Rev 3:14-22

Intro

“I DO IT”

Growing up is the process of moving from dependance to independence

Some of you know this, you have adult children who are independent and have their own kids

Some of you know how hard this can be when it doesn’t work out, and you are filling out your taxes wondering if they can increase the age of dependent adult children

If you’ve had kids you probably remember that transition from dependance to independence…Sometimes its hard…Like they used to need me so much!

They go through this stage where when they are really little they start saying all the time: “I do it”

I mean it is great, its how they learn, they want to imitate their parents

But as their parents you know there are things that are kind of dangerous for kids

I remember when Emma was like still in diapers she really wanted to use her mom’s curling iron

And we would tell her, its hot, its dangerous and she was always like…”Its ok, I do it”

My kids used to want to help do the dishes…They would want to get all soapy and help out and it was so much fun…There was like a full on flood in the kitchen when we were done….Now that they are teenagers they hate dishes, but they do them…Because we are moving them toward independence…

In America we have this cultural streak that defines us…

It is independence…self determination….It is defined by The American dream…you work hard and you make a life for yourself and your family…You go from nothing to something…You have the good life, because you made it that way…

and independence is a good thing, but it can trick you into believing that you are in control of your life

Independence is a good thing, but there is a reason why you dont let your toddler use a hot curling iron

Independence is impotrant

Part of parenting is to train our kids in such a way that they can thrive in independence…To make good decisions on their own

Part of good parenting is to show our kids that the most impotrant way of using your independence is to live in dependance on the Lord.

So as you keep this in mind…

But also…Let’s review for a second, because this is the last of the seven churches…And the entire book of Revelation is addressed to these Seven churches

There was Ephesus: that lost it’s first love

There was Smyrna that kept faith under pressure

There was Pergamum who was engaged in a battle for the mind

There was Thyatira who God was Jealous for and who had been lead into spiritual adultery

There way the church in Sardis who looked alive but was really dead, they utterly lacked mission!

There was Philadelphia which took advantage of every opportunity…

And today we turn to the last church, the church of Laodicea

And before we even get there, I want to help you understand the culture surrounding Laodicea

It was a city that just like Philadelphia before them was destroyed by an earthquake. When the Roman government came in with offers of financing to rebuild, the city was so vastly wealthy that they declined help, and it rebuilt the city, with its own funds in an even more prominent and luxurious way than before.

It was a city that was defined by their wealth, and by the way, the Bible never calls wealth bad…But it points out all the dangers of it

It can become a false idol

It can deceive you

Loving it can become the root of all evil

Those who love it tend to put money before people

And the biggest thing of all is that wealth has the capacity to trick you into believing “I do it” Just like a toddler….

So let’s get into this letter today:

Revelation 3:14–15 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

Saying these are the words of the “amen” comes out of Isaiah 65, where God is called the God of the Amen..

For us in English, Amen doesn’t mean more than the period at the end of a prayer

But for the Hebrew mind, saying “Amen” was like saying, this is utterly true and trustworthy, it is a foundation on which to build.

And then Jesus says he is the ruler of all of creation, which is another way of Jesus saying, that he is the foundation of creation and the creator of the heavens and the earth…

Now why is this important?

Well Paul wrote a letter to Laodicea which is lost today…but he also wrote a letter to the church in Colossi

Colossians 4:16 ESV

And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

So we know that the letter to the Colossians was written also for the benefit of Laodicea

And lets look at one of these most famous introductions from Colossians…

Colossians 1:15–17 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

We know that this was turned into a bit of a song and that early church’s sang…

You see what Jesus is doing here he is reminding his church of what they had previously learned and apparently forgotten…

Sometimes learning something new is just relearning something you’ve previously forgotten!

That Jesus was the foundation

That Jesus was the ruler of God’s creation

Jesus is approaching his church in Laodicea, saying remember I am the revelation of the father

I am the absolute truth

What Jesus was reminding his church was that everything in the universe has the stamp of Jesus on it…

That the personality and the way of Jesus is stamped in our veins

When the New Testament says that you were predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ…It simply means that we were created to be like him, that everything is functioning right when we are conformed to God’s image in our life!

So the reason why this is important is because when Jesus says

“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.”

It is almost a way of saying…Remember that letter that was written to you? Remember that I am the Amen! The foundation of all life?

