[The following is the full manuscript of my sermon delivered on the 13th of March, 2016. Look for the video on our Vimeo channel, http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
This morning we are nearing the final stages of our period of self-examination during Lent as we look at the last of the seven churches of Revelation. The seventh church is in a city called Laodicea, which is the southern- and easternmost of the seven, located along the Lycus river. The city and the early Christian community there were mentioned four times by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians. In fact, Paul intended for that letter to be read to the Laodiceans after the Colossians.
All of these churches were known to the Apostles and each was vital and active in their community, in their own way. We’ve seen that Jesus had at least a little something good to say to each of the six churches we’ve looked at so far, and quite a bit not so good to say to all but two. Listen and follow along to what Jesus told the last of the seven churches, as recorded by the Apostle John in the Book of Revelation chapter 3 verses 14 through 22, reading from the New King James Version of our Bible…
All of these churches were known to the Apostles and each was vital and active in their community, in their own way. We’ve seen that Jesus had at least a little something good to say to each of the six churches we’ve looked at so far, and quite a bit not so good to say to all but two. Listen and follow along to what Jesus told the last of the seven churches, as recorded by the Apostle John in the Book of Revelation chapter 3 verses 14 through 22, reading from the New King James Version of our Bible…
14 “And to the angel 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.”’”
--Revelation 3:14-22 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, we have come together in this place this morning to worship you and to receive the message we need to hear. Speak to us, Father, directly to our hearts that we might better discern Your will for us. In the blessed name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
The Reverend John Charles Ryle, an Anglican Bishop in the 1800s, once said:
"It costs something to be a true Christian. Let that never be forgotten. To be a (lukewarm) Christian, and go to church, is cheap and easy work. But to hear Christ’s voice, follow Christ, believe in Christ, and confess Christ, requires much self-denial. It will cost us our sins, our self-righteousness, our ease, and our worldliness. ALL must be given up. Our Lord Jesus Christ would have us thoroughly understand this. He bids us count the cost."
Based on what Jesus told the church in Laodicea, I would hope none of us want to taste lukewarm to our Lord. Wouldn’t it be better if He found us to be passionate, especially in our service to Him? But what makes a passionate church?
The church that has passion is the church where…
Doesn't that sound to you like the kind of church Jesus truly wants to see?
Jesus opens this seventh letter by describing Himself as “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God” We think of “amen” as a closing to prayers, right? Used in that way, the word means “so be it”.
“Amen” is one of those words that we borrowed from another language, from the Hebrew and Aramaic in this case, by way of the Greek and Latin. One of its root meanings carries the idea of certainty or dependability. It was used in the Hebrew to agree with or affirm or emphasize something else that was said. I believe Jesus meant all of that when He called Himself “the Amen”, with a capital “A”, because He does provide certainty and dependability, what He says will definitely be. And that is made even more clear when He adds He is the Faithful and True Witness of God, and the Beginning of God’s creation.
Now that is not to say that Jesus is part of what God created, but that He was there alongside God when He created the heavens and the earth. It isn’t really a stretch to believe that God was speaking to Jesus when He commanded, “Let there be light”, or especially when He said, “Let Us make man in Our own image”. Jesus is letting the Laodicean family know that what He says can be trusted, because He has been with God all along.
And then Jesus goes directly to the point. “I know your works, I know your hearts, and they are lacking. “You haven’t completely frozen Me out, but you aren’t exactly burning with desire to serve Me, either. “Quite frankly, you make Me sick.”
As Christians trying our best to serve Christ, if He told us we acted indifferent to Him in our faith and worship and service, wouldn’t that really hurt? Some versions of our Bible have Jesus “spitting” the Laodiceans out of His mouth in verse 16, but how much more dramatic and telling is this? Think of how vile and disgusting that material is that spews from our mouth when our body tries to rid itself of something that shouldn’t be there. Think of how bad it tastes, how the very smell makes us almost wretch. Now think of how it would feel to have Jesus think of us like that, as if we were putrid vomit expelled from His perfect body. What could bring about this violent reaction?
Much like Philadelphia, the area around Laodicea was also prone to earthquakes. But unlike Philadelphia, Laodicea was a rich and vibrant and prosperous city, a center of trade and commerce, that could easily rebuild itself when a quake hit.
