Open Your Heart's Door To Jesus Series

This is my last message on the theme of doors in the Bible. Our text is Revelation 3:20

Behold, 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.

(I put on screen pictures of painting - artist depictions of this verse.)

This verse has been used for centuries in evangelism. Because most people can visualize the scene of Jesus knocking on their heart’s door seeking to come in. I went through an evangelism training in my 20’s using this verse this way.

A couple of details you might find interesting:

• I don’t know who the artist is for the first two pictures, but the last one was by William Holmes Hunt. The original hangs in Keble College, Oxford, England.

• Notice there is no door latch or handle for Jesus to open the door from the outside. It can only be opened from the inside, as you invite Jesus into your heart in prayer and repentance.

• Notice the kind of home Jesus is knocking on the door of - William Holmes Hunt wasn’t trying to paint a home in Israel during the time of Christ, but a modern setting of an English cottage made of stone.

In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 seven churches are profiled with their strengths and weakness. The Lord Jesus speaks directly to these churches. These were real churches located in Asia Minor or modern-day Turkey. The question that has plagued scholars “why these particular churches. The conclusion that many have come to is that each church represents a period of time in church history - dispensations. That would mean the church we are studying today would be our present generation. The primary charge issued against the Laodicean church is that they were lukewarm in their faith or commitment to Christ.

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.

Why did Jesus choose the Church in Laodicea to illustrate luke-warmness? One reason is because more than any other church in the region, this church could identify with luke-warmness. They understood it because they lived it. They had built aqueducts into the mountain nearby for water. When the water entered the viaduct, it was crystal cold and refreshing, but by the time it ran down the mountain and to the city it had become lukewarm. Raise your hand if you like lukewarm water?

Their lukewarm condition was revolting to Jesus. It made Him want to vomit. Because they were neither hot or on fire for the Lord or cold as an ice cube, Jesus wanted to spit them out of His mouth.

Other words for lukewarm is complacent or indifference. Let’s try to understand this truth:

• They believed the truth, but seldom take a stand for it

• They believe in Hell, but don’t warn the lost about going there

• They are evangelical, but not evangelistic

• Rather than changing the world around them, they have been changed by the world.

What did Jesus tell this church to do to cure their luke-warm condition?

I. Wake Up

The Laodicean church and those like it needs to “wake up!” Not wake up from your night of sleep, but wake up to reality. The eyes are open and the motor is running, but it is as if the church is on auto-polit. I fear many churches in our modern world are functioning the same way. They continue to do the same thing the same way, but they have lost their fire and enthusiasm for the Lord.

Jesus had some strong words of warning in verse 19.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.

A. Those whom I love

It is very important to understand that Jesus had not grown cold or lukewarm in His love for this church. As proof or evidence of His love for the church at Laodicea, Jesus was going to chastise it. I admit it sounds like a contradiction to show love by discipline and correction, but tough love is exactly what this church needed. Did any of you ever have your parent say before giving you corporal punishment “this is going to hurt me more than you”. You didn’t understand as a child, but when you became an adult you understood it.

B. I rebuke and discipline

The different translations have:

• NAS/ESV – reprove and discipline

• KJV – rebuke and chasten

Rebuke and reprove – these words mean treat with contempt, convict, or confront their sins. Back in verse 15 Jesus told them “I know your deeds” your luke-warmness, complacency and indifference. Jesus is declaring something has to change!