We are bringing our series entitled: “What Would Jesus Say?” to a close. It has been a study of Jesus’ words to the seven churches in Asia in the first 3 chapters of Revelation. The last time we spoke about the church of Philadelphia. Jesus says this church ,“I have seen your works.” In other words, I have seen the things you do in your Christian life, your witness of me and I'm opening a door.
And so today we move on to the Church of Laodicea. It is described as the lukewarm church. Jesus says to this church that you are neither hot nor cold. You're not zealous for the things of God, you're not sold out for Me and you're not cold either, you're in between.
To be “sold out" you must be able to give all, that's what the term means. I think of the rich man who came to follow Christ but Jesus recognized the hindrance that was in his life: earthly riches/ things. And Jesus said it's hard for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God. This was the issue for the Laodiceans. They were very prosperous and their mind was on the things of this world. And for that reason they were divided with regards to their allegiance to God; no one can serve two masters and money is a hard master; you never have enough and it will consume you with its desire to obtain more.
Revelation 3:14 “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—
And Jesus speaks to these people in Laodicea who had embraced a prosperity gospel and says you're not looking at yourself objectively. You're looking at your selves through rose colored glasses thinking that you got it all together when you don't. And He makes them aware of five issues pertaining to their faith walk that are significant issues that keep them from becoming a passionate follower of Jesus Christ.
Wretchedness. You are afflicted …that is you have a disease, a spiritual disease that you need to be delivered from. Miserable. To be miserable is to be pitied because of your lack of something. Poor. You have not realized your spiritual poverty. You are tapped spiritually, you are spiritually bankrupt. Blind…by your own desire to obtain wealth and in so doing you have misplaced your trust and put it in yourself instead of putting it in God. Naked…you are trapped in a belief system that's going to leave you destitute and with nothing.
So what is the remedy from this lukewarmness? 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.”
Jesus says that you need to do three things in order to fix your issue with your misplaced priorities and theology. Get Real (buy real gold) , Get Ready( buy white garments), and Get the Remedy( apply the eye salve). Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “ Buy Gold.”
Blessings,
Kevin
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