Opener
We are excited to be here this morning. We are making progress in our study of the seven churches that John addresses in the book of Revelation. In fact, we are concluding our study on these churches in Revelation.
To date, we have looked at the church in Ephesus, who had forsaken their first love. The second church we looked at was Smyrna, who experienced persecution and were encouraged not to fear the second death. The third church at Pergamum, where some were engaged in a morally compromised lifestyle. The church of Thyatira, where some believers chose to be tolerant regarding sin and teaching that was misleading believers. Last week, we looked at the church of Sardis who looked alive outwardly, but inwardly they were spiritually dead.
Every one of these churches were encouraged to have an ear to hear. Meaning that they were open to listening to what the Spirit was conveying to them. After listening, they were called upon to respond. For some, it was to repent and follow Jesus, and for others to hang on during times of suffering.
This morning, we are going to tackle our final two churches and close up our series. This first church we are looking at was alive and faithful. This church was located in Philadelphia. This city was located on a hillside about 30 miles southeast of Sardis. It was founded by the king of Pergamum around 190 B.C. The town received its name from his nickname, Philadelpus or brotherly love. The king was known to have a special devotion to his brother. The city stood in a wine producing area and was the so called gateway to central Asia Minor. This church in Philadelphia is unique among the seven churches because it is the only church that the Lord registers no complaints against. One reason for this may have been because they had been beaten down through persecution and rejection and they were in a place that they really needed a word of encouragement. Jesus encouraged these believers that even though they were small in their strength and their sense of value, they were a little church that could do great things as long as they keep their eyes on Jesus.
Let’s hop right into our text found Revelation 3:7-13 NKJV7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
I. The promises of God
A. No worry
a. The believers at this church had no reason to fear or worry at all, because they kept the commandments of God.
b. This church was patiently enduring whatever suffering or attacks that came their way.
c. It is interesting here in the early part of this text that Jesus is the One recognized as the One who is addressing the angel of the church.
d. Jesus is referred to as the One who has the key of David.
e. Jesus is letting the church know that only He has the power to open and shut doors. That is so important for us to understand.
i. In fact, that is an awesome prayer. Lord you open and close the doors that You desire in my life.
B. The Deity
a. This word picture that is being painted speaks to the deity of Jesus. It points to His power and authority.
b. Jesus is holy and set apart as the only true way into heaven.
c. It is Jesus who opens the doors of salvation that no one else can open that door.
d. In fact, I love what Jeremiah 10:6 NKJV says: 6 Inasmuch as there is none like You, O LORD (You are great, and Your name is great in might)
C. Power
a. Jesus has the authority and the power to do all that He says that He will do.
b. It is interesting that when I read the text from this morning, Jesus makes some clear statements of what He has for those that remain faithful to Him
c. Jesus says:
i. I know your deeds (verse 8).
ii. I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut (verse 8).
iii. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name (verse 8).
iv. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who are liars, to fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you (verse 9).
v. I will keep you from the hour of trial (verse 10).
vi. I am coming soon (verse 11).
vii. I will make a pillar in the temple of my God (verse 12).
viii. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (verse 12)
ix. I will also write on them my new name (verse 12).
d. Consider these promises of God and apply them to your life personally.
e. Jesus has the authority and the power to fulfill every single one of these promises. He knows your deeds and your struggles. He knows everything!
f. He knows your strengths and your weaknesses. He has opened the door of salvation for you in your life and there is absolutely no enemy of hell that can shut that door. Amen!!
D. Little strength
a. Let’s look again at verse 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
b. This church had the ability to remain faithful even when things did not look the best.
c. So there was an organization in Montana once offered a bounty of five thousand dollars for every wolf captured alive. Two hunters named Sam and Jed decided to head for the hills and make some money capturing wolves. Day and night they scoured the mountains and forests searching for their valuable prey. Exhausted after three days of hunting without any success, they both fell asleep. During the night, Sam suddenly woke up to find that he and Jed were surrounded by a pack of fifty wolves, with flaming red eyes and bared teeth, snarling at the two hunters and preparing to pounce. Sam nudged Jed and said, "Hey, wake up! We’re gonna be rich!"
d. This term being used in our text “little strength” could be interpreted in a number of ways. The first way to look at this would be that the church only has a few members, or it may infer that the church was compromised of just ordinary folks in compared to some of the other churches that we have looked at.
e. Whatever the case may be, even though their appearance was nothing to brag about, they had a strength because of their faithfulness and refusal to deny Jesus.
