Text: Revelation 3:14 Date: 3/06/2022 Speaker: Pastor Will Robinson
REVIEW: 3 things we learned from last Sunday’s message – Church of Philadelphia
13‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
* Philadelphia = Gk. “love of the brethren” They were known as being:
* Faithful – “I know your deeds…”* Obedient – “Kept my Word…” (Job 23:12).
“I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food”
* Influential – “not denied His name…”
Revelation 3:14 - 22 (NLT) - Church of Laodicea
14“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:
The Lord presented Himself as “the Amen,” which is an Old Testament title for God (see Isa. 65:16, where the word truth is the Hebrew word amen). He is the truth and speaks the truth, because He is “the faithful and true Witness” (Rev. 3:14). The Lord was about to tell this church the truth about its spiritual condition; unfortunately, they would not believe His diagnosis.
CONDEMNATION
15“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!
16But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
17You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
CORRECTION
18So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
19I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
20“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
CONSOLATION
21Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
22“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”
In the Christian life, there are three “spiritual temperatures”:
* a burning heart, on fire for God (Luke 24:32)
Luke 24:32 (NLT)
32They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”
* a cold heart (Matt. 24:12)
Matthew 24:12 (NLT) 12Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
* and a lukewarm heart (Rev. 3:16).
Revelation 3:16 (NLT) 16But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
The lukewarm believer is comfortable, complacent, and does not realize his need. If he were cold,
