Bible STudy - Church (7) - Sufficient in CHRIST Alone - Revelation 3:14-22 - July 18, 2021

 

Bible Study – Church (7) – Sufficient in CHRIST Alone – July 18, 2021

This is our seventh and final lesson entitled, “The Church GOD Desires.”

Our focus scripture is Revelation 3:14-22.

GOD provides all we need as we pursue CHRIST daily.

This is our final lesson in this series of study on the seven churches.

Some background on Laodicea will provide an excellent foundation upon which we can build.

Laodicea was located about 45 miles southeast of Philadelphia. It was the last stop on the postal road or circuit before the rider returned to Ephesus. This was the postal route the rider followed to deliver letters.

Laodicea appeared to be a prosperous, thriving and an ideal place to live. It was a large banking center. Location, location is vital to most cities and Laodicea was located in the fertile valley of Lycus at the intersection of the main road cutting through the region. Their coins reflected their prosperity by having the image of cornucopia filled to overflowing with corn and fruit. They also had a prosperous wool industry. The sheep in that area had black wool that was glossy.

The god of that area was Men Karou, the god of healing. The residents of that area had discovered a Phrygian powder that was effective in healing eye defects.

But this lovely and prosperous area had it issues. It was prone to earthquakes which resulted in much damage in 60 A.D. Since they were a wealthy city, they refused help from the emperor to rebuild it. They were self-sufficient. This reveals their nature as a people.

Another issue was their water supply, which relates to the message JESUS dictated to the Apostle John. The city had an insufficient water supply and as such, their water came through an aqueduct from the city of Denizli, some six miles away. When their water arrived from Denizili, it was lukewarm. I don’t know about you but what are your thoughts about lukewarm water to drink? It is water but when we are hot and thirsty most of us desire a cool drink, not lukewarm. Plus, it was a mineral water that gave it an awful taste. We will see how JESUS used this in HIS message to the church in Laodicea. Especially, when there were two other sister cities that gave a contrast regarding water e.g., Colossae had cool, refreshing water and Hierapolis water supply was so hot they had to let it cool before they could drink it. Let’s explore!

Let’s read Revelation 3:14-17:

¹⁴ “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator^[h] of God’s creation: ¹⁵ I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit^[i] you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 

Again, JESUS was dictating HIS message to the angel or pastor of the church in Laodicea. Is the message of JESUS vital to our pastor’s and churches today? The answer is YES!!!

Notice, JESUS says, HE is the Amen. Amen is a word of certainty and affirmation of truth. It is a word of authority or “so be it.” JESUS is the faithful and true witness, the originator of GOD’S creation. JESUS has always been and will always be. HE knows our works.

You know one of my favorite verses is Ephesians 1:4:

⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 

JESUS used an example that the Christians in Laodicea could relate:

¹⁵ I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit^[i] you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 

JESUS stated, “I know.” What did HE know? HE knew that they were self-sufficient and relied upon their own ability and strength to reach out to others in their city with the truth of the Gospel. JESUS knew that the lukewarm water, that was vital to their physical existence made them nauseous. JESUS said it would be better for them if they were either cold or hot. When you think you know the truth that is really false, there is a chance for you to see the truth. You think you are doing the works that I want you to do in MY name but what you are doing makes ME sick, to the point that I want to vomit. WOW! That is serious.

The use of the word “vomit” was not to spit something out of HIS mouth but it was to throw up.   The Laodiceans thought they were on target for JESUS but they were making HIM sick.

Are our efforts both as individuals or as a body of believers making JESUS sick? How can we know?

We know that the Laodiceans were a proud and self-sufficient people. They refused assistance from the emperor when an earthquake destroyed much of their city.  Had this self-sufficiency carried over into their relationship with JESUS and the message of salvation had become ineffective? Oh my! “Daddy, “me do it” says the child to the parent.”

WHO reveals truth to us and WHO guides us along the path we are to follow? It is The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is vital to us as Christians who make up the Spiritual body of the true, Spiritually, alive church and to the leadership of the body of believers where we worship.

Why the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the conduit to all Spirit-born Christians. Why? It is because GOD is all seeing and all knowing. GOD sees that which is hidden in the recesses of the human heart and mind. Satan cannot read our thoughts or know your intents but GOD can. Satan can see your actions and hear your spoken words.

Contentment and self-sufficiency are stumbling blocks to both our individual Spiritual growth and to the body of believers where we attend to learn and grow Spiritually. JESUS told the Laodiceans that they, “have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”

Contentment, satisfaction and complacency are the enemy of those who seek to serve the LORD JESUS. These natures can sneak up on Christians when lukewarm become the norm. Is our church emerging from such an attitude or spiritual nature? If so, what do we need to do to change?

Here, we see the love of JESUS reaching out to the body of believers that can be salvaged and motivated to rekindle their relationship with HIM and reach those souls, as HE directs. JESUS never leaves us or forsakes us and HIS vision for what we can do when we Repent.

But rejoice, when we recognize this condition there is hope.

What are we to do? Let’s read on ----

Let’s read Revelation 3:18-19:

¹⁸ I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. 

JESUS will give HIS advice as we read in verse 18:

¹⁸ I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 

The encouraging word from JESUS is “I advise you to buy from HIM,” what? “Gold refined in the fire.” So, we need to invest in gold? YES!!! But it is not material gold but Spiritual gold that comes from being in right relationship with JESUS by going through the refiner’s most intense heat.

