Reading: Revelation 3:14-22

 Victoria Baptist Church – 06/01/2011 (reflective only)

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This morning I want to encourage you to turn up the heat in your spiritual life as an aim for 2012 and in order to do that I want you to look at a letter that Christ dictated to John in the book of Revelation. I want you to see that this letter is packed with penetrating insight and a large dose of encouragement. It’s not he negative missive it’s sometimes made out to be.

We know the Christian group in Laodicea was once a thriving church.

• When Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians he asked that it should also be read in Laodicea too and that letter contains some of the greatest Christology (statements about Christ) anywhere in the New Testament
• However by the time John hears Jesus dictate this letter it seems the church has lost much of its fire. So much so that the allegation of lukewarmness is the one that shouts the loudest.

However, as I read and meditated on this passage in preparation for this morning I realised that Jesus’ accusation of being lukewarm is only part of the story. This letter is full of grace and generosity. It comes from the heart of God who wants his children to thrive – and that makes it a good passage to reflect on at the beginning of a new year.

• Its major message is not an accusation of lukewarmness but ‘I want you to be hot!’

Here is God the Father saying to his children through the lips of Jesus, ‘don’t be satisfied with half measures, I long for you to be on fire for me, to know my love and to receive my grace in every aspect of daily life! That is what will fill your heavenly father with joy!’

Look at who wrote it

Jesus describes himself with some pictures:

the amen

A curious term to use to describe yourself but it had real meaning for them

I was talking with a man this week who told me about asking some famous Christians speaker what the word ‘amen’ meant. He wouldn’t tell me what answer he got and I had an unnerving feeling that I was being tested here! It means ‘so let it be’

In Isaiah’s prophecy ( about 800 years before Revelation was written) the prophet heard God promise blessing on people who served him

<ppt> Isa 65:16 Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of the amen; he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of the amen. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from sight.

In the gospels, when Jesus began to teach he sometimes started with ‘amen, amen’ – it’s a ways of saying “this is important – I’m using my authority here >>>

<ppt> So, in the letter to Laodicea Jesus is speaking with authority

the faithful and true

What is going to come out is Christ’s honest and truthful assessment of the church. Justice is undermined when faithfulness and truth are absent so Jesus is speaking here about what he knows to be true and sees with his own eyes. He is a faithful witness to the facts. He is an witness who can see the interior attitudes of the people of this church

<ppt>. So Jesus is speaking with integrity

the beginning of God’s creation

The word behind ‘beginning’ is the one for a ruler.

The Arians of the 4^th century did not believe that Jesus was eternal – and used this verse as one of their proof-texts. (the Jehovah’s witnesses do the same today)

• Jesus was God’s greatest creation, yes, but not eternal. He became God’s Son at a particular point in time.
• BUT this word not only means first in time, but first in rank, the originator, so Jesus is the premier of all creation. Paul uses it this way in Colossians

<ppt> Jesus Christ is the premier [person] in all the church so that in everything he might have the supremacy (Colossians 1: 18)

<ppt> Jesus is eternal

Christ’s analysis of the church <ppt>

What is Jesus analysis of this church.

<ppt> Rev 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

Laodicea is now called Pamukkale (near Istanbul in Turkey) and in the first century it was the wealthiest city in the area. It was famous for its banking, its medical school and its textile industry. But its major difficulty was its water supply.

And Jesus says: “It’s not just the water supply that is lukewarm – it’s you!”

v16 So, because you are lukewarm– neither hot nor cold– I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Notice very carefully that Jesus does not say he has already rejected them – he says he’s about to if things don’t change!

• And it’s a very strong phrase. The word behind ‘spit’ is actually the word for vomit – “You almost make me puke!” (although no translator is ever going to put that into print!)

Why such a strong reaction?

Rev 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

“But you don’t realise it” – The tragedy of this church was not so much that they were lukewarm, but that they couldn’t see they were lukewarm! They had become desensitised to their true spiritual state.

• They had become so accustomed to lukewarmness that they no longer noticed it as unusual any more
• they had lost touch with what spiritual ‘hot-ness’ looks like

So the church in this city, which was renown for its

• bankers in their suits
• medics in their lab coats
• and textile makers with their high fashion

actually masks something very dark indeed.

The prosperous and successful outward appearance masked a wretched and pitiful internal reality.

What is true of Laodicea can be true of any Christian church to some degree.

I’m not saying this with any attitude of criticism that I’m aware of

But many people look at Victoria as an outwardly successful church – and we have so much to thank God for!

