Jesus Wants His Church Back!

3:14. the Amen, the faithful and true witness. The speaker identifies himself as “the Amen.” The meaning of “amen” from the root āmēn meaning “trustworthy” would have been common knowledge to a Hebrew-speaking audience, but Revelation was written or translated into Greek for a non-Hebrew-speaking audience. Therefore, “the faithful and true witness” may have been added in order to define “the Amen.

Ford, J. M. (2008). Revelation: introduction, translation, and commentary (Vol. 38, p. 418).

b. beginning

He is also archḗ as the firstborn from the dead. Rev. 3:14 probably calls him archḗ in much the same sense

Jesus is not created, resurrection from the dead gave us new birth and salvation.

Revelation 3:15 (ESV)

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

B. Neither hot nor cold

a. Know

οἶδα (oida). vb. to have seen, to know. Refers to the past act of seeing with the present effect of knowing what was seen.

Technically a perfect tense from εἶδον (eidon, “see”) but used as a present (see bdag, s.v. οἶδα), oida occurs over 300 times in the nt. To “have seen” something in the past becomes “to know” it in the present.

The letters to the churches in the book of Revelation collectively imply that God has seen and come to know the deeds and circumstances of all humanity (Rev 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15).

b. Works:

ἔργον (ergon). n. neut. work, duty, task, workmanship. Refers to a task, or set of tasks, that is accomplished by someone.

C. Compare there spiritual life to their drinking water.

Revelation 3:16 (ESV)

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

Churches in America like this today?

a. Content with the way things are today

b. This is my church

c. Keep everybody happy

d. Don’t change anything for others.

e. No altar calls, satisfied with the way things are.

f. To busy to serve God

G. Too busy to live it out.

H. Not worried about anybody who will not conform to the way things are.

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

II. The Problem

Jesus defines the problem

Revelation 3:17 (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.

a. Wretched

ταλαίπωρος, ον (miserable, wretched, distressed w. ἐλεεινός and other adjs. Rv 3:17.

Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 988). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am”

b. Pitiable

ἐλεεινός, ή, όν () pert. to being deserving of sympathy for one’s pathetic condition, miserable, pitiable (w. ταλαίπωρος) Rv 3:17.

Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 315). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

c. Blind

Third, the Laodiceans were τυφλός (3:17c) in spite of the fame of their medical center and the eye salve it developed. In other words, their earthly accomplishments were meaningless (in actuality a hindrance) in light of their spiritual blindness.

B. Churches in America like this today?

a. Content with the way things are today

b. This is my church

c. Keep everybody happy

d. Don’t change anything for others.

e. No altar calls, satisfied with the way things are.

f. To busy to serve God

G. Too busy to live it out.

H. Not worried about anybody who will not conform to the way things are.

Culture over Christ

a. Whatever society calls right over the gospel

b. Pleasure over- commitment to Christ

c.Happiness here over eternity

d. quick devotions over time with God

e. Possessions over human need.

f. What I want over what Christ wants for us

III. The solution

Revelation 3:8 (ESV)

8 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.

A. To Buy from me

So too the Laodiceans should use their “wealth” to “buy” spiritual and not just material rewards. The key here is ἀγοράσαι παρʼ ἐμοῦ (agorasai par˓ emou, to buy from me).

a. Refined:

3:18; MPol 15:2.—Hv 4, 3, 4 makes a comparison betw. the refining influence of fire on metals and the effect that fiery trials have in removing impurities from Christians.

B. Spiritual Wealth

a. Clothed in white garments

b. Shame may not be seen.

c. Your sight may be healed

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

C. Reprove

Reprove

④ to penalize for wrongdoing, punish, discipline (Wsd 1:8; 12:2; Job 5:17 al.) Hb 12:5 (Pr 3:11); (w. παιδεύειν, as Sir 18:13) Rv 3:19.—LLutkemeyer, CBQ 8, ’46, 221–23.—B. 1442. DELG. M-M. TW.

a. Discipline

ⓑ discipline w. punishment

α. mostly of divine discipline Rv 3:19

b. Zealous

ζηλεύω (cp. ζηλόω and s. next entry; Democrit. Fgm. B 55 v.l.; Simplicius in Epict. p. 56d; Leontius 44a p. 89, 2; Cat. Cod. Astr. X 219, 8) abs. to be intensely serious about someth., be eager, earnest Rv 3:19.

Repent

IV. Your choice

Revelation 3:20 (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.

The opening challenge, “hear my voice,” anticipates the call to listen in 3:22 and is the preparatory action. Christ identifies himself at the “door” and calls for a response. The person then responds in repentance and “opens the door” to Christ.

The result is table fellowship. Christ first “will come in to them” and then “will dine with them and they with me.” Note the progression of the metaphor. Jesus arrives at the door as a visitor, identifies himself, and seeks admission. The person must respond, open the door, and allow him admittance. Fellowship results as they share a meal. Spiritually, this denotes a call to repentance and the believer’s response in getting right with Christ. The imagery of “dining” stems from the Near Eastern

Revelation 3:21-22 (ESV)

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.’

Hear

① lit. to have or exercise the faculty of hearing, hear

a challenge to hearers, by which their attention is drawn to a special difficulty:

The “call to listen” (3:22) again anchors the challenge and calls on the reader to “listen” and “obey.” It is the “Spirit” speaking and not just John’s message, and it is intended as a warning to all “churches” and not just to Laodicea. This message is not to be taken lightly; for as verse 21 shows, eternity itself is at stake.

YOU: APPLICATION (TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD)

Conclusion:

Week 1You Can’t Catch A Wave Sitting on the Beach.

Week 2 Looking for places where the Spirit of God is moving.

Week 3 Jesus want us to repent becoming hot for God.

God of love move us to repentance. Jesus Savior of our soul, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us today. Please bring us to repentance. Holy Spirit fill us a fresh as our hearts repent. Set us on fire for you. Let us live in a state of revival every day. Amen

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