Warning to the Complacent:

Transcription

1 Warning to the Complacent: Revelation 3: /17/17 AM Michael Osladil, Calvary Bible Church, Hanover, PA When you look ahead to your future, if you're normal, you want to have a successful future. In fact, the desire for success drives many of our most important decisions. Something that will make us successful, we do, and something that will make us unsuccessful, we try not to do. We live our lives in such a way as to lead to success. There is nothing wrong, of course, with wanting to be successful. However, the world's view of success and the biblical view of success often oppose each other. In 1966, about a year before he died, the brilliant physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer said, I am a complete failure! This man had been the director of the Los Alamos Project, a research team that produced the atomic bomb. He also served as the head of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. Yet, in looking back, he saw his achievements as meaningless. When asked about them, he replied, They leave on the tongue only the taste of ashes. The number of people who commit suicide after experiencing the fame and fortune of worldly success is astonishing. Multimillionaire George Vanderbilt killed himself by jumping from a hotel window. Lester Hunt, twice governor of Wyoming before being elected to the U.S. Senate, ended his own life. Actress Marilyn Monroe, writer Ernest Hemingway, comedian and actor Robin Williams, musician Prince, and athlete Junior Seau represent a host of highly influential and popular people who became so disenchanted with earthly success that they took their own lives. 1 All of these people I've just told you about were people the world would call successful. They spent their whole lives working toward these goals and they reached them. Yet something was missing. They were chasing after what they thought was success, but it really wasn't. In the race for success they ran hard, they ran with perseverance, and they ran well. The trouble is they were running on the wrong road. They were running toward the wrong finish line. If you're running in the Boston Marathon, it doesn't matter if you can run the 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 2 minutes, if you fail to run in the right direction. You may have the fastest time, but you fail to arrive at the right goal. The same is true with life. It doesn't matter how hard you work at success, what you sacrifice for success; if what you're chasing after isn't really success. So, it's important to determine from the start of your race that you run toward the right goal. If you've already been running for a while, you can evaluate where you're running and make some corrections in your course if that's necessary. 2 So, then if we're going to find true success in life, we must determine what true success consists of. We must see what the Bible considers to be true success. Let s look at an example of a church full of people who thought they were successful, but were really unsuccessful. Based on their condition and what Jesus commanded them to do in order to become successful, we can form a definition of true, biblical success. Two thousand years ago the city where this church was located seemed to have so much of what the world equates with success. This city offered the equivalent of today s designer label

2 2 stores, gambling in bustling casinos, watching professional sporting events, and attending the theater for award winning plays. And it was located just six miles from Hierapolis, a famous health resort, with medicinal baths in the streams that boasted water temperatures of 95 degrees. 3 The city was named after the wife of its founding emperor. Her name was Laodice, and the city s name was Laodicea. 4 This city was Las Vegas, Beverley Hills, and JPMorgan Chase Bank all rolled into one. Besides the large number of Gentiles in the city of Laodicea and in the surrounding Lycus River valley, tens of thousands of Jews had settled as well. 5 In fact, the Jews in Jerusalem had complained about the number of their kinsmen who had forsaken Palestine for the luxuries and the baths of this region. 6 The Jews of this city had even appealed to the Roman governor for independence to follow their own customs and laws. The Roman government granted their request. Laodicea was the garment capitol of the world. The sheep that were bred nearby were renowned for having glossy, black, almost purplish-blue-colored wool. 7 So coveted was this wool Laodicean mills produced at least four different kinds of outer garments. Merchants exported these outer garments all over the world. These were the name brands of the first century. Laodicea was also a medical center. People flocked to its medical and health resorts to find healing through the latest medical treatments known in that ancient world. Laodicea was crazy about physical fitness. 8 In addition, this city was also the banking center of Asia Minor. In fact, the citizens of Laodicea were by and large so well off that when an earthquake destroyed some of its buildings, they actually declined an offer from Rome to help rebuild, saying they did not need any assistance. 9 Laodicea was a wealthy, fashionable, physically fit, established, together city. They did not need help from anyone. Evidently, they did not think they needed help from God either. 10 Based on the condition of most of those in this church and what Jesus commands them to do in order to be successful, we can form a definition of true, biblical success. For a church that thinks they don t need God, Jesus sternness comes out as He rebukes and chastens those whom He loves. Jesus specifically states that members of this congregation are on the verge of turning His stomach so that He vomits them out of His mouth. This letter, addressed to the church at Laodicea, was also intended for Christ s churches over the entire world, including us here at Calvary. That can make us apprehensive about what we might hear. Since our text is found in this letter, surely we at Calvary can expect some serious words from the Head of the Church. Before we listen to the message of this letter, brothers and sisters, note what the Savior says in verse 19: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten (Rev 3:19 NKJV). It's because Christ loved His church in Laodicea that He spoke to her the sharp words He did. And it's because Christ loves His church here at Calvary that He has included this letter in Scripture to instruct and build us up in our faith. Let us then listen with the positive and

