Christ Detests Self-Sufficiency
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Turn with me to Revelation 3:14-22.
When my parents were out here for Logan’s birthday, they wanted to buy him some Christmas presents as well. Logan loves to swing so they thought it’d be a great idea to buy him a little plastic swing that we can hang up in our garage. Great idea! So they ordered it and it arrived a couple of days before Christmas.
So on the Monday before Christmas I went to Home Depot to get some lag bolts to anchor the swing into the trusses of our garage. But while I was there I was going to pick up a couple of other things. One was a DampRid which gets rid of the moisture in the air. So I went straight for where I knew the lag bolts were and then tried to find where the DampRid was. After a couple of minutes of looking I ended up in the bathroom aisle. I had been down probably 10 aisles at that point. But my determination was still strong.
I had probably passed 15-20 Home Depot employees who would have happily shown me where DampRid was. But no, I was determined to do it on my own. After about 15 minutes I gave up. I finally asked an employee where DampRid was. I was deflated.
Now if Amanda would have been with me, she would have been whispering to me the whole time, “why don’t we just ask somebody?” And the whole time I would’ve said, “I’ve got this. I know where it’s at.”
Amanda does not like when I don’t ask for help, when I won’t admit my need.
And our passage tonight explores Jesus’ rebuke to a self-sufficient church. A church or a Christian who believes they are able to provide for their own needs without help from others.
Christians or churches who believe they are self-sufficient are detestable to Christ. Christ detests self-sufficiency.
So tonight I’m going to give you five reasons why Christ detests self-sufficiency and sprinkled throughout will be some counsel for the self-sufficient.
Let’s begin reading our passage.
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Christ detests self-sufficiency because it…
Denies God as our Truth and Source (vs.14)
Denies God as our Truth and Source (vs.14)
As in each of the letters to the seven churches, a description of Jesus is given. To the Laodiceans, Jesus writes he is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.
What’s beautiful about the book of Revelation is its ties to the Old Testament. In these words, John ties, through the Holy Spirit, what we know about God from the Old Testament to Jesus.
Beginning with calling Jesus the Amen, John reaches back to Isaiah 65:16
16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hid from mine eyes.
Here is a title of God — God of truth. In Hebrew it’s “elohe amen”. Literally the God of Amen. God of Truth = God of Amen.
And this title pairs well with Jesus being called the faithful and true witness which we first see in Revelation 1:5 where Jesus is referred to as the faithful witness.
And when Jesus returns, as Revelation 19:11 states for us, he will be called Faithful and True!
Simple illustration (yes it breaks down)… Back to Home Depot. When I was wandering around Home Depot, I denied those superheros in the orange aprons their opportunity to share truth, to point me in the right direction.
As we’ll see later, this is Jesus. Jesus is the source of truth. Self-sufficiency deceives, but Jesus tells us the truth about ourselves. So when we act self-sufficient we are denying Him and truth.
But not only that, look at the end of verse 14 — “the beginning (ruler) of the creation of God.” These words are not saying that Jesus was God’s first created being. Rather, these verses equate Jesus with God and evoke his rulership alongside God. John 1 and Colossians confirm this truth for us. He creates and sustains everything.
Application: Think for a moment… Self-sufficiency, at its very root, believes it is independent of anyone or anything. Self-sufficiency, and we’ll see this in a moment, is claiming to either have no needs or to be able to meet all your needs by yourself. The very fact that we are created beings should remind us that we are dependent on someone or something.
And that someone is Jesus — the Truth, the Creator, the Ruler. So to the self-sufficient, John begins by reminding that Jesus tells us what’s true about ourselves. He has created us. And He ultimately rules over us.
Christ detests self-sufficiency because it denies God as our Truth and Source. But secondly, Christ detests self-sufficiency because it…
Diminishes our Usefulness. (vs.15-16)
Diminishes our Usefulness. (vs.15-16)
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
As with every other church, Jesus begins with these piercing words — “I know thy works…” This is a truth we should never get away from. God knows your works and will reward or rebuke you accordingly. Unfortunately, rebuke was waiting for the Laodiceans. Their works didn’t prove useful to Jesus. And Jesus gives a historical illustration that the Laodiceans would identify with to prove this.
Ancient Laodicea was situated between the cities of Hieropolis and Colossae. Hieropolis was known for its warm and healing waters while Colossae was known for its cold and invigorating waters. By the time these waters reached Laodicea via aqueducts, it was lukewarm and neither hot nor cold. Some historians come to the conclusion that Laodicea’s water was even foul and tepid.
