I don’t think the people of Laodicea were as deceived as they were living convenient lives. Things were going financially well and in the church, things were going the way they wanted them. They were contented, “Please don’t disturb us?” Jesus was outside knocking, but they had the music of life turned up so high they couldn’t hear him. It is important to remember that these were church folks.
In another scene there was another man who was also a part of the church of the time. His name was Nicodemus. He was one of the high officials of the church and we was fairly wealthy. He had an opportunity to hear and observe Jesus. The knocking began. Yes he had the music of life playing to, but he could still hear the knock. He went to see who was there, and found Jesus there. Jesus told him, Nicodemus, you need to be completely born all over. The life you are now living needs to be replaced with a brand new life from me. Nicodemus opened the door and let him in.
Many years later another man who was part of the church and had a lot of the music of life playing in his ears. His name was Martin Luther. He was so involved in his church that he would punish himself just to get the smile of a very harsh God. Then he heard a knock at his heart’s door. He opened and it was Jesus. He invited Jesus in and through the power of Jesus in his life he brought about the great reformation.
We find three different people here with three different types of lives, but all needed the same person, they needed Jesus . Allow me a few moments to share with you something about them.
I. Laodiceans syndrome:
A. These folks were so loved by God, they weren’t second class people in God’s eyes, they were loved.
1. However, they did not have a fresh relationship with God.
a.As a matter of fact, God said they were cold.
B.I’m sure they had a nice facility, because the scripture says that they thought they were rich and had need of nothing.
1. Jesus said the truth is that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
a. Relate the 19 year old Haitian youth that some folks went down on a missions trip and were so impressed with his love for Jesus.
2. There is no mention of what we would term as horrible sins that they were committing, but they were committing the root of all sins, and that is a cold heart toward God.
a. Jesus loved them so much, but in His love, He gave them a very b. Verse 16 So, because you are luke warm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
3. But Jesus loves them so much that He is standing there knocking. Should that not be the other way around.
a. If you will just let me in, we will have wonderful communion together.
C. You know, their named sin was simply not being on fire for God.
1. That’s a real serious thing. How is your fire blazing for Jesus today.
a. In a place of so much, could we not learn from the young man from Haiti?
2. St. John 15. I am the true vine and My Father is the gardener. Every branch that in Me that does not bear fruit will be cut off, however every branch that bears fruit will be pruned so that it can bear even more fruit.
a. Name some of the fruits.
3. However, there is that blessed promise, Christ is knocking at your door and wants in, because He says, Remain in Me and I will remain in you because no branch can bear fruit of itself, it must remain in the vine.
a. God loves you and wants to build a fire in your soul, but you must open the door to Him by seeking Him.
II. Then we have Nicodemus.
A. Nicodemus was a good man and he had a good, respected position.
1. If you would give me the liberty, I would like to maybe get the feeling of Nicodemus.
a.I believe that he cherished his position and would not do anything to endanger it for the world
b. That was his faith, his lively hood, his security, his life.
B. When Jesus knocked at Laodicea, they didn’t let him in, but Nicodemus did.
1. How do we know? The Scripture later says that Nicodemus joined with Joseph of Armathia and as an open testimony of their faith they buried the body of Jesus.
a. Tradition tells us that Nicodemus lost all that he had, his prestige, his position, his good income, and his earthly security.
b. Now this wasn’t a shock to Nicodemus, because, when he cracked the door when Jesus knocked, he knew the cost then, but chose to let Him in.
C. The next thing I want you to notice is that once Nicodemus opened the door to Jesus, and Jesus came in and had communion with him, then Nicodemus began to work for the kingdom.
1. Nicodemus and Joseph could have decided to be a silent Christian andlet those disciples bury Him and if not then they could just toss Jesus’ body in a hole somewhere
a.I mean, what difference will it make for Him and why should they lose their positions over a dead body?
2. But you see that open door that Jesus came in began to direct their heart and because of that:
a. Old Testament prophecy about His burial was fulfilled.
b. There was a stone for the Roman government to place a seal on.
c. An empty grave to examine later.
D. When our hearts are totally open then we too are called to be ambassadors for the kingdom.
1. Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
2. Our call to fulfill God’s command to be witnesses may be extremely difficult for you, but as you consider the difficulty think of Joseph and Nicodemus and the difference thy made.
a. You see friends, sinners no longer come to church, if the lost are going to be reached we are going to have to take the message to work, to school, to where we play and to our homes.
3. This can’t be accomplished without the Holy Spirit’s work in your life,but even with that work in your life some good tools always help.
a. Become part of a track ministry.
III. Last of all I mentioned Martin Luther
A. He was a man that wanted to gain God’s favor by punishing his body and by hard works.
1. It was then that Jesus knocked at his door and he found out that all the knee crawling and preaching and other works that he was doing benefited him nothing.
B. When he, by faith, invited this Jesus that was knocking at his heart’s door, in, then the work that he began doing was beneficial, powerful, and it revolutionized the whole world.
Con. So let’s look at our selves today as we allow God to examine us.
1. It is my hope that you have a daily communion with Jesus and that yourlives are full because of it.
2. Or perhaps you have given your heart to God but you’ve become too accustom to having all you need and as the Laodiceans you don’t feel the emergency of seeking Him.
3. Perhaps you are like Nicodemus and you have the name and the position, but you really haven’t enjoyed that beautiful relation with Jesus. However, you hear him knocking.
4. Maybe you are as Martin Luther. You labor hard but your labor isn’t accomplishing. You hear Jesus knocking this morning.