3 3 humble frame of mind to these words spoken in love. Turn with me in your Bibles or electronic devices to Revelation 3: And to the angel [i.e., messenger] of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore 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 dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame 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 (Rev 3:14-22 NKJV). Christ begins this letter by giving specific titles designated to go along with His message to this church. He makes clear the authority of His Word, His truthful witness, and that He is the source of creation. Look again at Revelation 3:14, And to the angel [i.e., messenger] of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God (Rev 3:14 NKJV). Jesus calls Himself, first of all, the AMEN. Jesus is God s ultimate statement of truth and fulfillment to His people. Secondly, Jesus Christ is not only God s ultimate statement of truth and fulfillment to His people He is also faithful in His witness. Jesus Christ refers to himself as the faithful and True Witness (Rev 3:14b). In other words, Jesus tells us: What I m about to tell you is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Third, Jesus also refers to Himself as the source (or originator) of creation. Jesus refers to Himself as the Beginning of the creation of God (Rev 3:14c). The word Jesus uses here for beginning (ἀρχή, arche) speaks of Him as the first cause, the origin of creation. 11 Contrary to the error of the Jehovah Witnesses it does not mean Jesus is the first created being. It means Jesus is the source of creation. He is the beginning of creation in the sense that He is the one who began creation. In Genesis 1:1 we read, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1 NKJV). Paul informs us in Colossians 1:15 that the Son of God actually was over all creation. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (Col 1:15 NIV). Christ is the firstborn, [or the prototokos (πρωτοτοκος)]. Christ existed before all creation. He is supremely first. It appears likely the false teaching of those called the Gnostics had impacted the church in Laodicea with their teaching that Christ was a created being one of many beings that came forth from God. The Gnostics also claimed to have a secret, higher spiritual knowledge than anyone else. Apparently the Colossian believers, along with those in nearby Laodicea were stumbling over the deity and eternality of Christ. The Colossians received their letter from Paul, who told the Colossian believers to pass it on to guess who? the church in Laodicea. 12 Paul wrote in

4 4 Colossians 4:16, Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans (Col 4:16 NKJV). The Laodiceans needed to hear as well that Jesus Christ is the supreme sovereign over all of creation. As we read in Colossians 1:16: For by Him [Christ Jesus] all things were created.... All things were created through Him and for Him (Col 1:16 NKJV). So Jesus Christ says to this church in Laodicea, I am the final word of truth I am the one who will tell you the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I am the source of creation, as well as supremely sovereign over all of creation. Do you want to experience true success? Recognize true success is based upon your response to Jesus Christ s authority. He is the Truly Reliable One, the Faithful and True Witness, the First Cause [or the Ruler] of God s creation (cf. Revelation 3:14.) While you or I may appear to be a success in the world s eyes and in our own estimation, we will never be truly successful in life unless we accept Christ s authority over our lives and submit to Him. To a church living in denial, which sees itself as spiritually rich, Jesus emphasizes the reliability of His testimony and His authority over all of God s creation. And that includes YOU AND ME! Jesus wants us to take seriously His message to us here in Revelation 3. He is not impressed with a church and its members that deny His authority over their lives. Jesus is not impressed for us if we only come here on Sunday, yet deny His authority over our lives the rest of the week. True success is based upon our acceptance of Christ s authority over all areas of our lives. Are you acknowledging Christ s Lordship over every area of your life? After reminding us of His authority and that He s a faithful witness, Christ makes clear He fully understands our true condition before Him. Christ gives the diagnosis of the true condition of the church in Laodicea. Notice Revelation 3:15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot Rev 3:15 NKJV). When Jesus says, I know your works, it reveals that Christ knows more than just the deeds you do. Your works reflect your life and conduct in general, including outward and inward spiritual activities. They give evidence of the inward spiritual condition the Lord alone sees and knows directly. It is by means of these you prove what you actually are. As Christ evaluates each church He will generally commend a church for its good first, before exposing its bad, showing that He is more disposed to look for the good than He is the bad. In Laodicea, however, no praise is in order, so the message launches immediately into a rebuke that is the most scathing of any of the seven. Jesus says, I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot (Rev 3:15 NKJV). [ILL] When a little girl was picked up after Sunday school, her mother asked her to recite the verse she had learned. The verse was, Many are called, but few are chosen. However, it came out, Many are cold, and a few are frozen. 13

