Revelation 3v17-22

SERMON TOPIC: Revelation 3e - Laodicea (2)

Speaker: Gavin Paynter

Language: ENGLISH

Date: 17 March 2024

Topic Groups: LAODICEA, PROPHECY, REVELATION

Sermon synopsis: v17 You say, ‘I … do not need a thing.’ …
Just as the city was self-sufficient enough to disregard the Emperor’s help, the church was spiritually self-sufficient and saw no need of aid from Jesus.
They lost all dependence on Jesus because in their minds they have it all—“I need nothing.”

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REVELATION – chapter 3 (cont.)

Laodicea: the lukewarm church

The seventh and final letter to the churches of Asia is addressed to the church in Laodicea.

The letter is the last and severest of the seven letters. This is the only church which receives only criticism, and no positive remarks. Jesus tells the Laodicean church that he is aware of its condition - a state of lukewarmness, indifference, materialism and apostasy.

v16 (NIV) So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 

The Laodicean church is exposed by Jesus as being influenced by the standards of the society in which it lived. Jesus warns them about continuing in this condition. As we might do with lukewarm water, he says he would spit them out of his mouth (not just disgust – but rejection) if they did not repent.

Revelation 3:17-18 (NIV)

17 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.

18 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.

WEALTH

v17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth …’

Under Roman rule, Laodicea became an important place for traders. The Greek historian Strabo described Laodicea as being an extremely prosperous city at the beginning of the 1st century AD.

“Laodicea, though formerly small, grew large in our time and in that of our fathers… However, it was the fertility of its territory and the prosperity of certain citizens that made it great: at first Hieron, who left to the people an inheritance of more than two thousand talents and adorned the city with many dedicated offerings…” (Geography 12:8:16; LCL 5:511)

Many large, beautiful homes were built in this city, the ruins of which are still visible. 

In fact, the Roman historian Tacitus relates that when the city had been completely destroyed by an earthquake in 60 AD during the reign of Emperor Nero, they even declined aid from the Roman empire, and opted rather to quickly rebuild it at their own expense (Annals, 14:27).

It was the only city in the province to not accept Nero’s assistance.

Laodicea was one of the wealthiest cities in the ancient world due in part to three things:

Cicero, the famous Roman orator and statesman, noted that Laodicea was a regional banking centre. As the banking centre of Asia, it was the most prosperous of the seven cities.

Laodicea was close to a medical school on the road to Carura * and the city was associated with the production of a world-famous eye salve known as “tephra Phrygia,” reputed to cure certain kinds of eye diseases. **

* Strabo, Geography 12.8.20 ** http:// en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Demosthenes_Philalethes

According to Strabo, “The country around Laodicea breeds excellent sheep, remarkable not only for the softness of their wool, in which they surpass the Milesian sheep, but for their dark or raven colour. The Laodiceans derive a large revenue from them…” (xii. viii. 16).

v17 You say, ‘I … do not need a thing.’ …

Just as the city was self-sufficient enough to disregard the Emperor’s help, the church was spiritually self-sufficient and saw no need of aid from Jesus.

They lost all dependence on Jesus because in their minds they have it all—“I need nothing.”

Riches and worldly comforts have brought them to a place where they claim Christ but no longer depend on him.

Sadly, the church actually resembles the harlot Babylon with the “the glory and luxury she gave herself,” and who similarly boasts in her self-sufficiency, “I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; I will never mourn.” (18:7)

So this church, which should find sufficiency in Christ, sounds more like the beastly kingdoms of the world - who find their satisfaction in wealth and luxurious living.

TRUE TREASURE

In Paul’s day, Laodicea had a church which met in the home of a woman called Nympha (Col 4:15). Paul wrote them a letter that we no longer have, and also instructed them to read the letter to the nearby Colossians in their church (Col 4:16).

In this latter letter Paul had said, “I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea… My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col 2:1-3).

