I BELIEVE --- AMEN & AMEN

Join with me as we read The Apostles’ Creed. I would like to do it a little differently today. I would like to add the word “AMEN” at the end of each line…. but first, a quick review from last week on what “AMEN” means. In the Hebrew language the word “amen” means “so it is” or “let it be,” derived from a verb meaning “to be firm or sure, to be reliable, to believe in or to trust.” In the thirty times that “AMEN” appears in the Old Testament, it precedes a statement and the people are saying that they believe in, put their trust in, they know what was said is reliable and firm. AMEN. The meaning of the Greek word for “amen” is “truth.” The word “Amen” is a word which was used to affirm and to guarantee that a statement was absolutely true and absolutely trustworthy. Jesus is the truth and is absolutely trustworthy. Jesus is the faithful and true witness and the source of the creation of God. Jesus is telling His followers that they can go to the bank on what He is saying. Join with me as we say the CREED together.

The Apostles’ Creed

1. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; --- AMEN!

2. and in Jesus Christ, His only (begotten) Son, our Lord; --- AMEN!

3. who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, --- AMEN!

4. suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; --- AMEN!

He descended into hell; --- AMEN!

5. the third day he rose again from the dead; --- AMEN!

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; --- AMEN!

7. from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. --- AMEN!

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost, --- AMEN!

9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, --- AMEN!

10. the forgiveness of sins, --- AMEN!

11. the resurrection of the body, --- AMEN!

12. and the life everlasting. Amen --- AMEN!.[i]

Sammy Dominic wrote me this week to tell me that when he was in seminary, they taught him the Latin meaning of “AMEN”; it means “Yes Lord” or “Thank you Lord.”

Before we go to God’s Word, let us come to the throne of grace in prayer. “Lord, God You sent Your final ‘Amen’ into this world to speak truth, love and grace into our lives. Your final ‘Amen’ gives us a foundation to build our lives upon. Help us trust the one and only, faithful and true Amen … Jesus Christ—your one and only Son. Amen”

The city of Laodicea was located 100 miles directly east of Ephesus, the last city to which these seven letters in the Revelation were addressed. Laodicea was part of a tri-city area, closely associated with the cities of Hierapolis and Colossae (to which the letter to the Colossians was written.) Laodicea was noted throughout the Roman province of Asia for its wealth, its commercial life, and its medical practice. It was the banking center of Asia, and the most prosperous of the seven cities that were written to in the Revelation. Many large, beautiful homes were built in this city, the ruins of some which are still visible today. Some of these homes were owned by Christians. Laodicea also had a flourishing clothing industry. A particular breed of black sheep was raised around this area, and the glossy, black wool was woven into special clothes that were sold here. The city was noted for its medical practice, especially for its eye and ear salves. The medical cult of Aesculapius was located here. Incidentally, doctors in the military services of the United States still wear the symbol of a staff with entwined serpents around it, the symbol of Aesculapius. Laodicea was thus a kind of Bank of America, Macy's Department Store and Mayo Clinic all rolled into one. Talk about a one-stop place to shop! This will explain some of the references we find in this letter to the church in Laodicea. Let us listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Revelation 3:14-22

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”[ii]

As in each letter to each of the seven churches, Christ introduces himself in a very significant way. His opening description forms the key to what the church needs. "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's creation.” Apparently, the Lord Jesus wanted this church to see him in this role. He was first the “Amen.” We are very familiar with this word. We say it when we close a prayer or when we want to express our agreement with a meaningful statement. AMEN is also a word that Jesus used frequently. In many of the modern versions of the Gospels, Jesus begins many statements with the words “Truly, truly, I say unto you.” The King James Version renders it, “Verily, Verily.” In the actual Greek language, the words are “Amen, Amen.” When Jesus says this, it means that he is saying something extremely important and you can take it to the bank. The meaning of the Greek word is “truth.” The word “Amen” is a word which was used to affirm and to guarantee a statement as absolutely true and absolutely trustworthy. Jesus is the truth and he is absolutely trustworthy. Jesus is the faithful and true witness and the source of the creation of God.

This opening description is important to the church at Laodicea, you see they were neither hot nor cold. The image of them being lukewarm is also a reference to how they received their water. The city of Laodicea had to have their water brought to them by an aqueduct from the hot springs of the city of Hierapolis six miles away. By the time the water arrived from Hierapolis it was lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. The church in Laodicea was also lukewarm. Jesus knew what their problem was. They had no commitment.

I would like for us to think about three images of Christ this morning: the patience of Christ, the plea of Christ and the place of Christ at our table.