This greeting wasn’t just a simple greeting, It was done to help the church remember the power of Jesus

The greeting to this church was specifically to remind the church of their dependance on Jesus

Its a reminder that, Hey Leodecia…This idea that you can do everything apart from Jesus is false and it is going to be your downfall…

Revelation 3:15–16 ESV

“ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

CS Lewis observed that there were 3 responses to Jesus “Hatred, terror and adoration, but there was never mild approval”

See Jesus is nauseated by this church, because of their Luke warmness or “mild Approval”

The original Greek here doesn’t say, I am going to spit you out of my mouth, it says, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth…

See the town of Laodicea was known for their nasty water supply

Laodicea lacked a natural water supply and there was a system of pipes that brought this water in from another town and by the time it got to Laodicea it was nasty and dirty…

It was literally lukewarm water that induced vomiting in some people

Jesus said I wish you were either hot or cold..

So the old school understanding of this statement is that Jesus wants us either spiritually on fire for him or spiritually cold

But many people have pushed back on this saying…What would Jesus want people who are spiritually cold for him, that doesn't male sense

So the way this was taught kind of back in the day was hey either be a missionary or an atheist but there is no in between.

But this just isn’t true…

Jesus doesn’t want people to be spiritually cold! We have to remember that what Jesus is doing is using a metaphor…he is talking about the water, something that is actually there!

So just 6 miles away in the town of Hieraapolis was natural hot springs that people would frequently travel to because of the medicinal and healing qualities of the water

Just down the road in Colossae, they had natural cold springs which were perfect for drinking and they were refreshing…

So Jesus is telling this church, I wish you showed some kind of spiritual fervor…either a hot and healing fervor or a cold crisp and refreshing fervor…not just this nasty mild approval of me!

This church reminds me a little of the church in Ephesus…

Jesus did not rebuke them for bad theology…They simply treated their relationship with Jesus in a casual way…

The church in Laodicea was casual in their relationship with Jesus

And if Jesus really is the AMEN…The foundations of the universe, how can we be casual with Jesus?

And see when we treat our relationship with Jesus in a casual way then we are neither providing refreshment for the spiritually weary nor healing for the spiritually sick, When we have a casual relationship with Jesus we are ineffective

When we have a casual relationship with Jesus, our needs overshadow the needs of others…

See Jesus is calling people Lukewarm that are in his church!

Good Christian people that come every week

He is not talking to people who don’t come to church, he is talking to people who claim to love Jesus but barley follow him…

Those people then, would be the equivalent of us today…Sitting in church!

See the challenge is that they grew so independent, Their massive wealth deceived them into believing that they were fine

They didn't need to be dependent on the Lord

And Jesus Continues

Revelation 3:17–18 ESV

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

This next section also speaks to the town’s condition…

Laodicea was known as a rich town…and this church was probably more than likely rich, famously rich…

And see the dangerous thing about money and maybe some of you know this from experience, is that it looks good but unless you really know how to handle it, it is dynamite!

Knowing how to handle dynamite you can do incredibly amazing things like make tunnels, someone who knows dynamite, and is precise with it, can lay down a skyscraper exactly where they want…

I know of a church in Newport beach where there is a men’s group who gets together and they are amazing retired stock market people…People who have become famously wealthy…They get to gether for breakfast a few times a week and in their past time, they all threw a few thousand extra into the market and they have found a way to make huge amounts of money and then they just give it away…Single moms….families where someone is laid off…A college student who can’t pay their tuition…They have said…

See the defining thing is that they use money for God’s glory

They are not consumed by money

Being wealthy isn't a problem biblically…

Except for when it blinds you into thinking that your fine on your own

Except for when money becomes your god…

My point is some people know how to handle dynamite….

But when the average knucklehead gets his hands on dynamite they will blow their hands off!

By the way this is one of the reasons why I speak on money on a regular basis, it isn’t because as a church we need a private jet or anything crazy like that, but it is a spiritual issue…

We talk about tithing as a an act of worship as a declaration that money doesn’t own you!

and this is why the offering is a time of worship, because you are saying, lord, this doesn’t own me, you do

Wealth has the capacity to trick us into believing that we are doing well spiritually and that our lives don’t need a savior

I want us to get this

Money is great as a tool that you control, but when it controls you, you have the church of Laodicea! A lukewarm group of people who care for themselves more than others…that’s what the love of money will do!

