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Laodicea, You Make Me Sick
We've finally arrived at the last of the seven churches of Revelation. Now, a couple of these churches have been good, but at a glance, most of the churches had some real serious problems. From the downward slide that began with the loss of first love in Ephesus culminates with total apostasy in Laodicea. This church has gotten so far away from what the Lord founded it to be that it literally made him sick.
We're going to deal with what's there in the scriptures, not what we want to be there, but what's actually there.
The Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22
"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. 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. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 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. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. So be zealous and repent. 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 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Three Ways to View These Letters
Before we dig into this passage, I'd like to remind you that these letters to the churches can be viewed from three different perspectives. I have put this in the forefront of every message because I don't want you to miss this point. This will really help you.
1. Practically
These are real letters to real churches with real problems. Okay? And the fact that it is the foundation for the book of revelation is very important. When you get into the book of Revelation with the seals and the bowls and the trumpets and the false prophets and the antichrist and the two witnesses and all of those things with the culmination of history with the great tribulation, these are the things he says to his churches.
2. Prophetically
They can be viewed prophetically. And most of the time when pastors or churches want to take the seven churches of revelation, they want to put it into the prophetic timeline. Have you ever wondered why most people want to do that? I'll tell you, it's because they don't want to deal with the truth that's in here, because it ain't pretty. And so if you put it in a prophetic timeline, you can get to Laodicea, you can talk about apathy a little bit, but you don't want to touch on all the stuff that we've been dealing with for the last seven weeks.
And so, yes, I think there is some truth that each one of these churches do portray different church stages in church history. The Laodicean church pictures the state of the church from about 1900 AD to the rapture. It is largely the church as we see it in the world today. It is the apostate church.
3. Personally
These letters speak to every Christian who actually wants to walk with Jesus and every church that reads them. They have a word for you as an individual, and they have a word for us as a congregation.
Understanding Laodicea's History
But if we're going to understand Laodicea in the words of this church, I think we need to understand the city a little better. So let me give you the little history lesson I've been providing in each one of these messages.
The City's Foundation
This city was founded by Antiochus II sometime before 253 BC. It was actually named after his wife Laodice. The city was located on a high plateau and was very secure from enemy attack.
The Water Problem
Now the one defensive problem Laodicea had was the fact that they had no water source readily available in the city. Water had to be piped in through aqueducts. Water from the hot springs in Hierapolis 6 miles to the north was brought to the city and water was also piped in from cold springs from Colossae which was located 10 miles to the east. This fact will be very important as we move into the passage today.
Wealth and Self-Sufficiency
Laodicea was destroyed by an earthquake in 61 AD. The city was so wealthy and so self-sufficient that they rebuilt their city with their own resources, refusing an offer of aid from Caesar. And then 30 to 35 years after that event, Jesus is speaking to the Christians in the church in that city in Revelation chapter 3.
Three Primary Characteristics
The city was famous in its day for three primary things:
Finances: It was the center of banking and finance known throughout all of the Roman Empire and its wealth and financial power were well understood by everybody.
Fashion: It was renowned for the soft black wool produced there. The wool was considered a luxury item and was sought after for clothing and rugs. Laodicea was the center of fashion in its day. The newest styles appeared there first.
Pharmaceuticals: There was a famous medical school in Laodicea which produced a tablet that was sold all over the Roman Empire. Now, the tablet would be crushed and mixed with water to form a paste that you would apply onto the eyes, and it was supposed to cure a variety of eye problems.
Now, if you quickly peruse back through what Jesus told them, he's touching exactly who they are and that they don't have the real deal.
So, with this background in mind, let's look into these verses and consider the words of our Lord and how he gave them a straight up smackdown. It's just a right warning to the church. And I think these words are particularly relevant in our day for churches like Laodicea. People who call themselves Christians but who have a Laodicean mentality are everywhere in our world. The Lord Jesus came to this rich powerful church and he said to them, "Laodicea, you make me sick to my stomach."
So let's find out why he said what he said to these people. Let's also see if maybe there's a word for our church and for us as individuals in this passage.
