Intro: (Start with Blank)
One day three men were walking along and came upon a raging, violent river. They needed to get to the other side, but had no idea of how to do it.
The first man prayed to God saying, "Please God, give me the strength to cross this river."
Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs, and he was able to swim across the river in about two hours.
Seeing this, the second man prayed to God saying, "Please God, give me the strength and ability to cross this river." Poof! God gave him a rowboat and he was able to row across the river in about three hours.
The third man had seen how this worked out for the other two, so he also prayed to God saying, "Please God, give me the strength, ability, and intelligence to cross this river." And Poof! God turned him into a woman.
She looked at the map, then walked across the bridge.
Discussion:
We live in a small world – and are given so many ways to communicate. For instance, I can get on the computer and talk to my dad for hours at a time, and it doesn’t cost me anything. I can be at the grocery store and Amanda can call me and tell me to pick something up. I have sent emails as a way of communicating important information. If it’s really important I will sit down and write out a letter, and wait for a response. In the Bible times that’s what they did. Our New Testament is mostly letters written from Paul to different churches that he ministered to. In the Book of Revelation the first 3 chapters are dedicated to letters written from God to the different churches. They are short in length but long in content. To the church in Philadelphia he basically told them they were doing everything right. He tells them that they have an open door – and encourages them because they are doing what they need to do.
Our text this morning is the next letter to the church in Laodicea – if you have your Bibles turn with me to Revelation 3:14-22 (read) (advance)
Something very important for all of us – myself included is in this letter. I see us making a difference in the lives of people in our community. I see this church becoming more than what it is, and we can only do that through Jesus Christ. (advance)
“We can’t make an outward difference until we are inwardly different.” We won’t make and outward difference until we are inwardly different. Until you allow Jesus Christ to come inside you – and change who you are, you won’t impact the lives of people around you. Jesus is actually the sender of the letter – if you have a read letter edition Bible – this should be in read. He’s telling them three things this morning – and church, the message is for us as well. (advance)
I. I know your conduct (14-17)
a. You are lukewarm
i. Neither hot – against me, Hostile towards me
ii. Nor Cold – for me, Friendly towards me
In the Old Testament, HOT is a metaphor for a lack of control while “Cold” is a positive metaphor for restraint. Some authors suggest that he’s drawing from their surroundings. Colossae wasn’t far from Laodicea and they had the purest cold water you could get. The town just up the road was known for its hot springs. Laodicea was in the middle – the water in their town was lukewarm.
b. Their hearts were lukewarm
i. They gathered together for worship – unprepared.
ii. They were blessed – but didn’t understand where the blessing came from.
iii. They weren’t really against God
1. But their actions said that they weren’t for him either
It made no difference to them what they did or didn’t do with church, or their Christian life, or their faith. They might have had an understanding of Jesus and God and all that other good stuff but it wasn’t making a difference in their life, it was in name only. The church can’t make an outward difference in the lives of people, until we make an inward change ourselves. Some of us this morning have come to church, unprepared for worship. The time has come when we stop just throwing up our offering to God in hopes that he doesn’t notice that it isn’t our best. He tells them – “I know your deeds” – He knows ours as well. He tells them --
c. “I wish you were one way or the other”
i. All the way for me – or nothing
ii. All the way against me – or nothing
We can pretend that we are all the way for God – we can say all the right stuff, go to all the right places, and try and be the right person – It doesn’t make a difference if it’s not real. When the battle lines are drawn – He wants to know what side you are on. When the army goes into war – which uniform are you going to wear? We don’t like to think of it that way – honestly the words I just said are a little unfriendly.
We’d like to think that God can tolerate someone helping out the church, but not being in church. We’d like to think that God is alright if we compromise the morals and just dabble a little in sin.
God is NEVER ok with sin – He has never in all of history, and NEVER will bless the sin in your life. He tells the church – because you are neither hot or cold – I am about to spit you our of my mouth. Lit. “vomit you”. This is not a good thing. Sin leads you to believe that you can be:
d. Self – Sufficient
i. “I can do this on my own”
ii. “I don’t need help from anyone”
The Bible says: (advance)
Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; They were not following scripture. They were not trusting God.
The church in Laodicea was rich. The town in general was rich. Banking and medicine was their major industries. They were important and self-sufficient, those feelings spilled over into the church. They would all get on their suits and ties on Sunday morning and pretend to be something that they weren’t. Jesus quotes them – he says: (advance)
Revelation 3:17 – 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.
e. The Love of Money
i. They were putting pride in the amount of money they had
ii. It was causing them to ignore ministry
Thoughts of pride – “we don’t need anything” – because we have money. It boils over into meanness instead of ministry – or be this to be in the church, or have this income level – And so they kick out all the people who fit man made rules, and they are left with people who are only interested in money, wealth and possessions. The only blessing we can ever have is the blessing that comes from doing his will in our lives, it has very little to do with money.
f. Ministry
i. They were inward focused
ii. They were all about themselves
iii. Ego/Self had taken its seat in the first pew
Jesus tells them – you don’t understand your position – you might have treasures on earth. You might have a nice boat, a big house and 3 cars in the driveway – He tells them – you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Because you are only interested in worldly possessions – you have your collection and nothing else. Jesus says in the first book of the New Testament: (advance)
Matthew 6:33 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Church, listen, don’t confuse the possessions that you have here and now for blessing later in eternity. In the church, in our daily lives, in our personal faith we are to seek God’s will and his kingdom first. They weren’t doing that – they didn’t have a passion for his will, and therefore they only added what they had – When we pursue God’s will for our lives in this church – we have unlimited potential.