In William Holman Hunt’s painting, “The Light of The World,” Christ is holding a lantern and knocking at a door. I had always heard that Christ was knocking at the door of the human heart asking for entrance. But this passage puts a whole new twist on that thought: Christ is knocking on the door of the church. Christ could be knocking on the door of your heart. Christ could be knocking on the door of your home. Christ could be knocking on the door of our church.

Let’s look at the painting and see if we can find some of the rich symbolism in it. As you have heard before, there is no handle on the outside of the door. The reason is that even though Christ desires to come in, he never forces his way in. He must be invited, and the door must be opened from the inside. The decision is ours as to whether Jesus will be allowed in or not. The hinges in the picture are rusted and the bolts are broken. The door is held in place only by vines, which shows that the door has never been used. Jesus is holding a lantern, which points to the fact that He is the light of the world. Outside there is a neglected garden, overgrown with weeds, fruit trees which have not been pruned, and a crop which has been lost because of the lack of tending. There is fruit that has fallen on the ground near the feet of Christ symbolizing Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden, and that all of mankind has fallen from God. There is a bat above the door, a nocturnal creature which loves the night, and it is dark outside, pointing to the truth of the Scripture which says, “This is the verdict: ‘Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.’” (John 3:19).

There is much more but as we see this painting and read the scripture, “Behold I stand at the door and knock,” we need to ask some questions. The first question I ask is: To whom is Christ speaking? I had always thought that Christ was speaking to each individual, and that the door represented each individual’s human heart. Christ was knocking because he wants to come into our hearts and lives. But let’s consider the context. To whom is Jesus speaking in Revelation 3? He is speaking to the church. He is asking for admission into his own church. Apparently, the church has closed the door on him and never answered his knock. Now let’s look at the three P’s of Christ:

1. THE PATIENCE OF CHRIST --- “Behold I stand at the door and knock”

Do you see the great love that God has for us, and for His church, as Jesus patiently stands at the door and knocks and keeps on knocking again and again, over and over, and is still today patiently knocking? Sometimes the knock comes through hardships and difficulties, sickness or death, financial loss or family problems but whatever the case may be, Jesus stands patiently knocking at the door of your heart and the door of his church.

2. THE PLEA OF CHRIST --- “If you hear my voice and open the door”

The plea of Christ is that we would hear His voice. Each letter to the seven churches of Revelation ends with the words, “Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” In the Greek language the word “to hear” meant to obey, to follow through or to act upon what you had just heard. The plea of Christ is for us to hear the sound of his voice as He stands knocking at the door, and for us to open the door wide so that He may come in. Remember, we must open the door from the inside. Christ will not open the door. He will not force Himself upon us. Christ never forces anyone into salvation. Freely He offers salvation to you by grace. Everywhere in Scripture Jesus offers himself to men and women, and he grieves over the fact that many do not receive his free offer. Remember that remarkable scene in the Gospels during Jesus' last week in Jerusalem when he comes over the top of the Mount of Olives and sees the city spread out beneath him? Jesus wept over the rebellious city saying, "O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You stone the prophets and kill everybody God sends to you. How often would I have gathered you as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you would not…" (Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34) Christ wants us to act upon his knocking—he wants us to open the door, to invite him in, to say to him, "Come in, Lord Jesus. Enter my life. Be my Lord. Be my Savior. Deliver me from my sins -- and myself." We could also say, “Come in, Lord Jesus. Enter our church. Be our Lord. Be our Savior. Deliver us from our sins.” Can I get an AMEN on that? AMEN.

3. THE PLACE OF CHRIST AT OUR TABLE --- “I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me”

The third step is very clear. He will enter in! He says so right here. "If you open the door, I will enter in and remain with you. We will eat together and be together." What a beautiful picture of Christ permanently dwelling within you. He will move in to live with you. The actual word for “eat” here is the Greek word “deipneo” which refers to the evening meal or supper. Supper was the main meal of the day. Breakfast was a slice of dry bread dipped in wine. Lunch was seldom eaten at home. But supper was the time to sit down and fellowship in the home after the work of the day was done. Supper meant a time of intimacy and relationship, sharing and fellowship--it was called communion. This is not a mere courtesy visit that Christ is promising. He desires to come in and sit down and spend a long time in communion, in conversation, with us. This is the place that Christ desires at our table; a table filled with intimacy, sharing and communion. Jesus patiently stands at the door and knocks; his plea is that we would hear His voice and open the door so that He could take his place at the table.

So What?

I would like for us to close this summer series on the Apostles’ Creed with the last words from the Bible. Our last reading comes with an invitation and warning. Are you thirsty? Then come! Listen for God’s Word to us today!

Revelation 22:17-22

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.[iii]

After 12 long, hot weeks, the invitation is simply, “Come! Let anyone who hears say … Come.” The invitation is to all who are thirsty. I don’t know about you but these past 70 days of 90 degrees or higher have had me pretty thirsty. I can totally imagine this verse this morning.