5 5 Perhaps this is the way you feel in our church sanctuary. I know at certain times of the year Dave Markle who oversees our facility has people tell him they are too cold, while other people will be too hot! We all have different preferences. According to this text, the analogy of being cold or being boiling hot are good things, as opposed to being lukewarm. The background of this imagery comes from the water supply of the city. As the city grew, aqueducts brought water from the hot springs of Hierapolis, located to the north. This water while drinkable after it was cooled in clay jars was far from desirable. On the opposite side of Laodicea, to the south, lay Colossae with its cold, pure waters. A six mile aqueduct brought water to Laodicea, but by the time it arrived it was lukewarm. When Jesus speaks of wanting these people to be hot or cold, He s saying, I want you to be useful to me. Cold water on a hot day is refreshing, and hot water on a cold day can be comforting. But instead of being useful to Christ these people in the church at Laodicea were disgusting to the Lord. Lukewarm is a word for compromise. The Laodiceans were in the middle of the road in their comfort zone; on the fence; in neutral. They went to church; they gave a token nod to God, but then lived life for themselves the rest of the week. Remaining faithful to Christ and His teachings were unimportant to them. What s Jesus response? Revelation 3:16 says, So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth (Rev 3:16 NKJV). Who wants to drink lukewarm water? You are disgusting to me, Jesus states. Your empty religion makes Me sick! Why did this church make Jesus sick? These professing believers were living lives independently of God. They were trusting in their own resources, rather than living a life of faith. They were self-absorbed, focusing on their own pleasures, rather than seeking to please God. They were consumed with themselves rather than focusing on serving those around them. For the people of this community, life was good. The citizens of Laodicea had it all, and that feeling was as obvious in the church as anywhere else. These professing Christians had a relatively easy time of it. To be honest, their situation sounds like ours. There was safety, commerce, wealth, science, religious freedom... and a church that can be described as, at best, lukewarm. Both hot and cold have something good to offer. But lukewarm just does not make it! In v. 16 Jesus tells this self-satisfied church, I am about to reject you with disgust. [ILL] When we were traveling through Chicago one time when our children were young we stayed one night in the old section of a downtown hotel. I purchased a pound or so of trail mix at a small corner store a few blocks away. The mix was one where you could see it through a glass, and the owner scooped it into a plastic bag for you. Back at the hotel all of us were hungrily devouring the trail mix with its mixture of nuts, raisins, chocolate and other such items. When we were done to just the last ounce or two in the bag one of the more observant children suddenly exclaimed: What s that wiggling in the bag? We looked more closely and suddenly realized the bag had many small meal worms wiggling around in it. With mouths full