So the chief industries of Laodicea

Banking

Medical

Fashion

And Jesus says, But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful: poor, blind and naked

Poor…wait we are bankers

Blind? What we are pharmacist here

Naked? Come on we make the best clothes here

All this stuff you’ve got going on the outside…you think you have it together…Jesus sees you how you really are…

He see’s through the front…he see’s through the façade…he can sniff out the fakeness!

So what does he tell his church…Get your provision from me!

Revelation 3:19–20 ESV

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

See what Jesus is saying to his church, I love you! I rebuke you, I discipline you, because I love you, there are some uses of the word rebuke that mean “to honor”

There is a proverb that has gone out of style in modern times but it is along the same lines as what Jesus says

Proverbs 13:24 ESV

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Jesus is speaking some harsh words of discipline to this church and its not because he hates this church

It is because he loves this church and wants the very best for it

Jesus wants this church to return to its dependence on him

Rather than the “I CAN DO IT” mentality

So he is being harsh, on purpose

And Jesus is saying Look I stand at the door and knock

You’ve probably seen the classic picture, of Jesus standing at the door and knocking, and there is no door knob on the outside

Graphic 1: Classic

There is no door knob…European Jesus is just there patiently knocking

Graphic 2: Joke Image

Obviously this is a joke, but it makes a point…

He isn’t going to break the door down…rough you up, make you follow him

He loves you, he would never override your sense of choice and free will

But this gets to an even deeper point…

The root cause of lukewarmness is the exclusion of Jesus

He is outside…and he is telling this church hey I am out there

It is as simple and tragic as that…That after a while…the church in Laodicea said…”Its okay I’ve got this”

And Jesus doesn’t go where he is not wanted

When Jesus says, I will come and eat with you, we have to understand that this was a 1st century way of saying, I will make a new covenant with you…\

And I want you to get an even deeper and more tragic view of this verse, behold I stand at the door and knock…

The paintings depict a single family home…

But this letter is written to a church…Well churches met in homes…

So what Jesus is saying here is you are showing up to church and singing songs and reading the Bible and eating but you are so engrossed in your safe lives that you are living in such a way that no faith is required

When Jesus looks at his church and calls it Pitiful…and then knocks…we have to look at that as a sign of hope…

That even when we display mild approval of Jesus…Even when we exclude Jesus…that he takes pity on us!

That he is available right outside that door to invite us to open it to him

This is what Jesus is saying by knocking on the door…I don’t care how far you’ve strayed…You’ve even excluded me…

But I still want to have a relationship with you and I will make you a new promise! I will share with you all who I am

This is good news before we believed…and this is good news for those of us who may have excluded Jesus…

Revelation 3:21–22 ESV

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

The very next picture we get of Jesus is on his throne by the way…The throne is the context in which we will see the rest of the book of Revelation…and Jesus says…when you are with me…you can reign with me! WOW, you can sit on my throne with me!

So maybe your here today and your life is defined by the independent streak…I can do it all by myself…I don’t need anyone or anything else…I’ll manage my own life….Then you are on a dangerous path…the path to excluding Jesus.

Jesus is knocking on your door

Maybe you’re here today and your relationship with Jesus has just grown casual and you are thinking…God light that fire in me again! Way down deep in my soul…

You may have never turned the handle…You know that you are spiritually bankrupt, naked and blind…Blessed are you! You know what Jesus offers…Open the door and he will come in!

Or maybe you’ve opened the door a while ago but for whatever reason you’ve excluded Jesus. That is why it feels empty, stale and dry…Welcome him back home, open the door, he will come in

There is only one remedy for lukewarmness and that is to re-admit the excluded Jesus

Response

So today we have set up communion stations. Because what Jesus said is that if you open the door, he will eat with you

What meal is Jesus famous for?

What meal do you think Jesus wants to have with his church?

Eating this mean is a declaration that you can not do it all on your own

That you live by the body and the blood of Jesus

Today I want to invite you to get up from your seats and to receive the meal of Jesus.

I want to invite you to repent where you need to repent…To confess, Jesus I have excluded you!

Help me to open the door to my life.