Rev 3:14-22 Accept What He Offers - The Church at Laodicea

Rev 3:14-22 – Accept What He Offers

Introduction

Over the last several years something has happened in the church world that is an interesting phenomena – I call it “church shopping”. People want to find a church that fits their wants and desires and that they feel comfortable in. I am not saying that is wrong. I understand that. But what is interesting is what their “shopping list” contains.

Church Shopping Checklist

Size of the Church

Which statement best describes you:

1 – I like it small so that I can know everyone and everyone can know

2 – I like it medium so that I don’t have to like everyone but there are

enough people for me to choose who I want to like

3 – I like a large church because they can offer a lot of things l like

but still do not feel lost

4 – I like a mega church because everyone is impressed when I tell

them where I go to church.
Worship Style (Choose the one that best describes your impression)

____ Thought I was at a Rock Concert

____ Thought I was at a Funeral

____ Too loud

____ Not loud enough

____ Didn’t know any of the songs

____ Knew all the songs

____ Had to stand too much

____ Didn’t get to stand up enough

____ Not enough use of media

____ Too much use of media

____ Thought I was at a Broadway musical

____ Felt like I was at a Karaoke Bar

Preacher (Do you agree (A) or disagree (D) with the following)

____ The preacher was too old

____ The preacher was too young

____ The preacher was boring

____ The preacher was way too excited

____ The preacher should be wearing skinny jeans

____ The preacher should be wearing a suit and tie

____ The sermon was too short – by the time I got my Bible opened

and found the verse, he was closing in prayer

____ The sermon was too long – I took a half-hour nap and when I

woke up he was still on his first point

____ Someone should have told the preacher he should have been

a plumber

Church Facilities Select the phrase that best describes your experience

Comfort of the seats or pews

1. I felt like I was sitting on a cold concrete block

2. I was so comfortable that I fell asleep

3. Just like baby bear’s chair – just right

Parking

1. I had no idea where to park

2. They didn’t have any visitor parking spots

3. I had to walk way too far to get into the church

Facilities

1. Wasn’t sure if the building had ever been painted or cleaned since 1958

2. The gold plated toilets and diamond studded faucet handles were a little much

3. It was way too hot

4. It was way too cold
Finding my way around

1. I was lost, had no idea where to go

2. Signs were great, but they were all wrong

3. Felt like I had been there all of my life

4. No problems finding my way – I’m a man!

I don’t know if you realized it or not, none of the things that were included in the survey ever came the mouth of Jesus as He addressed His church in Revelation. But I’m pretty sure I have heard some of those things from the mouths of people in my 45 years of ministry experience who were looking for a church.
Today we are wrapping up our study of the 7 churches that Jesus spoke to in Revelation 2 & 3. As we have made this journey together I hope you have learned some things about the church and yourself.

Today we are looking at Jesus’ words to the church of Laodicea. They are considered by many as the harshest words Jesus’ gave to any of the seven churches.

I want us to hear the message of Jesus and understand it – not just what it meant to the churches of Asia Minor – but what it means to us.

1. Accept the Truth of His Words

a. Rev 3:14-22 14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

b. Look at the credentials given by Jesus

i. “the Amen”, the one who is affirmed,

ii. “the faithful and true witness” – reliable,

iii. “rule of God’s creation” – authoritative

iv. We need to accept His words as they are – truth – even if sometimes they make us uncomfortable.

c. When Jesus is in the midst of His church He looks at more than the sanctuary or building – he looks at the heart of its people – and He wants their heart to be in the right place. He wants to have priority.

i. If I told my wife Judy that when it came to women, she was in the top 5 – how do you think that would go over?

ii. Not very well. Why? Because she is to be number 1 – and is.

d. Jesus wants to be number 1 but His illustration of being lukewarm is very vivid and easy to understand – to the people then and to us.

i. Jesus’ reference to the lukewarm water hit home with the Laodiceans.

ii. They had a water system that brought water from hot springs some 5 miles away. By the time it got to them it had cooled down enough that it was drinkable but still lukewarm.

iii. Everyone hearing the words of Jesus would have immediately known what he was referring to.

e. What had made them lukewarm?

i. I think we will find as we read on that what brought their lukewarmness was self-sufficiency.
ii. When we become self-sufficient it becomes easier and easier to forget about God.

f. Being hot or cold – what does it mean?

i. Sometimes we hear this passage and think that it means to be “hot” we are “on fire”” for Jesus and to be “cold” means we reject Him. But that interpretation doesn’t make sense because it would mean Jesus is saying He would rather someone reject Him – be “cold” rather than anything else. He desires that everyone accept Him.

ii. Think of it this way – cold water is what most people desire. It is cool and refreshing. Just as hot water is what you want when you have coffee or tea. Both are desirable and both are good.

iii. But when was the last time you asked for lukewarm water or lukewarm coffee. That is not desirable’

g. Jesus words of truth are simply this – He wants us to take our faith serious. He wants our faith to make faith desirable to others.

h. If our faith does not lead others to Jesus – then we are missing the mark that He wants us to hit.

