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The Worldly church…
- 1st – The introduction… vs. 14
- FOUR sections
- All of the other LETTERS to the other churches contained FOUR sections…
- But the LETTER to the church of LAODICEA only has THREE…
- Introduction – Negative – and Encouragement!
- 1st – The Angel…
- To the angel!
- For the final time – there are TWO thoughts on WHO this ANGEL was…
- FIRST – a guardian ANGEL – who watched over LAODICEA – Psalm 91:11
- SECOND – it could be the PASTOR of the church…
- ANGEL [ἄγγελος] – means messenger – one who gives Gods WORD…
- Therefore – Jesus is talking about the PASTOR – who gave His church His Word!
- 2nd – The City…
- Of the church of the Laodiceans write!
- The ruins of the city of LAODICEA are in beautiful Lycus river valley…
- It is the farthest inland from the Aegean Sea of all the SEVEN cities…
- It is a part of a TRI-city area – Laodicea – Colossae [20km east]– and Hierapolis [12km west]
- The letter to the Colossians was to these THREE cities – Colossians 4:13
- The area today is known by the name Pamukkale [resort town]
- Amazing ruins…
- LAODICEA boasts some of the most extensive RUINS of all SEVEN of the churches…
- There are multiple TEMPLES – vast MARKERS – a huge THEATRE [25k seats]
- But the most impressive RUIN – is the CHURCH [the only one in ALL of the SEVEN cities]
- The church – built in the FOURTH century – takes up an entire city BLOCK!
- Famous for THREE things…
- FIRST for its WEALTH – LAODICEA was a VERY rich…
- It was the center of BANKING for Asia Minor – making the city VERY prosperous…
- When the city was leveled by an earthquake in 60 AD – Rome offered to help rebuild…
- But they refused – they did NOT need any help – they rebuilt it themselves!
- SECOND – they had an expensive BLACK wool cloth – created from BLACK sheep!
- THIRD – they had a HOSPITAL [temple] – as part of their worship to ASKLEPION…
- And they were famous for their Phrygian powder – they mixed into an eye cream…
- It was reported to be a remedy for all kinds of sickness!
- Of the church of the Laodiceans write!
- 3rd – The Tone…
- Describing Jesus…
- In His INTRODUCTION to each of the Churches – Jesus looks back…
- Highlighting specific CHARACTERISTICS of the Vision from – Revelation 1:11-18
- The choice of CHARACTERISTICS – sets the TONE for the LETTER to that church…
- The TONE to LAODICEA – was one of REPENTANCE…
- The church believed they were RICH – but they were WEALTHY in the wrong way!
- These things says the Amen!
- The word AMEN is used 181x in the Bible – 30x in OT [אָמֵן] – 151x in NT [ἀμήν]
- If the word is used at the BEGINNING of a sentence – it means it is the TRUTH…
- If it is used and the END of a sentence – it means it will HAPPEN…
- But here is it is UNIQUELY [only here in Bible] used as a TITLE!
- To this WEALTHY church – who thought they needed NOTHING…
- Who believed their MONEY could make things HAPPEN…
- Jesus tells them He is the AMEN – the TRUTH is only what He says will HAPPEN!
- The Faithful and True Witness!
- Jesus Christ – is THE [ὁ] faithful witness – Revelation 1:5
- Jesus is CALLED to be THE faithful witness – because He always speaks the TRUTH!
- People have lots of QUESTIONS about how to have a BLESSED life…
- And there were a LOT of different OPINIONS people will give as an ANSWER…
- Play the LOTTO – invest in STOCKS – start your own BUSINESS!
- Proverbs 16:25 – “There is a way that seems right… but its end is the way of death.”
- The KEY to finding the TRUTH – is to understand we do NOT have it…
- The ONLY one who is FAITHFUL and TRUE – is the LORD – so we need to ask Him…
- And the place where we can find what Jesus says – is in His WORD!
- John 17:17 – “Your word is truth!”
- The Beginning of the creation of God!
