The Judge of the Church

Intro: Many years ago Tupac Shakur said “Only God can judge me.” That was a bold statement, but it carries a deep truth that only Jesus is qualified to Judge. He is the Judge of the Church and He found Laodicea without any commendation, and He issued an condemnation, it was useless, self dependent, and deceived.... But in His love He offered them counsel and called them to open up to Him.

CPS: Jesus is the judge of E.B.C. as well and I wonder what He thinks about us.

I. The Lord’s Condemnation (14-17)

The true and faithful witness, creator of the universe says “I know thy works.” To know (7x, each church) is the idea of seeing. To “have seen” something in the past becomes “to know” in the present. Your works (ergon), acts, deeds (NASB),

“I know all the things you do!” It has been rightly said you can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the times, but you can fool God at no time. Jesus knows, and He issues a condemnation of the church, that is the expression of very strong disapproval.

Jesus knew the Church at Laodicea was:

A. Lukewarm

Lukewarm is the Adj. (chliaros) it means to be between hot and cold, to be tepid. Tepid means to show little Enthusiasm. They didn't have zeal for their Lord and Savior! They weren't whole hearted in their devotion and service.

ILL: The old British Pastor, William Sangster had an eccentric member in his church who tried to be a zealous Christian. Unfortunately the man was mentally deficient and usually did the wrong things. While working as a barber, he lathered a man for a shave, came at him with a poised razor, and asked. “Are you prepared to meet your God? The frightened man fled with lather on his face!

We must be zealous for our Lord. He says “I wish you were cold or hot.” Wish is better translated “Oh How I Wish!” In order to understand what Jesus is saying we must look at the historical context of Laodicea in regards to their drinking water, because Jesus does not desire you to be cold, he desires usefulness! Laodicea was a rich and affluent city but it didn’t have its own water source. 15 miles to the southeast and stationed at the base of a, 8k foot mountain was Colossae. From that mountain flowed Delicious ice cold drinking water. 6 miles to the north was Hierapolis, a resort town known for its many hot mineral springs, good for bathing and soaking! But Laodicea piped its water through aqueducts from a hot spring 6 miles to the south, Modern examination of the pipes discovered large mineral deposits in the pipes, indicating that the water was heavily mineral laden and by the time it reached the city lukewarm, hence it was not tasty and nauseating. The people of Laodicea had a distaste for their water, AND Jesus says: “Were you hot For bathing or cold for drinking, you would be useful; but as it is, I feel toward you the way you feel toward your water supply—you make me sick.”

B. Lacking Dependence

“I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” but Jesus says. “Without Me ye can do nothing (Jn. 15:5).

Laodicea was the wealthiest city in the region. After the terrible Earthquake of 60 (AD) which demolished the region, unlike all the other cities, Laodicea refused assistance from Rome to rebuild, they were self sufficient. It seems the world crept into the church and Jesus condemns them for their lack of dependence on Him.

a. Reliance on Riches. (Banking)(Cicero)

b. Reliance on Raiment. (Raven black wool… sleeved tunics, hooded cloaks, carpets.)

c. Reliance on Remedies. (Eye and Ear Salve)

C. Living in Deception

They lived in self deception, thinking everything was well because they were rich and full. They thought God’s hands of blessings were were on them, but were blinded by their pride and unable to see that they were bankrupt. Spiritually bankrupt.

Jesus said, “knowest not” that thou art wretched, miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked! Rich in the world but poor in the Lord, had medically clear vision but spiritually blind, clothed in fine garments but naked and exposed before God!

And today, I wonder what Jesus sees when He looks upon us and it would likey hurt my heart to hear what He says about us!

II. The Lord’s Counsel (18-19)

It is a beautiful thought to look upon Jesus’ unconditional and undeserved love for us. Its like the love of a wonderfully faithful husband towards his adulterous wife. Its like Hosea who redeemed his unfaithful prostitute of a wife for 15 pieces of silver, 5 bushels of barley, and a measure of wine (Hos. 3:2). How much more did Jesus pay to redeem us, with His life’s blood!

The reason for Jesus’ condemnation of the Church at Laodicea was because He loved them! “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline!” I CORRECT!

Because of Jesus’ love He gives them counsel. Counsel (V) (symbouleuomai) means to advise, to give consultation.

Jesus’ counsel is to have:

A. Faith

As a banking community Laodicea was flush with gold, but Jesus says, “buy pure gold from Me, refined by me and then you will truly be rich! In the Bible faith is at times referenced as being like fine gold (1 Pet. 1:7). The idea is that God is melted and the impurities that rise to the top are removed and what is left behind is of purer quality.

