Sermon Series: Evaluate, Change and Restore-Revelation 1-3

Are You Flying or Walking Home?

Revelation 3:14-22

PSBC 4/1/01

In a nutshell: Christians operating without the power of God in their deeds, is disgusting to Jesus. The remedy is to open up your life, swallow your pride and trust completely in God's power. Christians who do this are really "flying", and not walking.

I. Introduction

A. Flying or Walking?

Tim Hansel is an author, who challenges me in his books and articles. My step mom got me hooked on his writing about 12 years ago. In a magazine article, just a few years ago, he really hit me between the eyes with this statement...

We don't need "fasten your seat belt" signs in our pews because we no longer fly. We're like a group of geese attending meetings every Sunday where we talk passionately about flying and then get up and walk home. (Tim Hansel in Through the Wilderness of Loneliness. Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 11).

So, that brings up the question, right out of the blocks this morning. Are you a walking or flying Christian? As we wrap up this sermon series called, "Evaluate, Change and Restore", based on Jesus' evaluations of the seven churches in Asia Minor, I think this morning's evaluation, of the church at Laodecia, will be the most challenging for many of us.

B. Laodecia

Laodecia was a major urban center located about forty miles southeast of the city of Philadelphia, that we studied last week. The church in Laodecia was probably started by one of the apostle Paul's disciples, by the name of Epaphras, somewhere in the late 50's A.D. Paul never visited this church or this city, but he had a concern for it. We know that because when he wrote his letter to the Colossian church while he was in prison, he asked that the letter also be read to the Laodecian church, as well. It seems that both churches were dealing with some of the same doctrinal issues.

As a city, Laodecia was known mainly for three commercial enterprises.
-First of all, several important and very lucrative trade routes intersected at Laodecia. This made them a major banking center for the middle east.
-Second, Laodecia was known for the carpets and clothing that were products of their exclusive black wool industry.
-And finally, they were known throughout the world for having a medical school which had discovered a very effective eye-salve for minor eye irritations.
The letter that Jesus directed the apostle John to write to this church is a very stern letter. As we'll see this morning, the problems that Jesus had with this church were not like the other churches we've studied so far. There was no Jewish opposition, or government persecution, or false teachers to contend with. The problem in Laodecia was the Laodecian Christians, themselves. If you have your Bibles, please turn to...

Rev 3:14
14 "To the angel of the church in Laodecia write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.

C. Introduction of God

For the seventh time, in these three chapters, we have a unique introduction of the Lord of the Church, to His church in a specific location. To Laodecia, Jesus calls Himself three things:

1. First, He says He's the AMEN. In Isaiah 65:16, God is called "the God of truth" twice. (Show verse on screen with those two phrases underlined.) But the Hebrew phrase we translate, "the God of truth", is most accurately translated, "The God of Amen." I bring that up because the word, "Amen" is a word that is used to confirm or affirm a statement. So, when Jesus calls Himself, "Amen", here, He's saying that what He's about to say to this church and to us is foundational, authoritative, faithful and true. In essence, if Jesus says it, then "amen", so be it, period!

2. Second, He says that He is "the faithful and true witness". Now, what He is witnessing to is what things are important to God. And if you go back to Revelation, chapter 1, you'll see that the reason He is such a good witness to what is important to God, is because He is God-"He is the One who is, and who was, and who is to come, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth." (see Rev. 1:4-5). That's a description Jesus gives to Himself, which is an unmistakable description of the God of the universe.

3. Third, He says, "He is the ruler of God's creation". This is the same as saying that He is the creator of creation. This is another reference to His "God-ness".

So, the bottom line is, pay attention, Laodecia. Pay attention, Palm Springs Baptist. The Lord God, Himself, is going to do this evaluation. So, here goes...

II. Evaluation

Rev 3:15-17
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 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.

A. Deeds and You

There is an interesting combination of two words that I want you to notice, first of all, in verse 15.

The first word, is deeds. This is the Greek word, ergon. This specifically is talking about a product, or what is accomplished by your hands, or an act that is done by you.

Let me put this into terms that we can understand and relate to. Jesus is saying, I know your Sunday school teaching to 4 and 5 year olds; I know your work with the Pals group in AWANA; I know your work as an elder of this church; I know about your singing alto in the choir; I know how you set up microphones for each service; I know how you greet people as they come into worship; I know how you teach in our Adult Enrichment hour; I know about what you build and fix over at church; I know about your missions work; I know all about your ushering work; I know about what each of you pastors do with your time.

Get the picture? He's talking about the ministry things we do-our deeds.

The second word is the Greek word, eimi. It is translated in verse 15, you are. What's interesting to me is that Jesus is making a distinction. He severs the connection between what we do, and who we are. In other words, what we do, is not who we are. But Jesus says, the effect of what you do, depends entirely on who you are.

