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Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In!
LaodiceaLaodicea
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.
Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In!
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
Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In!
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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“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
When you know the area, you can better understand
what Jesus is saying.
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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
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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
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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“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
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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“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
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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“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
Is he saying that to us this morning?
Is Christ outside the church wanting to
come in?
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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
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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“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
Song of Solomon 5:2
“The voice of my beloved,
he knocks at the door. Open to me my beloved”
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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
Jesus wants to have an intimate relationship
with you and me, with us as his bride.
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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
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?
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