If the first word for the church in laodicea was “I know your conduct” – the second word is: (advance)
II. Change Your Conduct (18-20)
(advance)
“We can’t make an outward difference until we are inwardly different.”
a. He gives them instructions
i. “Buy gold from me” – So you can be rich
ii. “Buy white clothes” – to cover your nakedness
iii. “Buy a salve” – so you can see
He’s speaking in a metaphor – He calls them poor and then instructs them to buy things. The truth is they have money, but spiritually they are bankrupt. They have a big house, but spiritually there more than one mortgage on it. He’s telling them
b. Grab Truth
i. With everything you have
ii. Make it all that you want
There is a story of a preacher who went fishing everyday at the same time. A young man comes to the dock and says – preacher, I want to know Christ as you do, I want to know the power of your faith – how do I do that? The preacher tells him to read his Bible and pray. Next day, the young man comes back, and again asks the same thing – How do I know Christ like you do – how do I have the power in my faith like you do? The preacher again tells him to read his bible and pray. The third day and the young man comes back to the dock and again asks the same question – the preacher throws the young man into the water, as the young man is grasping for air, the preacher holds his head under, brings him up for breath and then holds him under again. He then helps the young man out of the water and says – when you want to know Christ as much as you wanted air come back and see me.
Jesus says – If I love you
c. I rebuke you and discipline you
Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase says it this way: (advance)
Revelation 3:19 – "The people I love, I call to account--prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!
i. Have you been rebuked by God?
ii. Is God in the process of giving you discipline?
We don’t often embrace the discipline we receive from God. We don’t often embrace the times when he uses his word and study to show us our faults, and our created troubles. I am asking you this morning – to embrace what God is putting you through. He wants what is best for you. The NIV says – that they needed to repent – Are we guilty of going after God with something less that all of who we are? Are we guilty of making excuses for our failures? Are we guilty of placing something in front of our fellowship with other Christians? They needed to repent –they needed to run to God – We need to do the same.
d. Jesus is at the door
i. Standing at the door – the closed door
You see the idea, the picture he is painting is that we all have a door way into our hearts. We all have a room in the temple which Christ dwells by his spirit. Their doors were closed, so Jesus had to knock. Jesus was willing to knock – Salvation is at stake – Open the door and he comes in – keep the door closed and he stays out. He’s not the host – he’s the guest. You are the host. He won’t force his way in – he won’t commune with you, if you aren’t ready. Listen, he desires more than anything to sit down and share a meal with you. He longs to have a relationship with you. His one desire is that you know him as Lord, and it starts by opening the door. It starts by having fellowship with him – one on one, personal time with him – one on one – are you doing that?
If you know someone is coming over you might clean up first – you might pile more stuff in the extra bedroom, do a quick load of dishes, make sure all the laundry is off the floor. It’s just the opposite with our savior -- Paul says in Romans: (advance)
Romans 5:6 – You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
He has the ability to clean your life up forever – he has the ability to see that all sin is removed from your life. You don’t have to clean up before coming to Jesus – He’s the one who cleans you up. He has the desire to see you go from powerless to powerful in your faith. He paid the price you could not pay – he made a way so that you could be free, from sin and death. He’s told the church – “I know your conduct” & “Change your conduct” now he gently says – (advance)
III. Hear my voice (21-22)
a. Are you listening for his voice?
i. Or are you distracted –
I don’t know what you came for this morning – to get fed? To have fellowship? To help serve? (advance)
Psalm 46:10 – "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Jesus says in the last part of this – “He who has an ear, let him hear.” – Are you listening to the voice of God? I know this is true in my life – the times when I hear God the most is not when I expect him to yell above the noise – but when I take the time to be quiet, when I take the time to listen because the truth is he’s ready to speak – are you listening?
ii. Tear down the obstacles
1. That prevent you from hearing
2. That prevent him from speaking through his word
3. Run To God! Run, don’t walk – Remove the baggage from your life. (advance)
“We can’t make an outward difference until we are inwardly different.”
He gives us a promise: (advance)
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus also gives us another promise this morning --
b. If we overcome
i. We will sit on the throne
ii. We will reign with him
Conclusion:
This letter is one of the strangest to me. He starts by wanting to puke them out of his mouth because of their spiritual condition, to offering them a place in heaven on the throne. God’s grace was real for them – and church, it’s real for us today. Heaven was a real hope for them – and it’s just as real today. I don’t know about you but I look forward to heaven. I look forward to the day when I will see my savior face to face – when I will go from this existence and all it’s limitations to the throne he has prepared for me. Does it make life any easier right now – Does it make the struggle with sin easier – NO, it doesn’t. I want to close by reading you the lyrics of a song, one that some of you might be familiar with. A man lost his father and started wondering – started to imagine heaven. My hope this morning is that you will imagine something greater than what you are right now – something greater than this church is right now.
"I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing ’Hallelujah!’? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!
I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing ’Hallelujah!’? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing ’Hallelujah!’? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!! Only imagine!!!
I can only imagine.
I can only imagine, when all I do is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine."
The invitation is simple – if you have a decision to make – maybe you’ve never accepted Jesus as your personal lord and savior and want to do so – maybe you’ve made that walk before – but something came back in – and you shut him out. We are going to stand this morning and sing a decision hymn – and if you have a decision please come as we stand and sing.