E. Strength in the Spirit
a. It is interesting because this church found a secret that many of the other churches that we looked at to datewere not able to. They did things really well and they were faithful to Jesus, no matter what they encountered.
b. They relied on the Holy Spirit for their power and strength.
c. This church really encourages us to remain faithful even in the hard times. We can just simply hold on to God’s promises. As a result, we will be amply rewarded.
d. When we serve God faithfully, the end result will be that He will do exceedingly more than we could ever ask or think or even imagine by His great power!
II. The Lukewarm church
A. History
a. The last church we are looking at in our series here is the church located in Laodicea which was about forty-five miles southeast of Philadelphia and about one hundred miles due east of Ephesus.
b. It was located in a fertile valley along with Colosse and Hierapolis. And the great Roman road stretching to the inland of Asia from the coast at Ephesus ran straight through its center.
c. This made Laodicea an important center of trade and communication.
d. This town was known for its great wealth and was the banking center for this entire region.
e. Much of their wealth came from the production of fine quality glossy black wool.
f. It was also famous for its school of medicine and advancement in health care.
g. In fact, Laodicea was known for an eye salve that they produced and sold. This eye salve was sought after to bring healing to those who had some type of eye issue. This medical eye salve helped people to see better.
h. While these were all good things. Laodicea was known for something else and that was its horrible water supply.
i. Despite their wealth, it did not have a local water supply to fulfill the needs of the community and so what they had to do was create an aqueduct system to bring water in from the hot springs which was like 6 miles away. By the time that the water arrived to the city it was lukewarm.
B. The text
a. Let’s turn our bibles to Revelation 3:14-22 NKJV14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 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 dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also 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.
b. Sadly, Laodicea church joins the ranks of Sardis as they did not receive any commendations for what they were doing.
c. Jesus instead came right after them about their deeds or lack their off.
d. They were neither hot or cold, they were somewhere in the middle. They were lukewarm just like the water that was coming into the city.
C. Two problems
a. There were two main issues that were happening with this church.
b. The first issue was their commitment or lack thereof.
c. The lukewarm water that was traveling down six miles was almost undrinkable.
d. These Christians really were in a place that they wanted to be comfortable. They wanted to play it safe.
e. As humans, we all prefer to live a comfortable life, a nice life. One that does not have any obstacles in our way.
f. God’s economy works much different than the worlds. God wants to use us, and in order to do so, we need to have faith and this faith requires us to make steps that we do not fully see the final outcome.
D. Spiritually ignorant
a. Secondly, this church was living spiritually ignorant lives.
b. Chances are no one in this church could tell others what they believed and why they believe it. They were not living for Jesus, nor were they living wildly or ungodly, but rather somewhere in the middle.
c. They may have gone to church on the Sabbath and then lived as the world the other 6 days.
d. Laodicea did not realize that they were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. They were spiritually naked, yet these people made garments to be sent to other cities.
E. Are you spiritually lukewarm?
a. Jesus knew this churches deeds, but works do not help you gain salvation.
b. Salvation is not something you can earn, rather it is a gift that is given to us.
c. The enemy will work to blind you to the truth of God and fill you with empty hopes and lies. So be on your guard.
d. So the question that begs to be asked. Am I lukewarm in the sight of God?
e. This is certainly a hard question to ask but a necessary question.
Closing:
As we close up our time here this morning, we have covered a lot of ground today and in this sermon series. This has been a challenging series personally and as a body of believers. It has revealed some things in my life that need attention. This really has been a call for us all to wake up to the things of God. To not grow complacent in our faith, and to be faithful to the Lord even in the face of adversity. It was those churches that even though they were beaten down that remained faithful were the ones that received a commendation from the Lord. How beautiful is that? This morning wherever you find yourself, we need to settle in our hearts to serve the Lord. Jesus is standing at the door and knocking at our hearts. When we open the door of our heart, Jesus will come in and fellowship together with us. When we open that door to Jesus, He will come in and fellowship with us, He will empower us to live an overcoming life in Him.