• I was on leave last Sunday and during the last week I’ve only picked up one comment about last Sunday’s service – a lady said to me (quite unprompted) “Ian your team did you proud last Sunday” Clearly God spoke through Carl’s preaching and the other people taking part – and that’s just trilling to hear

But – probably the greatest danger of a church like ours where most of the key ministries are in place and ticking over nicely is just that – ticking over.

• The greatest danger of a successful church is coasting.
• Flicking on the cruise control button, sitting back and letting everything just happen.

My prayer for 2012 is that we will go beyond coasting.

• That we will turn up the spiritual heat in Victoria

So that the ministries we have will grow, the power of God will be more evident and we will develop our spiritual muscles so the kingdom of God is strong and vibrant here!

• I want this to be a safe place for a dangerous message!

And this is where Christ letter to Laodicea helps us enormously

So if you’re looking back over the past year and thinking that ‘yes, things might have gone a bit lukewarm’ – here is Jesus Christ’s remedy – His way back to spiritual life and vitality.

He tells us

How to be hot

Christ give three pictures to set out what spiritual hot-ness looks like

be rich

<ppt> Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich

Don’t you wish you’d done that in 2000?

• $282 per oz, now $1616 per oz – that’s a 43% increase on investment per annum!

Of course it’s not financial investment, it’s a spiritual investment Christ is telling us to make.

• It’s to put resources of time and money into things that will bring a spiritual return.

Maybe you could invest some time – in encouraging someone’s spiritual growth – or serving on one of our ministries here – (Neil need some helpers for starters.)

Maybe you could reconsider what your giving is to God’s work her so that the ministry won’t be hindered by tight budgets

maybe it’s buying the book, getting hold of the DVD, going to the conference (we have just one 4 berth chalet left of our allocation for Spring harvest this year) >>>

Can I suggest that in 2012 you might invest in your spiritual growth

And God will bless you richly from his grace – and his blessing if free

Listen to Isaiah 55:1-2

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

<ppt> Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

It’s making and investment from which you soul is fed.

What does being hot look like? It’s making investments in your spiritual life.

be clothed

Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me … white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness;

When Adam and Eve listened to Satan they became aware of their nakedness.

Previously they’d been naked and unashamed, now they had something they wanted to hide.

What did God do? Rip off the fig-leaves and say “you’re not to hide your bodies?” No!

• He made them clothes – and clothes that would last (made out of skins, not leaves)!
• He was going to deal with the very deepest of all the issues they faced at that time – how they thought about themselves. How they must have tortured themselves over their failure,
• how every time they saw their nakedness it reminded them of what they’d lost.
• That shows me how grace-filled God is! He even covers their failures.

As you look back over 2011 do you see failure in some area of your life?

• Here Jesus is offering covering for previous sin and failure

This is what God is like!

• Grace-filled, forgiving, desiring his children to be confident in him, living with nothing to be ashamed of.

Too many of us see God as a divine examiner, constantly finding fault in us. And the logic goes something like this

• We know what’s on the shadow side of our lives and realise we’re sinful people
• God (being all knowing) knows what’s there too
• therefore (we think) God must think I’m an awful person

No! He treats us, in Christ he sees us as covered, forgiven, cleansed

• Although they had a kind of soap made out of tallow and ashes, it wasn’t commonly in use and white-ness in clothes was very difficult to maintain
• so white robes were very highly prized in this textile-rich city
• wear one of those and you were a cut above the rest
• that’s what the white robes are all about!
• And that’s how God sees us!

How to be hot? Let God deal with the shadow side of your life!

be aware

Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me … salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see.

They couldn’t see their true spiritual state so Christ says “buy some Optrex!” so you can see!

Looking back over 2011, I recall an incident of misunderstanding with a friend.

• He thought I was angry with him when actually I wasn’t. I’d given out the wrong message – and he was gracious enough to point it out to me so that I could see.

Here’s a dangerous prayer to pray “Lord, what do I need to see about myself that will make me more like you?”

In v 20 we have one of the best known verses in the Bible

Rev 3:20 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.

Preachers (including me) will often use this verse to encourage people who aren’t yet Christians to invite Christ in (and it certainly has that message)

BUT now we can see that this verse is addressed to coasting Christians – to lukewarm believers!

In the first century there were no door bells. The way you made your presence known was to call out from the doorway – and that’s what Jesus Christ is doing here!

And it’s Christ saying “I am so close to you!” “I’m right in the doorway!” “all you have to do is invite me in” and we can enjoy intimacy of a meal together.

Will you do that?