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Text: Revelations 3: 14-22
Introduction:
ME:- I have this hobby that after I drink coffee or milk I usually drink cold water to ease that hot feeling inside my stomach. But there were times also that I’d like to drink hot water when I feel cold especially every morning before I’ll do something else.
WE:
- I don’t know if some of you here have they same practice like me but one thing for sure it is either hot or cold water that we need or has of great value not the lukewarm water.
- It was written in the bible that the Church in Laodicea is neither hot or cold, they are like lukewarm water and because they lukewarm He will spit them out of His mouth.
- Maybe we ask why would He do this to spit them out of his mouth? Or why the church was described as lukewarm church?
- We praise God because He allowed us to go through the messages of the seven churches. We are now in the last message given to last church among the seven churches. Yes, the messages were given to the early churches but let us not forget that these messages had prophetic utterance that speaks of the future. This is the very nature of the church when He comes but these messages were given for us to be prepared, for us to respond and for us to change. He is speaking to us individually and as a body.
- Let us Pray…
GOD:
A. CHRIST: Author and Answer
- Again, Christ was introduce here as the one who is the AMEN- the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.- Amen came from the Hebrew root word, that means to be firm, sure, established and trustworthy. It used in Isaiah 65:16, that God, is the God of truth.
- The word “amen” was also used to acknowledge and emphasize what was valid, sure and true, or important or significant. It used in the old testament as a liturgical formula in which a congregation or individual accepts both the validity of an oath or curse and its consequences (Numbers 5:22, Deuteronomy 27:15)
- Amen connotes the idea of finality or the last word. He indeed has the last word and final authority in each individual life. It is Him who has the end, the finality and certainty of all things. He does not need any substitute or any replacement ( Not even the wealth and treasures of this world)
- The Amen- or this Jesus who is final is best describe in His characters as the faithful (firm and will not change) and true witness (He cannot Lie- You cannot hide anything from Him), the beginning of God’s creation (He is the reason of our existence, He is the very foundation of what we are enjoying now)
- We thank God because when He speaks, He speaks in His character and He has the answer to our greatest needs specially to the need of this church.
B. CHURCH (Understand the City)
- Laodicea was the chief city of Phrygia in the Lycus valley, strategically located where three highways converged. It was thereby a highly commercial and wealthy city. It was a city of wealthy bankers and financiers. The many millionaires combined to build theaters, a huge stadium, lavish public baths, and fabulous shopping centers.- No doubt this church is wealthy and that’s what they claimed to be in verse 17, “ I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing”.
- They sought their security in their talents, abilities, human resources, and financial wealth. They thought they were protected from all dangers, were insulated from all problems, and immune to every kind of tragedy.
- These are the kind of people who thought they deserved special treatment: first class accommodations, the finest clothes, the best of everything. Their real God was comfort and pleasure.
- The problem was that they sought their happiness in things and their security in their wealth. As a result they neglected the Lord and biblical values. They neglected real service or ministry to others.
- The problem is this, people simply can’t stand prosperity. With freedom and prosperity come the temptation to trust in our blessings rather than in the Blessor. We become fat, comfortable, and self-sufficient. If we have plenty, we tend to think we have need of nothing. If we do not have enough, looking at the wealth around us, we tend to think that what we need is what others have—material blessings but we forget that it is not the material things that address the real need of humanity today.
- The Laodicean church was a church that had lost its impact on the world because it had become occupied with the world. Trusting much in their material wealth (the details of life) rather than pursuing a vital faith relationship with Jesus Christ. Yes we work for us to have money to supply our needs but let us not forget that He is the reason why we this work. It is nor our work nor our money that causes everything for us. If we forget this truth, then our work or our money becomes sufficient for us leaving Christ’s sufficiency as mere concept that once embraced. When we are so settled of our sufficiency, on the things we can do, then the longing or the need to seek or involve God in our life becomes an option but not a lifestyle. When somebody or something else replaces Christ sufficiency in our lives we become consumed with the idea and the practice of self-righteousness. It so hard for us to admit that we are cold so Christ can embrace us can feel His warmth embrace again and pursue our purpose in Him. A lukewarm status of the church nor of our walk in Christ cause Him to spit us, nor Greek translation to vomit, it is stronger than the idea of spitting. Everything that comes out from the mouth of the one who vomits becomes useless. When you neither hot or cold in the your status with the Lord you’ve lost your purpose. When you’ve lost your purpose in God everything becomes useless. Its better to die to which you know your purpose that living without knowing why. Miserable life! Wretched life! Poor! Blind! Naked!
- Our purpose life can only be found in Him as we pursue Him in the warmth our love and passion towards Him. The unveiling of that purpose is the most exciting part of the life of a believer because you will be a witness of Christ miracles as you trust the sufficiency of Christ.
C. CALL: ( What is the advised?)
- V.18 Buy Gold from me- so you will be rich/ Buy white garments- so you will not be ashamed of your nakedness/ an ointment so will be able to see.- “Buy from Me.” How can you buy from Christ what is only given through faith? (cf. Revelations 21:6; 22:17). The answer is given for us in Isaiah 55:1-3.
- 1 Ho. Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David.
- “Buy” stands for the concept of acquire or gain. No one can actually buy these things from Christ. He only uses these words as a medium to carry their thoughts from the material world and material wealth to the spiritual world and the need of spiritual wealth that can only be received by faith. Also note the concept of the source. They can be bought only from Christ.
- Note what it is that can be bought or acquired. “Gold.” Here the Lord counsels the church to turn to Him for true riches. Gold here is a picture of faith produced by God’s own Word by which men bring the spiritual riches of Christ into their lives (cf. 1 Peter 1:7; Romans 10:17; 5:1).
- “White garment.” Again we would divide this into two categories: (a) For the unbeliever, this refers to the righteousness of Christ which is imputed to the believer at the point of faith in Christ (Revelations 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9f). (b) For the believer it would refer to the experiential righteousness, the fruit of the Spirit. Acts of righteousness from living in the Word and walking in fellowship by abiding in Christ (John 15; Revelations 3:4; 19:8; Galatians 5:22-23).
- “Ointment for your eyes.” Since this obviously has to do with spiritual sight, this most likely refers to the person and work of the Holy Spirit as God’s anointing who anoints our eyes to discern His Word (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:14-16).
You:
- How are you now? If the Covid-19 has rapid test or swab test to check if you are infected by the virus, and if in the same manner, we'll have rapid test or swab test, will we be guilty of having a positive result of the virus of self sufficiency, taking Christ outside our life, work, passion, daily schedules, ministry and others?
We:
- We become lukewarm Christian, when He is not our all.
Photo by: Nathaniel Callanta
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