WHAT CHRIST IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH - 8

Revelation 3:14 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.

Revelation 3:15 ESV

“ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

Revelation 3:16 ESV

So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:17 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.

Revelation 3:18 ESV

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.

Revelation 3:19 ESV

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Revelation 3:20 ESV

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.

Revelation 3:21 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.

Revelation 3:22 ESV

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

I AM GIVING YOU ONE MORE CHANCE … AGAIN

I. WORLDLINESS HAVE INVADED YOUR WORSHIP

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.

Often this passage is misunderstood. Jesus is not saying that He wants the church either hot or cold. He is not saying that He wants them either on fire for Him or ice cold in sin.

The Laodiceans are lukewarm. By this word, lukewarm

A. By the word, lukewarm, Jesus is saying that the church at Laodicea had become useless or worthless as it relates to their lifestyle of worship to the Lord.

Revelation a. Description (3:14–16)

Here it means exactly the same thing as in the letter to the church in Sardis (v. 1): incomplete deeds that are not even worth mentioning.

They had lost because they had given up their distinctiveness as men and women who reign and rule for the Lord. They were to behave and live in ways that demonstrated the character of the Lord they worshipped.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:15–16

This rebuke would have been especially meaningful to this church, for water was piped to the city from Hierapolis, a few miles north. By the time the water reached Laodicea, it was lukewarm!

LAODICEA WAS BOARDERED BY TWO CITIES: HIERAPOLIS AND COLOSSE. LAODICEA WAS NOT PRIVILEGED TO HAVE A GOOD SOURCE OF WATER THAT WAS HEALTHY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY. SO, THEY HAD TO GET WATER FROM THEIR BORDERING CITIES:

HIERAPOLIS HAD HOT WATERS THAT WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE MEDICINAL POWERS FOR HEALING

COLOSSE HAD COLD WATERS THAT WERE GIVEN AS A MEANS OF REFRESHMENT

THE CHURCH WAS USELESS BECAUSE

YOU ARE NEITHER HEALING THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY SICK OR REFRESHING THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY DEHYDRATED. IN OTHER WORDS:

YOU ARE USELESS

JESUS GET’S EVEN DEEPER

JESUS IS SAYING THE THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA: BECAUSE YOU ARE LUKEWARM BUT ACTING LIKE YOU ARE MINE - YOU ARE MAKING ME SICK

Revelation 3:16 ESV

So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

A. What makes Jesus Sick?

1.Useless Churches and Christians that do not share the gospel

Instead of being healing you are allowing sickness

2.Useless Churches and Christians that do not encourage one-another

Instead of refreshing the souls of brothers and sisters discouraged and struggling and embattled, you are watching them spiritually dwindle, struggle, go hungry, skip church, their marriages fall apart, etc..

WE ARE USELESS IF WE SEE THE BAD AND DO NOT BRING THE GOOD.

Jesus describes Himself as

Revelation 3:14 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.

Faithful: steadfast and reliable in one’s affection and allegiance

True: without pretense or hypocrisy

THIS IS WHAT THE CHURCH IS TO BE IN THE WORLD. NOT LIKE THE WORLD BUT LIKE JESUS; STEADFAST AND LOYAL AS WELL AS GENUINE . This means that we should be men and women whose loves are lived with a determination to reign and rule for the Lord - being useful for His glory and for His kingdom.

To Be Useful for Someone Else Demands A Certain Mindset

“Me second” Mindset

“Delayed Satisfaction” Mindset

“My Selfishness is My Self -Destruction” Mindset

Instead, they had allowed their souls to be reigned over and ruled by the prevailing and disturbing winds of worldliness.

See, worship is a lifestyle and the object of worship is always external

What we see going on in Texas is disturbing to us /and Texans - more so. We are praying for their restoration and they are fighting for it. They cannot stand and they cannot endure such conditions where water is scare and the best you can do is boil rain water.

Laodicea is welcoming such conditions in their own souls

II. WORLDLINESS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WISDOM

Revelation 3:17 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.

REALIZING: THEY LACKED SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THEMSELVES. THEY LIVED ON THE SURFACE OF THEMSELVES, NEVER GIVING SERIOUS THOUGHT ABOUT THEMSELVES.

I-SPY AND JOSIAH

POINT: WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT JESUS SEES

A. Worldly wisdom holds as true that which people can see in our lives

B. Godly wisdom holds as true that which Christ alone sees in our souls

THEIR PHYSICAL CONDITION WAS NOT WHAT JESUS SPIED. THEY SO FOCUSED ON THEIR PHYSICAL CONDITION - WHAT THEY HAVE AND WHO THEY WERE, - THAT THEY NEVER GAVE REAL ATTENTION TO THEIR SPIRITUAL CONDITION

JESUS SAYS:

WRETCHED: YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY PATHETIC

PITIABLE: YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY PITIFUL: JESUS WENT ALL MR T ON THEM: I PITTY THE FOOL

POOR: YOU ARE SPIRITUAL BROKE AND BANKRUPT DESTITUTE LIKE A POOR BEGGAR

BLIND: YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY FOOLISH - DON’T KNOW JACK!!!

AND NAKED: SPIRITUALLY UNABLE TO HIDE

GREAT ILLUSTRATION rich young ruler

Mark 10:17 ESV

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

THAT IS THE QUESTION ON THE TABLE: WHAT MAKES ME RIGHT FOR HEAVEN?

