Revelation 3:14-22

The Church in Laodicea

A man visited his optometrist to have his glasses checked. "They just aren't strong enough," he told the doctor. "Don't you have something stronger?" "Yes," asid the optometrist, "there is one lense that is stronger." "Just one?" asked the man. "What comes after that?" "After that," said the doctor, "you buy a dog." Pendleton

MIRAGE = Thinking you see something but when you get closer, it's not there.

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Isaiah 42:20 Seeing many things, but you do not observe; Opening the ears, but he does not hear." (NKJV)

B. Jesus spoke of the religious leaders of the day in Matthew 15:14-15 "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."

1. In things of the Spirit, there is sight that equals blindness and a blindness that gives sight!

a) There are many in this world that think they can see perfectly well!

(1) They feel they have the ability to judge the present as well as the future and "all is well".

b) Yet, there are others that have admitted that they can't see.

(1) They agree that they are too narrow visioned to see what lies ahead today much less the future.

c) One thinks they have the things of the Spirit nailed down.

d) The other admits that he is Spiritually blind and has gone to the PHYSICIAN and their blindness has been healed!

e) The church in Laodicea is blind!!

II. THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA

A. Laodicea was fourty-five miles southeast of Philadelphia.

1. It was the meeting place of three major, intersecting highways.

a) Thus, it was the center of commerce!

b) This city had stadiums, public baths, shopping centers, wealthy bankers, many millionaires.

(1) They could buy and have anything they wanted!

(2) It was in this atmosphere, that the church in Laodicea existed.

(3) Many commentators believe that this seventh church represents from about the turn of the century until this present day.

(4) Keep in mind that the Lord completes His work in cycles of seven, and this is the seventh church!

(a) In the first church in Ephesus, He told them they had "left their first love".

(b) That was the beginning of His messages to the churches, and here we see the final result of Christ not being first!

(c) Here He is outside the church, standing and knocking to get in!!

III. TEXT

A. Revelation 3:14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen,, (NKJV)

1. Again the Lord's discription of Himself is very important as he addresses this church:

a) He describes Himself as "the Amen..."

(1) The word "amen" is translated form Hebrew into both Greek and English and it means TRUTH!

b) Last study He described Himself as "HE THAT IS TRUE"

(1) If you remember, G. Campbell Morgan told us the difference between holy and true. He said that as the "holy One, Christ is right in character; as the "true" One, He is right in conduct.

(2) Because the Lord's character was pure, His conduct was also pure and correct.

(a) Once again, He claims to be God!

(b) HE, and HE alone can proclaim "AMEN" after everything He says or does!

(c) Jesus called Himself the "TRUTH"

(i) John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJV)

2. "...the Faithful and True Witness..."

a) For a church He about to pass judgment on, this is significant!

(1) If you are going to be brough before the judge, you want to be sure that the witnesses are impartial!

(a) John 18:37 (before Pilate)...for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth....(NKJV)

3. "... the Beginning of the creation of God:"

a) Jesus Christ was not the beginning of God's creation, but rather He was the One in whom all creation had its beginning!

(1) John 1:3-4 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (NKJV)

(a) A deeply materialistic church needed to be reminded of this.

(b) A church that had "washed" out every doctrine of the Bible needed to know this!

(i) Many churches in this "Laodicean period" have turned from creation to evolution!

(ii) They have turned from that Bible as being the in-errant Word of God to it being "partially true."

(iii) In an effort to please everyone, they have displeased the Savior!

B. Revelation 3:15-17 "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. 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 -- (NKJV)

1. There is realy nothing the Lord can praise this church for so He begins the admonishment!

a) Many in the modern church are fence-sitters, or middle-of-the-roaders.

(1) The Greek word for "hot" is ZESTOS and means "boiling hot", and that they were not!!! (When your hot, your hot!)

(2) They are neither excited for, nor antagonistic towards the Lord.

(3) In fact, they went to church, probably gave from their wealth, and the church no doubt had a fancy facility and many programs.

(a) Many of them sat on church boards and made church policy.

(4) Everyone knew them as "Christians" but there wasn't enough CHRIST in them affect their lives!

(5) They didn't live for Him, they lived for themselves.

(a) They sad part was that they were blind and didn't even recognize it!

(b) Their condition "sickened" the Lord.

(c) The word "miserable" means "pitiable"

C. Revelation 3:18 "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. (NKJV)

1. HE has assessed the situation, now HE gives counsel!

a) As wealthy merchants these folks could buy whatever they wanted, and most of them did!

(1) The problem was that they only traded at "WORLDMART".

(2) They knew nothing of Spiritual goods.

(a) Notice that the Lord says, "I counsel," not I "command"!

(b) He still respects their right to choose but he offers them the best advice!

(3) This "language" is best described in Isaiah 55:1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk. Without money and without price. (NKJV)

(a) What a figure of grace! The ability to buy without money!

(b) The only "currency" that is required is the admission of our own deep need and poverty of spirit!.

(c) In other words, "If you are concious of your povery, I have riches for you."

(i) James 4:6..."God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."(NKJV)

(ii) Isaiah 13:12 I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir. (NKJV)

A husband and wife were arguing. "I was a fool when I married you," the wife said. "Yea, I quess you were," said here husband, "but I was so infatuated at the time, that I didn't notice."

(iii) Many are so infatuated with the world that they can't see the foolishness ot their own blindness.

D. Revelation 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. (NKJV)

1. The Lord's love is never so complacent that it condones sin.

a) It is because of His love that He tells it like it is!

b) It is not a Biblical concept to hide sin!

(1) Today it seems that we think that to be a real friend we must hide another's sin.

(2) That wasnot, nor never has been the Lord's approach.

(3) He says, "Deal with it!"

E. Revelation 3:20 "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. (NKJV)

1. The Lord was shut out of this church, but as always he appeals on an individual level.

a) Repentance seldom takes place "en masse". That is why He uses words like "whosoever will" and to "any man".

b) So it doesn't matter what the person next to you does, or thinks. Christ is appealing to you today to repent and let him in.

c) In many churches today, the Lord isn't even welcome. They have become institutions of accomplishments.

d) Here we see Him on the outside asking for admittance.

IV. CONCLUSION

A. Revelation 3:21-22 "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." ' " (NKJV)

1. If He is to be a vital part of our lives, it must be by invitation and purpose!

2. For the Christian and the unsaved alike, to live for Christ must be a choice!

3. If this morning, you cannot see your need for a Savior, you above all, are to be pitied!

4. If you an the other hand can see you blindness, and poverty: you indeed are among the richest of men!

5. For today you will inherit the riches of heaven

The lady contributed to the beggar on crutches, but couldn't resist the temptation to preach to him. "It must be terrible to be lame," she said, "but I think how much worsr it is to be blind." That's right lady," he said. When I was blind, people kept passing counterfeit money off on me"

If your tired of being counterfeited, turn to Christ!!!