Revelation 3:14-22
Notes
Transcript
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:
15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You 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. 18 So 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. 19 I 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. 21 Those 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.”
Nothing good to say!
Like Sardis. Also like Sardis, Laodicea has NO clue that they are needing help!
A Texas Sized Attitude
Do it on our own
6 flags over Texas
Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, United States (x2) Confederacy
The LONE STAR STATE!
Not Just Texas, The American Dream is about doing it all on YOUR own
A wife and 2.5 kids with a big house, a great job, dog and cat
Raise from nothing to have everything
Laodicea had it all
Laodicea had it all
Banks,
Medical School (known for its eye ointment),
Special black wool
Earthquake in AD 17 they received help to rebuild
Earthquake in AD 60 they refused help
Reminds me of the bailout of the car companies where Ford refused government help.
There’s one thing Laodicea did NOT have - WATER
Water channeled in from Hieropolis
About 6 miles away.
This water came from natural hot springs with it’s great mineral deposits; they were useful for bathing and soaking when they were HOT
The water would cool off substantially, and because of evaporation the mineral deposits would be more potent.
If you drank this water you would VOMIT!
Colossae had a source of cool, crisp, refreshing water that would quench your thirst and provide enjoyment while doing it.
10-11 miles away
This water was also channeled in
By the time it reached Laodicea it was no longer cool and refreshing. It too was lukewarm. It did what water was supposed to do, cure your thirst, but it only did it in a tolerable way. It was no longer crisp or refreshing; merely tolerable to get the job done
The church has taken on the attitude of the city, we can do it ourselves, and, like the water, is at best tolerable and at worst vomitous.
Revelation 3:16 “16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (VOMIT)
I am reminded of what Jesus tells his followers in Matthew 5
Matthew 5:13 “13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”
Salt
It preserves and it seasons
Jesus followers are to preserve and also to bring out the “good” flavors the world has
Salt’s only job is to be salt (not to be pepper, not to be steak, not to be lemonade, SIMPLY SALT
The followers of Christ are to be like salt; have a purpose, know their purpose, and fulfill their purpose. If they don’t it is like salt that isn’t salty. Tolerable at best, vomitous and worst, and useless for anything.
The church in Laodicea has lost its salty, sassy, flavoring and preservative affect.
Like the lukewarm waters that flowed from Hierapolis the church has been contaminated with the minerals of the world. Instead of being salt to the world, the church has become seasoned by the world.
The same attitude that was prevalent in the city of Laodicea, in the market, in the town square etc… is the same attitude prevalent in the church!
Revelation 3:17 “17 You 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.”
The church doesn’t see their error
In every aspect that the city could be prideful, (finances, medical ointment, black wool) Jesus has a greater gift
Gold refined to purity (An idea of suffering and persecution)
Ointment for their eyes so that they could see - they could see their true poverty in Christ’s eyes yet also the true riches awaiting them in Christ’s Kingdom
Pure white linen - the opposite of the black wool that comes from their black sheep and rams, but white linen of robes washed white in the blood of the spotless, unblemished lamb of God.
IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT JESUS IS EXILED FROM THE CHURCH
IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT JESUS IS EXILED FROM THE CHURCH
Revelation 3:20 “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.”
The church is supposed to be worshiping Christ. But, instead, he stands outside and knocks.
This means that there is a promise that is not fulfilled.
Matthew 18:20 “20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.””
If Christ is not in their midst, then the church hasn’t gathered in his name.
They have exiled Christ to the outside.
They have gathered for their own name and their own glory
They are no longer dependent upon Christ
They gather to say LOOK WHAT WE HAVE DONE
LOOK WHAT WE CAN BUY OURSELVES OUT OF
EVEN OUR OWN CITY LIKES US! WE ARE JUST LIKE THEM
Instead of gathering to be led by Christ, the church gathers to uphold everything they can do and everything they have done!
A reminder to me of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 - They Built a NAME for THEMSELVES!
They gather to worship, but they don’t worship Christ. They worship themselves and their TRADITIONS and everything THEY can accomplish
So Christ has been exiled
It was him who founded the church
It was him who died for her
It will be him who returns for his bride
It is him who asks her to be spotless and blameless
How can the church do that when it is HIM they have pushed out?
He says he knocks; but he can tear down the door
Revelation 3:7 “7 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open:”
Yes, he can open the door, but he wishes to be a gentleman for his bride. He can knock down the door, but he will not be coercive or force fellowship with his bride. So, like a gentleman, he will knock.
If anyone hears the knock, and opens the door, he promises fellowship.
NOT AN INDIVIDUAL PROMISE. In context, this is a promise for the church that has lost its way. That Christ knocks, even after being exiled, and if the church hears the knock and lets him back in there will be fellowship.
But, there is even more.
Revelation 3:21 “21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.”
There is a promise that those who conquer, as Christ conquered, will share the throne.
Conquering by giving up status, power, reputation and worldly approval - conquering by giving up your life!
Christ conquered by becoming humble (Philippians 2:5-11). He is asking the boastful, arrogant, church to do the same.
Lord, Reign In Us!
As individuals and as a church we must respond
Where is Christ when we gather?
Do we gather to uphold what we have done and can do?
Do we gather to share how we have been seasoned by the world?
Or DO we gather to be seasoned by Christ to go and season our world?
Do we gather to say OK CHRIST, we want your presence, power, and perspective here?
A call for ALL to respond (Lord, Reign in Us)
If we wish to be the place that accepts Christ in our midst, COME
As individuals, maybe we have lived our lives saying Christ can have Sunday, but the rest of the week is about us. We have exiled Christ from our lives during the week.
It is difficult for a church to decide to allow Christ to remain, or come back into their midst, if the individuals who make up that church do not allow Christ in their midst.
This is NOT me saying we have exiled Christ. I am not willing to say we have, nor am I willing to say we haven’t. This IS me saying, let’s agree NOT to EVER exile Christ from our midst. And, if for some reason we have, let’s agree TOGETHER, to open the door to allow Christ back in. Let’s agree TOGETHER, never to exile Christ.
Let’s agree TOGETHER that every worship service, Sunday school class, small group, kids club group, youth group, and board/committee meeting will be a place where CHRIST is welcome in our midst.
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION
Jude 1:24-25 (NLT) 24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time. Amen!