Mark 10:18–19 ESV

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ”

HERE IS THE RULERS ASSESSMENT OF HIMSELF

Mark 10:20 ESV

And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”

HERE IS JESUS’ ASSESSMENT OF THE RULER

Mark 10:21 ESV

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

HERE IS THE CONCLUSION

Mark 10:22 ESV

Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

WHAT JESUS WAS TEACHING THE MAN IS THIS:

YOU ARE NOT WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE BECAUSE YOUR ASSESSMENT OF YOU IS BASED ON YOUR DUTY FOR THE LORD NOT YOUR DELIGHT IN HIM

THE PEOPLE AT LAODICEA HAD A WORDLY ASSESSMENT OF THEIR POSITION WITH THE LORD. THEY FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND WHAT THEY POSSESSED BUT MISSED THIS ONE FACT:

ALL THAT THEY WERE AND ALL THAT THEY POSSESSED WAS GAINED BY THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE SYSTEMS OF THE WORLD AND NOT IN THE LORD

III. WORLDLINESS HAVE INFECTED YOUR HEARING

Revelation 3:20 ESV

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.

NOTE THIS REALITY

A. Jesus is on the outside of His church

IT IS A SAD DAY WHEN CHURCHES AND CHRISTIANS CAN GET TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY ARE DOING THE DUTY OF WORSHIP BUT THE STAR OF THE SHOW IS ON THE OUTSIDE.

1. Jesus will not dwell where He is made to share or be second in the heart of a church or individual.

FOR JESUS, BEING SECOND OR SHARING A HEART IS EQUAL TO HIM BEING OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH OR THE HEART OF THE INDIVIDUAL

B. Jesus is trying and wants to get in.

C. Jesus will not give up on His church or a Christian.

CONCLUDING SECTION

BUT, IN ALL OF THAT; IN ALL OF YOUR WORLDLINESS;

IN YOUR USELESS WITNESS

IN YOUR UNGODLY WISDOM

IN YOUR CLOGGED HEARING

IN ALL OF THAT…

I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE…AGAIN TO REPENT

Revelation 3:18 ESV

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.

EXPLAIN THIS

THEN JESUS SAYS

Revelation 3:19 ESV

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

I MIGHT SPANK YOU A LITTLE BIT, BUT ITS ALL TO BRING YOU TO A PLACE OF REPENTANCE. TO BRING YOU TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU SEEK YOUR JOY, YOUR HOPE, YOUR WEALTH, YOUR CONTENTMENT AND YOUR VERY LIFE IN ME AND ME ALONE.

IN MY LOVE FOR YOU THERE IS THE CREATIVE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION TO RAISE YOU FROM YOUR SPIRITUAL STUPOR OF BEING USELESS, TO BEING POWERFULLY INFLUENTIAL strengthen them in faith (v 18) so that they will repent (v 19), and confirm them in their enduring fellowship with him (v 20). If this happens, they will receive a reward (v 21).

BEING UNDONE AND LAID BELOW THE FALSE THRONES OF WORLDLINESS TO BEING RASIED UP AS A CONQUEROR WHO SITS WITH JESUS ON HIS THRONE

Revelation 3:21 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.

JESUS SAYS, MY LOVE WILL CHANGE YOU BECAUSE MY LOVE WILL NEVER CHANGE FOR YOU

THOSE OF US WHO ARE PARENTS KNOW THIS KIND OF LOVE A LITTLE BIT.

MY UNCLE QUENTIN

BUT MY GRANDMOTHER, DESPITE THE MANY LIES, THE MANY DECEPTIONS, THE MANY DAYS OF BEING OUT IN THE WORLD - MY GRANDMOTHER: NEVER GAVE UP ON HIM

THEY SAY, THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A MOTHER’S LOVE.

BUT THERE IS: AND ITS A BETTER LOVE:

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE THE LORD’S LOVE

OH, I KNOW MOTHER’S LOVE THEIR CHILDREN, BUT THERE IS NOTHING IN THAT LOVE THAT CAN TRANSFORM THE HEART OF A CHILD.

BUT THE LOVE OF JESUS - OH, THAT LOVE CAN CHANGE ETERNITY. THAT LOVE, CAN CHANGE A HEART; THAT LOVE, IN SPITE OF OUR FAILURE, WILL NEVER EVEN GET TIRED OF LOVING US:

JESUS WANTS US TO KNOW TODAY: I AM GIVING YOU ONE MORE CHANCE AGAIN:

OH, I KNOW THAT YOU’VE MESSED UP

I KNOW THAT YOU GAVE UP

I KNOW THAT YOU’VE BEEN TRAPPED BY GREED

I KNOW THAT YOU’VE WHORED AFTER THIS WORLD

I KNOW THAT YOU’VE DENIED MY WORD

I KNOW THAT YOU CAN’T EVEN SPELL PRAYER

I KNOW YOU’VE MIXED MY NAME WITH YOUR PASSIONS

AND I KNOW THE WILLING WAYS IN WHICH YOU HAVE DENIED ME

I KNOW THE DEPTHS OF THE WICKEDNESS AND DEPRAVITY OF YOUR HEART

BUT KNOW THIS: I LOVE YOU THE SAME

AND ON THAT LOVE - I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE - AGAIN

SO COME ON HOME YOU WAYWARD - JESUS IS A STABLE PLACE

COME ON HOME YOU ADULTERER - JESUS IS A HEALING PLACE

COME ON HOME YOU LONELY - JESUS IS A SAFE PLACE

COME ON HOME YOU BROKEN HOME- JESUS IS A RECONCILING PLACE

COME ON HOME YOU WEARY SOUL - JESUS IS A RESTORING PLACE

COME ON HOME ALL YE SINNERS: JESUS IS A FORGIVING PLACE

Let me give a word of application to us