Laodicea
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Live a Remarkable Life
Live a Remarkable Life
Rev 3:14-22
Introduction (500 Words)
On Friday night, i ran to Walmart, and I am not going to lie to you I was tired— this last week was just a lot.
We have a lot going on so I threw my headphones in both ears, I never do this, I typically just do one ear only.
You know by aware of your surroundings.
Well not today!
I had music going— I did not hear anything in Walmart and it was amazing.
However, I had a little accident.
I was getting all the grocery stuff first, I was buzzing through the isles, not a care in the world.
Then I head over to the woman’s section because Brittni, my wife needs some PJ bottoms.
So I was in the middle of the woman’s section looking for PJ’s for her.
I was not able to find them, so I parked my kart and I was just blazing up and down the isles— couldn’t find them and then it dawned on me that they are in the back of the ladies section across from shoes.
So I grab the kart and head over there.
Got her stuff, got some stuff I needed in the guys section.
I then get over to the self-check lane.
I load all the top stuff from the kart and I am putting my stuff there and then Brittni’s PJs and then I pick up a pack of sock.
I don’t remember putting them in the cart.
And I am now noticing that not only do I have socks I did not put into the cart, but also 3 other packs of socks, a bra, and some lotion and body wash that was not for me or Brittni.
But the biggest thing was I did not have any groceries in my cart!
Then it hits me!
I grabbed the wrong cart after I came back from the woman’s section.
I know this because I saw my cart in the women section right where I left it!
I felt like such dummy.
Anyone ever do that before— cool just me!
Anyway I tell you that story because while the other person’s cart way have felt the same and acted the same as my cart- the contents were all wrong.
And that cart was only pretending to be my cart- I mean it held some of my stuff— but as I got to the bottom of it— the truth was exposed.
The cart was fake.
This cart was unremarkable to me because it was not carrying my stuff but some else’s.
And the last church we are looking at tonight was also unremarkable.
The church of Laodicea thought they had it all together, they thought they were on the up and up but the reality is they had the wrong cart and they were about read to be exposed for who they really were.
The church of Laodicea was unremarkable.
So tonight as we wrap up this series lets see what was unremarkable about Laodicea and how we can avoid those pitfalls in our lives.
I want you to walk away today fixed on living a remarkable life.
That was the issue with Laodicea, their discipleship, their lifestyle and their church was all unremarkable.
Their discipleship was unremarkable
Their discipleship was unremarkable
Explain
“Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.
We know that John is writing to the chruch here in Laodicea.
Yet, it is not John alone, but Jesus who is giving Him the words to say for this church.
Jesus uses 3 forms of identity.
Jesus announces himself as the amen, the faithful and true witness and the originator of God’s creation.
“By referring to himself as the Amen, the reference seems to be to the fact that Christ is the affirmation of God.”- Paige Patterson
“Others might faithfully appear but, because they are false witnesses, mislead. Jesus, however, is both the faithful and the true witness. He will always be faithful to give testimony, and he will perpetually speak truth.”- Paige Patterson
Those two are pretty easy to explain.
Yet, third one left me with the questions, was Jesus created?
It says the beginning of God’s creation.
While of course Jesus was not created.
However this is exactly where other religions (Mormans) will point too and claim that Jesus was indeed created.
“the emphasis is not on the beginning of the Christ but on the beginning of everything else in Christ. Clearly he is God’s agent in creation, and this is consistent with what is said by the apostle John (John 1:3).”- Paige Patterson
Christ gives the church leaders here his credentials and then expresses like all the other 6 churches that he knows them personally.
He says I know your works
You are lukewarm.
You are not hot or cold.
And because of this I am going to spit you out.
For many of us we have heard this passage preached on before.
We have heard it said that the problem with Laodicea was they were lukewarm Christians.
We have heard it said that God wants us to be on fire for him or not at all being cold— As in lukewarm is the worst position to be in as a believer.
Why would God prefer someone to be cold in their spiritually rather then lukewarm?
This concept has never really sat well with me.
So I would like to address this a bit.
You see the whole reason why Jesus is even bringing up hot, cold and lukewarm, has to do with Laodicea’s water supply.
While this was a very well known city, it was in the middle of no where.
They were not near a stream or hot spring— so they had to bring their water in from other places through pipes
Laodicea was getting their water from two places:
Colosse which was in the mountains and known for it had very cold water.
The other place was Hierapolis which is famously known for their hot springs.
Sounds great right, you would have the best of both worlds.
Wrong, it took too long to get to them and the pipes were full of heavy mineral deposits, making the water lukewarm and gross to drink.
While Laodicea was well know for wealth and other glorious parts they were also known for having lukewarm water.
The water was unremarkable.
