Revelation 3:14-22
Subject: What is Jesus’ warning, advice and encouragement to the Church in Laodicea concerning their works and their lukewarmness?
14 “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. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot
I wish you were either one or the other!
16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
17 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.
18 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.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.
So be earnest, and repent.
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in (Gk. Pros- towards) and eat with him, and he with me.21 To him who overcomes (Gk. Nikao- to conquer)
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.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
EXEGETICAL IDEA (what it meant):
I wish you were either one or the other!
16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
17 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.
18 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.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.
So be earnest, and repent.
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in (Gk. Pros- towards) and eat with him, and he with me.21 To him who overcomes (Gk. Nikao- to conquer)
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.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
EXEGETICAL IDEA (what it meant):
Complement: Jesus warns the Church in Laodicea that because of their lukewarmness he is about to spit them out of his mouth. He advises them to buy gold, white clothes and eyesalve, to be earnest and repent, to hear his voice and open the door for him. Lastly, he encourages them to be overcomers so that they can sit with him on his throne just as he did with the Father.
CONTEMPORARY IDEA (what it means):
Subject: How does the Word warn, advise and encourage believers in the Church (age) concerning their works and the state of uselessness?
Complement: The Word warns members of the Church that lukewarmness precedes divine discipline and a loss of fellowship with Jesus, but also advises believers to restore fellowship no matter what the cost, to be earnest and repentant, to hear Jesus’ voice and open the door of fellowship. Lastly, the Word encourages the Church to be overcomers so that they can sit with Jesus on his throne just as he did with the Father.
Bumper Sticker Idea: Don’t Be LukeWarm, Be Cool and Be Hot for Jesus.Doctrinal Category: Doctrine of Fellowship
Exegetical Outline (What it Meant)
I. John reveals the Warning of Jesus to the Church in Laodicea (3:14-17)
A. Jesus tells the Laodiceans that he knows their works and that they are neither hot nor cold.
B. Jesus tells the Laodiceans that he wishes they were either hot or cold.
C. Jesus warns the Laodiceans that because of their lukewarmness, he is about to spit them out of his mouth.
(1) Jesus exposes the arrogance and self-confidence of the Laodiceans.
(2) Jesus reveals the true state of the Ladodiceans.
1. Jesus exposes that the Laodiceans are wretched.
2. Jesus exposes that the Laodiceans are pitiful.
3. Jesus exposes that the Laodiceans are blind.
4. Jesus exposes that the Laodiceans are naked.
II. Jesus exhorts the Laodiceans to restoration through him (3:18-20)
A. Jesus counsels the Laodiceans to three specific areas of restoration.
1. Jesus counsels the Laodiceans to buy refined gold so they can become rich.
2. Jesus counsels the Laodiceans to buy white clothes so that they can cover their shameful nakedness.
3. Jesus counsels the Laodiceans to buy eye salve so they can see.
B. Jesus warns the Laodiceans of divine discipline.
C. Jesus offers fellowship to the Laodiceans.
III. Jesus encourages the Laodiceans to be overcomers in order that they might sit with Jesus on his throne (3:21-22)
A. Jesus promises the right to sit with him on his throne to the Laodiceans who overcome.
B. Jesus tells the Laodiceans that they will sit down with him just as he did with the Father.
C. John extends his three-fold exhortation to the Laodiceans to all who can hear.
Homiletical Outline (What it Means)
I. The Word reveals the warning of Jesus to a Church out of fellowship.
A. The Word reveals the value of the works of those who are out of fellowship.
B. The Word reveals that God desires believers to be useful.
C. The Word warns believers of divine discipline to those who are useless.
II. The Word exhorts all believers to restoration through Christ.
A. The Word offers restoration that covers all aspects.
B. The Word warns believers of divine discipline.
C. Jesus offers fellowship to the believer.
III. The Word encourages believers to overcome in order that they reap eternal rewards.
A. The Word promises the right to sit with Jesus on his throne if they overcome.
B. The Word promises right to sit with Jesus on his throne just as he did with the Father.
C. The Word extends this three-fold exhortation to believers in the Church age.
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