PREPARATION HIGHLIGHTS

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Alfred Chapman
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1 TEACHING PLAN AUGUST 5, 2018

HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE: THE THREAT OF LOSING OUR WAY REVELATION 3:14-22 AUGUST 5, 2018 TEACHING PLAN PREPARATION > Spend the week reading through and studying Revelation 3:14-22.

2 HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE: THE THREAT OF LOSING OUR WAY REVELATION 3:14-22 AUGUST 5, 2018 TEACHING PLAN PREPARATION > Spend the week reading through and studying Revelation 3: Consult the commentary provided and any additional study tools (such as a concordance or Bible dictionary) to enhance your preparation. > Determine which discussion points and questions will work best with your group. > Pray for the upcoming group meeting, your teaching, your group members, and their receptivity to the study. HIGHLIGHTS TAKEAWAY: The church at Laodicea was self-reliant and, thus, in opposition to God s authority and purpose for them. The solution to their waywardness was found in God s grace through His discipline, in order that they would repent. WHY IT S IMPORTANT: Like the believers in Laodicea, Christians today may become self-reliant and go astray from the posture and purposes that God intends for them. Believers must recognize this problem and respond properly to it. GOSPEL CONNECTION: When the offer of peace is made and not received, shake the dust off your feet and move on. Some people will not be helped until they are ready to be helped we are not to force anything on other people (Matthew 10:11-16). 2 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

3 INTRODUCTION As your group time begins, use this section to help get the conversation going. 1 What were some ways in which Israel was self-reliant? 2 In what ways do Christians who live in the United States tend toward self-reliance? 3 Is there anything in particular about the United States that makes it easier for Christians to fall into this sin? The affluence of the United States can serve to minimize reliance upon God. Most Americans have little reason to pray for daily bread or healing from sickness. Though we may pray for these things, we also have the ability to go to the store and purchase food and go to the doctor. Another reason for self-reliance is the cultural characteristic of individualism. In the West, we value independence and self-sufficiency. If someone is unable to provide for their own needs, they are often treated as weak, or even as social pariahs. The history of self-reliance in Laodicea would be praised by many today. However, it seems that this walking by the light of your own fire sort of living had deeply influenced those who claimed to follow Christ. alternate introduction What is the value of safety and warning signs in the world? Why is it important to give our attention to the warning signs for life that God provides in His Word? Warning signs give notice of danger ahead. It is wise to heed the warning of danger and take caution when seeing one of these signs. To ignore a warning sign is to live foolishly, possibly even at the cost of one s life. Through the Bible, God provides warnings for His people that continually lead them back to Him. In Revelation 3, Jesus spoke to the church in Laodicea, warning them to change the way they were living and to return to Him. This was an important warning for this church, but is no less instructional for us today. We would be wise to heed these words of Jesus. 3 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

4 UNDERSTANDING Unpack the biblical text to discover what Scripture says or means about a particular topic. Laodicea was famous for its tenacious self-sufficiency. It was a commercial center and boasted thriving textile and medical industries. Laodicea was the center of worship of Asklepios and was famous for its worship of Zeus. Cicero lived there and wrote many of his letters from this city. It appears that Epaphras may have founded the church in Laodicea (Colossians 1:7; 4:12ff) and was the recipient of two letters from Paul (Colossians 4:16). Laodicea was damaged by an earthquake in A.D. 60, but declined imperial disaster relief. Instead, they rebuilt the city themselves. One may even say they pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps. > Have a volunteer read Revelation 3: 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. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth. It may be that Jesus was referencing geographical characteristics of Laodicea in making His point in verses 15 and 16. The Laodiceans had constructed an aqueduct to carry water from hot springs located five miles away into the city. The water, however, by the time it reached Laodicea was lukewarm and odorous. Further, the Lycus River that ran nearby was muddy and undrinkable. By contrast, the water in Colossae was famous for being cold and refreshing. And the hot springs in Hierapolis were renown for their healing qualities. 4 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

