Laodicea
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Intro
Known forever as the church that made Jesus vomit.... or
Home Depot Christianity..... you can do it; God can help
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.’ ”
Jesus has correcting and rebuking and loving to do with this church..... First...
1. Rely on Jesus
1. Rely on Jesus
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.
16 so that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes.
The Amen..Jesus is the Faithful and true witness
In Hebrew, it was a very strong affirmation (see Numbers 5:22; Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6) — a formal, solemn, earnest “I agree,” or “I affirm what was just said,” or “This is true.” Most simply, “Amen” means a very earnest Yes in the context of addressing God. - Piper
20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
He is God’s Yes.... and the perfect person fully God and fully human who lived a perfect life...... living out his FAITH in God in his daily life!.....
He asserts the will of God—He asserts God Himself. God the Son is constantly called the Logos, the Word, He who asserts, declares, and testifies God. - Spurgeon
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
He is the originator.... He wasn’t created.... He is supreme with God in Creation.... over everything.....
Aslan:
Do not cite the Deep Magic to me, Witch! I was there when it was written.
Who are you relying on?...... Jesus states from the beginning here.....
who are you claiming to be church in Laodicea? Who are you in comparison to me?.......
What claim do you have that matches me?
Rely on Jesus, because everything else.... including you will fall short of Jesus!
He moves on to their sinfulness.
2. The Sin of Uselessness
2. The Sin of Uselessness
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.
Their faith was useless.... It was dead..... It was naseauting to Jesus!
Hot water from 6 miles away through clay pipes.... produced a luke warm calcium filled vomit enducing water....
The references to hot and cold match the temperature of the waters of Hierapolis and Colossae "Revelation: The Spirit Speaks to the Churches" by James M. Hamilton, Jr.. Scribd.
Establish that Jesus is calling them to be useful and to have a purpose.... either Hot or Cold.... This is not a temperature towards Jesus.... be hot and passionate for Jesus or be cold and distant to him.....
This is in direct correlation to their works and their usefulness.... The fruit of their faith.....
17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Faith produces fruit..... a follower of Christ should be useful!
Be Hot like the hotsprings.... be refreshing like the cold waters of Colossae...
Lukewarm.... hypocrytical faith is going to be vomitted out by Jesus......
You make me want to throw up!...... why?.....
Rebuked for 5 things
Wretched - You are wicked.... although you think everything is ok with you and God.... devastated land....
Pitiable - They thought much of themselves… famous in the trade market and region...
poor -
The city was known for its wealth… rejecting help to rebuild after an earthquake.....
blind
The city was known for an eye salve..... PHyrigian Powder.... that helped with eyesight issues.
Naked
Black wool industry was huge.... black clothing market was big....
The church was self-sufficient, self-reliant, self-serving..... the biggest sin of our time as well
Come to Jesus for all that you need. (Hear this loud and clear)
Gold refined by fire
White Garments
Eye salve....
You have worldly solutions.... but I have eternal spiritual solutions......
As many have learned and later taught, you don't realize Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have. - Tim Keller
Is this what your ears need to hear this morning?
3. Be Zealous and Repent
3. Be Zealous and Repent
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.
Jesus loves you and will discipline you.....
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Be zealous and Repent......
They were zealous for themselves.... they must be zealous for Jesus alone!
The great mistake made by most of the Lord’s people is in hoping to discover in themselves that which is to be found in Christ alone. - A.W. Pink.....
12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.’
Complacency is the devils work - Lewis Allen.... Home depot
What are you most zealous about in your walk with Jesus? What is our church most zealous about? Would we be found obedient to this command.... be zealous and repent?
Look to Jesus!
Verse 20 has been used in many evangelistic sermons.... but here I want us to see what is written within context of this letter to a CHURCH and not to an individual without saving faith in Jesus.... while yes believing and letting Jesus be the Lord and Savior of your life is necessary, Jesus here is seeking the fellowship and intimacy at the table with the believers in Laodicea...... He is inviting himself in but patiently waiting....... He isn’t forcing himself in, he is waiting, ready to bring in the blessing and the fellowship of the eternal banquetting table!
He should be outside the door. but inside! - Oh, brethren, when the Lord is in a church, it is a happy church, a holy church, a mighty church, and a triumphant church - Spurgeon
Promises
Jesus comes in to eat
Roman culture of hospitality is pictured along with the picture of the banquetting table of the Lord in heaven!
The Throne with Jesus
This is mind blowing!!… To sit on the throne with Jesus, because of Jesus!
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Final words repeated here and to us this morning.
4. Hear the Spirit
4. Hear the Spirit
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
There is no perfect church..... There is only a perfect savior.....
Jesus is coming soon, and he is calling his Church to faith that endures until he comes.... he is calling you to faithful obedience..... How have you heard these words to the churches?.... You may individually been different than your neighbor.... How have you heard these letters to our church at LCBC?.....
Ephesus - Don’t lose your first love.
Smyrna - Trust God in suffering.
Pergamum - Don’t compromise sound doctrine.
Thyatira - Don’t sin that grace may abound.
Sardis - Don’t be spiritually dead.
Philadelphia - Jesus opens doors.
Laodicea - Be fruitful in your faith.
Let us be obedient to hear, share with one another the work of the Spirit among us, and faitfully endure and conquer in Jesus Christ at LCBC!
Conclusion:
How has the Spirit spoken to you in this series?
Come to Jesus Christ in faith in Jesus!
Join our church, take the next step to be baptized.