Also unlike the church family in Philadelphia, the Christian community in Laodicea was as wealthy as their city, and they knew it. They must have flaunted their wealth a bit, because Jesus noted that they say they are “rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”.
But yet, in all their personal riches, in the eyes of Jesus they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. This is pretty much the opposite of the church in Smyrna, who Jesus had only good words for. They thought themselves poor, materially, yet Jesus saw them as rich, spiritually.
If the Laodiceans as a church family are rich, then we have to wonder what are they doing with their wealth. Are they sharing resources, like so many early churches did, to ensure no one had to go without their needs being met? Were they giving to others in need in their greater community, helping out where they could? Or were they putting it up in nice bank accounts and CDs and saving it for a rainy day, or the next earthquake? My guess is, based on Jesus’ reaction, that they weren’t using their material resources in the way our Lord would want them to. They were too wrapped up in material, worldly things to recognize their true condition.
So He tells them they must repent. We’ve heard that word frequently in these seven letters, directed toward those churches who do not exactly fit the mold Jesus created. He counsels the Laodiceans to, effectively, come back to Him. He uses terms associated with material wealth because it would seem the Laodiceans would be quite familiar with those terms. But He is really talking about spiritual matters, about getting their heads and their hearts back to the right place.
There is no mistaking His love, for them and for us. Just as we discipline our children because we love them and want them to do the right things in life, Jesus rebukes and chastens us because He loves us and wants us to do what is right. And if we do, we’ll be able to dine with Him and sit alongside Him on His throne in heaven.
Have you ever heard the joke about making breakfast? A pig and a chicken were walking along the farmyard one day when the chicken said, “How about we get together and make some bacon and eggs for the farmer’s breakfast?” The pig stops abruptly, shakes his head and replies, “No, I think not. “For you, you would just be making a contribution. “But for me, it would require a total commitment.”
Sadly, I believe that describes too many Christians today, lukewarm Christians. They want to be involved, they want to make a contribution, but they don’t want to be completely committed, they don’t want to make too big a sacrifice. Author George Orwell once observed: "On the whole human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time."
Our good brother Steve Everhart shared with me some interesting facts about the guards of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. While there are physical requirements to be a guard, there are also discipline requirements. A guard must commit to serve for 2 years, after which they receive a wreath label pin marking this distinguished service. They cannot drink any alcohol, on or off duty, nor may they swear in public, for those two years and for the rest of their lives. They may not in any manner do anything to disgrace the uniform of the tomb. If they do, they forfeit their wreath pin. In 2003, as Hurricane Isabelle roared toward Washington, DC, the guard members were given permission to suspend their assignment until the storm passed. They respectfully declined, saying this was not an assignment, but instead was the highest honor they could ever be accorded.
That speaks volumes on commitment, doesn’t it? And isn’t it a shame that so few Christians seem willing to commit themselves to serving Christ with the same zeal and fervor, and the same humbleness, as those who guard that symbolic tomb?
Even though the Laodiceans thought themselves to be self-sufficient, Jesus saw them otherwise. He knew they were simply deceiving themselves. But despite all that, and especially despite their lukewarm attitude which He really disliked, Jesus still stood there at the door of the church, patiently knocking, waiting to be let in.
I want you to imagine that scene – Jesus is out there on the sidewalk knocking at our door. If we let Him in, what will He find? If we open our hearts fully to Him, will He see a church family on fire to serve Him, with a passion for service burning hot deep within us? Or will we be to Him more like a cup of coffee that’s been sitting on the table too long?
Jesus is resolute in His desire to have complete communion with us, in spite of our wayward and sinful nature. That’s why He still stands there knocking, trying to come in. We need to be just as resolute in our passion for serving Him, in seeking to build a better relationship with Him, in our realization that we cannot make it on our own but need Him!
If you feel you may be lukewarm in your soul, then turn the burner up on your internal stove. Reignite that fire deep within you, that flame of first love, that longing need to do anything and everything you can for Jesus. Repent of your sin and your past ways. Be zealous in your love of your Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, of all the seven churches Your Son described to us in His Revelation to the Apostle John, this last one bothers us the most. Jesus had nothing good to say about them, only condemnations and recriminations for the wrongs they did. Father we don’t want to be like that church. Help us to always honor Christ’s love and faith in us by serving only Him and by giving of ourselves and our wealth to all those He loves.