The Problems in Laodicea
Let's lay it out. First of all, Jesus comes to this church without a single word of praise. There is zero attaboy here. Nothing. He considers their works and their way. He has nothing good to say to them at all. He simply comes to them and lays out the problem as he sees it.
Problem #1: A Problem of Possession
In verse 14, Jesus says things differently to this church than the others. Look closely and try to see the tone change here. In the other cities, it was the Lord's church in that city. In Laodicea, though, it was their church. It was not the Lord's. That's how Jesus is talking to them. He identifies a problem of possession. It was their church and they did as they pleased, not considering the will of the Lord. No, not today. We're going to do our own will. And if it lines up with God's will, fine.
We must never forget why the church exists. It is not a platform for us to be able to show how wise we are or how loving we are. That's a natural byproduct of just living for the Lord. It's not a forum for us to advance our agendas or our ideas. A church is not a place to be run. It's not a place to dominate. This is not our church. It's his church.
A Story About Ownership
Let me tell you a story. The two years we were in Kansas, most Thursday nights, a handful of pastors would come and we would meet most of the time at my house and we would just hang out. It was a chance for us just to be regular guys and not be pastors for 10 minutes. And we would talk about everything from, you know, football that was on most of the time and when football season was over, we'd have baseball games on or whatever, hockey games, and we would talk about all kinds of stuff.
But when you got four pastors meeting together every week, eventually you're going to start talking about what's going on at church. And so there was a topic that was brought up. And I said when you know just in conversation I said well at my church we kind of and my buddy Jay Johnson slapped his hands on the table and he came unglued. He said don't you ever say that. I mean this is a loving brother. He's not telling me off because he's mean. He's like it's always Jesus's church. It's never your church. And I said okay Jay what happens at Jesus's church that I pastor. And he's like, "Better, better."
See, Jesus died for the church. He purchased it with his own blood. He builds it. He sustains it. The church exists for his glory. We are here to praise him and him alone. Our duty is to preach him, praise him, promote him, and publish him. This is not your church. This is not my church. It's his church. He possesses it and he is to control it. And we need no other Lord but Jesus. No man, no group of men and no congregation is qualified to take his place.
Problem #2: A Problem with Misplaced Passion
In the first part of verse 15, we see a problem with their misplaced passion. Jesus tells them that like the water in the city, they have become lukewarm. Remember that water problem I spoke of earlier? Water from the hot springs in Hierapolis 6 miles away was brought into the city by aqueducts. By the time it reached Laodicea, the water was no longer hot. It was lukewarm. Cold water from Colossae from the cold springs in Colossae was also piped in. And by the time it reached Laodicea, this water was lukewarm as well. The tepid lukewarm water made getting refreshment in Laodicea difficult.
Understanding "Lukewarm"
Now, sometimes people misinterpret this scripture. They talk about hot being on fire for God and cold as being unloving. And Jesus wishes they were one or the other. That is not what's being said here. Jesus is talking about the benefits of hot water and the benefits of cold water. And this church was neither.
The church had become lukewarm. This means that they had lost their passion for the things of the Lord. They had become indifferent and apathetic. They had reached a place where they were going through the motions, but they were unmoved by the things of the Lord. Apparently, they were indifferent towards:
- The cross of Christ
- The word of God
- The condition of lost people around them
These folks were not burning hot with the things for Jesus. Neither were they the cold water that could be used for healing and refreshment. They were somewhere in between. And this condition makes Jesus sick.
The Modern Church Problem
Is this not the condition of the modern church? People just going through the motions. Church people in our day are no longer moved by the cross. They need other stuff. They read about the crucifixions. They hear about it and they sit unmoved. Church people in our day are unmoved by the plight of the lost. They know people that are lost and they don't care. They really don't care. They say, "That's terrible. I wish they'd get saved." But they don't pray hard or witness. They really don't care.
The average church in our society is a classic study of apathy. They're not exactly dead because they're praying, preaching, singing, etc. But they're not exactly refreshing either. There's no excitement, no passion about who they serve, what they hear, what they are doing. They are somewhere in the middle of the road. That is where the modern church is. People enter the church, they take their seat, they fold their arms, and they say, "Bless me if you can." They never feel the need to pray with intercession. They never feel the need to testify. They never feel the need to do anything but just simply come and go.