Wealth often times isn't a blessing but a trial, will you over come the temptation to trust in your riches. Laodicea had opportunity and failed.

Now, this gold (faith) that Jesus is advising them to buy can’t be bought with money, only trust. Faith means to trust, it is the idea of trusting Jesus will all that you are and with all that you have. They had been trusting their gold but it was time they trusted Jesus!

B. Righteousness

Laodicea was renown for their Raven Black Wool and the trendy apparel produced with it. They were perhaps the most dapperly dressed community in the Roman Empire, but they needed white raiment.

But they had soiled their beautiful garments (Rev. 3:4), and In their worldly wear they were naked before God and man and in need of the , the righteousness of God. Their black wool needed to be cleansed whiter than snow and only Jesus can provide that.... by grace through faith (2 Cor. 5:21).

ILL: As the old hymn goes: “Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe. Sin has left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Are you wearing the garments of Christ or are you living in sin, unfortunately saved people can live in sin but the Bible tells us.... 1 John 1:9, we can be cleansed of all unrighteousness (which brings us the final counsel)

C. Repentance

They needed to buy heavenly eye salve so that they can see with spiritual eyes that Jesus loves them and desires that they have zeal for the Lord and that they Repent of their sins. Repent (v) (metanoeō) is a change of mind that leads to a change of heart, leading to a change in direction. The Church at Laodicea needed to change their direction and turn their heart back to the Lord Jesus!

ILL: It was bright Sunday morning in 18th century London, but Robert Robinson’s mood was anything but sunny. All along the streets people were hurrying to church, but in the midst of the crowd Robinson was a lonely man. As the Church bells rang in distance he was reminded of his once fiery faith in God. But it had been years since he stepped foot in a church and his passion for the Lord slowly burned out of him and all he felt on the inside was darkness and cold.

Robinson was startled by “clip-clop” of a horse-drawn cab behind him. He waved the driver past but the lady occupant ordered the carriage to be stopped. The lady was dressed in her Sunday best and she said, “Sir I’d be happy to share this carriage with you, are you going to church?” He was about to decline but paused and said “Yes I am.” He sat down beside the young lady and they exchanged introductions. There was a flash of recognition in her eyes when he stated his name. She reached into her purse while saying , “Thais a interesting coincidence” pulling a out a small book of inspirational verses, she opened it to a ribbon-bookmark and handed the book to him. She said I read this poem just this morning and it was written by a poet name Robert Robinson. “Could it be...... He nodded yes and said “I wrote these words years ago.” She was elated and he hardly heard her excitement, as he read the words that would day be set to music and become a great hymn of faith.

“Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace’ Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.” His eyes slipped to the bottom of the page where he read: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.”

He could barely read the last lines as tears flowed down his face. The lady suddenly understood. She said, “You also wrote, ‘Here’s my heart, O take and seal it.” You can offer your heart again to God, Mr. Robinson its not too late. And it wasn’t. In that moment he turned his heart back to God and walked with Him the rest of his days.

It wasn’t too late for Robert Robinson, and it wasn’t too late for the Laodiceans, and its not to late for us!

III. The Lord’s Call (20-22)

It is wonderful to know that in spite of the travesty of this church Jesus loved them enough to call the to repentance and invites them to let Him in once more.

A. Open

Verse 20 may by the one of the saddest and misused verses in the Bible. Many use this verse evangelically but it is written to the church not the lost. The travesty is that Jesus loved the church and gave Himself up for her (Eph. 5:25), but is found on the outside knocking to get in.

Though Jesus loved the church and died for her, He had been left out in the cold. But He knocks and calls out “ honey..... open the door!” We must ask ourselves today, have we left Jesus out.

But to whoever hears and opens the door a marvelous reunion takes a place, and Jesus invites them to His table, one of the most intimate signs of friendship in the ancient middle east.

B. Overcome

Jesus call is also to be an overcomer! Believer's are overcomers, and we must overcome the temptation to be Lukewarm (without zeal and useless), self dependent, and we must over self deception. We must always remember who Christ is, the one who loved us and died for us; and who we are, His beloved and co-heirs of His kingdom.

Con. Today Jesus is speaking to us through His word.... his message is I know you, examine yourself and repent. At times our church feels so dead, have we left Jesus out. Don’t leave Him out in the cold let Him in, He is our Lord and Savior..... who today will open up and let Him in?