laodicea revelation of jesus– things are not as they seem - let me in! laodicea last time we saw...

Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In!

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Last time we saw how Jesus opens doors for us.

Today we see Jesus standing in front of a closed door.

This series takes much of its inspiration from Darrell Johnson’s book, Discipleship on the Edge.

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Scripture Reading

Revelation 3:14-22

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Several weeks ago I saw this in the Edmonton Journal:

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This word “Laodicean” has entered the English language

carrying the message that Jesus had for this church.

Imagine “Ottewellian” coming to mean “lukewarm or indifferent.”

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As we have seen Jesus do in each of these messages to the church,

Jesus, who is standing

in the midst of his churches, describes himself at the

beginning of the message.

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Notice how Jesus describes himself.

Not by what he has or has done,but

by who he is.

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"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the

Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.”

Rev. 3:14

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“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,

the ruler of God's creation.” Rev. 3:14

Amen = This is true, valid, binding = used as a response to the

reading of the covenant.

LaodiceaLaodicea“These are the words of the Amen,

the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.” Rev. 3:14

Faithful and True Witness =- 1:5: “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness.”- 19:11: on the white horse “and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True.”-You want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus. He is the genuine rep.- Jesus is absolute truth

LaodiceaLaodicea“These are the words of the Amen,

the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.” Rev. 3:14

The ruler [arche] of God’s creation =- First in rank, ruler- First in time

- not just the first in a sequence- but the source of the sequence- the originator of the sequence- the archetype of the sequence

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Colossians 1:15-20:“He is the image of the invisible

God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created:

things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or

authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold

together.

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Colossians 1:15-20:And he is the head of the body, the

church; he is the beginning [arche] and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to

have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all

things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace

through his blood, shed on the cross.”

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E. Stanley Jones put it this way:

“If we were created by Christ and for Christ, then he is inescapable.

You cannot jump out of your skin. If you revolt against Christ,

you revolt against yourself.”

Jones, In Christ, p.28

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“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,

the ruler of God's creation.” Rev. 3:14

This is who is speaking to the church.

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C.S. Lewis:

“Jesus Christ produced mainly three effects – hatred, terror,

adoration. There was no trace of people expressing mild approval.”

As quoted by Johnson, p.118

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“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you

were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you

out of my mouth. vv.15-16

“I am about to vomit you out…”

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“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. vv.15-16

Some misinterpret “you are neither cold nor hot.”

Saying hot = on fire for God Cold = cold toward God

Doesn’t make sense for Jesus to say “I wish you were either one

or the other.”

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When you know the area, you can better understand

what Jesus is saying.

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Laodicea did not have it’s own water source.

Water was brought in through an aqueduct system from Colossae.

By then it was warm and tasteless.

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To the northeast of Laodicea the city of Hierapolis had hot

springs.-healing properties

Spilled over a cliff opposite to Laodicea

By then lukewarm and putrid

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So Laodicea had neither refreshing cold water nor healing hot water.

The church had become like the water source.

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William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, tells how he

came to realize he was lukewarm, listening to a speaker

who said, “If I believed what some of you believe, I would

never rest day or night telling others about it.”

Quoted by Johnson, 119

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We have heard and believe the greatest news, haven’t we?

Jesus, the Word made flesh, born in a manger.

The one laying in the arms of a teenage mom being the one who created the

galaxies.That on the cross Jesus became the lamb that takes away the sin of the

world.

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That Jesus rose from the dead making it possible for us to live a

new life todayThat Jesus poured out his Spirit on his people to enable them to

live his wayThat Jesus is on the throne,

reigning as King of kings and will return.

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If we believe all this and know that no one can come to the father except through Jesus,

Why would we not tell everyone?

Are we lukewarm?

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G. Campbell-Morgan:“Lukewarmness is the worst form

of blasphemy.” Quoted by Johnson, p.121

Responding to Jesus, the Amen, the faithful witness,

the arche of all creation, with a yawn.

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The lukewarmness arose out of being rich, or at least feeling rich

and in need of nothing.

v. 17: “You say, 'I am rich;

I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’”

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Laodicea was famous for 3 things:

1. It’s wealth2. It’s clothing industry3. It’s healing eye salve

“I do not need a thing”

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The church in Laodicea had drunk from this same water of self-

sufficiency.

St. Augustine:“The saying ‘I have everything’ is

a terrible saying when ‘everything’ does not include the

living God.” Quoted by Johnson, p.123

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To this seemingly self-sufficient church Jesus says:

“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. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to

wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your

eyes, so you can see.” vv.17-18

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Jesus is saying to self-sufficient Christians:

Recognize that you are poor and needy and

I will make you richI will clothe you

I will make your blind eyes see.

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This lead us to the image of Jesus

standing outside a closed door knocking

to get in.

Holman Hunt’s painting

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“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the

door, I will come in and eat

with him, and he with me.” v.20

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“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,

I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” v.20

-Said to believers!- To those inside the

church- to a church without

Christ in it.

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Is he saying that to us this morning?

Is Christ outside the church wanting to

come in?

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You see the solution to lukewarmness is not

cranking up the emotional heat or more self-

sufficiency.

It’s letting Jesus the King back into our lives!

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Song of Solomon 5:2

“The voice of my beloved,

he knocks at the door. Open to me my beloved”

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Jesus wants to have an intimate relationship

with you and me, with us as his bride.

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Jesus promises more:“To him who overcomes, I

will give the right to sit with me on my throne,

just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on

his throne.” v.21

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“Here I am! I stand at the door

and knock.” v.20

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the

Spirit says to the churches.” v.22

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“Here I am! I stand at the door

and knock.” v.20

Will you let him in?

Will you turn the handle and let him in?

laodicea revelation of jesus– things are not as they seem - let me in! laodicea last time we saw...

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