It is good to be with you once again for the Weekend Sermon. I hope that everyone had a good week.
Last week, I asked you all to pray that the Lord would supply some of the needs that I have in my life. So far, I am still making it, but times are still tough. I would ask those who read this blog to please continue to pray for me that the Lord would supply my needs and help me with my declining health. I know that the Lord is with me, and He will see me through.
Also, please pray for peace in all the areas of the world that are experiencing conflict and war. I think of Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria right of the top of my head. Pray for the Christians who are suffering great persecution right now in Pakistan.
In last week's message, we focused on the words of Jesus to those in the church at Philadelphia. Of all of Jesus' messages to the seven churches of Asia, the church at Philadelphia received the most positive report. Those who are faithful to the teachings and the commandments of the Lord Jesus will be vindicated in the world to come. Those who follow Christ will dwell with Jesus in the New Jerusalem that will come to earth when Jesus rules and reigns in righteousness upon the earth.
Today, we turn our attention to Jesus' message to the church at Laodicea. Unlike the church at Philadelphia the Laodicean church receives a strong word of rebuke from the Lord.
Jesus begins in chapter 3 verse 14 by saying that He is, "the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God." This means that Jesus is God's final word to the human race. We see this truth also revealed to us in the book of Hebrews. God has spoken to this world in many ways, but in these last days, God has revealed Himself through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Jesus is the Faithful and True Witness of who the Father is. As Jesus said, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. I and the Father are One."
The statement about Jesus being the beginning of creation does not mean that Jesus was a created being. Jesus as the Second person of the Trinity was present at the creation of the world. The world was created by Him and for Him. This is a statement about the absolute divinity of Jesus as God.
In verse 15, Jesus said that He was aware of the works of those in the Laodicean church. These folks were neither hot nor cold. Jesus said that He wished they were either hot or cold. Since they were lukewarm, Jesus said that He would spit them out of His mouth.
In verse 17, Jesus attributes that lukewarm nature of this church to the fact that they considered themselves rich in the things of this world, and they felt that they were in need of nothing. Instead of being rich, Jesus said that they were, "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked."
These statements about the church at Laodicea remind me of the church in the Western world, especially in my country the United States. We have in my country a very lukewarm church. Let me give you some examples.
Most churches in the United States have very shallow preaching, and most of the people in the congregation have very little knowledge of the Bible. Polling done by several organizations clearly demonstrates the Biblical illiteracy of the average church member. Most of those who are members of the church in America do very little in the way of evangelization. We are not carrying out the great commission.
In the way of following the commandments of the Lord, the American church does not resemble the Lord Jesus, it resembles the culture at large. The divorce rate among Christians is as high as those who do not attend church. Many in the church engage in cohabitation and premarital relationships.
All of this is just evidence that many who claim to be followers of Jesus and go to church really don't have any interest in really doing anything that Jesus commanded. Jesus spoke about this. He said, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and yet you do not do what I say?"
Jesus urged the people in the church at Laodicea to repent and realize that they needed Him. In addition to having lukewarm works, their riches were keeping them from an intimate relationship with the Lord. They cared more about things than they did about Jesus. They didn't realize that all of the world's riches and the things of this world are passing away, and they have no eternal value.
Having a relationship with Jesus is the must important thing in life. Jesus wants us to spend time with Him in prayer and Bible study. He wants us to tell Him about our trials and struggles. He wants to be the focus of all of our life's efforts. Jesus wants to be our Lord, our Master and our best friend. He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.
If we would turn our backs on sin and the effort to accumulate the things of this world, Jesus would give us all that we need. I'm not talking about material things. I'm talking about those things that count for eternity. We would be filled with His love and His presence.
Verse 20 is one of the most misapplied verses in the Bible. This familiar verse says, "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." I'm sure that many of you have heard evangelistic sermons where the minister will tell unbelievers that Jesus is knocking at their hearts door. If they will let Jesus in, they will be saved. There's nothing really wrong with that, but that is not the context of this passage. Jesus is not speaking here to lost people. He is speaking to the church.
Many churches and church members have Jesus locked out of the church and out of their lives. It is Christianity in name only because it mentions Jesus but does not practice the teachings and commandments of Christ. Jesus wants to be part of the church and part of the lives of those in the church.
Finally, Jesus says that the one who overcomes will sit with Him on His throne. What a great image. Those who faithfully follow the Lord will be with Him forever. What higher goal could we have in life. However, many throw all of this away in order to accumulate worldly things and praise.
This wraps up our study of the Jesus' message to the churches. Next week, we will look at Revelation chapter 4 which is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible along with Revelation chapter 5 which we will also study in the following weeks. On Wednesday, I will post another book review. May God bless you all. Amen.
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