“So what?” is it that you believe about God the Father? What is it that you believe about Jesus? What is that you believe about the Holy Spirit? What is that you believe about the church and the communion of the saints? What is that you believe about forgiveness? What is that you believe about the resurrection and life everlasting?

This past week has been a hard week in ministry. Actually, it’s been the most intense month of ministry I’ve ever had. I’ve sat at the bedside of a person who is preparing to go and meet Jesus. She wanted to bless her four grandchildren before she went home, and we’ve been meeting and planning and we were able to complete her plan this week. There’s a second person I’ve been visiting regularly who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This man is a longtime friend and a coworker in the ministry with me. He is a retired surgeon. Every week, I go and sit with him. Sometimes other doctors and friends come by when I am there. We sit out in the hot sun because he is cold and we laugh and remember the good times and the memories we’ve made together. I have been with him in the hospital when he has gone for treatment. My friend asks everyone he meets this one, simple question since being diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. He just asked his radiation oncologist, who just lost his wife to cancer, this question. Here is the question … “If I believe the way you believe, what will happen to me when I die?” “If I believe the way you believe, what will happen to me when I die?” My dear friend has been sharing the Good News of the resurrection with others as he walks with Jesus through this difficult diagnosis. I also have been calling on and carrying the burden of four pastors that I know who are experiencing seasons of stress and grief in their ministries. I say four, I’m sure there are more than four if I would stop and count. The sorrows of ministry cut and would deeply. Some of these pastors I go and have a meal with. We share communion. They pour out their heart and, somehow, after a few hours, they are a little less burdened. Others are on the other side of the United States. I text them daily and call them often. One of my very best friends, and a mentor to me for over 30 years, is in a battle for his soul. He gave my charge to me at my ordination. “Dave, don’t ever lose your first love…Jesus Christ.” I often return home to my bedroom, look at Jac and say, “No one knows this side of the ministry. It’s really hard.” And, yet, somehow, someway, Christ continues to make His home in me and, at the moment, is all I really need. This summer series on the Apostles’ Creed has come at the perfect time for this old, tired pastor who spends his days journeying alongside some of the most sorrowful situations this earth has to offer. When I first heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “Do a series on the Apostles’ Creed”—I sort of tried to sherk that right off. “That would be the most boring, the driest series on the face of the planet.” And yet, I could not shake it…so I obeyed and I did it. I hope you’ve enjoyed the series as much as I have. Week after week, it’s been a blessing to my heart to sit and study and write about what the Father, Son and Holy Spirit mean to me. I want you to know that I have not lost my first love. Jesus Christ is first in my heart, mind, soul, strength and spirit…my wife and family come right after that and my work—my ministry—completes the call of my life.

I pray this is true in your life. I pray that you, too, will never lose your first love: Jesus Christ. I pray you have opened the door of your heart to Him. I pray God is number one in your life. I pray your family is second, and your church and work round out your life’s priorities.

So What? What is it that you believe? The final thing I want to tell you is this: IF YOU BELIEVE LIKE I BELIEVE…when you die—you will be present with the Lord Jesus. The Bible tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I know a person who had a near death experience. She saw heaven. She saw Jesus…on a white horse…riding her way. She saw the celestial city. Said it’s a million Disneylands and prettier and more majestic than you can imagine. The city is filled with people and people are filled with JOY…the kind of contagious JOY that we cannot begin to imagine. This person used to be so afraid of dying. Ever since that experience in June of 2000—she’s not afraid. Whenever we talk about death, she says the same thing…word for word. 19 years…and she’s never changed a word of her story.

Let’s close this series! I’m going to read the lines…you say AMEN.

The Apostles’ Creed

4. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; --- AMEN!

5. and in Jesus Christ, His only (begotten) Son, our Lord; --- AMEN!

6. who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, --- AMEN!

7. suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; --- AMEN!

He descended into hell; --- AMEN!

8. the third day he rose again from the dead; --- AMEN!

9. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; --- AMEN!

10. from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. --- AMEN!

11. I believe in the Holy Ghost, --- AMEN!

12. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, --- AMEN!

13. the forgiveness of sins, --- AMEN!

14. the resurrection of the body, --- AMEN!

15. and the life everlasting. Amen --- AMEN!

I think we can take this CREED to the bank. AMEN? AMEN!

Let us pray

The Seed Christian Fellowship

Rancho Cucamonga, California 91701

www.theseedchristianfellowship.com

September 8, 2019

Pastor Dave Peters

[i] Historic Creeds and Confessions. (1997). (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Lexham Press.

[ii] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Re 3:14–22). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[iii] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Re 22:17–21). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

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