Now, listen for some, that is where they are right now. And that's cool. That's awesome. That's more than fine. But how can you stay in that condition? How can you hear about Jesus, his love for your soul, his death for you, and all that he has done for you and remain unmoved? Yes, for a season. We're here. Come and go. No, no problem. No stress, but how can you know him and never be moved by that relationship?
Now, I certainly don't expect everybody to respond in this way or that way or the way I would, but I think there ought to be some signs of life, some show of emotion, some hint that the spirit is moved by the word of God, the spirit of God, and the work of God. We need to constantly cultivate those things of the Lord.
The Hardest Church to Move
There are some major problems with a church that reaches the point described as Laodicea. Think about this. Now, this is the hardest kind of church to move for the Lord. They just don't care. If folks are saved, fine. If they aren't, nah, that's fine, too. If the preaching is good, great. If it's not, well, that's okay, too. That's a tough attitude.
This kind of church simply misrepresents the Lord. Jesus was a man of passion. He was on fire, and it showed in his life and ministry. His disciples were passionate men and they lived lives burning with passion for the Lord Jesus Christ and for salvation. When we are indifferent and unmoved and unconcerned, it gives a false impression of Jesus and what he's actually all about.
You Cannot Be Indifferent About Jesus
Now, let me just say this and I'll move on. There are some things about Jesus in which you cannot be indifferent. Indifference and apathy are not options when it comes to Jesus Christ. No one who is right with God can pass Calvary and see the Lord bleeding, broken, and dead and be unmoved. No one can feel and understand the claims of Christ and be indecisive. No one.
If you feel and understand the claims of Jesus, you cannot stay in a conflicted state. You cannot be on the fence. Why? Because he claims to be God in the flesh. He claims to be the only savior. He lays absolute claim to your life and to mine. No one can walk the middle of the road when it comes to Jesus in spirit and in truth. Either you are for him or you are against him. You must either accept him or you must reject him.
C.S. Lewis's "Ultimate Mic Drop"
When it comes to the ultimate mic drop on what to do about Jesus, CS Lewis hit it square when he said the following. And I don't want you to miss this. CS Lewis, and I quote:
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on the level with a man who says he's a poached egg, or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was and is the son of God or else a mad man or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us."
Problem #3: A Problem of Self-Delusion
Also, when you read on in verse 17, you see the people in Laodicea looked at themselves and they saw a perfect church. They were wealthy and powerful and they felt they had all they needed. They looked at their possessions, their positions in life and their power and they said, "We have arrived." And there they sat indifferent, apathetic, and unmoved. And they thought they were in good shape.
The problem with this attitude is that it is based in blindness. Jesus tells them that they are totally wrong about what they have and what they are. We will look at his words in just a moment, but for now just let's just take a second and let's remember and think about how we see ourselves and how he sees us and how we see ourselves may be two totally different things.
A Personal Story About Self-Delusion
Let's talk for a moment about self-delusion. I walk around and have for most of my adult life like I'm 6'2. I will see a picture of me standing next to other guys and I'm like, I didn't realize I was that short. The worst was the Birmingham Bulls is a minor league hockey team that was revitalized in 2017 and they redid this 3000 seat stadium and in the center of the rink where the scoreboard is, they had a four-sided big screen and they would use it as a digital scoreboard, but then they'd also they brought in eight cameras. They'd also shoot pictures of the crowd. They do the Neil Diamond song. They do the chicken dance. And my granddaughters who were at the game with me that I'm going to tell you about, they were on the screen at least three times.