6 6 of the remnants of trail mix still in them, all of us made a beeline for the bathroom. We began to gag up the mealy worm trail mix still in our mouths and throats! This is the imagery Christ uses as He describes how the deeds of the people in the church of Laodicea make Him feel. Christ expresses His total disgust with these self-sufficient, selfenamored, self-absorbed, skin deep, anemic people who had no interest in providing either comfort or refreshment to those around them. 14 Notice the difference between who these self-sufficient church members thought they were and who Christ thought they were. In Revelation 3:17, Jesus says, Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Rev 3:17 NKJV). Underline the words you say and you are in this verse. Jesus tells the Laodiceans, You say you have everything, but you are actually spiritually poverty stricken. The people in the church of Laodicea pursued the same dreams, comforts, goals, toys, and lifestyle as the citizens around them. Rather than living purposeful lives with a passion for Christ they lived like their pagan neighbors. So Jesus Christ says to this church, and to any church filled with people playing religious games, You make me sick! Christ s disgust puts the Laodiceans in a precarious predicament as a result of their own moral choice. They had cause for great alarm. If you believe God cannot see religious play acting, if you only obey God when you find it advantageous for you, Jesus warns: Stop playing religious games! Lukewarm Christianity causes Jesus who gave His all for you and me to gag. What does Christian play acting look like? You go to church and act one way; then you go to work or school and act another way. The people at work or school have no idea you are a Christian. They see you living just like those without Christ around you. You live for the pleasures and things of this world rather than for Christ. While enjoying the fruit of our labor is a gift from God (cf. 1 Tim 6:17; Eccl 5:18-19), God wants us to remain focused on serving Him, rather than living for our possessions. Jesus warns us that if we live for material possessions we will live an empty, wretched life that lacks meaning and purpose. Laodicea said... Jesus Christ said... I am rich... you are wretched... I need nothing... you are poverty stricken... I have prospered... you are blind... Complacency and self-satisfaction are often fostered by material comforts. Part of the church s problems seems to have been its inability to distinguish between material and spiritual prosperity. The spirit of the surrounding culture may have crept in and paralyzed the spiritual life of its members.

7 7 The Laodiceans believed their spiritual wealth was due to their own exertions and they did not need the Lord. I am rich and have become wealthy [i.e., I am abounding in Christian virtues and eternal possessions] and don t need anything. The real condition of the Laodiceans is the exact opposite of what they believe it to be. Yet you do not know that you are pathetic and to be pitied and poor [i.e., destitute of Christian virtues and eternal riches] and blind [i.e., not able to see how to live; unable to see spiritual values] and naked [or stripped bare; poorly clothed, i.e., their carnal condition before the Lord]. The church in Laodicea lacked vision for the world. They also lacked passion for the Lord. Jesus told them You are blind. [ILL] I have two dollars in my hands. If I put them in front of my eyes, you are still out there but I fail to see you anymore; the Bible is in front of me but I am unable to read it anymore; the world is still out there but I become blind to the needs of people in the world. Two dollars have taken my vision away. How much has it taken to blind you? 15 Christ, the faithful and true witness, gives this diagnosis as the true condition of this church in Laodicea. To experience true success in life we need to recognize Christ s authority over us. Second, we also need to recognize our true condition before Christ. Recognize your true condition before Christ. How would Christ describe your spiritual condition? Are you seeking to passionately serve Him with your life? Can you say with the apostle Paul, For me to live is Christ (Phil 1:21). Are you seeking to let Christ live His life through you? (Cf. Gal 2:20.) Or have the comforts of this life turned your focus upon the things of this world? Where is your heart? Do you possess that passionate desire to please God and walk with Him? Do you present yourself to God as a living sacrifice, saying, God use me today for your honor and glory. Help me to represent you well to those around me. Is it possible you ve equated your material prosperity with spiritual prosperity? If so, Christ s warning makes clear the error of this view. The deeper problem in the Laodicean church was not simply their indifference. It was their ignorance of their real spiritual condition. Many in this church appear to lack true saving faith in Christ. After diagnosing their condition Christ then gives the prescription for the total recovery of the church in Laodicea. Christ ties this prescription directly to three significant elements of the Laodicean culture. Jesus reminds us: True success is found in accepting the gift of salvation from Christ and allowing Christ to live His life through us. Christ appeals to this spiritually destitute church: Accept the gift of salvation I offer you. Recognize your spiritual bankruptcy, and put your faith in Me. True faith in Me will help you withstand trials and will result in good works.

