The Seven Churches of Revelation - Week 7 - Robert Morris

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 “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: Revelation 3:15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. Revelation 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:17 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— Revelation 3:18 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. Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Revelation 3:20 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. Revelation 3:21 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. Revelation 3:22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’” Even though they said they didn’t need anything, they did!

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

(1) They had the largest banks of any of the seven cities (2) They had the largest clothing manufactures of the seven cities This was because they had great grazing nearby and had black wool

(3) 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! Remember He said He would come in and dine with us This word dine (dinner) means to eat leisurely Breakfast was quick and normally one piece of bread dipped in wine Lunch was a quick snack, but dinner was a large and leisurely meal That lasted for hours! He not only wants to feed you personally when you open this book

But He wants to sit with you for hours and enjoy your company

2. Spiritual Garments

Revelation 3:18 “‘“I counsel you to buy from Me ... white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed”’”

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness

Jesus has clothed us with the robe of righteousness which is by grace But what about walking in righteousness, righteously? This isn’t the first church Jesus talked to about white garments!

Revelation 3:4 “‘“You have a few names even in Sardis ; and they shall He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments”’”

Revelation 19:8 Revelation 3:5 who have not defiled their garments walk with Me in white, for they are worthy And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. You probably won’t find anyone stronger that we are saved by grace through faith And that righteousness, right standing with God, Comes through the sacrificial, atoning death of Christ on the cross But unrighteous living defiles our garments It defiles our conscience and our joy and our passion And our love for Christ and others When the internet first came out, pornography would just pop up I had not looked at pornography for years But I started looking at it and it continued for several weeks It affected my love for Jesus and Debbie. It affected my passion for the Kingdom If you want to restart your relationship, drive sin out of your life! Get your mind off material success and drive sin out of your life

3. Spiritual Health

Revelation 3:18 “‘“I counsel you to ... anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”’”

Isaiah 43:8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears.

Jeremiah 5:21 “‘Hear this now, O foolish people, without understanding, who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not’”

Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a house.”

But what is the specific rebellion He is referring to?

Isaiah 42:19 “Who is blind but My servant, or deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is blind as he who is perfect” The person who won’t admit that he’s imperfect and makes mistakes • That’s who is spiritually blind! Pride causes spiritual blindness. If you want to restart your relationship, (1) Get your mind off material success (2) Drive sin out of your life (3) Walk in humility I want to close this whole series with something that is amazing to me • I told you at the beginning that these seven letters are for all churches

Revelation 3:22 “‘“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

The word churches is plural, But “He” and “Him” are singular These seven letters are for everyone and anyone They are for the individual also. They are for you!

Revelation 3:20 “‘“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.”’”

Any is a word. Do you have any pie left? One is a word. I have one piece of pie left! This invitation is to individuals. It’s personal to you!

Revelation 3:20 “‘“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”’”

The God who can open any door waits patiently for you To open the door to your heart And this letter was written to Christians! You can restart your relationship with Jesus today By simply opening the door to your heart! The God of the universe is knocking at your heart’s door!