Where is Jesus? 3:14-22 F.R.O.G

Background:

Jesus instructing John to write to the angel of the church in Laodicea, possibly to the leaders of the church, whatever way Jesus is wanting to communicate something to this specific church just like the churches before and after.

What is significant about these 7 churches?

Jesus reveals Laodicea’s problem. The problem is they think they have it all together, they are wealthy and rich and don’t need anything, yet as my study bible puts it and the way Jesus breaks it down is they are: spiritually blind, bankrupt, naked, lukewarm. You see all though the Laodicean church says they are all good and do not need anything, Jesus reveals that they are blind, and He tells them to buy from Him, to be dressed in white, and ointment for their eyes so that they may see. Jesus is saying to return to Him, repent, stop going through the motions, stop trying to be seen, and look and see that I am at the door.

Then Jesus says to the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with Him on His throne. Listen to what the Spirit of God says. Which leads me to the question:

How do we conquer? Justin that is a weird question. What do you mean?

Well Jesus told the church whoever conquers will be given right to sit with Him, to be with Him. That is significant! That is an amazing honor. If Jesus was writing that to the church of Laodieca what does that mean to us? Whether this is a specific promise to directed only to the Laodiecan Church or to all believers I don’t know, but what I do know is that all of the churches Jesus sends messages too all have a different promise. What I also know is that all believers no matter what time or age they have been in, all have been given promises by God that are for all believers and to be the one who conquers is to receive that which God has promised.

So I don’t know about you but I want to be a conquerer just as Christ conquered.

So how do we conquer? Maybe better said practically, how do we remain faithful to Christ and obedient.

I believe Jesus gives us the key:

Look to Jesus, listen to His voice, and open the door.

Look to Jesus!

Again going back to the problem of the Laodicean Church is they thought they had it all and did not need anything. They were wealthy and full of pride and thought they had it all together, but Jesus reveals they were spiritually blind and He tells them to repent so that they can see clearly, and He wanted them to see where He was. He was outside the door. He was not inside, He was wanting to dine with them but He was outside. So the question for you and your life,

Where is Jesus?

Are you a believer, but have been distracted by all the things in life that you need to do or you feel like you have no need for Him so you have bumped him out of the center of your life and He is just on the outskirts of everything you have going on in you world. You believe in Him, but your fellowship with Him has been off and you aren’t really sure why? Look and see where He is. Is he your priority? You say Justin my job, marriage, family, friendships, serving, the church is my priority those are all good, and should definitely be a priority but not the main priority. Jesus is the main priority In fact, when Jesus is the main priority I believe you will be a better and more faithful, boss or worker, husband or wife, Father, mother, daughter, son, friend, servant, and a part of the church. Where is Jesus?

Maybe you aren’t a believer, you’ve never really cared for Jesus being the center of your life because you like doing your own thing. You think following Jesus is all about the rules and that He is some egotistical God and besides things are going alright in life. SO you’re wonder what is the point things are going nice the way they are, or if there was a God things would be better than they are right now. My encouragement to you would just to again look and see where Jesus is at? Maybe you have had a hard time seeing him because of the “success” or pain, or just from the things of this world like money, sex, drugs, success, and if you would ask Him to open your eyes you would see that He has had His hand reaching out to you to help, calling to you saying that He loves you, even giving evidence of His death, burial, and resurrection so that you can know how much He thinks and cares of you. Where is Jesus?

Would you just consider for a moment asking God that question? Where are you, Lord? God would you help me to see you?

These are questions I have asked myself when I am caught up in all the notifications, and all the things to do that I just don’t want to do anything anymore. I’m tired, I don’t feel God, He seems distant, and I’ve gotten in to His word but it just seems like my meetings with Him has been off.

I think part of this is because we, l, just make our time with Jesus, just like any other meeting, meet with Him for 5mins to an hour and then we let Him out of our house, and we go on our way doing our own thing and then just only meet with Him this way. We control our schedules and make Jesus a part of it, when Jesus should be in control and we should be seeking Him, asking Him, inviting Him, and listening to Him throughout our day: at school, work, home, the doctors office, the park, the game field, the restaurant.

We’ve got to get to the place where we understand and see that without Him we are nothing, just like the Laodiceans. We are spiritually blind, bankrupt, naked, lukewarm without Him. So Look. See where Jesus is in your life. IF He’s not the center invite Him in. If He’s not even a part, say God I need you.

Look to Jesus!

Listen to His voice!

Jesus said if anyone hears my voice… Are you listening to God? What is He saying? The same things could be said here as we did with look but are you so distracted or defeated that you are missing out on what He says?

Jesus then says let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says…

Are you reading His word? Are you reading His word just to check off a box? or Are you wanting to hear from God?

God tells us truth! God tells us what we need to hear! God tells us who we are! God tells us directions! God gives us instructions! God encourages us! God strengthens us! God wants to lead your life through the ups and downs, the successes and failures, every season and stage of your life, God wants the best for you and wants to walk with you! We see in this passage I love how He made it relational. He was to come in and eat, dine, or sup with you. God wants a personal relationship with you and a relationship with Him, is life-giving, refreshing, enjoyable, and if it is not something is off. That doesn’t mean there aren’t difficult moments, and everything is perfect, but it means, you know He is with you in difficulty, He is who you want when things are painful or you feel rejected, He uplifts your downcast/depressed Spirit. He calms and gives peace to your anxious heart and mind.

One of the things I find myself doing at a lot of different time during the day is singing. When I’m happy I sing, when I’m anxious I sing, when I’m bored I sing, and there are moments when I’m singing a song and God really begins to let the lyrics that I’m singing sink in and it reminds me of who He is and how great He is, and it leads to worship and inspires my heart to meet with Him and hear from Him.

I don’t tell you that to say that singing is what is going to help you, but that God intervenes, even by giving you thought, or helping you remember something, He speaks often in different ways, and when He speaks it is always aligned with His truth/His word.

So listen.

Open the Door.

Jesus says open the door, and I will come in to Him and eat with Him, and he with me.

You can look and see, you can evaluate where Jesus is in life, you can even hear his voice, but if you do not open the door He will not come in. He will not force His way in. A question that comes to mind is why wouldn’t we let Him in?

If He is this perfect God, almighty, gives life to our very souls, why would we not let Him in?

There may be a couple of reasons.

One pride, this may be the core of it all but we either think we know better, we want our way, or we don’t want Jesus to see who we really are.

I mean Jesus told the Laodiceans, some translations put it this way, that they were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Being naked back in the beginning with Adam and Eve connected to shame. They saw their nakedness and felt shame. So maybe that is it. We don’t want Jesus telling us what to do or we don’t want Him to see who we really are. Which is kind of ironic because He is the only one that knows who we really are and gives us an invitation to help, rescue, and save. No body else, if they knew who we really are, the bad parts of us, the thoughts we have is coming to our door to meet with us. People would probably run if they knew all of our sin, nasty thoughts, and struggles, but Jesus didn’t and He doesn’t now. Jesus is at the door, not pounding on it demanding you to open, He knocks and wants to have a meal. He wants to have relationship with you.

So do not resist. Open the door.