5 What point was Jesus trying to make? It s quite likely that the water situation in Laodicea was a consistent refrain of complaint among citizens and visitors alike. Many towns, despite many good qualities, may become known for a negative aspect due to their large reach. This may very well have been the case in Laodicea. Drinking lukewarm, smelly water gets old. Jesus compared the lives of the believers in Laodicea to their drinking water. It was distasteful, unpleasant, even revolting. Jesus found the Christians lukewarm Christian living repugnant. What do you think was the root of the Laodicean Christians revolting lives? > Have a volunteer read Revelation 3: 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. Laodicea was a wealthy, prosperous, and self-reliant city. Remember that they refused imperial funds after a devastating earthquake! This claim ( I am rich ) recalled Israel s pride in Hosea 12:8, Ah, But I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin. It seems that the Christians failed to put off pride in and dependence upon that wealth when they entered into a life of faith in Christ. The Laodiceans were prosperous and self-sufficient materially, but were they prosperous and self-sufficient spiritually? Explain. 5 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

6 Though the Laodiceans were secure, prosperous, and materially self-sufficient, spiritually they were as bankrupt as anyone. None is righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10), but the Laodiceans had managed to believe that, like their financial security, their spiritual security was rooted in their own selves. Why is spiritual self-sufficiency a bad thing? Spiritual self-sufficiency doesn t exist. No one can rely on himself or herself for right standing before God. No one is able to muster up righteousness. In fact, the Bible says that righteousness must be imputed to us, credited to our account (1 Corinthians 5:21). This spiritual self-reliance is repulsive to Jesus because it flies in the face of the very gospel message that saved the Laodiceans. > Have a volunteer read Revelation 3: 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. How should the Laodiceans have responded when confronted with these words from Jesus? Imputation is the work of God outside of us. It is God s own righteousness, not our own. Righteousness may be ascribed to us, never earned by us. Thus, Jesus command to the Laodiceans is to leave behind the defective dependence on self, and seek that which they need from Jesus Himself. This would have been 6 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

7 counterintuitive for the Laodiceans. They didn t go to the emperor for help, so why would they go to Jesus? But they must. Why? To the same degree that the Laodiceans were materially prosperous, they were spiritually destitute. Jesus counseled them to buy gold from him so that they would be rich, buy white garments so that they would be clothed, and buy eye salve so that they might see. Each of these three products were an integral part of the Laodicean marketplace and prominence. Jesus prescription for them was a reorientation of posture from self-reliance to complete dependence on Him. What might have led some of the Laodicean church members to refuse to repent? It s important to remember that church membership does not equal genuine rebirth. Like today, there were probably unregenerate members in the Laodicean church. Throughout the New Testament, we are reminded that true believers are known by the fruit produced in their lives. Be careful here to not confuse salvation being shown by works with salvation being earned by works. These are two very different things. If someone claims to be a Christian yet refuses to repent of sin, there is cause to question the genuineness of their faith. > Have a volunteer read Revelation 3: Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. How does this verse relate to Proverbs 3:11-12 and Hebrews 12:5-6? 7 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

8 In what way is God s discipline grace? God will discipline and correct those who belong to Him. His faithfulness extends to His children even in their disobedience (2 Timothy 2:13). The discipline of God in our lives is a sign of grace; it is proof of God s love and care for His children. Grace means unmerited favor. It s rare that a father will walk around a grocery store looking for random children to discipline. It s quite a common thing, however, to see a father discipline his own children in the grocery store. Why does a father not gently and kindly correct children that aren t his? Because he doesn t know them, he doesn t love them, he doesn t take personal responsibility for their wellbeing and rearing. God, the Creator of the universe, is taking personal responsibility for us when He disciplines and corrects us. This is grace in that we don t deserve this care and protection. > Have a volunteer read Revelation 3: 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. 21 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. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To whom was Jesus speaking in this verse? What were the implications of His words? 8 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

9 Jesus ended His admonition to the Laodicean church with a call and a promise. We should interpret this call and promise in one of three ways. First, if the church was made entirely of unbelievers, this would be an evangelistic call. Second, if the church was made entirely of believers, this would be a call to renewed fellowship. Third, if the church was comprised of those who were truly saved and those who were not, this would be both a call to salvation and a call to renewed fellowship. No matter the context of the call, the promise is clear. Jesus would respond favorably as the people turned to Him. The promise is reinstated fellowship. A meal invitation in the ancient context was a logical first step toward reconciliation with an estranged party. The emphasis of this verse is: the call to repentance (I stand at the door and knock); the response (hears my voice and opens the door); and restored fellowship (I will come in and eat with him). 9 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