But now some 35 years later the church had forgotten that their treasures were hidden in Christ, rather than in the bank vaults of Laodicea.

BLISSFUL IGNORANCE

V 17 … But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

There were two serious problems in this church:

There was something wrong with their commitment (they were lukewarm).

They lacked self-awareness and introspection. There is a big contrast between their view of themselves and Jesus' view of them. They thought they were doing well, but they weren’t. They were unaware of their spiritual bankruptcy.

“The loss of a sense of need, as the drowsiness that besets a freezing man, is fatal.” (William Newell)

They are blissfully unaware of their condition (“you do not realize”). Jesus gives 3 ironic criticisms:

In a city noted for its wealth, Jesus says “you are poor.”

Famous for their healing eye salve, Jesus says “you are blind.”

Renowned for their export of abundant wool for fine clothing, Jesus says “you are naked.”

1) YOU ARE POOR

They saw themselves as rich and prosperous, but Jesus saw them as poor.

One cannot help but contrast Laodicea with the persecuted church at Smyrna - who were materially poor, but spiritually rich, “I know your afflictions and your povertyyet you are rich!” (Rev 2:9)

In contrast, despite their material wealth and sense of self-sufficiency, Jesus says that the Laodicean church is “wretched, pitiful, poor…” (Rev 3:17)

Undoubtedly, some wealthy bankers were members of the church and contributed generously to its offerings, but the church was spiritually bankrupt. *

We need to stay alert to the dangers of wealth. Jesus warned that “You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matt 6:24).

But this church was allowing “the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things to come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful” (Mark 4:19).

* https:// bibleref.com/ Revelation / 3/ Revelation-3-17.html

Matt 19:23-24 (NIV) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Paul cautioned that “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” (1 Tim 6:9) and that “some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (6:10).

Like the Laodiceans, it’s easy for us to have a sense of self-sufficiency when we are financially secure. We push God away, while leaning on our wealth to save us and to satisfy us.

1 Tim 6:10 (NIV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…

Wealth in its own right isn’t bad. It’s not money that is the root of all kinds of evil, but “the love of money.” If money is regarded as a gift from the Lord – of which we are merely stewards - it can be used for good, like supporting a family, or meeting the needs of others.

If God has blessed you with earthly wealth, maintain a proper vision and use for wealth, so that it serves God’s kingdom. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

Paul instructs Timothy to do the following with rich Christians.

1 Tim 6:17-19 (NIV) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

2) YOU ARE BLIND

They were spiritually blind. Materially they were rich and claimed to be self-sufficient. But spiritually their condition was wretched and pitiful, made all the worse because they were self-deceived and could not see their need.

“We might say that it all began with their spiritual blindness. If you are blind, you can’t look at yourself and see that you are wretched, miserable, poor… and naked. (Guzik)

“The Laodiceans are typical of the modern world, which revels in that which the natural eye can see but is untouched by the gospel and does not see beyond the veil of the material to the unseen and real eternal spiritual riches.” (Walvoord)

Nakedness here signifies spiritual vulnerability, helplessness, humiliation, shame and disgrace.

Nahum 3:5 (NASB) “… I will … show to the nations your nakedness And to the kingdoms your disgrace.”

It is associated with a sinful state.

Lamentations 1:8 (NASB) Jerusalem sinned greatly, Therefore she has become an unclean thing. All who honoured her despise her Because they have seen her nakedness …

3) YOU ARE NAKED

e) A command from Jesus to the church

v18 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.

The church thought it needed nothing but in reality, they needed what only Jesus could give it. Jesus gives some godly advice very relevant to the city they lived in:

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.

a) GOLD REFINED IN FIRE

Proud of their wealth, Jesus said they were spiritually poor.

In response to the Laodicean church's smug self-assessment, Jesus counsels these spiritually poor and bankrupt Christians to buy pure gold from him.

He doesn’t mean literal gold which has no eternal benefit. He refers to something more valuable – a faith that trusts God even in trials and suffering.