And so, you know how they do, they'll zoom in on like six or seven people and then they'll be there for 3 seconds and they'll cut to just one person, then they'll cut over to another group of people. And at a hockey game, you've got a lot of downtime between periods, between the first and second, second, third period, right? And I had a moment of wake up from my self-delusion because all a sudden I saw a guy on the screen and he kind of looked like me. I mean I kind of recognized that he kind of looked like me but he was really fat and and I'm like wow that's what I would look like if I was really fat. And I'm like wow he's got the same hat that I got. And it's all happens in 3 seconds. And I realized that was me. That was me. No one told me the camera adds 350 pounds, but on a big screen at a minor league hockey game, apparently it does. I had been self-deluding myself that I wasn't getting as big as I had gotten. That was the first time I took off 50 lbs after that moment because and yes, I know I've gotten sad and ate and I've gained a lot of it back and that's why the joke is actually true. It's not a joke when I say I've lost 210 lbs, but not in a row.
Self-delusion. Do we get to see who we really are? I have found that being self-depreciating is a great way to deal with the honesty of who we are. Living an honest life is dealing with the self-delusion.
Churches Living in Self-Delusion
Sadly, many churches are like that today. There is a sense that they've arrived. If you walk into an average church today and told them that they needed a revival, they would be offended. If you encourage them to get on fire for God, they would say, "Look at us and all we have. We're doing fine. We need nothing." Or my favorite, "Who are you to talk? We have a bigger audience than you." How do I know that that's being told to people? Because not only have I heard it, but I used to say it. Who are you to tell me? I have an audience of 200,000 people every day. And then God points out who you really are. It doesn't matter.
The sad truth is that some people, and I used to be one, would get excited more about money in the bank than they do souls on the altar. Get more stirred up about big numbers on a board than about the sincere worship of the Christ who suffered and died and saved them as their substitute. They are more blessed by what they have than by the Lord showing up and moving in the lives of people.
How do we see ourselves? How does he see us? What's the mirror? What's the word of God?
What We Really Need
Let me tell you what we need more than money, more than crowds, more than buildings, more than recognition in the community, and more than many of the things we place value in. You ready? Here it is. We need Jesus and we need what he and only he can do for us. I'd rather have him, his presence and his power than any material you can name. We need him. We must seek him. We must welcome him. We must worship him.
The Airplane Analogy
In some ways, a church is like an airplane. An airplane is about the only vehicle that does not have brakes in the air. Yes, they have flaps, but they're not brakes. But what do I mean by that? I mean, when an airplane stops going forward, it starts going down. Same is true of the church. When a church stops moving forward, when a church loses its vision, when a church stops being passionate about Jesus and what he can do for them, they're headed for a rough landing.
I'll say it again. We need him.
The Solution for Laodicea
Point number two, let's move on to the solution. The solution for Laodicea. This church is in trouble, but not all hope is lost. There is hope. Jesus comes to give them his cure for their ailment.
How Jesus Introduces Himself
Now, notice how Jesus comes to this wayward church in verse 14. This is kind of cool. I want you to see this.
As "The Amen"
He comes as the amen. This is a Hebrew word that means so be it. Let it be so or it is so. It was used to express the ideas of faithfulness and truth. When we use it at the end of our prayers, we're saying, "Let it be so." We also use it in response to a message. We are saying, "It is so or it is true." That's what amen means. It's a word of confirmation and finality.
Jesus comes to this church. He comes as God's final word to humanity. He comes as the confirmer of all of God's promises. Now, regardless of how this church saw itself, Jesus comes to tell them the truth. He comes to have the final say.
As "The Faithful and True Witness"
Next, he also says he comes as the faithful and true witness. This church had a vision of itself that was flawed. Jesus wants them to know what he knows them as they really are, and that he has come to reveal their true state. Basically their testimony lied about him and he has come to set the record straight.
As "The Beginning of the Creation of God"
Then he is called the beginning of the creation of God. You see it there in your Bible. This identifies Jesus as the creator and controller of all things. Not a speck of dust can move in this universe without his permission. He's in control. He comes to a church that thought it was running its own show. Jesus comes in to remind them that in spite of what they might think, his hand is still on the wheel and he is the one who controls the church.
It would do us well to remember who Jesus actually is. He is still God's final word to the church. He is the one who knows better than we know ourselves. He knows us. He is the one in control in spite of what anybody might think or say.