- BEGINNING [ἀρχὴ] – simply means the FIRST or the HEAD…
- Jesus is the [ὁ] HEAD of the [ὁ] CREATION of the [ὁ] one and ONLY God…
- In other words – Jesus is the BOSS – He is the one in complete CONTROL!
- Most of us are familiar with INFLATION – the rising costs of things we buy…
- But in 1944 the largest banknote in Hungary – was 1000
- By 1945 the largest banknote blew up to – 10 MILLION…
- By 1946 the largest banknote went to a mindboggling – 2 SEXTILLION [1021]
- MONEY is an illusion – it is a piece of paper – a number on a screen – that has NO power!
- As we will see in this RICH church – who thought their MONEY gave them CONTROL…
- BLESSING and CURSING in life do NOT come from POVERTY or RICHES…
- They come from a SOVEREIGN God – who is the BOSS – He is RULES over all!
- Describing Jesus…
- FOUR sections
If we are willing to LISTEN to what His SPIRIT has to SAY!
2nd – The Negative… vs. 15-20
1st – Jesus KNOWS… vs. 15
I know [εἴδω] your works!
Jesus said this to all SEVEN churches – He sees [perfect] EVERYTHING – Hebrews 4:13
GOOD and BAD – nothing [perfect] is hidden from our Lord…
In the case of LAODICEA – He saw a LUKEWARM church!
2nd – Lukewarm… vs. 15-16
You are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot!
Jesus desired [optative] that the church in LAODICEA was either COLD or HOT…
Often in the Bible Jesus uses something FAMILIAR to make a point…
The people of LAODICEA would immediately recognize the reference to HOT and COLD…
The nearby city of Hierapolis was known for its therapeutic HOT springs…
The city of Colossae was known for its refreshing COLD springs [slopes of mount Cadmus]
BOTH of the sources of water were GOOD – both had a PURPOSE…
But by the time the water was piped into the city of LAODICEA – neither HOT nor COLD…
The water would become ROOM temperature [lukewarm] – losing its benefits!
Because you are lukewarm – and neither cold nor hot – I will vomit you out of My mouth!
As a RESULT of being LUKEWARM – having NO purpose…
Jesus would VOMIT them out of His mouth – a VIOLENT action of rejection!
We are looking for ANSWERS – we want to have a SUCCESSFUL life…
And people are easily influenced – we tend to follow the EXAMPLE of others…
The problem is – by the time their EXAMPLE gets to us – it is LUKEWARM…
We end up living a REGURGITATED life – missing the BEST the Lord has for us!
If we want the ANSWER to having a BLESSED life – stop looking to others…
They may well be HOT or COLD – but that does not mean it will pass onto us…
We need to go straight to the SOURCE – we need to come to Jesus!
3rd – Ignorant… vs. 17
Because you say – I am rich – have become wealthy – and have need of nothing!
LAODICEA was a LUKEWARM church – because of what they were SAYING [present]
NOTE – it was not the just the church as a WHOLE – it was the individuals…
I [singular] am RICH – and getting RICHER [perfect]
Therefore I do NOT need ANYTHING – or ANYONE [οὐδείς]!
Luke 18:24 – “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
God is SOVEREIGN – He can do ANYTHING – He is not limited by MONEY…
So why does God not bless us with abundant WEALTH…
The answer is EASY – if we had MONEY – where would we put our FAITH…
MONEY can be a CURSE – it give us FALSE confidence – we do NOT need the LORD!
[You] do not know!
People could NOT see [εἴδω] – MONEY blinded them to the TRUTH of who they were…
The people were DECEIVED by their MONEY – so they did not understanding FIVE things:
Wretched!
To go through TRAILS [πεῖρα] – as God weighs us on His scales [τάλαντον]
2x in NT – used in reference to a LIFE dominated by SIN!
Romans 7:24 – “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death!”
Miserable!
Describing someone to be PITIED – because they have FALSE hope…
2x in NT – used to describe the hopelessness of faith – if it is NOT in a RISEN Lord!
I Corinthians 15:19 – “In this life… we are of all men the most miserable.”
Poor!
Not PHYSICALLY poor – the believers in LAODICEA had money…
But they were SPIRITUALLY poor – they had no treasures in HEAVEN!