8 8 Christ views the church adherents spiritual destitution in three aspects, all three of which could be resolved by a single act, by their acceptance of the gift of salvation from Christ and then allowing Him to live His life through them. Christ first deals with their spiritual destitution. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich (Rev 3:18a NKJV). The people in the church at Laodicea found their satisfaction in their material wealth. Christ condemns them because they are finding their security or success in financial wealth instead of finding success in spiritual riches. So what are spiritual riches? Jesus counsels them to buy from Him gold refined in the fire. But what does this mean? Jesus tells us that complete dependence upon Him must replace selfsufficiency. The Bible refers often to purified faith as refined gold. 16 (Cf. 1 Tim. 6:18; James 1:3; 2:5; 1 Pet. 1:7; Prov. 17:3; Zech. 13:9.) The only way you will truly experience spiritual riches is by responding in faith to Christ. Jesus urges this congregation of complacent members to demonstrate genuine faith in Him. The world would tell us that the number one characteristic of a successful person is financial prosperity or material possessions. But the Bible says that the most important characteristic of a successful person is that they value and invest in those things that last for eternity. Buy from me gold refined in the fire. Demonstrate genuine faith, a faith capable of withstanding trials and one that results in works. How have you demonstrated faith this past week? Christ appeals a second way for the spiritually complacent to awaken to their need as he counsels them to find in Him their righteousness. In Rev 3:18 we read: I counsel you to buy from Me... white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed (Rev 3:18b NKJV). Find in Christ your righteousness. Then, allowing God s Holy Spirit to control you, display the righteous deeds that come from those who truly belong to Christ. A source of pride for the people of the city of Laodicea was the fine wool garments that were produced there. In fact, it was probably this that led Jesus to tell them to buy from Him white garments so they will not be shamed by their nakedness. The putting on of white garments is the reception of an inner inclination toward righteous deeds, as referred to in Rev. 19:7-8. Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 19:8 She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints) (Rev 19:7-8 NET). Christ supplies us with these garments at the moment of personal faith in him, but the avoidance of shame will come at the time of His second advent. This is the shame of one who has professed Christ, but has failed to truly put on Christ. Not until the return of Christ for judgment will hidden issues of the heart become public. If we fail to repent, we will be utterly disgraced when Christ returns. 17 As Christ notes in Revelation 16:15, Keep watch! I come unannounced, like a thief. You re blessed if, awake and dressed, you re ready for me. Too bad if you re found running through the streets, naked and ashamed (Rev 16:15 The Message; cf. Rev 7:13-14).

9 9 How sad to think we are clothed in Christ s righteousness, yet fail to show that in our lives. Then when Christ reveals the hidden issues of our heart at His return for judgment we be found lacking Christ s righteousness, naked and ashamed. So Christ exhorts us: The nakedness of your inactivity and passivity and lukewarmness needs to be replaced with the righteous deeds of those who truly belong to Me. 18 Christ also appeals to this spiritually blind church to receive sight from Him. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see (Rev 3:18 NKJV). The city of Laodicea was known for its medicine. Specifically, they had a miracle ointment that could be rubbed on the eyes to improve eyesight. This ointment was another source of pride for the people. Jesus used it as an example of another way in which they were failing. They thought that because of their great knowledge and wisdom in the area of medicine they were successful. No doubt, they thought they were wise in all areas of life. Jesus, however, tells them: you are blind. He invites them to receive the anointing from Him that provides spiritual sight. In 1 John 2:20 John tells believers: For the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth (1 John 2:20 NLT). When we put our faith in Christ God gives us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our eternal salvation. We receive the anointing of the Holy One at the time of our salvation. God s indwelling Spirit helps us to walk in the light rather than be deceived. It s not that we don t still struggle in sin. We do. But we recognize our sin and confess it to God. Are you discerning opportunities to serve the Lord? Are you spotting dangers that can harm you spiritually? Are you identifying godly direction? Are you determining pure decisions? When we receive spiritual sight, when we apply Christ s eye salve, this helps us detect needs; discern opportunities; spot dangers; identify godly direction; and determine pure decisions. Christ warns the spiritually complacent to awaken to their need of a true relationship with Him and to allow Him to live this life through us. Many people deceive themselves into thinking their relationship with God is fine. But Jesus says: Actually you are spiritual bankrupt, naked, and blind. So Christ views the church adherents spiritual destitution in three aspects, all three of which could be resolved by a single act, by their turning in repentance to Christ. My understanding is that many of the people in the church at Laodicea were lost. I believe this for several reasons. 19 In John s writings, blindness portrays lostness (John 12:40; John 9:39-41) First, in John s writings, blindness portrays lostness. You re blind, he says. Blindness portrays lostness. In John 12:40 we read, He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn and I would heal them (John 12:40 NIV). And in John 9:39-41 Jesus said, For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind. 40 Some Pharisees who