What Jesus Wants for His Church
Now in the second half of verse 15 and all of verse 16, Jesus has a word for this church. See the water situation in Laodicea is a reflection of the church. By the time the water reached Laodicea, it no longer possessed the therapeutic properties of the hot waters out of the springs from the north, nor did it provide the refreshing cold water from the west. The waters were tepid and undesirable.
Jesus tells his church that he wants them to be either hot or cold. He wants his church to be a place where people can relax and find healing like a trip to the hot springs. He wants his church to be a place where people can be refreshed by his worship and his presence like the cold springs. The church should be a healing place and it should be a place of refreshment. That's what I think is one of our greatest assets at Fresh Encounter Church is we're kind of designed to try to provide those things. That's what I saw. That's what I keep seeing. No, we're not perfect. I know we wobble sometimes, but man, are we trying to be a place where people can find healing like a hot spring and be refreshed like a cold spring.
Jesus's Disgust with Lukewarm
In verse 16, we see the Lord's disgust with this church because of their condition. Jesus tells them that he will spit them out of his mouth. The word spit is a strong word, my friends. We use the word puke in our country. vomit, throw up. For instance, there's a substance with a name I can't pronounce, so I didn't even try to put it in my notes, but basically, it's akin to lukewarm sulfur water, and that's what we give to people at the ER to induce vomiting if they've had poison. Jesus tells his church that like a drink of lukewarm water, they make him want to vomit them out of his mouth. What he means is this. He cannot and will not tolerate their indifference and their apathy. I don't want to be a part of any church or any ministry that brings disgust to my savior.
Reality Check: What They Really Are
Next, in verse 17, the Lord gives a description of this church. According to verse 17, they thought they had it all. He looks at them and tells them they have nothing.
- They were proud of their achievements, but Jesus called them wretched and pitiable. Wretched is a word that means troubled, and pitiable means miserable and to be pitied.
- They were proud of their wealth. Jesus tells them they're actually poor. This word means destitute and reduced to begging.
- They were proud of the vision they had of themselves. Jesus tells them that they are blind. They cannot see themselves as they really are. Someone once said this, quote, "There is no one so blind as the person who will not see."
- They were proud of their fashions and fine clothing. Yet Jesus tells them they're naked. They are totally exposed and revealed for what they really are.
Where to Find What They Need
In verse 18, Jesus tells his church exactly where they can find what they need. It would be wise for all of us to pay attention to this. He says, "If they come to him and put him first and live out the word of God, they will then finally and authentically know true riches." He calls on them to get in on the spiritual gold standard and live out a genuine faith before a lost world. They might see their wealth disappear down here, but they will be laying up treasures up there.
Warning Against False Gospel
You know, the Bible doubles down on this fact. Don't let some grifter mislead you that Jesus is some genie in a bottle come to make your earthly desires come true. That is not the authentic gospel. Well, Jesus just wants you healthy and wealthy, said no biblical text ever. Nowhere in the Bible in context does it say that about our time in the flesh. You want to see what it actually says? I'll show you.
Matthew 6:19-21 says:
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be."
Also, 1 Peter 1:3 and 4 says this really focus on this now:
"Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Kept in heaven for you."
Where is it kept? What does it say? Question. Is it on earth here somewhere? Do you just follow your heart? Do you just live your best life now? Do you name it and claim it? Then God will give you this incredible wealth down here. Oh no, you have to plant a seed in my ministry. Then you'll get the unlock of the secrets. How stupid is that? Taking seed time and harvest, a legitimate Bible term, and then spinning it into greed. It doesn't say that anywhere in scripture. The answer is no. You will not find that in the Bible unless you bend it or twist it. It says right here, kept in heaven for you.
The Spiritual Gold Standard
The fact is Jesus claims a higher spiritual gold standard. It's a higher spiritual gold standard that takes us away from the flesh desires of this world and into a completely different realm. And it's hard to stay in that realm. We wobble back and forth. I used to have a real smart alec response to people who used to say, you know, Chris, you might not have worked out for you that good financially, but you know, your rewards are in heaven. And I used to say, yeah, but my mortgage is here on earth. Trusting Jesus and going in that realm, you don't have that snarky attitude. You just roll with him because you worship him because he's worthy to be worshiped.