Luke 12:21 – “He who lays up treasure for himself – is not rich toward God.”
Blind!
The church was BLINDLY following others – not questioning where they were going!
Too often in life we blindly follow the examples of others around us…
We do what others do – because everyone else is doing the same thing…
It is always a wise question to ask – whom am I following – where are they going!
Matthew 15:14 – “If the blind leads the blind – both will fall into a ditch.”
Naked!
There is a famous TALE – called the Emperors new clothes…
Where a KING is convinced he has the FINEST clothes in the LAND…
The catch – the clothes are INVISIBLE to those who are STUPID…
The KING – not wanting to be STUPID – marches through his kingdom NAKED…
Not willing to ADMIT – he was the one who was being FOOLED!
The believers in LAODICEA were not literally – but SPIRITUALLY naked…
They convinced themselves their MONEY – TITHES – were enough to cover their SIN!
4th – Counsel of the Lord… vs. 18
I counsel you!
In LIGHT of the desperate situation of those in the CHURCH…
A life dominated by SIN [wretched] – with no HOPE [miserable]
Spiritually POOR – unable to SEE where they were going – and NAKED before God…
Jesus advises [present] them to come to His MARKET and buy THREE things!
To buy from Me gold refined in the fire – that you may be rich!
BUY gold from Jesus – gold that had been BURNED [perfect] in the FIRE…
The REWARDS that come from the TRIALS of living by FAITH – I Peter 1:7
That way the believers could [subjunctive] be RICH [in God]!
The problem with having TREASURES in the wrong place…
Is we our HEART will follow wherever we place our TREASURE!
Matthew 6:21 – “Where your treasure is – there your heart will be also!”
White garments – that you may be clothed – the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed!
BUY white CLOTHES – to cover up the SHAME of their SINS [nakedness]
You will recall LAODICEA was famous for its rare BLACK wool…
The expensive fashion of the day – would have been BLACK clothing…
But the cost of the WHITE robes was far more expensive – no amount of money would do…
The PRICE was the life of Jesus on the cross of Calvary – Revelation 7:14
Because we CANNOT buy our way into heaven – TITHE enough to cover our sins!
Galatians 2:21 – “If we could be saved [another way] – there was no need for Christ to die.”
Anoint your eyes with eye salve – that you may see!
But ABOVE all – they MUST anoint their EYES so they might [subjunctive] SEE!
You will recall LAODICEA was famous for its EYE salve…
They boasted they could HEAL the sight of others – yet they were BLIND!
It is interesting that of all the things Jesus told them to BUY…
The only one He commanded [imperative] to get was the eye salve!
Because until we SEE our NEED for Jesus – there is NOTHING else we will do…
Until we are willing to ADMIT there is a PROBLEM – we will not look for the SOLUTION!
5th – Loved by the Lord… vs. 19
As many as I love – I rebuke and chasten!
The only other church to have as much REBUKE – was Thyatira [also SIX verses]
It would have been easy for the church to question the LOVE of the LORD…
But – IF [subjunctive] Jesus LOVES [φιλέω] someone – the way He PROVES it…
REBUKE – to bring to light and EXPOSE our SINS…
CHASTEN [παιδεύω] – to PUNISH – so that a child can be TRAINED in doing what is RIGHT…
It seems He LOVED the church of LAODICEA a LOT!
Therefore be zealous and repent!
Therefore – knowing WHY the Lord was EXPOSING and PUNISHING the church…
They MUST [imperative] overflow [ζηλόω] with REPENTANCE for their SINS!
If we do not understand the CHASTENING of the Lord…
When God REBUKES – when He EXPOSES our flaws and sins…
It is easy to become [passive] OVERWHELMED by the PUNISHMENT we receive from God…
We get the impression God is just ANGRY with us – wants to harm us…
But once we see our PUNISHMENT is our opportunity to LEARN how to live a HOLY life…
It should change our PERSPECTIVE – see it as the LOVE God – driving us to REPENT!