Now, here is where the conflict comes. The people of the Laodecian church and Jesus are not on the same page. But since Jesus is God, and He is the One whom these people are serving, His page is the one that counts, not the one that the Laodecians' are on.

B. Laodecians' evaluation

You see, the Laodecians-rich, self-assured, confident, experienced, and self-sufficient people that they were-thought that their deeds were having a great affect for the Kingdom of God, and were pleasing God to no end. In fact, if God would leave them alone, and allow them to carry out their own agenda for Him, they could really help God out. Look again at verse 17...

Rev 3:17
7 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing... (...when it comes to your deeds that your are doing at and through your church).

C. Jesus' evaluation

But Jesus has a different opinion about them, that He separates from their deeds. In other words, their deeds might be well and good-but they stink! Let me paraphrase...

Jesus says, "You are neither hot or cold. I wish you were one way or the other. But you're lukewarm. Because of your luke-warmness, you are useless to my Kingdom advancement. In fact, you are so useless, but think you are so useful, you make me sick. In fact, I want to vomit you out of my presence (that's literally what spit you out, means). You are wretched. You are pitiful. You are poor. You are blind. You are naked for everyone to see your shame-too bad you don't see it!"

That's a pretty strong evaluation-especially when you think you're doing God a favor. It reminds me of the story of a young woman who went to her pastor and said, "Pastor, I have a besetting sin, and I want your help. I come to church on Sunday and can't help thinking I'm the prettiest girl in the congregation. I know I ought not think that, but I can't help it. I want you to help me with it."

The pastor replied, "Mary, don't worry about it. In your case it's not a sin. It's just a horrible mistake."

And that's what the Laodecians had done-they had made a horrible mistake-they got their good works mixed up with who they were. You see, good works don't define the quality of a Christian, but a Christian will define the quality of good works. Then Jesus tells this church and us to be people who offer Kingdom substance to what we do...

III. Change

Rev 3:18
18 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.

This verse is a direct rebuke of what the Laodecians were putting their trust in-it wasn't God, it was the things that made them money...
-the rich banking industry,
-the lucrative black wool market, and
-the medical school's eye salve.

A. Buy

Jesus says, don't put your faith in those things. Put your faith in these things...

1. Gold

First, get your gold from Me, not from the banks. In other words, don't be satisfied with a cheap imitation. Gold, in the Bible is generally a reference to purity. For gold to become valuable, the rocks that contained the gold had to be placed into a crucible, which was in turn, placed in a very hot fire. The heat of the fire brought the impurities to the top of the crucible, where they were removed. The pure gold was then poured into molds, where it could be used for commerce.
A Christian's life is purified through confession of our sins to God, and asking His forgiveness! Friends, when was the last time you spent some serious time with God in confession of your sins? When was the last time you asked God to forgive your un-Christ-like attitudes and thoughts.

Illustration: Last week we had a clogged drain in our bathroom. So, Diane bought some Liquid Plumber drain cleaner, that uses two chemicals to cause a foaming action that cleans out the pipes. After following the directions, and waiting an hour, I ran the hot water, and the drain was completely cleaned out.

Friends, un-confessed sin, pride, self-sufficiency and comparing yourself to others are things that clog up the pipes of your relationship with God. When the pipes are clogged, the power doesn't flow from God. And all you have is human works trying to imitate God works. And the result is puny at best. In fact, it is so pitiful that Jesus says, it makes Him want to vomit.

The way you unclog or purify your life is to get the sin and un-Christ-like attitudes out. Confession and asking forgiveness becomes God's Liquid Plumber for our lives.

2. White garments

Next, Jesus says, "You guys are exposed. All the ugliness of a bunch of self-sufficient human beings is in plane view for your entire town to see. You may be great at making black woolen clothing, but you need to get some white garments from me."

Isaiah the prophet writes...

Isa 61:10
0h, I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Righteousness is important to God. It is the outward evidence of an inner relationship. If Jesus is your Lord, then you don't tell Him how a Christian will conduct business, or what a Christian will watch on TV, or what a Christian will say when he or she hits their thumb with a hammer, or how you raise your children, or how you spend your money. You find out God's opinion and His design and follow that, exclusively.

Folks, again, here's the bottom line. You may think you know how a Christian should act, what a Christian should do, and how a Christian should behave in the world. But you don't have a clue until you read God's Word and obey it-without question. That's being clothed with righteousness. And without it, your works make Jesus want to puke!

3. Buy salve

Finally, after purifying ourselves through confession and forgiveness; and finding out what's righteous from God's Word and acting on that basis, Jesus says, buy salve for your eyes from me.
About thirty years before this, the apostle Paul had written to the Ephesian church, these words...