You know, when you're in that other realm that I'm talking about, when you're on the spiritual gold standard, our wealth will be that we can be a blessing and our health will allow us to serve him till the day he comes to get us and everything else is kept in heaven for us.
The next few verses in 1 Peter chapter 1 verses 5-7. I want you to see those:
"...who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice though now for a little while if necessary you have been grieved by various trials. 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."
Do you see the result? Do you see the actual, authentic, factual, biblical, in context result? It is praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of the Christian and by default the purpose of the church. Genuine faith tested and resulting in praise, glory, and honor.
What the Invitations Mean
All right, moving on. What is meant when he invites them to adorn themselves in special garments? Well, that's an invitation to come to him for salvation. Says they're naked and lost in their sins. If they come to him, he's going to clothe them in robes of righteousness and they will no longer be naked and exposed in the sight of God.
Jesus invites them to come to him so he can restore their spiritual vision. When that spiritual vision is restored, they'll be able to see themselves as they are and they will be able to see him as he actually is. That is what this is. Do you see it? Do you have eyes to see? If you do, then what happens? Well, this leads to repentance, obedience, and humble service every time. Every time.
The Need for Spiritual Vision
Man, we need that spiritual vision. Why are people dead, dry, and indifferent spiritually? Because they cannot see themselves or see the Lord as either truly is. And Jesus can open the blinded eyes. And trust me, and this is kind of the bummer train of the whole message. Once your eyes are opened, do you see clearly then for the rest of your life? You have an enemy coming to constantly try to wreck your vision. That's why it says daily in keeping with repentance. You can have your eyes opened right now and be living a season of year, two years, four years, six years, and then eventually just start getting yourself more blinded to what's really important, serving Jesus. That's why we have grace for each other.
Jesus Never Gives Up
Jesus invites them to come to him and he gives them a much needed word of advice. He says, "For those I love," in spite of their indifference toward him, he still loves them. What a blessing. Jesus doesn't write people off when they don't do as he pleases. He calls them and continues to love them even when they reject him in his love.
He says, "I reprove and discipline." He tells us that he loves us like we are. He loves us too much to leave us there where we are. And in an effort to get our attention, he uses two methods to turn us to him:
- Reprove - that means to convict or correct. He will speak to us in our condition. He will send his word. He'll convict us in our hearts through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. And if we come to him, he'll receive us.
- Discipline - If we fail to heed his reproof, then he goes to a more direct method. Do you know what that actually means in the original language? To correct with blows. May he touch any area of our life to get our attention.
If Laodicea were to repent, they would come alive to the Lord and the presence of the church would be unstoppable and they would be moved by the cross and the plight of the lost. We need to hear and heed the voice of the Lord in these days. We need to ask the Lord to let us see ourselves as we really are.
The Guarantee to Laodicea
Last point today and it's brief is the guarantee to Laodicea. The Lord closes this letter with some blessed assurances. The sad truth is that Laodicea has evicted Jesus Christ from their church. He's on the outside trying to gain admission. He says, "I stand at the door and knock."
Jesus Continually Knocks
In his effort to get back into the church, Jesus stand there and knocks. Now, these are verbs that are present tense. What does that mean? Well, it could be stated this way. Look, I'm continually standing at the door and I'm continually knocking on the door. He never gives up in his efforts to enter the lives of those he loves. Man, I tell you my testimony today, my witness to you today is I am so glad he never gave up on me.
Only One Person Needed
He says, "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door..." Jesus does not need the whole church to get on fire so that he can come in. He merely needs just one person to hear him and to open the door. See, we are born with free will. He will knock and he will call, but he will not break the door down. It must be opened by an act of the will.
Holman Hunt's Famous Painting
Holman Hunt has a famous painting which depicts Jesus standing outside the door with a light in his hand. He's knocking on the door and when that painting was first finished, a man looked at it and commented to the painter, "Hey, you made a mistake." Holman Hunt said, "Where is the mistake?" The critic said, "You forgot to paint a handle on the outside of the door." Hunt responded, "No, there's no mistake. The handle is only on the inside. Jesus knocks, but you must be the one to open the door."