1 Pet 1:7a (NLT) These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.

v18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire

Spiritually speaking, they are bankrupt. How can you buy anything when you’re bankrupt? The imagery recalls God’s invitation to Israel in Isaiah.

The Israelites had bankrupted themselves by pursuing false gods, wasting their money on idols. God says to them, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” (Isaiah 55:1-2, NIV)

In Isaiah 53, we discover the Servant of the Lord would pay the price for us to inherit true riches.

Isa 53:12 (Brenton LXX Translation) Therefore he shall inherit many, and he shall divide the spoils of the mighty; because his soul was delivered to death: and he was numbered among the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and was delivered because of their iniquities.

Jesus is that Servant who paid the price so that we can receive spiritual wealth. He gave his own to purchase for us the riches we couldn’t afford due to our spiritual bankruptcy.

2 Cor 8:9 (NIV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

b) WHITE CLOTHES

Being clothed speaks of righteousness and salvation:

Isaiah 61:10 (NIV) I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness…

Famed for their fine black wool used for making black clothing, Jesus called them spiritually naked.

He offers “white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness.”

White clothes speak of righteousness and they are the spiritual clothing of Christ’ bride.

Rev 19:8 (NIV)“Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

Rev 3:4 (NIV) “… They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.”

Rev 7:14 (NIV) “… they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

So when Jesus tells them to buy white garments from him - it means not only coming to him for salvation but also following him in righteous deeds.

When you neglect a relationship with Jesus, your shameful deeds leave you exposed like someone without clothes. Your shameful deeds leave you like Adam and Eve when they disobeyed the Lord. *

But when you invest in a relationship with Jesus, your works clothe you like a bride making herself ready to meet her husband. *

Will your works leave you exposed? Or will they evidence how much you’ve longed to see your (heavenly) husband? *

* https:// redeemerfortworth.org/ sermons/ sermon/ 2021-11-28/ laodicea-nauseating-self-sufficiency

c) EYE SALVE

Renowned for their eye salve, Jesus said the Laodiceans were spiritually blind and he counsels them to get “salve to put on your eyes, so you can see”.

The Laodicean church was blind to spiritual realities. Its focus was on earthly comforts and material prosperity. Without Jesus opening our spiritual eyes, we cannot see ourselves, the world, or Jesus clearly.

We’ll be like the man in Deuteronomy 16:19 who’s so blinded by a bribe such that he subverts justice. *

We’ll be like Israel in Isaiah 42:18 who could even look at God’s words but lack the ability to perceive the right path. *

We’ll be like those in 2 Corinthians 4:4 whom Satan blinds from seeing the light of Jesus’ glory. *

We’ll be like Laodicea who think they see themselves accurately but are actually blind to their pitiful state.

* https:// redeemerfortworth.org/ sermons/ sermon/ 2021-11-28/ laodicea-nauseating-self-sufficiency

To gain true spiritual perception, Jesus offers salve that could cure spiritual blindness.

He alone can heal the eyes of your heart. He alone has the medicine you need to view the world as he does, to perceive God’s ways rightly and then walk in them. In sum, then, this church thinks they need nothing. In reality, they need Jesus for everything that’s of ultimate importance: lasting riches, righteous works, spiritual insight. *

Metaphorically speaking, if the Laodiceans applied the eye salve Jesus offered, they would be able to see their lukewarm condition and subsequently repent.

* Ibid.

Ointment speaks of the anointing of the Holy Spirit:

so that you can see how spiritually destitute you are:

“When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8).

so that you can see and discern spiritual truth:

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

Revelation 3:19-20 (NIV)

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

20 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 that person, and they with me.

STILL LOVED

So what is the special word Jesus has for the rich, materialistic and lukewarm church?

They are still loved (v19 “Those whom I love ...”)

His rebuke is born not from animosity but from love.