Eph 1:18-19
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,

What Paul is praying is that we...
...Know the joy of eternal life, both now and forever, because of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus.
...Also to know that we are the Lord's servants whom He delights to use to His glory and our joy. ...And know that He has given us the person and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to do all that He asks of us on this earth.

These Laodecia Christians had eyes, but they could no longer see the spiritual realities of being in love with Jesus, with all their heart. They were going blind with a spiritual glaucoma and they didn't even know it.

John Henry Jowett puts it this way (front of your information guides this week...)
We leave our places of worship, and no deep and inexpressible wonder is visible in our eyes. We can sing these lilting melodies, and when we go out into the streets our eyes are one with the eyes of those who have left the theaters and the music halls. There is nothing about us to suggest that we have been looking at anything stupendous and overwhelming. ... And what is the explanation of the loss? Preeminently our impoverished concept of God. (adapted from "The Ministry of a Transfigured Church." by John Henry Jowett, Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 8).

If any of this rebuke sounds like it might fit with what you're experiencing in your Christian journey-like maybe the vitality has gone out; or you've been operating on your own power, rather than God's; or it's been a long time since you got honest with God and confessed your sins and asked His forgiveness, look at the next verse...

B. Loving Rebuke

Rev 3:19
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

Folks, listen to the heart of Jesus. He isn't saying these hard and harsh words for the fun of it. He is doing it because He loves you, and He loves me, and He loved the Laodecian Christians.

Illustration: When I was growing up, we heated our home with coal and wood in those early years. That meant that we had a wood pile. When I misbehaved to the point of needing discipline, my dad would literally take me to the wood pile and spank me with a plaster lathe. Every time my dad did this, he'd say, "Tom, I'm doing this because I love you. That's why this is going to hurt me, more than it hurts you."

Well, that's something akin to what Jesus is saying here. He's saying, "I'm getting this angry with you; I'm being this stern and honest with you; and I'm bringing this all up because I love you. I proved that when I died for you-remember? So, don't try to pull the wool over my eyes. Repent-do a 180 degree turn from your self-centeredness, pride and self-sufficiency and let me and my power into your life."

C. Jesus Knocks

Then to show us that the ball is in our court-we can choose to go on being powerless and ineffective Christian people who operate and do "churchy" activities under our own power, or we can let Jesus and His power into our lives, and start making a difference for the Kingdom of God. Jesus says...

Rev 3:20
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.

Friends, this is a very personal invitation to anyone in this room who is struggling with the sin of luke-warmness produced by self-confidence, self-sufficiency or pride. Rather than force Himself on you, the Lord of the church chooses to stand outside your life. He's knocking, because He wants to be an integral part of your life. But He's not breaking the door down. He's waiting for the invitation to come from you. Open the door, and He will come in-He'll come in with all the power, joy and excitement you could ever hope for. This is a promise for right here and right now. Will you take it? Will you open the door of your life and let the power of Jesus take control?

If you do, look at this encouragement...

D. Promise

Rev 3:21-22
21 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. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

You not only will see Jesus begin to work in you and your ministry in a powerful way while you're alive on this earth, but you will be given kingly and queenly responsibilities and opportunities in the world to come. Opening the door to Jesus' power and authority in your life has present and eternal consequences that are nothing short of the best.

IV. Conclusion
Illustration: For the past several years, I had heard about how good Krispy Kreme donuts were. I heard how they melted in your mouth. I heard about how good they tasted. I heard about individuals eating an entire dozen without even thinking, because there isn't a better tasting donut in the world. In my mind, I could taste what people talked about. In my mind, I agreed with everyone who told me about how wonderful they were to eat. But up until a couple of months ago, I had never tasted one for myself. I was extolling the virtues of Krispy Kreme donuts based on what others had told me, but not based on my personal experience. It wasn't until I ate one for myself that I experienced first hand how good a piece of pastry could be.

Friends, I think that might be the case with some of you.
-You've read books about people who have been unselfishly sold out to following Jesus.
-You've heard stories about people who have done mighty things through the power of God.
-You've heard of teachers and workers who profoundly influenced young lives through a class or a program.
-And you've agreed in song that a close relationship with God is more precious than silver and gold.
...But you've not really experienced it first hand. You've just been told about it, and you agree with what you've been told, in your mind, without ever experiencing it first hand. Jesus calls that being lukewarm. Tim Hansel calls that walking, not flying.

Friend, this morning, open the door. Jesus is knocking. Ask Him to come in and empower you with His power, not your own.
-If you have to confess some sin and ask His forgiveness, do it.
-If you have to start living some aspect of your life on His terms and no longer on yours, do it.
-If you need have your eyes opened to a real intimate relationship with Jesus, then ask Him for that. But don't keep the door closed. Open it up today, and start experiencing life as it was meant to be for a follower of Jesus Christ, firsthand.

Amen.