10 10 were with him heard him say this and asked, What? Are we blind too? 41 Jesus said, If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains (John 9:39-41 NIV). Nakedness illustrates lack of righteousness (Rev 7:13-14; 22:14). A second reason for viewing the people in vv as lost is that nakedness illustrates lack of righteousness. Revelation 7:13-14, Then one of the elders asked me, These in white robes who are they, and where did they come from? 14 I answered, Sir, you know. And he said, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:13-14 NIV). Revelation 22:14, Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city (Rev 22:14 NIV). I will vomit would hardly be used of Christians. And a third reason to view the people in vv as lost is that Jesus says, I will vomit you out of my mouth (Rev 3:16). I ll vomit you out of my mouth would hardly be used of Christians. It s strange for that. Finally, a last word Jesus gives to a complacent church is: Avoid delaying your repentance or My coming will bring judgment rather than blessing to you. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore 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 dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Rev 3:19-21 NKJV). The picture of Christ standing at the door probably has reference to the eschatological door through which Christ will enter at his second advent. Christ uses this imagery to stress the urgency for people to seek a right relationship with Him (cf. Matt. 24:33; Mark 13:29; Luke 12:36; James 5:9). For the unbelieving this would be to turn in repentance to Him, putting their faith in Him. For those who have trusted Christ, but are not walking in fellowship with Him, Christ urges to be zealous and repent. In other words, Christ says to us as believers: Devote your full attention on completely returning to Me with your whole heart. Christ s promised entrance and the fellowship we will enjoy is realized in two phases. First, we begin enjoying fellowship with Christ the moment we put our faith in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. But the ultimate phase of this fellowship with Christ will occur at the time of His second coming. Saving faith assures you of participation in the supper with Christ. This coming supper with Christ is viewed as something that could happen at any moment. Christ keeps on knocking, but at some point, unknown to us, that knocking will come to an end and He will enter earth s scene once again, both to deliver His faithful followers and to punish the rebellious. If Christ were to return today would you be ready to meet Him? Today is your day of opportunity. If you have not yet experienced conversion to Christ, Christ invites you to do so today. Only then will you be ready for Christ s return.

11 11 The picture that comes to mind is of that marvelous Holman Hunt portrait of Christ knocking at the door, a crown of thorns on his head, a lantern in hand, and head cocked as if listening for a welcoming response. As has so often been noted, there is no exterior handle on the door the latch is on the inside, and the door can be opened only from within. Christianity is unique in its picture of a God who seeks us rather than the other way around. But not only does He seek, He offers an intimate relationship. I will come in...and eat with you. To the people of Laodicea over 1900 years ago, and to Middle Easterners even today, dining together is considered a very intimate and affectionate activity. If you recall, the apostle Peter was chastised by Jerusalem Christians, not for preaching to Gentiles, but for eating with them. But the Lord of all says, even to the most unworthy, even to the most disgusting, here is a chance for close and personal fellowship. There are times, of course, when we might feel He must have lost our address. No knock has been heard. The thought occurs that perhaps we really are too disgusting for Him to bother with us. Not at all. The knock is there even though, in our self-absorption, we might fail to notice it. As James tells us, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:4 NET). Jesus has knocked in the midst of your hurts. When life becomes almost unbearable because of the loss of someone special, the faithlessness of those you had counted on as friends, the pain of seeing your child go wrong, the collapse of a career, He is there...if you would only notice. A broken heart is an open heart. All He awaits is the invitation to come in. He has knocked in the midst of your sense of inadequacy. Like the church at Laodicea, the temptation is to say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing. But down deep, we know that is a lie. Only a fool would ever claim to be totally self-sufficient. The process of coming to realize we are not Superman or Wonder Woman is called growing up. And the process continues when it occurs to us that there is more to life than we can understand or control on our own. Jesus says Apart from Me you can do nothing. It is in those moments of quiet reflection that the knock comes and, along with it, the promise of divine answers to some of life's darkest dilemmas. He has knocked in the midst of your dreams for yourself. A fisherman named Simon experienced that. His Lord one day had said that he would be a Rock Peter. Oh, there were times when the apostle probably felt more like a rat than a rock, but Jesus' words stayed with him, and in time, he became the mightiest leader of the early church. With the knock comes the unspoken affirmation that somehow the door of your heart and my heart is really worth knocking on, disgusting though we sometimes are. And that can give us the confidence to seek to faithfully be a witness for Him. Notice that Christ is knocking. As we think of Christ s knocking as it relates to our fellowship as believers with Him, recognize the desire Christ has for intimate fellowship with you. He does not break the door down. He does not barge in. Christ, He waits for you to wake up in the morning and read His word; He invites you to pray to Him anytime you want; He welcomes you to ask Him for wisdom anytime you recognize a need;