“Yet upon a church that has sunk so low as Laodicea, the risen Lord still showers His love.” (Barnhouse)

“The word here used for ‘love’ is a very choice one; it is one which signifies an intense personal affection.” (Spurgeon)

The word for love in as many as I love is not agape, but phileo. Jesus’ heart to this church is, “Even though I rebuke you and chasten you, I am still your friend. I love you deeply as My friend.” (Guzik)

Jesus explains that he rebukes and disciplines those whom he loves (v19).

“I rebuke” – Greek is “elenchō” - to expose, convict, reprove.

“and discipline” – Greek is “paideuō” - to train children, to chasten, correct.

So Jesus is not just simply talking about a verbal rebuke but stating that he will effectively deal and take action against the person who is rebuked.

We might think to love someone is to never rebuke or correct them. But the opposite is true.

Prov 27:6 (NKJV) Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

With such a sharp rebuke, had Jesus lost His love for this errant church? Not at all. Jesus’ great love was expressed in His rebuke. “It is, in fact, God’s final punishment to leave a man alone.” (Barclay)

Proverbs 3:12, “My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves…”

When a person is blind, it is not loving to watch them fall into a pit.

When someone is acting shamefully, it’s not loving to overlook their sin.

Love will always be a genuine affection for another’s good in God, in what’s holy. That’s how Jesus loves. He has an affection for their good in God, and so he rebukes. Jesus loves not only by redeeming from sin but also by rebuking when we return to sin. *

* Ibid.

To a church who were enduring hardship, the word is that at times hardship is used by God as a form of discipline:

Heb 12:4-6 (NIV) In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

So discipline in the form of should be seen as a sign of sonship and as evidence of having a Father who loves us.

Similar to our earthly fathers - at times our heavenly Father disciplines us. At times, he may use a trial or a physical affliction to discipline his wayward children.

Heb 12:7-10 (NIV) Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best …

Our heavenly Father “disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.” (12:10)

Although discipline is painful, it doesn't last forever, and it will have a long-term benefit.

Heb 12:11 (NIV) No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace

for those who have been trained by it.

So when you undergo discipline, don’t think God has abandoned you. On the contrary, he is investing time in your spiritual education. His purpose is not to make us bitter but to make us better.

v19 (NIV) … So be earnest and repent.

v19 (NKJV) … Therefore be zealous and repent.

The desired response to Christ’s rebuke was zealous change. He is willing to restore them, but they need to repent (turn around and move in the opposite direction).

They need to zealously pursue Jesus. That’s Jesus’ primary command in verse 19: “be zealous and repent.” Don’t waste any time. Turn from your complacency and self-reliance and start investing deeply in your relationship with Jesus and your obedience to him in the world. Get serious about following through with repentance. *

“When you and I shall be stretched upon our dying beds, I think we shall have to regret, above everything else, our coldness of heart. Among the many sins… perhaps this will lie the heaviest upon our heart and conscience, ‘I did not live as I ought to have done; I was not as earnest in my Lord’s cause as I should have been.’ (Spurgeon)

* Ibid.

v20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock…

A United Press release in a midwestern city in America told of a hospital where officials discovered that the firefighting equipment had never been connected to the city’s water mains. For 35 years it had been relied upon for the safety of the patients in case of emergency. But the pipe that led from the building extended 4 feet underground and there it stopped! The medical staff and the patients had felt complete confidence in the system but theirs was a false security. Although the costly equipment with its well-placed outlets was adequate for the building, it lacked the most important thing - WATER! *

* https:// sermoncentral.com/ illustrations

Likewise the Laodicean church lacks the most important thing needed in a church – Jesus, who has been left outside the door!

Jesus said “on this rock I will build my church” (Matt 16:18) so the church belongs to Jesus. But Laodicea is the only church in Revelation where Jesus is pictured as being outside his own church!

They claim Jesus but don’t fellowship with him. He is outside the door of this church because he is not needed. They say, “I do not need a thing” (v17). They’ve pushed Jesus out.

