1. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea Last time we saw how Jesus opens doors for us. Today we see Jesus standing in front of a closed door. This series takes much of its inspiration from Darrell Johnsons book, Discipleship on the Edge.

2. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea Scripture Reading Revelation 3:14-22

3. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea Several weeks ago I saw this in the Edmonton Journal:

4. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea This word Laodicean has entered the English language carrying the message that Jesus had for this church. Imagine Ottewellian coming to mean lukewarm or indifferent.

5. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea As we have seen Jesus do in each of these messages to the church, Jesus, who is standing in the midst of his churches, describes himself at the beginning of the message.

6. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea Notice how Jesus describes himself. Not by what he has or has done, but by who he is.

7. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea "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. Rev. 3:14

8. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Rev. 3:14 Amen = This is true, valid, binding = used as a response to the reading of the covenant.

9. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Rev. 3:14 Faithful and True Witness = - 1:5: Jesus Christ, the faithful witness. - 19:11: on the white horse and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. -You want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus. He is the genuine rep. - Jesus is absolute truth

10. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Rev. 3:14 The ruler [arche] of Gods creation = - First in rank, ruler - First in time - not just the first in a sequence - but the source of the sequence - the originator of the sequence - the archetype of the sequence

11. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea Colossians 1:15-20: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

12. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea Colossians 1:15-20: And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning [arche] and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

13. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea E. Stanley Jones put it this way: If we were created by Christ and for Christ, then he is inescapable. You cannot jump out of your skin. If you revolt against Christ, you revolt against yourself. Jones, In Christ, p.28

14. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Rev. 3:14 This is who is speaking to the church.

15. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea C.S. Lewis: Jesus Christ produced mainly three effects – hatred, terror, adoration. There was no trace of people expressing mild approval. As quoted by Johnson, p.118

16. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarmneither hot nor coldI am about to spit you out of my mouth. vv.15-16 I am about to vomit you out…

17. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarmneither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth. vv.15-16 Some misinterpret you are neither cold nor hot. Saying hot = on fire for God Cold = cold toward God Doesnt make sense for Jesus to say I wish you were either one or the other.

18. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarmneither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth. vv.15-16 When you know the area, you can better understand what Jesus is saying.

19. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarmneither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth. vv.15-16

20. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarmneither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth. vv.15-16 Laodicea did not have its own water source. Water was brought in through an aqueduct system from Colossae. By then it was warm and tasteless.

21. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarmneither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth. vv.15-16 To the northeast of Laodicea the city of Hierapolis had hot springs. -healing properties Spilled over a cliff opposite to Laodicea By then lukewarm and putrid

22. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarmneither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth. vv.15-16 So Laodicea had neither refreshing cold water nor healing hot water. The church had become like the water source.

23. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, tells how he came to realize he was lukewarm, listening to a speaker who said, If I believed what some of you believe, I would never rest day or night telling others about it. Quoted by Johnson, 119

24. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea We have heard and believe the greatest news, havent we? Jesus, the Word made flesh, born in a manger. The one laying in the arms of a teenage mom being the one who created the galaxies. That on the cross Jesus became the lamb that takes away the sin of the world.

25. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea That Jesus rose from the dead making it possible for us to live a new life today That Jesus poured out his Spirit on his people to enable them to live his way That Jesus is on the throne, reigning as King of kings and will return.

26. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea If we believe all this and know that no one can come to the father except through Jesus, Why would we not tell everyone? Are we lukewarm?

27. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea G. Campbell-Morgan: Lukewarmness is the worst form of blasphemy. Quoted by Johnson, p.121 Responding to Jesus, the Amen, the faithful witness, the arche of all creation, with a yawn.

28. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea The lukewarmness arose out of being rich, or at least feeling rich and in need of nothing. v. 17: You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.

29. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea Laodicea was famous for 3 things: 1. Its wealth 2. Its clothing industry 3. Its healing eye salve I do not need a thing

30. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea The church in Laodicea had drunk from this same water of self- sufficiency. St. Augustine: The saying I have everything is a terrible saying when everything does not include the living God. Quoted by Johnson, p.123

31. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea To this seemingly self-sufficient church Jesus says: 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. 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. vv.17-18

32. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea Jesus is saying to self-sufficient Christians: Recognize that you are poor and needy and I will make you rich I will clothe you I will make your blind eyes see.

33. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea This lead us to the image of Jesus standing outside a closed door knocking to get in. Holman Hunts painting

34. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea 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. v.20

35. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea 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. v.20 -Said to believers! - To those inside the church - to a church without Christ in it.

36. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea 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. v.20 Is he saying that to us this morning? Is Christ outside the church wanting to come in?

37. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea 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. v.20 You see the solution to lukewarmness is not cranking up the emotional heat or more self- sufficiency. Its letting Jesus the King back into our lives!

38. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea 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. v.20 Song of Solomon 5:2 The voice of my beloved, he knocks at the door. Open to me my beloved

39. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea 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. v.20 Jesus wants to have an intimate relationship with you and me, with us as his bride.

40. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea 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. v.20 Jesus promises more: 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. v.21

41. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. v.20 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. v.22

42. Laodicea Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Let Me In! Laodicea Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. v.20 Will you let him in? Will you turn the handle and let him in?