It was not cold or hot.
Colosse was had remarkable cold water.
Hierapolis had remarkable hot springs.
But both of these waters become unremarkable by the time they got to Laodicea.
Jesus message here would have been very clear to the people of Laodicea.
Christ wanted them to be hot like those of Hierapolis or cold like those in Colosse— but since they were neither they were simply disgusting.
Their discipleship was not hot or cold— it was not happening, it was not present— it was unremarkable.
Laodicea had lost what made them remarkable.
They lost sight of what they were known for.
My guess they were a growing church, and the people were growing and discipling others.
But now they were just like the rest of the culture.
They were insignificant.
Being a lukewarm Christian- doesn’t sound as bad as saying you are an unremarkable follower of Christ.
Yet, this is exactly what Jesus is saying and he is fed up with them and is ready to spit them out.
It has nothing to do with being on fire for Jesus or being cold for Jesus.
It has everything to do with living a life that is marked by the gospel.
And if you are calling yourself a believer and are not living a life marked by the gospel then you my friend are living a life that is unremarkable.
This is the issue of Laodicea— and it was sooo bad that Jesus is ready to spit them out of his mouth.
Illustrate
Think about clothes, shoes, hats, cars, anything in life really.
The more remarkable something is the more you notice that thing right?
It stands out.
And it could be something good or bad it doesn’t really matter, because something could be dope and we say that outfit slaps.
And if we see something that is off or looks terrible— we say that is wack.
But you know what we don’t notice its basic—a plain old white-shirt.
There is a reason they are sold in a pack of 6 down an isle and not single buy shirts.
They are unremarkable.
Remarkable things are noticed.
Apply
So let me ask you the question— is your faith in Christ remarkable.
I’m not saying you are burning the world down for Jesus, and are loud and proud, or things like that.
But is your life marked by the gospel?
Maybe it was but now you are just blending in with the culture.
You don’t stand out for your faith.
You have a faith that is unremarkable.
Is this where you are tonight?
Even if you feel like this may be true there is hope for you.
I would say that if you have enough self-awareness to look at your faith and say something is missing here, you are in a good spot.
Because not only was Laodicea unremarkable in their discipleship
Their lifestyle was unremarkable
Their lifestyle was unremarkable
Explain
For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent.
We just talked about self-awareness and the church of Laodicea did not have much of it.
They thought that they were good.
They thought they were rich, and they had great wealth, and they needed nothing.
But the reality was they were not.
Jesus says they were wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
You are not doing well— maybe to the world you are— but you are actually broken, poor, blind, and exposed.
Their life had no vision.
They lacked in this area.
The chruch here had a false since of identify.
The reality of their identity was they were in the world and part of the world.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
But here is the good news.
Even though Jesus find the church here repulsive and is ready to spit them out he seeks to give them advice.
He counsels them.
Saying buy from Jesus gold refined by fire.
Is this really gold, no But it is in reference to their faith.
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.
And the white garments which represent purity and since they are exposed, they are able to cover themselves up.
and lastly they must take the salve which they are known for and put it on their eyes so the blindness they are experiencing can be lifted, and they can see who they truly are and realize they are in deed unremarkable.
Jesus is telling them this because they need to know that they are lacking— that he sees through the mask-through the crap— and he love you.
He does all this out of love.
To correct and to discipline— so we can be zealous for him— so we can fall on our faces and repent.
Jesus is going to cause us some pain, but great parents do this.
Great parents cause some pain to correct and nurture their children.
It is done out of love.
The church here was struggling but Jesus still offers his love so they can come back to him and be zealous for him.
Illustrate
As a father I hate to discipline my kids.
It is the worst.
Yet, I know that it is my responsibility to guide my children to love God, and to not be huge cry baby jerks when they get older.
I mean that is all the responsibility I feel like I can take on.
I know they are going to mess up, and I am not expecting them to be perfect.
But when the time comes and they need corrected or discipline, i have to do it.
To not doing would be unloving.
If I did not love my kids I would let them live however they wanted.
I would not care what they did.
But because of how deeply I care for them and love them, I set my eyes to the future for them to help them learn from the past and live in the present centered on the gospel.
Kicking the world to the side because I know the world does not love my kids.
They do not care how they turn out— they do not care how you turn out.
They want you to feel remarkable but the truth is the world wants you to conform.
Apply
It is so easy to fall into the trap of being like the world.
At times it may look cooler, easier and much more luxurious.
God sees through it.
You may build up in your mind that everything is fine.
We may even say that over and over in our minds, its fine, its fine, its fine— but the truth is its not.
We are lost, poor, blind, naked— we become exposed.
And the worst term we can throw at someone is calling them fake.