Hear us now, Father, as we come before You with bowed heads and humbled hearts, repenting of our sinful ways and asking for Your forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, You have shown us a face in the mirror that could easily be ours if we are not ever vigilant in our service to You. Please help us be good stewards of all the resources our heavenly Father has entrusted into our care. May all our works be done in Your name and may You please consider them good and worthy. And may we open our doors to You and not leave You standing there knocking, just waiting to be let in. In Your glorious name, dear Jesus, we pray. Amen.
The Reverend John Charles Ryle, an Anglican Bishop in the 1800s, once said:
"It costs something to be a true Christian. Let that never be forgotten. To be a (lukewarm) Christian, and go to church, is cheap and easy work. But to hear Christ’s voice, follow Christ, believe in Christ, and confess Christ, requires much self-denial. It will cost us our sins, our self-righteousness, our ease, and our worldliness. ALL must be given up. Our Lord Jesus Christ would have us thoroughly understand this. He bids us count the cost."
Based on what Jesus told the church in Laodicea, I would hope none of us want to taste lukewarm to our Lord. Wouldn’t it be better if He found us to be passionate, especially in our service to Him? But what makes a passionate church?
The church that has passion is the church where…
- Lazy folks get up.
- Sleepy folks wake up.
- Discouraged folks cheer up.
- Gossiping folks shut up.
- Dishonest folks fess up.
- Disgusted folks sweeten up.
- Closed folks open up.
- Estranged folks make up.
- Depressed folks look up.
- Sanctified folks show up.
- Leading folks live up.
- Pledging folks pay up.
- Soldiering folks stand up.
- And lukewarm folks fire up.
Doesn't that sound to you like the kind of church Jesus truly wants to see?
Jesus opens this seventh letter by describing Himself as “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God” We think of “amen” as a closing to prayers, right? Used in that way, the word means “so be it”.
“Amen” is one of those words that we borrowed from another language, from the Hebrew and Aramaic in this case, by way of the Greek and Latin. One of its root meanings carries the idea of certainty or dependability. It was used in the Hebrew to agree with or affirm or emphasize something else that was said. I believe Jesus meant all of that when He called Himself “the Amen”, with a capital “A”, because He does provide certainty and dependability, what He says will definitely be. And that is made even more clear when He adds He is the Faithful and True Witness of God, and the Beginning of God’s creation.
Now that is not to say that Jesus is part of what God created, but that He was there alongside God when He created the heavens and the earth. It isn’t really a stretch to believe that God was speaking to Jesus when He commanded, “Let there be light”, or especially when He said, “Let Us make man in Our own image”. Jesus is letting the Laodicean family know that what He says can be trusted, because He has been with God all along.
And then Jesus goes directly to the point. “I know your works, I know your hearts, and they are lacking. “You haven’t completely frozen Me out, but you aren’t exactly burning with desire to serve Me, either. “Quite frankly, you make Me sick.”
As Christians trying our best to serve Christ, if He told us we acted indifferent to Him in our faith and worship and service, wouldn’t that really hurt? Some versions of our Bible have Jesus “spitting” the Laodiceans out of His mouth in verse 16, but how much more dramatic and telling is this? Think of how vile and disgusting that material is that spews from our mouth when our body tries to rid itself of something that shouldn’t be there. Think of how bad it tastes, how the very smell makes us almost wretch. Now think of how it would feel to have Jesus think of us like that, as if we were putrid vomit expelled from His perfect body. What could bring about this violent reaction?
Much like Philadelphia, the area around Laodicea was also prone to earthquakes. But unlike Philadelphia, Laodicea was a rich and vibrant and prosperous city, a center of trade and commerce, that could easily rebuild itself when a quake hit.
Also unlike the church family in Philadelphia, the Christian community in Laodicea was as wealthy as their city, and they knew it. They must have flaunted their wealth a bit, because Jesus noted that they say they are “rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”.
But yet, in all their personal riches, in the eyes of Jesus they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. This is pretty much the opposite of the church in Smyrna, who Jesus had only good words for. They thought themselves poor, materially, yet Jesus saw them as rich, spiritually.