Hebrews 12:5-6 – “My son – do not DESPISE the chastening [παιδεύω] of the LORD. For whom the LORD loves He chastens…”
6th – Standing outside… vs. 20
[Look] – I stand at the door and knock!
LOOK [imperative] – Jesus was standing [perfect] OUTSIDE – KNOCKING [present]
This a verse that OFTEN gets misused – as an EVANGELISTIC verse…
But this is NOT written to UNBELIEVERS – it is written to the CHURCH…
And Jesus was NOT inside – He had been cast out of the CHURCH – was trying to get back in!
One of the most important concepts in understanding the Bible is CONTEXT…
Interpreting a verse or passage in relation to the surrounding verses…
Understanding a verse in the context of the other verses before and after…
That is why we study the whole Bible – teachings chapter by chapter…
So we learn the Bible in CONTEXT – have a right understanding of the WORD!
If anyone hears My voice and opens the door – I will come into him and dine with him!
IF [subjunctive] anyone is willing to LISTEN – and OPEN the door…
Jesus will [future] come in and eat DINNER with them…
What strikes me – is that the church of LAODICEA did NOT know Jesus was not there…
They were going about their MINISTRY – holding their services and events…
OBLIVIOUS to the absence of their LORD – who was OUTSIDE trying to get back in…
Why did they NOT know He was missing – they were not listening to His VOICE!
How many churches today are going about their ROUTINES…
And have NO idea Jesus is no longer there – they have REPLACED Him…
There are BOARD meeting – that establish BUDGETS – defining THEIR ministry…
Meanwhile the God of ALL creation – who has ALL wisdom and power…
Is left KNOCKING on the outside – wondering if ANYONE is LISTENING!
The church is NOT led by committees – defined by their RESOURCES…
We serve a God for whom NOTHING is impossible – Ephesians 3:20
Who wants to do EXCEEDINGLY – ABUNDANTLY – more than we can imagine…
And ABOVE all else – what He desires – is to have FELLOWSHIP [dinner] with us…
But the ONLY way to see God work – is to LISTEN to His WORD – and OPEN the door!
3rd – The encouragement… vs. 21-22
1st – Overcome … vs. 21
To him who overcomes!
This same CONCLUSION – is given to all SEVEN churches…
There are a variety of REWARDS described – but all with the same CONDITION…
OVERCOME [νικάω] – to those who have VICTORY [present]
In the example of LAODICEA – those who LISTEN and OPEN the door to Jesus!
2nd – The Throne of God… vs. 21
I will grant to sit with Me on My throne!
Jesus will GIVE [future] to SIT with Him on His THRONE…
To the ONE church that NOTHING positive is said about them…
Jesus gives the most INCREDIBLE promise of all SEVEN of the churches…
We have been given the RIGHT to sit with Him on THE [ὁ] throne!
Talk about RICHES – talk about REWARDS…
What in THIS life could ever compare to SITTING on the THRONE of God!
As I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne!
In the SAME manner – or following the EXAMPLE…
Of how Jesus OVERCAME [νικάω] – and now SITS on the THRONE with the FATHER…
We are to LOOK to Jesus – as the PATTERN to follow – that leads to the THRONE…
What was His EXAMPLE – He did NOT live for the RICHES of this LIFE…
Instead He endured the CROSS – and SHAME – looking for the JOY that came after!
Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus – the author and finisher of our faith – who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross – despising the shame – and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The LESSON of LAODICEA – is all about what we SEEK in LIFE…
If we are after RICHES here – then we are going to MISS out on Jesus…
But if we SEE that nothing in this life compares to HEAVEN…
And LISTEN as Jesus knocks – to OPEN the door – to let Him back in…
We will have FELLOWSHIP [dinner] with the Lord…
With the PROMISE – one day we will SIT with Him – on His THRONE!
3rd – Listen… vs. 22
He who has an ear – let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!
This was NOT written just for the church in LAODICEA …
It is for ANYONE who has an EAR – they MUST [imperative] LISTEN…
Because the SPIRIT of God is SPEAKING [present] to ALL churches [plural]
This LETTER is for us – Jesus is writing to us TODAY…
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