THE CHRISTLESS CHURCH

v20 … If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in …

Now I realize that this text (with Jesus outside and knocking on the door) is often used to prompt unbelievers to “open the door of their hearts” and invite Jesus in as Saviour.

But in reality, its primary application is actually not to unbelievers, but to the church! In context it is a call to existing Christians to repent. It applies directly to any church that is apathetic and backslidden like the Laodicean church.

The church is nominally Christian, but Christ Himself has been locked out. Rather than turn His back on them, He knocks, seeking someone to acknowledge the church’s need and open the door. If they would repent, Jesus would come in and take His rightful place in the church. *

* https:// gotquestions.org/ church-in-Laodicea.html

This verse pictures Jesus standing outside the church at Laodicea and knocking at its door to be welcomed and admitted into the church. He does not force himself upon the church, but patiently waits to be invited in. *

Why did He knock? Why did He wait until someone opens the door? He had every right to break down the door, or enter some other way on His own accord, but He didn’t. The sovereign, omnipotent Jesus lowered Himself to work out His eternal plan by wooing the cooperation of the human heart. (Guzik)

* https:// bibleref.com/ Revelation/ 3/ Revelation-3-20.html

“The occupant must open the door. That is, he must repent of his pride and self-sufficiency, his human wisdom, and his cowardly neutrality.” (H. Morris)

Luke 24:28–32 relates that Jesus and two of His followers were walking to Emmaus, where the two lived. When they reached Emmaus that evening, Jesus acted as if He were going further, but the two followers of Jesus urged Him to stay with them. Having received their invitation, Jesus entered their home. *

* Ibid.

Jesus comes to the door as the lover in the Song of Solomon. This is similar to – or perhaps a quotation of – Song of Solomon 5:2: It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, ‘open for me, my sister, my love.’ (Guzik)

The key to opening the door is to first hear His voice. When we give attention to what Jesus says, then we can be rescued from our own lukewarmness and enter into a “zealous” relationship with Him. (Guzik)

v20 … … I will come in and eat [deipnein] with that person, and they with me.

The word translated eat or sup is “deipnein” and its corresponding noun is deipnon.

“The deipnon was the main meal of the day and was a leisurely affair, not a hurried snack.” (L. Morris) This speaks of fellowship. This speaks of a depth to the relationship.

William Barclay points out that the Greeks had 3 meals in the day.

There was akratisma, breakfast, which was no more than a piece of dried bread dipped in wine.

There was ariston, the midday meal. A man did not go home for it; it was simply a picnic snack eaten by the side of the pavement, or in some colonnade, or in the city square.

There was deipnon; this was the evening meal; the main meal of the day; people lingered over it, for the day’s work was done. It was the deipnon that Christ would share with the man who answered His knock, no hurried meal, but that where people lingered in fellowship. If a man will open the door, Jesus Christ will come in and linger long with him.

Despite his sharp rebuke and threat of rejection, Jesus graciously and lovingly offers intimate fellowship with them.

“Rebuke and chastisement are no signs of rejection from Christ, but of His abiding and pleading love, even to the lukewarm and careless.” (Alford)

But it would only happen if they respond to his knock.

A CALL TO INDIVIDUALS

Note that Jesus gave the invite to individuals (“If anyone hears my voice”).

“We must not talk about setting the church right, we must pray for grace each one for himself, for the text does not say, ‘If the church will open the door,’ but ‘If any man hear my voice and open the door.’ It must be done by individuals: the church will only get right by each man getting right.” (Spurgeon)

Revelation 3:21-22 (NIV)

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

F) A GENERAL EXHORTATION TO ALL CHRISTIANS WITH A PROMISE OF REWARD

v21 (NIV) To the one who is victorious…

(NKJV) To him who overcomes …

It is still possible to be an overcomer in a lukewarm age or church. The “overcomer” refers to any believer, and the promise is that he will share Christ’s future kingdom.

v21 … I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Jesus continues His promise to whoever responds to His call for a cordial welcome, thereby overcoming lukewarm faith. He promises to give that repentant overcomer the honour of sitting with Him on His throne. Jesus mentions that He sat down with His Father on His throne.