10 APPLICATION Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives. 1 What areas in your life might you be tending toward lukewarmness toward God? What needs to change? 2 Are you reliant upon God in your life or upon your own self? What evidence do you have for your answer? 3 What practical steps can you take today to become more dependent upon God? P R A Y Father, we repent of placing our hope and trust in the security of our salaries, bank accounts, education, and retirement funds. Please give us a glimpse of the repugnancy of our lives to You when we are walking by the light of our own fires. Help us hear Your voice. Help us open the door. Thank you for the grace of Your discipline. Amen. 10 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

11 FOLLOW UP Midway through this week, send a follow-up to your group with some or all of the following information: > Questions to consider as they continue to reflect on what they learned this week: Where has God revealed that you have been lukewarm in your faith? What needs to change? > A note of encouragement, following up on any specific prayer requests mentioned during your group gathering. > The challenge to memorize Revelation 3: Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

12 COMMENTARY AUGUST 5, 2018 REVELATION 3: :14 Christ identifies himself for Laodicea as the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God s creation. As with the letter to Philadelphia, the characteristic of the Lord is taken from outside the opening vision of Christ. In the Old Testament God is literally, the God of the Amen ( the God of truth, Isa. 65:16), who is completely trustworthy and truthful. Now this designation is applied to Christ and contrasts vividly with the untrustworthy Laodiceans. As early as Revelation 1:5, John called Jesus the faithful witness. The Greek word (arche) translated ruler can mean either first in time (beginning) or first in rank (ruler). This designation is similar to Paul s teaching in Colossians 1:15,18. (Paul had directed that the letter to the Colossians be read by the Christians in Laodicea, Col. 4:16. The risen Lord may now be appealing to the Laodiceans knowledge of the Epistle to the Colossians.) Christ as supreme Creator and Ruler of the universe has every right to critique his wayward church. 3:15-17 Like her sister church in Sardis, Laodicea receives no compliment. These believers are neither hot nor cold (repeated for emphasis). They are lukewarm. A common interpretation has been that hot means spiritual fervor and cold means outright antagonism to the things of God that the Lord prefers outright rejection than spiritual lukewarmness (indifference). However, Laodicea was near two other cities. Hierapolis had hot medicinal waters; Colossae had cold, pure, refreshing water. Both were wonderful. What was terrible was the useless water of Laodicea. We drink hot tea or ice tea, but tea at room temperature is disgusting. The word lukewarm (chliaros) appears only here in the New Testament. The sense unusable or barren hits the mark. If the interpretation in the preceding paragraph is correct, Christ s threat 12 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

13 COMMENTARY AUGUST 5, 2018 to spit you out of my mouth literally vomit means that he will judge and reject them for their self-righteousness or self-sufficiency (rather than for their lack of spiritual fervor). The symptoms of their barrenness are specified in verse 17. The Lord sketches three parallel pictures of the church s life. First, the church said, I am rich. That is, the church supposed it had such adequate (material) resources that it could do without the Lord s (spiritual) help. The congregation was like the city, proud of its banks and affluence, boasting that I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. (When the city of Laodicea was devastated by an earthquake in a.d. 60, it recovered without any imperial disaster aid.) This is the opposite of the church in Smyrna, which knew of its material poverty. Christ calls the Laodicean church poor. Second, the church thought it was clothed with plenty of righteous character. The imagery is drawn from what we know of Laodicea, renowned for its extensive textile industry, particularly of black wool fabric. Instead, the Lord understood that it was spiritually wretched, pitiful,... and naked. Third, the church supposed itself to have spiritual insight. Instead it was blind. The city of Laodicea was famous for its medical school that exported a powder used for eye salve. Such medicine could not salve their blind eyes. Even sadder than these three deficiencies is Christ s declaration that you do not realize it. This church had deceived itself about its spiritual condition. Because they had depended on themselves, they were impoverished, unclothed, and sightless. Christ rejects whatever a church is or does that is prompted by self-righteousness. 13 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