12 12 He stands ready to offer you help and strength whenever you call; He is prepared to shoulder the cares of your world if you will cast your cares on Him. This is the mystery of fellowship with Christ. And Christ reminds us of the coming day when we will rule with Him on His throne. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Rev 3:21 NKJV). Ladies and gentlemen, let me give two final challenges from this letter. 1. First, do not stop halfway. As you think of Christ s sacrificial death for us on the cross realize Christ did not stop on our behalf. He went all the way to the cross, all the way through the valley of the shadow of death, all the way to the resurrection and ascension. And He will come back and take us all the way to heaven! Pick up where you left off and finish the job finish the task; plug back into that ministry; sign back up; start over again. Do not stop halfway! 2. Secondly, do not settle for half-hearted. There is no place in the Christian life for neutral affections; for coasting. [ILL] Daniel Cox, a former jet pilot turned business leader, tells his readers in his book, entitled Seize the Day, that when jet fighters were first invented, they flew so much faster than their propeller predecessors that pilot ejection became a more sophisticated process. Theoretically, of course, all a pilot needed to do was push a button, clear the plane, then roll forward out of the seat so the parachute would open. However, there was a problem. Some pilots, instead of letting go, would keep a grip on the seat until it was almost too late terrified by the speed with which they flew through the air, not to mention the G-forces on their bodies. So, the engineers went back to the drawing board and came up with a solution. The new design called for a two-inch strap. One end attached to the front edge of the seat, under the pilot. The other end attached to an electronic take-up reel behind the headrest. Two seconds after ejection, the electronic take-up reel would take up the slack, and literally force the pilot out of his seat, thus freeing the parachute to open. The bottom line, Cox wrote, was that fighter pilots needed a device to launch them out of their seats. The question is what will it take to launch us out of ours? 20 In the mind of Jesus Christ, it would be the hard-hitting truth of this letter to the Laodiceans, and to us. It is a reminder to be zealous for Christ in a day in which many are not. This is His word to all those thinking of stopping halfway; of settling for half-hearted. Are you discouraged, tempted, disobedient? Repent; invite Christ in for dinner. The climax of the message is that, in spite of ourselves, the Lord Jesus Christ still knocks...because he loves us and wants us with him...and that is good news indeed!

13 13 This risen, sovereign Christ condescends to knock on your door. Answer it! Answer it! Do not keep Him out let Him in! And in the strength of His fellowship, follow Him, and live for Him until one day, we reign with Him forever. 21 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches 1 Our Daily Bread. 2 Cf. Stephen Brown, True Success. Cf. 3 Cf. Stephen Davey s sermon, Church of the Closed Door: Special Delivery, Part X., 3/23/ William Barclay, Revelation: Volume 1 (Westminster, 1976), It has been estimated that in the year 62 B.C. the Jewish population was as high as 50,000. Cf. William Barclay, Letters to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians, William Barclay, Letters to the Seven Churches (Abington, 1957), Ray Stedman, God s Final Word (Discovery House, 1991), Davey, ibid. Cf. also David Padfield, Colosse, Hierapolis and Laodicea. accessed 2/3/17. 9 One of the most famous cities of Asia, Laodicea, was in the same year [A.D. 60] overthrown by an earthquake and without any relief from us recovered itself by its own resources (Tacitus, Annals, 14:27). 10 Davey, ibid. 11 ἀρχή in Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains, 1996, 1, Davey, ibid. 13 Ibid. 14 Davey, ibid. 15 Ibid. 16 Robert L. Thomas, Revelation: Volume 1 (Moody Press, 1992), Ibid., Davey, ibid. 19 Cf. Stanley Toussaint, class notes for BE107. Hebrews, General Epistles and Revelation, Unit 8. Revelation, Video 13. Revelation 3: Quoted by Davey, ibid. Cf. Danny Cox, Seize the Day (Career Press, 1994). 21 Davey, ibid.