Here’s the only way I can picture what Jesus is trying to communicate in these verses.
How many of you have been to Florida? In some places in Florida they have what’s called sulfur water. It’s the ground water that is plumbed into houses. It stinks and it doesn’t taste good. When you take a shower to get clean you end up smelling like sulfur. If you tried to boil the water to make tea, it’d taste like sulfur. If you wanted a cold glass of water, you’d have a cold glass of sulfur.
Florida’s sulfer water is not useful. And unfortunately, the Laodiceans were the same way. Jesus’ hope for them was that they’d be either cold (invigorating, encouraging, or refreshing) or hot (healing, hospitable, or kind). That they’d be useful to the king’s causes. But the Laodicean church, as we’ll see in a moment, a very blessed church, settled for being lukewarm, foul, tepid, not useful in the services of the king.
Application: One of the things that excites me about working with kids and teens is their potential. They have barely even scratched the surface of their potential. I get so excited about what our kids and teens can and will do for the Lord. One of the reasons they excite me so much is because they haven’t developed the barrier of self-sufficiency yet. This is why they’re easily influenced and molded. They rely heavily on others, parents, peers, mentors, pastors to help shape and grow them. Once they become adults, life gets hard, culture pushes back, and “reality” sets in. The cares of the world (money, relationships, security, status, lust, etc.) pours water on what was once a passionate flame and zeal for God. What’s left is a hardened, apathetic Christian who is clinging to their self-sufficiency as their last hope.
What’s happened? Those things which the world taught us we needed to be independent or self-sufficient inhibited our usefulness. And God is standing there pleading with you to be either hot or cold, just don’t succumb to being lukewarm. God wants to use you as a refreshing balm to others or a healing spring for even more!
But self-sufficiency ultimately causes us to be vomited out of Jesus’ mouth. Christ detest the self-sufficient.
Next, Christ detests self-sufficiency because it…
Distorts our Spiritual Vision (vs.17-18)
Distorts our Spiritual Vision (vs.17-18)
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Laodicea was a wealthy city that dealt in banking, black wool/textiles, and medicine. They exported gold, wool, and eyesalve to neighboring cities. They were independent of others. Even after an earthquake in AD60, they refused financial aid from the Roman government to rebuild their city. Laodicea was a people committed to their independence.
Their material sufficiency affected their spiritual sufficiency.
When others looked at Laodicea they saw what the Laodiceans saw — they were rich, increased with goods, and had need of nothing. When God looked down at Laodicea, He saw — they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. The exact opposite of what Laodicea portrayed.
There’s an important theological term I’d like to highlight under this point. It’s the theology of need.
Friends, Regardless of how we fair in this life, we all stand before God wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. To everyone in this room, we all stand before God with immense need.
We’re wretched and miserable. If you’ve begun reading the Bible through this year and started in Genesis, you’ve already come across this truth. Genesis 6:5-6
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Even the “good” that we think we can offer to God is only viewed as filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Self-sufficiency tells us we are rich, increased with goods, and have need of nothing. The Gospel tells us we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Self-sufficiency distorts our spiritual vision. Self-sufficiency ultimately distorts the Gospel.
The Laodicean’s condition sounds eerily similar to Jesus’ indicting words to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27-28
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Self-sufficiency ultimately seeks to hide our need. True Christianity seeks to reveal and relinquish our need to the one who already knows we need him and the one who can take care of any physical, spiritual, or emotional need we may have. This is the counsel Christ gives to the self-sufficient.
John’s language here in verse 18 echoes that of an earlier prophet, Isaiah. I want to read a couple verses from Isaiah 55:1-7
1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, And he that hath no money; Come ye, buy, and eat; Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, And let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, Even the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, A leader and commander to the people. 5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, And nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee Because of the Lord thy God, And for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
The Laodiceans are convinced they have become wealthy, but in reality they need to obtain their wealth from Jesus. The Laodiceans are convinced they’re clothed, but in reality they need to be clothed in righteousness only Jesus provides. The Laodiceans are convinced they see clearly, but in reality they need their vision corrected by Jesus.
As John counsels and Isaiah pleads, Seek ye the Lord, Return to the Lord.. He is merciful and he will abundantly pardon!
Application: To the unbeliever, you may have never confessed your self-sufficiency to the Lord. Your greatest need is to be cleansed of your sin. You sin separates you from God and damns you to eternal life in hell. But thanks be to God for He is merciful and abundantly pardons those who repent of their self-sufficiency and confess their need to God.