2. Accept His Wise Counsel

a. 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.

b. Jesus words once again directly connected to the people who lived there.

i. Laodicea was known throughout the Roman world for three things:

1. Its banks - Laodicea was a wealthy city. In AD 61 an earthquake destroyed the city and they turned down the help from Rome. We can understand wealthy communities. It probably is not a surprise to you that Naples and Marco Island are in the top 10 wealthiest cities in Florida according to the US Census bureau.

2. Its linen and wool industry, which produced cloth and carpets, especially from the glossy black wool of sheep raised in the area

3.     Its medical school and widely famed medicines, notable among which was an eye-ointment made from a powder produced in Phrygia.
                                                  ii.     What did Jesus say to them? “you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”

c.      What is the remedy? How do you overcome all of that?
                                                    i.     Accept His counsel.

ii. Turn to Him rather than themselves.

iii. Get your “gold” – the symbol of wealth – not from yourself. What Jesus has is worth much more than gold.

                                                iv.     You want clothing that will impress people, clothe yourself with Christ – put on a white robe representing holiness and eternal life.

                                                  v.     You want to see, really see? Apply what Jesus has to offer in your life.

                                                vi.     What I have just said is more than just cliches. It is truth. I don’t feel I can adequately express what I am feeling. I have seen so many lives ruined by people who were seeking meaning or fulfillment in their life through alcohol or drugs or sex or fame or power or prestige – people searching and looking everywhere except Jesus.

                                               vii.     The life Jesus offers is right in front of us if we will just accept the blessings we have.

viii. I’m reminded of the parable of the Mexican fisherman:

ix. “The Mexican Fisherman”

x. An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

xi.

xii. The Mexican replied, “Only a little while.”

xiii.

xiv. The American then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish.

xv.

xvi. The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.

xvii. The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

xviii.

xix. The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”

xx.

xxi. The American scoffed. “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

xxii.

xxiii. The Mexican fisherman asked, “But how long will this take?”

xxiv.

xxv. To which the American replied, “Fifteen to twenty years.”

xxvi.

xxvii. “But what then?”

xxviii.

xxix. The American laughed and said that’s the best part. “When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich; you would make millions.”

xxx.

xxxi. “Millions?” asked the fisherman. “Then what?”

xxxii.

xxxiii. The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evening, sip wine, and play guitar with your amigos!”

xxxiv. Hmmm. Said the Mexican fisherman
3. Accept His Loving Rebuke

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

b. Did you ever use this line when you were disciplining your kids – “This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.” As a kid, how many of you believed that line?

c. But as a parent you do have a different perspective don’t you.

d. The purpose of discipline is to give direction. To help someone realize what is harmful or wrong and making a correction.

e. What does Jesus want? He desires that all men be saved.

f. For that to happen sometimes we have to accept a loving rebuke.

g. One of the challenges of preaching the word of God in today’s world is that people are going to hear things that they don’t agree with. Rather than accept those words as words of loving rebuke, they take offense and reject God’s way.

4. Accept His Invitation and Promises

a. 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 him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

b.     Do you see anything missing on the door in this picture? There is no handle or knob to open it. It appears that the only way to get in is for it to opened from the inside.
c.      The imagery Jesus uses in this letter to the church of Laodicea is sad. He feels He is not a part of the church. He is offering Himself – “Here I am!” He is standing at the door and knocking, hoping that someone will let Him in.
d.     I wonder how many thousands and thousands of people over the years heard Jesus knocking on their hearts but never opened the door. I remember as a teenager going to youth rallies and

5. Accept His Challenge

a. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Accept What He Offers Study Guide

Revelation 3:14-22

What are some things people put on their church “Shopping List”?

How many of the things on the list does Jesus include in Revelation?

Could it be that in America today we have lost focus on what really matters?

1. Accept the ________________ of His Words

b. Jesus wants to be number 1

c. Why did Jesus’ reference to the “lukewarm water” hit home with the Laodiceans?

d. What had made them lukewarm?

e. Being hot or cold – what does it mean?

f. If our faith does not lead others to Jesus – then we are missing the mark that He wants us to hit.

2. Accept His Wise ___________________

b. Jesus words once again directly connected to the people who lived there. How?

c. What is the remedy? Accept His counsel.

i. The life Jesus offers is right in front of us if we will just accept the blessings we have.

ii. What is the point of “The Mexican Fisherman” parable?

3. Accept His _________________ ___________________

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

b. What is the purpose of discipline? ‘

c. What does Jesus want?

4. Accept His _______________ and __________________

b. Did you see anything missing in the picture of Jesus knocking at the door in this picture?

5. Accept His ________________________

a. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."