It's Jesus - Can I Come In Series

Jesus knew all the problems this church had – its lukewarmness, its temptation to be self-sufficient, its pride, its belief that all it needed was a good checkbook and its inability to be able to see or hear spiritual things.

And yet, Jesus doesn’t walk away.

That’s not the way of the Holy Trinity; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

They didn’t walk away from Noah when he got roaring drunk after the Flood.

They didn’t walk away from Abraham and Sarah when they had a baby with Hagar outside of God’s will.

They didn’t walk away from Aaron when he built the Golden Calf.

They didn’t walk away from Joshua when he refused to call on God’s help with the Gibeonites.

They didn’t walk away from Nebuchadnezzar when he declared one day that he (Nebuchadnezzar) was higher than the Lord God Almighty.

They didn’t walk away from Jonah, Samson or even Job when he was complaining and declaring loudly that God was not fair.

That’s not God’s way yesterday, today or tomorrow.

History tells us that Laodicea invited Jesus back in the door. They sat down and listened to Jesus – they took his words – His feelings about their lukewarmness, their smugness and their self-righteousness – they repented and He forgave them, renewed and refreshed them.

I like that about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

When we have shut Him out – He doesn’t force His way back in, but He does knock on our heart doors.

Not to harm us but always to help us.

Not to tell us we are going to Hell but that He will bring Heaven to Earth to us.

I think it would be safe to say that at some time in our lives we probably have had the Laodicean disease – of pushing Jesus to the side and perhaps even out the door – and have depended on our own self-sufficiently, our own spirituality and have suffered from some spiritual deafness and blindness.

It’s easy to do. It’s easy to put Jesus on the shelf so to speak and do our own thing. To put aside times of worship and praise. To put aside our Bibles and prayer time. To think that we are doing okay when deep down we know we are just lukewarm.

When those times happen then it’s time to be quiet and listen. We will hear someone knocking at our heart’s door. It’s Jesus. He is waiting for us to open the door and welcome Him back into our heart and lives.

This morning you may know someone who is suffering from the Laodicean sickness. The sickness of pushing Jesus out the door, of not listening to Him or of becoming lukewarm.

Help them take the time to become quiet. Help them listen to hear Jesus words and his knocking. Jesus has not forsaken them. He is patiently knocking on their heart’s door to come in and share some spiritual nourishment and fellowship.

This is the word of God for the people of God.

Prayer

Holy Communion – Blessing