14 COMMENTARY AUGUST 5, :18-20 All is not yet lost for this congregation. Christ cares for its members. His command has a biting irony: I counsel you to buy from me things that you do not think you need. Of course, the metaphor buy does not mean that spiritual benefits may be earned or purchased. Christ by his grace supplies them freely. Gold refined in the fire is genuine gold rather than fool s gold. It stands here for righteous character that has been proven genuine through testing. Only Christ can take the self-righteous and make them truly holy. White clothes to wear have already figured in this chapter as the reward of unveiled righteousness given to the few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes (3:4). The only way to have such garments is through the provision of Christ, symbolized here as covering your shameful nakedness (lack of righteousness). The symbolism repeats the previous provision of refined gold and stands in somewhat ironic contrast to the homespun black woolen clothing they wore so proudly. Salve to put on your eyes recalls the miracle of Jesus in which he applied a salve of saliva mixed with dirt in healing the man born blind (John 9:1-12). On that occasion he told his accusers, If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains (John 9:41). The Laodicean church claimed that it had spiritual insight. Would it recognize its blindness and ask for Christ s wisdom and insight (Col. 1:9)? The Lord s criticism is based on his love. Surprisingly, the Greek verb here is a form of phileo ( to have tender affection ) rather than agapao ( to value unconditionally, see Rev. 2:19). The verb phileo appears in Revelation only one other time, in 22:15 (but ten times in John s Gospel). The most undeserving of all the churches is the one for 14 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

15 COMMENTARY AUGUST 5, 2018 which Christ declares most emphatically, for the I is stressed the kindest feelings! Yet his declaration of love is balanced by a severe expectation of rebuke and discipline.proverbs 3:12 is perhaps the basis for this: The Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. This church must repent of its self-sufficiency (the verb form suggests a decisive act) and be earnest (the verb suggests an ongoing attitude). Laodicea now joins the ranks of sister churches Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, and Sardis in needing repentance (2:5,16,21; 3:3). Only Smyrna and Philadelphia escape this command of the Lord. Christ not only wants to provide gold, clothing, and sight to this congregation; he wants them to enjoy his person, his fellowship. If only they admit their Lord, he will give them the richest of fare. His plea, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock, is poignant and urgent. The verb form for knock suggests insistent, repeated pounding. Although he wants the entire congregation to open the door to fellowship with him, the individual is ultimately the one who must decide, as the singular forms indicate: anyone... him... he. 3:21 Christ knows that some will respond. As with each of the six earlier letters, the one who overcomes or has an ear or hears what the Spirit says to the churches is promised great reward. This is the first time Revelation mentions Christ s exaltation in the language of sitting with my Father on his throne, although chapter 5 develops this portrait extensively. It is also the only place in Revelation in which Jesus is identified with his people as a fellow overcomer. Christ s conquest of sin at his first coming is in view. Later in Revelation, his ultimate conquest of God s enemies is described: They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them 15 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

16 COMMENTARY AUGUST 5, 2018 because he is Lord of lords and King of kings and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers (17:14). The overcoming Christ and his overcoming people are thus linked in both passages. These people will sit with me on my throne, another symbol of the rule and reign of God s people throughout eternity. (We are not meant to suppose a literal throne so large that millions will be able to sit down on it simultaneously.) This promise is quite parallel to the one given to the overcomers of Thyatira (2:26). Verse 22 closes vision one of Revelation. The words repeat the formula found at the end of the previous six letters, but they are a fitting conclusion to the entire opening vision. The same Jesus who, during his earthly ministry, commanded persons with ears to hear (Matt. 11:15; 13:9,43; Mark 4:9,23; Luke 8:8; 14:35), now during his heavenly ministry commands his churches to pay attention. He who has an ear, let him hear reminds us that he does not force us to heed his words. Yet if the words of the risen Lord to John on Patmos are indeed what the Spirit says to the churches, then we neglect them to our peril. 16 Finding Your Place Calvary Tuscaloosa

Session I Honest Evaluation

Session I Honest Evaluation Introduction Complete Workbook (page 11) 1 Movie Clip Lukewarm Coffee Spiritually Lukewarm What does it mean to be spiritually lukewarm? 2 Spiritually Lukewarm "You will recognize