The Final Letter - Laodicea

Intro

Well, the last month of 2019 starts today… hard to imagine what we are already in December.

I hope you enjoyed your time with family and friends this week as you celebrated Thanksgiving.

I hope you enjoyed your time with family and friends this week as you celebrated Thanksgiving.

I shared this story with several of you that back in the 1930’s FDR wanted to move Thanksgiving to the third Thursday of November in hopes that it would help promote shopping and help stimulate the economy.

Well it pretty much failed. Many called this day “Franksgiving” in a effort to mock FDR… needless to say, it was moved back to the 4th Thursday of November. Im not sure what He was thinking, people don’t like change...

But I know that each of you, myself included has a great deal to be thankful for…we are abundantly blessed beyond measure with more than we could ever list, but Savior, a family and of course our spiritual brothers and sisters being at the top of the list.

So today lets begin ......

So today lets begin ......

Today I want us to travel back to the book of Revelation one last time as we finish the messages to the 7 churches of Asia Minor, this letter is addressed to the church at Laodicea.

The text is Revelation chapter 3, verses 14-22.

Just 8 verses in this last letter...

Revelation 3:14–22 ESV

14 “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. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 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. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 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. 21 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. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

Revelation 3 ESV

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ 14 “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. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 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. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 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. 21 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. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

_________________________________________

Now Laodicea is a city that was not far from Colossee, and it lay where two major roads of commerce intersected. One road leading form Ephesus and the other along the coast time of Asia minor Strategically, economically it was in a inportant place.

It was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt from the wealth of its own citizens, around AD 62, the area was a major exporter of very fine wool's for it time. They also produced a very sought after eye salve as well.

It was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt from the wealth of its own citizens, the area was a major exporter of very fine wool's for it time. As such, their own wealth made them self sufficient which is good and bad. It is good that at this time they did not have to depend on monies from Rome itself to rebuild and thus control them more. But it was also a sign that they were complacent, the world came to them if you will...

As such, their own wealth made them self sufficient which is good and bad. It is good that at this time they did not have to depend on monies from Rome itself to rebuild and thus control them more. But it was also a sign that they were complacent, the world came to them if you will...

Now the city was known as Rhodes at one time, but when

And perhaps this is their greatest sin as well.

Lets look forward and see what is happening...

3 things today I want you to look at with me...

1. The Final Description of Jesus...

Time and time again we have see the truth of who Jesus is illustrated for us in the opening verses of each of these letters to the 7 churches.

They provide us with a clear and wonderful picture of our Lord, the one who truly is able to walk and rule in the midst of the lampstands, the churches. His churches my friends.

There is one truth we can never forget or lose sight off… The church is His… because the church is not the building, its you. The sheep of His pasture. We are the bride of Christ and we belong to Him.

Look again at verse 14

Revelation 3:14 ESV

14 “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.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Now remember the angel is the under-shepherd, the pastor of the church. The message is being sent to him and in turn He is to share the message with the people who make up the body.

And Jesus describes himself as the words of “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation...

What is being said here....

The word “amen”here is a special one, it carries the idea of affirmation. Christ is the affirmation of God, He is the declaration, the Word, the message of all that God is and has done in our world for us.

He is the faithful and true witness, the one who gives the testimony of God and always speaks the truth. Where as the world and its ruler seeks to mislead and promote half truths, like the media today. Jesus is truth.

And then there is this last phrase… “the beginning of God’s creation”.. what is he saying there. He is not a created being, He is the second person of the Holy Trinity, God the Son…

The truth here isn’t seen in the beginning of Christ. He has no beginning or ending. No, the truth is the beginning of everything in Christ. Listen to gospel of John in

John 1:3 ESV

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

And likewise

Colossians 1:15–16 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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.

_-------------------------------------------------

He is the agent of creation the one who oversaw all that the Father planned and brought to light and life, God the Father did it through the Son, Jesus!

Even Solomon before seeing Jesus said this...

Proverbs 8:22 ESV

22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.

God was at work in this world, and in the first moment of time as we know and recognize, when God created the Heavens and the earth , it was the Son who was at work.

Listen my friends there is nothing more special and seeing Jesus just as God has meant for us to see Him. He is the way, the truth and the life!

Jesus is our Savior!

Do you know Him today?

Now lets move on to our second thought...

2. The Church’s Error and Sin....

2. The Church’s Error and Sin....

The next thing we see in the message here to Laodicea is the error and sin they are involved in my friends.

People would have you to believe that sin is ok, that God doesn’t mind it since he forgives it. People tell me all the time, my sin isn’t greater than anyone else. And they are right, but all that really says is this.. I am in sin. And i am not concerned about it.

We must be concerned about sin, Jesus is.....

Lets look at the text...

Verses 15-19

Revelation 3:15–19 ESV

15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 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. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

--------------------------------------------

Remember we have talked a great deal about the omniscience of God, His all knowing attribute, He says I know your works.... Jesus knows their heart and friends you cannot hide anything from Him.