Intimate Fellowship
Lastly today it says "eat with him and he with me." The ancient Greeks enjoyed three meals. They usually ate a large breakfast, a much smaller lunch and then kind of a leisurely evening meal which they called supper. At the evening meal, the family would take their time. They would talk and fellowship that was like expected at the evening meals. It was a time of intimacy for the family.
Jesus says, "If you will just open the door, I will come in and have fellowship with you. You can have revival in your life even if everyone else around you mopes in deadness and apathy. Don't blame your dry condition on others or circumstances. Open the door and let Jesus in.
The Invitation
When Jesus speaks to the church in Laodicea, he is speaking to a church filled with lost people. He's inviting them to be saved and his promises to them make coming to Jesus worthwhile. And I hope that's the case for you.
Final Questions for Self-Examination
So a simple straightup question. Have you been saved? You can be if he's calling you to come to him. Where does this message find you today? Are you saved by his grace? Are you zealous and committed to the Lord and his work? Or are you indifferent and apathetic towards the things of the Lord?
He wants our fellowship with him. Does he have it? He wants us to see him as he truly is. And as we look at Jesus and we see who Jesus really is, we see ourselves in a much more realistic light. And from there, redemption happens, spiritual growth happens, and your life becomes a testimony. Your wealth becomes a blessing and your health is there for you to continue to serve him till the day he comes to get you.
That's all I have for Laodicea, but I hope that you would do what I've done with this message, which is some severe self-examination. Not wanting to be better, but wanting to be more alive in Christ because of what I know and what I've just shared with you. May that be your takeaway today. tense. What does that mean? Well, it could be stated this way. Look, I'm continually standing at the door and I'm continually knocking on the door. He never gives up in his efforts to enter the lives of those he loves. Man, I tell you my testimony today, my witness to you today is I am so glad he never gave up on me.
He says, "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, Jesus does not need the whole church to get on fire so that he can come in. He merely needs just one person to hear him and to open the door." See, we are born with free will. He will knock and he will call, but he will not break the door down. It must be opened by an act of the will.
Holman Hunt has a famous painting which depicts Jesus standing outside the door with a light in his hand. He's knocking on the door and when that painting was first finished, a man looked at it and commented to the painter, "Hey, you made a mistake." Holman Hunt said, "Where is the mistake?" The critic said, "You forgot to paint a handle on the outside of the door." Hunt responded, "No, there's no mistake. The handle is only on the inside. Jesus knocks, but you must be the one to open the door.
Lastly today it says eat with him and he with me. The ancient Greeks enjoyed three meals. They usually ate a large breakfast, a much smaller lunch and then kind of a leisurely evening meal which they called supper. At the evening meal, the family would take their time. They would talk and fellowship that was like expected at the evening meals. It was a time of intimacy for the family. Jesus says, "If you will just open the door, I will come in and have fellowship with you. You can have revival in your life even if everyone else around you mopes in deadness and apathy. Don't blame your dry condition on others or circumstances. Open the door and let Jesus in.
When Jesus speaks to the church in Laodicea, he is speaking to a church filled with lost people. He's inviting them to be saved and his promises to them make coming to Jesus worthwhile. And I hope that's the case for you.
So a simple straightup question. Have you been saved? You can be if he's calling you to come to him. Where does this message find you today? Are you saved by his grace? Are you zealous and committed to the Lord and his work? Or are you indifferent and apathetic towards the things of the Lord? He wants our fellowship with him. Does he have it? He wants us to see him as he truly is. And as we look at Jesus and we see who Jesus really is, we see ourselves in a much more realistic light. And from there, redemption happens, spiritual growth happens, and your life becomes a testimony. Your wealth becomes a blessing and your health is there for you to continue to serve him till the day he comes to get you.
That's all I have for Laodicea, but I hope that you would do what I've done with this message, which is some severe self-examination. Not wanting to be better, but wanting to be more alive in Christ because of what I know and what I've just shared with you. May that be your takeaway today.