Most of us know the story of the refiner’s fire that purifies physical gold. A person was observing the process of refining physical gold. The refiner began heating the physical gold in a crucible with the flame underneath. The refiner began the process and as the gold melted a skim would form on top of the liquefying gold and the refiner would skim the film off. The observer asked the refiner what he was doing. The refiner stated that the skim was referred to as dross or impurities in the gold that needed to come out of the gold ore. The refiner would turn up the heat on the crucible and the dross would keep rising to the top of the liquefying gold. The observer got impatient and asked the refiner, “how do you know when the gold is ready, because every time you turn up the heat on the gold, dross keeps coming to the top of the crucible.” The refiner said, “when I have turned up the heat to its highest level and I can lean over and look into the crucible of liquified gold and see my reflection, it is then that I know the gold is ready.

No one likes to go through tough times in life but often it is the searching for truth that refines our relationship with JESUS. WHO reveals truth to us as we search? It is the HOLY SPIRIT. Yet, somehow, we have become afraid of seeking the fulness of CHRIST in us and using the gifts the Holy Spirit gives to us to minister. We may say, “oh, people will think we are fanatics.” Yes, Satan can get us off track in worshipping JESUS and ministering to the those around us by getting us to focus on the gifts of the Spirit rather than the giver, JESUS.

Are we ready to buy gold that has been refined by fire from JESUS?

What does JESUS promise to those who desire to buy this everlasting, eternal relationship with HIM?

-         so that you may be rich, (not materially but relationally.)

-         white clothes so that you may be dressed and

-         your shameful nakedness not be exposed, (secure in JESUS)

-         and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. (Remember, they had an ointment to heal physical eyes but JESUS is the Spiritual ointment to heal our Spiritual eyes.)

-         ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. (JESUS was reaching out to them because HE loved them.  And HE loves you.)

-         So be zealous and repent. (Make a decision to not be lackadaisical but to be zealous and on fire for JESUS. Change of attitude is vital. Choose to be hot.)

We, as Christians, think we are serving when we have, in fact, missed the mark. FATHER, I admit, I have not served YOU as YOU desire for me to serve. I ask YOU to forgive me and may the rest of my life be in accordance to what YOU desire for me, as led by the Holy Spirit. Help me to be bold and use the Spiritual gift or gifts YOU have given to me according to YOUR will, purpose and glory. Thank YOU for what is yet to be as YOU lead me. May YOU and YOU alone be glorified. I am a sinner saved by YOUR grace and by the shed blood of JESUS.

¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. 

Who does JESUS love? John 3:16-18 expresses it so well:

¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

So, does JESUS just wait until a person comes to HIM? Or does HE reach out to individuals and churches? Let’s read on –

WHO is knocking on my door or your door?

Let’s read Revelation 3:20-22:

²⁰ See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

²¹ “To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

²² “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

JESUS comes to every individual and knocks on his or her heart’s door. JESUS can knock but the individual has to respond and answer by opening his or her heart’s door. Open your heart’s door and JESUS will enter and come in to live with you so you can get to know HIM intimately. JESUS was intimate with GOD, HIS FATHER as we read in John 17:8: I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you, HE will be intimate with those who open their heart’s door.

Satan will do all he can to prevent you from opening the door of your life to JESUS. You may think: What will my friends think? Or I want be able to enjoy the life I like to live. But remember JESUS has defeated Satan and JESUS is greater than all. Asking JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your life is Spiritual birth. As a human, you must be born in your spirit by JESUS to enter Heaven.

You are Spiritually conceived by the Holy Spirit to become a child of GOD and eternally changed. When you accept JESUS as your Savior, your eternal destination is instantly changed from being bound for Hell to being bound for Heaven.

Where do you desire to spend eternity? Don’t believe the lies of Satan. Hell was created for Satan and his angels. You were created to serve JESUS and chosen by JESUS. But you have the freedom to choose.

JESUS stands at the door of your heart and knocks. Only you can open your heart’s door because the doorlatch can only be opened from the inside, by you, to allow JESUS to come into your heart. The miracle of Spiritual birth takes place in an instant when you become GOD’S Son or Daughter. The Holy Spirit indwells you and confirms that you are GOD’S Child through the miracle of Spiritual birth.

²¹ “To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Those who buy from JESUS the gold that has been refined by fire, JESUS gives them “the right to sit with JESUS on HIS throne.” In essence, when JESUS gave HIS sinless life on the cross by the shedding of HIS blood, those who place their faith in HIM were crucified with HIM. When HE was buried, we were buried. When HE was raised from the physically dead, all who place their faith in JESUS were also raised from physical death but to remain upon earth to be witnesses for JESUS. JESUS desires for those who have been Spiritually-born to share the Good News with others while they are upon earth.

This world is not our home, we as humans are travelers on a journey to either Heaven or Hell. The choice is up to every individual. Choose wisely my friends.

²² “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? Just as a new born baby needs care and nourishment so will you. Ask JESUS to lead you to the right place where you can be Spiritually fed and cared for as you build your relationship with HIM.

FATHER, we ask that where we worship will be a welcoming body of believers who listen and respond to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We ask YOU to help us to be a sanctuary for those needing salvation and seeking Spiritual growth. Guide us as we reach out beyond the four-walls into the world, where YOU desire for us to serve.

Give us the balance and pace us such that we are always in step with YOU and YOUR leadership. Thank YOU for where we have been and where we are going.

Blessings!!!