Currently Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven.

Heb 10:13 (NIV) … he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.

In the future, at the Second Advent, Jesus will leave his throne in heaven to occupy a throne on earth (in Jerusalem).

The angel Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would "will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David" (Luke 1:32).

The promise to the repentant overcomer at Laodicea anticipates the promised privilege of participating in the administration of Jesus’ millennial kingdom on earth.

Rev 20:6 (NIV) Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection… they … will reign with him for a thousand years.

A general exhortation to all who will hear

v22 “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Jesus extends his final challenge to the seven churches of Asia Minor. The challenge extends to us, too. We should heed Jesus' messages to the seven churches.

A promise is made to overcomers. But in order to overcome you need to hear and heed “what the Spirit says to the churches.”

We learn from his message to the church at Ephesus that we must keep our love for the Lord and others fresh and fervent.

We learn from his message to the church at Smyrna that we must be faithful unto death.

From his message to the church at Pergamum we learn to reject sexual immorality and the rule of false prophets over the church.

From Jesus letter to the church at Thyatira we learn to hold fast to the faith until Jesus comes.

From his message to Sardis we can learn to remember the truth and stay alert.

Jesus' words to the church at Philadelphia teach us to endure with patience the race that is set before us.

And from the message to the Laodicean church we can learn to avoid smug complacency and to keep the door open for Jesus to enter every area of our life.

IF THE SHOE FITS

Few want to identify themselves with the church of Laodicea. We would much rather identify ourselves with the church at Philadelphia. (Guzik)

But as the saying goes, “If the shoe fits, wear it.”

ARE YOU SPIRITUALLY BLIND?

Some of you are zealous for the kingdom. But others need to take an honest assessment. Are you spiritually blind like the Laodiceans?

Without spiritual sight, we cannot see the things of God. So, ask Jesus to give you new eyes. Ask him to help you see yourself and the world and him as you need to see it. Then, as you’re asking, read his word. Revelation is part of Jesus’ work by the Spirit to open our eyes. Revelation is giving you the proper way to see yourself and the world. In today’s passage, it’s helping us see our desperate need of him. *

* https:// redeemerfortworth.org/ sermons/ sermon/ 2021-11-28/ laodicea-nauseating-self-sufficiency

ARE YOU SELF-SUFFICIENT?

How about you? Have you settled into a self-sufficient complacency without realizing your true need of and dependence upon Christ?

We must hear what the Holy Spirit says here, because He speaks to the churches – including us. May God deliver us from the self-reliant, compromising lukewarmness that marked the church of the Laodiceans! (Guzik)

What does your pursuit of the Lord in prayer look like? Maybe you haven’t uttered the words, “I need nothing.” But if someone looked at your prayer life, would they see a desperate need for Jesus? Or would they see someone who doesn’t seem to need Jesus very much? Prayerlessness is the result of self-sufficiency. *

* Ibid.

ARE YOU LUKEWARM?

Just as he called the Laodiceans, Jesus is calling us away from half-hearted complacency to total allegiance.

He’s calling us away from being a lukewarm “just coasting along” type of church - to being a church that is zealous for his kingdom, that fervently bears witness to Christ.

Jesus’ promise to the overcomer, even at Laodicea, showed that we don’t have to be Christians who are compromising and lukewarm. If we are, we can change and become one of Jesus’ overcomers. (Guzik)

Those who overcome the battle against indifference, compromise, and self-reliance, receive a special reward. They enjoy a place with the enthroned Jesus (as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne).

“This is the worst of the seven churches, and yet the most eminent of all the promises are made to it, showing that the worst may repent, finally conquer, and attain even to the highest state of glory.” (Clarke)

CONCLUSION

AUTHOR: Gavin Paynter

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Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from the NIV: THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB: New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (http:// Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV: Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.




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