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!
The second word is discipline or chasten. Jesus is telling this church and all that are like it, judgment is coming! Just because I love you doesn’t mean I will not punish your sins.
In verse 17 Jesus identifies 5 traits about this church. Three of the traits Jesus gave them instructions of what to do:
1. Poor – Jesus calls this church poor, which seems odd because Laodicea was a major banking center in that region. History records an earthquake occurred in that region in 61AD. It destroyed much of the city and yet the city was so financially strong, they refused financial assistance from Rome.
However, it was not a monetary poorness Jesus is alluding to but spiritual. They were spiritually bankrupt. Spiritually poor Christians have about half of what God wants to give them of His blessings and power. The problem with the Christians at Laodicea and many other churches is they were content and satisfied with their half full cup.
V18a I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich
When Jesus told the Laodiceans to “buy from Me”, He didn’t mean purchase with money or even do good works to earn it, but to put your faith in Me. Gain through a relationship with Me pure gold undefiled by the world. The Laodiceans were spiritually bankrupt, but they could be spiritually rich in Christ. Are you spiritually poor? Is your soul bankrupt? Come to Jesus and gain true riches in Heaven.
2. Naked – Jesus called this church naked which seems strange, it is not that the people of Laodicea went to work or church without clothes on, it was not a physical nakedness Jesus is referring to but spiritual.
Laodicea was known for being a fashion center of that region. They may have been dressed beautifully in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of God, they were spiritually naked. Their sins were exposed!
V18b white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed
Jesus urged them to get from Him white clothes. White to symbolize purity of the soul made clean by the blood of Jesus. This teaching is not only about getting saved and exchanging your black sins for the white soul through forgiveness, it is also about living daily in being cleansed of our sins.
3. Blind – the church at Laodicea was not physically blind. In their city was a medical school that was well known for an eye salve for healing many eye diseases. Yet, their spiritual blindness prevented them from seeing themselves as Jesus saw them.
V18c eye salve to spread on your eyes so that you may see.
The key is seeing yourself as God sees you; until we see ourselves in that way, we will never get better. What is God trying to get you to change about yourself so you can be all He desires for you to be?
In waking up to the harsh reality of their spiritual bankruptcy, spiritual nakedness and blindness, Jesus urges this church to repent.
19B So be earnest and repent.
The different translations:
• NIV – earnest and repent
• ESV, NAS and KJV – zealous and repent
We don’t want to see our complacency, indifference and luke-warmness as sin, but this is how Jesus sees it.
Transition: As Jesus confronted the Laodicean Church about their spiritual luke-warm condition, He first told them to “wake up” to their impending judgment. Secondly, Jesus appeals to them to “Open Up” their heart to Him.
II. Open Up
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 that person, and they with me.
At the beginning of this message I shared with you how many, many people have used this verse evangelically; however, its true context is for Christians. Jesus is speaking to the Church members of Laodicea.
• Here I am! – most translations say “behold” – it is to get their attention. I don’t know about previous generations, but this one is clearly distracted and you have a hard time getting their full attention. Too many people have their focus on their cell phones or what they are going to do in their free time. The Psalmist had a great idea in Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know I am God”.
• I stand at the door and knock – Jesus is on the outside trying to get in. The context shows us this message is to Christian people, yet they have left Jesus out of their life in practice. They are religious people, but they are not abiding in Christ in their everyday life.
• If anyone hears My voice and opens the door – “if anyone” - this message is not addressed to the church as a whole, but to each individual member.
If anyone hears My voice – hearing God speak through His word, or through bible teachers or even books or music – any of the mediums God could us to speak to someone – hearing God speak is the challenge. The implication is the people in Laodicea were busy with jobs and families and making time to listen to God was hard.
The challenge isn’t any easier in our modern times - hearing God speak over the noise in our world, hearing God speak in the midst of chaos. One of the principles of effective prayer is listening for God to speak. This is hard for many people – to ask God a question and be silent, to be still and calm the mind for God to speak. If God doesn’t reveal anything at that time, be watching and listening all throughout your day for God to speak in some way to you.
• I will come in an eat with that person and they with Me – what is it that Jesus wants to do once He comes into your house or heart? Fellowship and communion. It is stated as eating together – but that is more than consuming the same food at the same table. It is interacting together – sharing life together. Sharing about our day, our needs. Jesus offers Himself to this church and to you and me.
Appeal:
We need to “wake up” to judgment is coming unless we repent of our luke-warm condition. We also need to “open up: our heart and let Jesus give to us the kind of relationship that will make us “on fire” for Him.
What do you need to do in light of this message today?
If you have never invited Jesus into your heart for salvation, then do that.
If you have been convicted of your luke-warm condition, then repent of that.