If the Laodiceans as a church family are rich, then we have to wonder what are they doing with their wealth. Are they sharing resources, like so many early churches did, to ensure no one had to go without their needs being met? Were they giving to others in need in their greater community, helping out where they could? Or were they putting it up in nice bank accounts and CDs and saving it for a rainy day, or the next earthquake? My guess is, based on Jesus’ reaction, that they weren’t using their material resources in the way our Lord would want them to. They were too wrapped up in material, worldly things to recognize their true condition.
So He tells them they must repent. We’ve heard that word frequently in these seven letters, directed toward those churches who do not exactly fit the mold Jesus created. He counsels the Laodiceans to, effectively, come back to Him. He uses terms associated with material wealth because it would seem the Laodiceans would be quite familiar with those terms. But He is really talking about spiritual matters, about getting their heads and their hearts back to the right place.
There is no mistaking His love, for them and for us. Just as we discipline our children because we love them and want them to do the right things in life, Jesus rebukes and chastens us because He loves us and wants us to do what is right. And if we do, we’ll be able to dine with Him and sit alongside Him on His throne in heaven.
Have you ever heard the joke about making breakfast? A pig and a chicken were walking along the farmyard one day when the chicken said, “How about we get together and make some bacon and eggs for the farmer’s breakfast?” The pig stops abruptly, shakes his head and replies, “No, I think not. “For you, you would just be making a contribution. “But for me, it would require a total commitment.”
Sadly, I believe that describes too many Christians today, lukewarm Christians. They want to be involved, they want to make a contribution, but they don’t want to be completely committed, they don’t want to make too big a sacrifice. Author George Orwell once observed: "On the whole human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time."
Our good brother Steve Everhart shared with me some interesting facts about the guards of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. While there are physical requirements to be a guard, there are also discipline requirements. A guard must commit to serve for 2 years, after which they receive a wreath label pin marking this distinguished service. They cannot drink any alcohol, on or off duty, nor may they swear in public, for those two years and for the rest of their lives. They may not in any manner do anything to disgrace the uniform of the tomb. If they do, they forfeit their wreath pin. In 2003, as Hurricane Isabelle roared toward Washington, DC, the guard members were given permission to suspend their assignment until the storm passed. They respectfully declined, saying this was not an assignment, but instead was the highest honor they could ever be accorded.
That speaks volumes on commitment, doesn’t it? And isn’t it a shame that so few Christians seem willing to commit themselves to serving Christ with the same zeal and fervor, and the same humbleness, as those who guard that symbolic tomb?
Even though the Laodiceans thought themselves to be self-sufficient, Jesus saw them otherwise. He knew they were simply deceiving themselves. But despite all that, and especially despite their lukewarm attitude which He really disliked, Jesus still stood there at the door of the church, patiently knocking, waiting to be let in.
I want you to imagine that scene – Jesus is out there on the sidewalk knocking at our door. If we let Him in, what will He find? If we open our hearts fully to Him, will He see a church family on fire to serve Him, with a passion for service burning hot deep within us? Or will we be to Him more like a cup of coffee that’s been sitting on the table too long?
Jesus is resolute in His desire to have complete communion with us, in spite of our wayward and sinful nature. That’s why He still stands there knocking, trying to come in. We need to be just as resolute in our passion for serving Him, in seeking to build a better relationship with Him, in our realization that we cannot make it on our own but need Him!
If you feel you may be lukewarm in your soul, then turn the burner up on your internal stove. Reignite that fire deep within you, that flame of first love, that longing need to do anything and everything you can for Jesus. Repent of your sin and your past ways. Be zealous in your love of your Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, of all the seven churches Your Son described to us in His Revelation to the Apostle John, this last one bothers us the most. Jesus had nothing good to say about them, only condemnations and recriminations for the wrongs they did. Father we don’t want to be like that church. Help us to always honor Christ’s love and faith in us by serving only Him and by giving of ourselves and our wealth to all those He loves.
Hear us now, Father, as we come before You with bowed heads and humbled hearts, repenting of our sinful ways and asking for Your forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, You have shown us a face in the mirror that could easily be ours if we are not ever vigilant in our service to You. Please help us be good stewards of all the resources our heavenly Father has entrusted into our care. May all our works be done in Your name and may You please consider them good and worthy. And may we open our doors to You and not leave You standing there knocking, just waiting to be let in. In Your glorious name, dear Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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