He knows your heart as well...

Look at the message of His knowledge. He says I know you works and you are neither hot or cold, I wish you were one or the other…

Instead you are lukewarm....

The meaning is impactful my friends… Lets compare two cities that pay near Laodicea. Colosse and Hierapolis.

Colosse was a well protected city that was situated with a large mountain to help protect its fortifications. But the most wonderful thing we know about Colosse is the deep mountain spring that fed water to the city, it was cold, wonderful tasting and pure from what we know from the historical teaching of the city.

Now, Hierapolis was just the opposite, it had hot water springs with a heavy mineral content. It was sought after by many for its healing properties.

And then for Laodicea, you have water that was fed from springs where water had to be brought into the city via aqueducts. The water traveled for a way and when it arrived in the city, it was warm and reports from those times say the water had a foul taste to it after traveling through those mineral laden aqueducts. Laodicea was know for its revolting tepid water...

So what Jesus is saying about them being lukewarm, is this.. I wish you were one way or the other, cold, refreshing or hot with healing properties, instead you are repulsive, of no good.

You have no use and are no good.

And here is what is worse… You don’t realize it....

Look at verses 17-18

Revelation 3:17–18 ESV

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 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.

------------------------------------------

You say to yourself, I am rich, we have prospered, we are not indebted to anyone… we need nothing..

They had become overly self-sufficient, they had wealth, they were able to rebuild their city in AD 62 without taking any executive aid from the Emperor in Rome. And in their pride they didn’t realize just where they where..

The Lord says they were wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked… they are destitute… They looked good on the outside …yet on the inside, they were near death, spiritual squalor existed… no life and no vision…

Life and vision are important people...

You see a picture like many today, they are well to do, they have it all, but on the inside there is nothing, it is pitiful. They need mercy and do not know who to obtain it from....

Yet the Lord is always ready to help, to correct and to lead us rightly. Look at what Jesus says Buy from me gold refined from the fire. The process of refinement is to heat gold intensely, to liquify it and thus be able to remove the impurities from it.

When the process is done, what remains is a much purer gold.

What is being said here, the Lord is telling them, I told you to remain with me by faith, to seek me by faith even when it is difficult in the hopes that you might be better.

They would have to live by faith, not their own sufficiency , then as they live by faith and walk by faith they would grow to be the church God has called them to be.. then and only then could they experience growth.

It is difficult, heating puts the gold through a hard process but the end makes it richer, better… They need to live by faith.

Faith is at times referred to as being like fine gold in the Bible, let me share with you

1 Peter 1:7 ESV

7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

--------------------------------

Going through the fire would change them.. living apart from and by their strength would kill them...

Then they could see clearly and they could be dressed in find white linen, linen that describes holiness.....

Here is a great question for you today… Do you live by faith.. or by your own power and ability.

let go of yourself and take hold of Him and his sufficiency...

Now just one more thought today… lets look at the last point...

3. The Call to Return.....

3. The Call to Return.....

Here is a truth for us to hold no too, the Lord always seeks to have his children return. He never desires to have them fall away and stay dead in their sin, no he calls for them to return.

Look at verses 20-22

Rev 3

Revelation 3:20–22 ESV

20 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. 21 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. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

-----------------------------------------

One of the most beautiful verses. The Lord stands present seeing the lives of all,the lost and saved both. And often we see this verse as if the Lord were speaking only to the lost, the unredeemed.

But in truth the Lord is speaking to the church. He is talking to the church at Laodicea, correct? His church… but what you notice here is the speaking to them from outside… He has been forced outside the church.

The Lord stands present in our lives,

The travesty is that Jesus loved them and gave himself for them and here he is not on the inside of his own church. Consider you buying a house, raising your family in that house only to come home one day and the locks are changed and you are not welcome in it anymore...

Jesus is knocking, hoping they will let Him in.... But they were so self sufficient they had lost their faith, they didn’t depend on Jesus any more.

Q. Are you guilty of just living life so inherently by yourself, your power and means you haven’t trusted Him by faith in a while?????

Jesus is looking in, hoping and seeking for these members to hear and come open the door for Him so that He can be Lord of the church again and that they would be back doing good work…

There was still time for the church at Laodicea and there is time for you as well,,,

To the one who overcomes, he will sit down with Jesus on his throne, just as Jesus overcame and sat on the throne of His Father.

Do you remember, Jesus, He finished the work of redemption on the cross and cried out “it is finished” … and as such having died, was buried and then rose again, we know that after 40 days he ascended back to the Father in Heaven. Listen to Hebrews 1:3......

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

---------------------------------------------------

As the Lord sits in power and honor on his throne, the Lord promises the same to the church at Laodicea....

But they had to get back on tract my friends, they had to let go of self and self sufficiency and instead live by faith.

By faith we find true life...

Let me ask you a question… how are you living.. Do you live by faith or by what you seen with your own eyes.

Are you away from the Lord, and need to return?

What message does the Lord speak to you today… Listen and follow where he leads today..