To the believer: None of us are exempt from being self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency often hides behind good things. Experience, longevity in the faith, theological knowledge, ministry involvement, or moral consistency can quietly replace daily dependence on Christ. Ask honestly: What makes me feel spiritually secure apart from Jesus today? Like Laodicea, believers can appear rich spiritually while being inwardly impoverished. Faithful attendance, visible service, and doctrinal correctness do not automatically equal spiritual sight. We never graduate from being poor, blind, and naked apart from Christ. Healthy believers are not those with the least need, but those most aware of it.
But to those who continue in their self-sufficiency, Christ has words for you and for the Laodiceans:
Reason #4 is (and these last two will go quickly)… Christ detests self-sufficiency because it…
Invites Christ’s Rebuke (vs.19)
Invites Christ’s Rebuke (vs.19)
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Here’s the good news and bad news. Christ loves His church. But Christ also rebukes the self-sufficient.
Christ’s message to the Laodiceans is the same as Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia — repent of any action, attitude, or lifestyle that is contrary to God’s character, especially self-sufficiency.
Like a father who lovingly corrects harmful behavior in his kids, so the Son of Man lovingly rebukes his church for their self-sufficiency.
12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
As we are raising Logan, it’s my hope that as he matures that he develops into an independent, productive member of society. That’s one of our hopes as we raise Logan. Yet, our heavenly Father desires the opposite. As we grow and mature as Christians, we grow into dependence on Christ. The exact opposite of how we tend to function.
This is the counsel that he gives to the Laodiceans. Repent of your self-sufficiency and apathy. Zealously depend on Christ.
Application: Maybe you need these straightforward words. Invite someone into your life. Ask them, how do you think I may be complacent or self-sufficient? How could my zeal for Christ be better?
And finally, and perhaps the saddest reason of them all… Christ detests self-sufficiency because it…
Displaces Christ from our Lives (vs.20)
Displaces Christ from our Lives (vs.20)
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Picture with me what John is trying to get across. The church is gathered on Sunday. They’re sitting in their pews, reading their Bibles, listening to the preaching, perhaps even preaching and giving. Christ however, is standing at the doors in the back patiently knocking and waiting to be let in. Yet no one lets him in. The very one the church is gathering to worship and proclaim is situated outside of her gatherings.
Paul writes about this on an individual level in Galatians 3:3
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
The self-sufficient have depended on Christ for salvation, but have foolishly dismissed him from the rest of their lives. Christians (followers of Christ) living without Christ. Self-sufficiency is antithetical to what it means to be a Christian. To be a Christian is to have Christ at the center of our lives, not outside.
But here’s the counsel: let Christ in. If you’re self-sufficient, open the door. Invite Christ to rule your life. Christ’s words provoke fellowship not judgment. Christ stands at the door waiting to have a meal with you.
To the believer: None of us are exempt from being self-sufficient. Here are several ways this may show up in your life: There is little longing for worship, prayer, or the Word because life feels spiritually manageable. Spiritual disciplines feel optional instead of essential. Ministry is done through skill and routine rather than prayerful reliance on God. Sin is explained away rather than confessed. We become slow to repent and quick to defend ourselves. Past faithfulness or years in church replace present dependence on Christ. “I’ve been a Christian a long time” becomes a source of security. The Bible is read for information, inspiration, or teaching others, but not to be confronted or changed.
Unbelievers, the message of this verse it true for you as well. Christ wants to save you. Christ wants to enter your life. But he will only come in if you allow him. Often we talk about receiving Christ into your heart. This is what we mean.
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
Christ ends the letter to the Laodiceans with a powerful promise.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
To those who repent of their self-sufficiency and zealously depend on Christ, their is a promise of future reign. But notice. It’s not we will reign by ourselves. It’s not we’ll rule over our own country. What does it say? “will I grant to sit with me in my throne.” We will reign with Christ.
Christ invites us to into his reign. All he asks is for us to invite him into our lives.
Similarly to my opening illustration, and I have permission to share this, Amanda went to Walmart several times during the week of Christmas. Now normally Amanda and I do our grocery shopping together. But these times it was a little different. She went by herself. Anyway… There were some items (oreos and sage) that she could not reach. Now if it were me, I’d climb on the shelves trying to get to the items out of reach. But Amanda just calmly asked someone in the aisle to help her. No big deal. No shame.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
