on their blindness.
- Because you remember what their doctors were known for.
- This would be like calling your Ophthalmologists blind
- “You are naked” – Defined as not covered; bare; having no clothes on; Unarmed; defenseless; open; exposed; having no means of defense or protection against an enemy’s attack
- Here you have textiles.
- Jesus is calling them out on their nakedness.
- What were they known for?
- Some of the finest black wool.
- This would be like me calling all of you naked, clearly not true.
This next one is the one that was undeniable.
Jesus was adding salt in the wound by pointing out their luke warmness.
Out of all the areas, the luke-warm description is the one that you could imagine that this church would not be able to ignore.
- “You are lukewarm” – defined as Moderately warm; tepid
- Here you have geography.
- Jesus is calling out their relationship to the source.
- They were so far from the source of true riches that they have become lukewarm
As a result of these areas of context Jesus says;
- “You are Wretched” – Very miserable; sunk into deep affliction or distress, either from want, anxiety or grief.
- Jesus is speaking to their true state.
- “You are pitiable” – Deserving pity; worthy of compassion; miserable.
- Poor thing you are
So, what is the cure?
It is the next verse
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
It’s about dependence.
It is about their relative position to the source.
How many times have you heard lukewarm in conjunction with your commitment to Christ? How many times about our letting Jesus in?
My answer is, “many times”.
Jesus is not talking about the church’s commitment.
He is talking about their dependance.
He is point out how far away from the source they are.
Self-dependence is the ultimate weapon against Christianity.
It is so dangerous.
Self-dependence says we have no need of Him.
They were distracted and lost sight of how far away from the source they were.
Dependency is the message throughout the Bible.
We see this in the Sabbath.
Observing the sabbath was an act of dependence.
Dependence was so important that it was on the 7th day of creation
Look at Israel after God brought them out of Egypt.
Why did Israel constantly get in trouble?
Was it their lack of commitment?
No, it was their lack of dependents.
They stored extra mana the first day.
What were they told to save it for? The sabbath.
They wouldn’t take over Canaan when God said it was theirs to take.
How did Jesus conquer?
He was dependent on the Father.
“Father, not my will but yours”
He was obedient to death.
Even death on the cross.
Commitment is often how we try to live out our faith, but the foundation of faith is dependence.
Without dependency we have not faith.
God is not dependent on us
We are often not committed to God
But we must be dependent on God
Because he is committed to us
Commitment says, “what can I do?”
Dependency says, “what HAS He done?”
Every account that we see between God and his people is a picture of commitment.
Not our commitment but God’s.
It is also a picture of dependence.
Not God’s dependence but Ours.
We can do nothing.
Our God is a jealous God.
Exodus 34:14 NIV
Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
If you think that he will settle for partial reliance on Him, sadly you will be vomited from His mouth.
He will not share you.
As we celebrated last week; Jesus died, rose, and conquered death for all of you.
Do not be deceived, he will settle for nothing less.
This reminds me of the interaction in Mark between Jesus and the rich young ruler
“Mark 10:17- 22 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”
20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”
21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”.
In this story Jesus did not tell the rich young ruler that he needed to be more on fire for God.
He did not tell him he needed to be opposed (or cold) to God.
Nor did he say that he lacked commitment.
In fact, commitment was not the issue at all.
If you remember what we just read., “and he said to Him, ‘teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.’”
The commitment was there without a doubt.
Dependency is what Jesus was asking for.
Complete faith and complete trust.
Selling all the rich young ruler had would guarantee dependence.
What use of a father would there be if the child did not need him?
While preparing this message I found myself praying scary prayers.
I wonder if you have you felt the same.
In the one instant you make your request for dependence to our Father,
then in the same thought I say,
please don’t answer that prayer.
I believe the more frightening the prayers, the closer to the source you must be.
The pray most often that I think I pray is Lord help me to be humble or to have humility.
Before it leaves my lips, I immediately want to take it back.
Not because I don’t want to be humbler.
The reason I want to take it back is because often the answer to that prayer is painful realization that I have more underwear on my head.
When Jesus uses the words be either “cold” or “hot”
The Greek word used for hot in this passage is like boiling
and the Greek word used in the passage for cold was more like freezing.
What do boiling water and freezing water both have in common?
- They are transformative.
- The water that he is speaking about is the church and the closer they are to the source the more useful and more he will transform them.
What else do boiling and freezing have in common?
- The both hurt when they touch the bare skin.
19 “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. “
Maybe you’re in this place reprove and discipline, right next to the source.
And it is painful.
I want to offer some encouragement from CS Lewis. He says,
“Pain insists upon being attended to.
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains.
It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
Be encouraged that he is sanctifying you.
You feel the cold refreshing transformation of his goodness (his reproof)
You feel the hot healing of his refinement (His discipline).
He’s close
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me.
The wonderful part is that we must go nowhere. The source is near to us. He is at the door. He is knocking. He is ready to come and dine.
Mark 10:23-31
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, [c] “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”
29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” “I tell you the truth, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God”
Dependency of Jesus is the foundation.
Dependency is the message to the church in Laodicea and it is the message throughout the bible.
Dependency is the root of the fruits of the spirit in
Galatians 5:22 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned.”
Fruit is not a picture of our commitment to God.
It is the evidence of our dependence.
Let’s laid aside our commitment to do for God.
Therefore, we may conquer through our dependence on Jesus Christ and receive what he has promised
Gold refined by fire
white garments
and salve to anoint your eyes
In Closing –
Our dependency on Him is the highest form of our obedience.
Our highest form of obedience is our highest form of love.
Our highest form of love is what HE has called us too.
True dependency is letting go of the side of the pool and letting our Father carry you into the deep end.
Not confronting our fear of dependence, will first, deny God’s saving grace. Secondly, it will insult both his giving of the gift and sustaining us while we are learning.
We will be luke-warm camels if we are depending on ourselves.
Nos & Rehtaf, Dnabsuh 