This is what God does when we say one thing and live differently.
But even if that is where you are at today, Jesus knows it for he knows you personally and even in this moment he offers counsel.
So that you can live a life that is marked by the gospel.
You may have to repent as times that is okay.
We are all called to fall on our faces at the cross and repent our short comings.
If you are not repenting weekly for your sin you may be living an unremarkable life.
Lives marked by the gospel are lives that repent and zeal after the Lord.
Unfortunately this was not happening in Laodicea.
Their church was living lives that were unremarkable.
Their discipleship was unremarkable.
Their lifestyle was unremarkable and so was their chruch.
Their church was unremarkable
Their church was unremarkable
Explain
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.’ ”
The last point tonight talks about the church.
As Jesus is standing out the door knocking.
He is knocking the door trying to see if anyone will answer or listen.
“The travesty in this picture is that the Lord “loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph 5:25). Indeed the church is the “Lord’s church” by initiation and by sustenance. What happens then when the inexplicable takes place and Jesus is found not on the inside of the church but on the outside, knocking to get in?”- Paige Patterson
For if they do and allow Jesus to come in, he will eat with them and be with them.
The chruch was failing to be different and it seems like Jesus is on the outside looking in.
As Jesus continues he says.
The one who is marked by the gospel— will conquer this world.
They will sit next to Christ on his throne, as he sits next to his Father.
Jesus offered so much for this church even though they were blending in with the world and living unremarkable lives.
Illustrate
I remember when Brittni and I came back from college, we were 23 and we pretty much did not continue to be in the church.
We were just living a life that was for us only.
We would sleep in on Sunday’s.
We were not part of a small group let alone serving anywhere.
I mean my bible was on our bookcase, collecting dust, but I mean I knew all the answers and it just didn’t seem to matter to me.
We truly were just falling into the trap of living and being part of the world, instead of the higher calling God placed in our lives.
It was not until my Uncle John called me kind of got on me.
Saying what are you doing— I am so glad he did.
He told us that we needed to be serving and getting plugged in.
That we were not using the gifts or talents that God had given us.
He knew what they were since we served as interns for his church two years prior.
We thought everything was great but in reality we were broken and in need of refined gold, white clothes, and salve for our blind eyes.
Apply
What if the church failed to look remarkable to the world.
What if our church looked just like the rest of the world.
The chruch is called to be set apart.
To be mark, by love, grace, peace, kindness, truth and goodness.
The world will promise you riches, and claim that you do not need anything.
They will tell you are fine just the way you are.
They will never ask you to change
You will stay stuck and the world will applaud this.
You will be unremarkable.
A plain white t-shirt
someone else shopping cart.
It may look like fun and it may seem enjoyable— to not be noticed— but once you dig in a bit you will find the truth.
The truth is you were meant to live a remarkable life.
What that is centered on the Gospel.
Is Jesus going to ask you to change, yep, He isn’t ask you to change your appearance, how you talk, how you think, or even who you are.
But he is going to ask you to be better.
Jesus loves you right where you are— the world says they do but then they give you a list on things to do and change about you.
Jesus isn’t like that— he meets you where you are but he refuses to leave to there.
Because when you become a believer you are a new creation.
The old is gone the new has come.
You are a new creation, and you are going to need correcting and nurturing, we all need this so we can live lives that are marked by the gospel.
Conclusion (300 words)
As we wrap up here, we learned something from the chruch of Laodicea.
They were unremarkable in their discipleship, their lifestyle and their chruch.
Yet even as they were about to be spit out or vomit out Jesus offers them His love.
His perfect never giving up, unstoppable, always and forever love.
Jesus is crazy about you.
Being remarkable has nothing to do with us.
It has everything to do with Christ.
We live markable lives that shows Christ is in us.
We are lights to the world.
Maybe tonight you realize that you are unremarkable in your discipleship.
You have been a believer for years and you have not shared your faith with one, this week my challenge is to share it with someone.
Maybe this area is receiving some hot water or cold water and you have been living remarkably here.
What about your lifestyle?
Do you stand out in a crowd?
Are you being different from everyone else.
I hate to say it but what are you giving your time too?
Maybe it is time to put away the snapper chat, or getting off the gram to focus on our relationship with God.
Or maybe you got that figured out as well.
In Laodicea Jesus was knocking on the doors to the church— asking to come in.
Maybe Jesus is doing that here at our church or our youth group?
Or maybe right now, he is just knocking on your heart?
Maybe for the first time?
Will you answer the door?
It could also could be that he is knocking because he doesn’t recognize you?
I hope that you realize that Jesus wants you to be remarkable for Him- through your discipleship, your lifestyle and through His church.
Let’s Pray