INTRODUCTION:
What do you think of our church? More importantly, what do you suppose Jesus Christ thinks of our church?
Do you remember the old E.F. Hutton TV commercials? (I guess this will tell your age if you do remember…) They were usually set in a crowded restaurant or other public place. Two people would be talking about financial matters, and the first person would repeat something his broker had said concerning a certain investment. The second person would say, “Well, my broker is E.F. Hutton, and E.F. Hutton says…” At that point every single person in the bustling restaurant would stop dead in his tracks, turn, and listen to what the man was about to say. “When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen” was their motto.
In the church, our motto should be, when Jesus Christ speaks, the church listens. When we look at Jesus’ words to the church in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, everyone in the room should stop in their tracks, turn, and listen to what he has to say.
Jesus has plenty to say in the letters to the 7 churches. Last week we looked at the first 4 letters in Chapter 2. Today, we’ll look at the last 3 letters in Chapter 3.
We know what Jesus did during his 33 years on earth. The book of Revelation describes what he will do in the Second Coming when he conquers, judges, and rules the earth. But what is Jesus doing in the in-between time? What is he doing right now? One thing that might surprise you is to realize that right now Jesus is attending church. Jesus currently reigns in Heaven. But make no mistake about it: He is attending church here on earth. He is ENTERING THE CHURCH DOORS.
1. ENTERING CHURCH DOORS
Sardis Revelation 3:1-6
To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds… Revelation 3:1
Jesus is actively involved in the life of every church congregation. He told the church in Sardis I know your deeds. He could tell CHCC the very same thing… I said last Week that Jesus is not an absentee boss. He is here among us and knows everything about who we are and what we are doing. He knows our deeds. So what does he think about our deeds?
When he spoke to Sardis he said they had a reputation for being alive, but they were dead. What a chilling rebuke! And I am sad to say that I have seen churches like that from time to time. Sometimes churches have glorious past. Oh how they love to remember and reminisce about the good old days.
As a congregation we should not be relying on our past reputation; we should be building our reputation by the things we do today and plan to do tomorrow. Our biggest dreams should be about what God is preparing to do with and through us in the future. We should be focused on what Jesus is doing in the here and now, because He is right here in this room with us. He sees our deeds and he knows even the motivations behind our deeds. What is he saying to us?
I’ll tell you what he was saying to the Sardis brethren. He looked around, saw a congregation that was basically dead, and He shouted: “Wake Up!” Are there some areas where we are asleep? --- Asleep to the presence of Jesus Christ in our midst? Asleep to the needs of others around us?
Let’s wake up to reality, because Jesus is not only ENTERING CHURCH DOORS, He is also OPENING the DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY.
2. OPENING DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY
Philadelphia Revelation 3:7-13
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens, no one can shut; and what he shuts, no one can open. I know your deeds. I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. … Revelation 3:7-8
Jesus is orchestrating the spread of the Gospel across the earth. It is Jesus who opens doors of opportunity at the time of His Choosing. Reagan and Gorbachov may get credit for tearing down the wall of East Berlin, but the truth is, it was Jesus Christ who decreed that the door of opportunity would finally open in the former Soviet Union. And when Jesus decrees that a door will open, no one … no earthly dictator, no army on earth … no one can close that door.
It is Jesus Christ, the CEO of the church, who places opportunities before each congregation. Example: I think God gave CHCC a unique opportunity to walk through an open door of evangelism in South India. (talk about how God re-connected us as forwarding agents and how many people in our church are connected with preachers and children in India. It would be a good Sunday to have an insert in the bulletin where more can sign up as sponsors)
Suppose someone drove you out to the DOMINION, pulled up in the drive of a beautiful mansion. They walk you to the front door, open it, and say, “It’s all yours. All you have to do is walk through the open door.” What would you do? Some would say,
· “I don’t believe you.”
· “I don’t deserve a place like this.”
· “I don’t have the money for upkeep on this place!”
· “Could you give me a few details about the house first….”
If someone offers you a new house just for walking through an open door . . . don’t think about it . . . don’t analyze it . . . don’t ask how it’s decorated. WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.
The doors of opportunity that Jesus gives the church are often just that surprising and challenging. What doors of opportunity has Jesus opened for you this year? Do you have the courage … do you have the faith … to step through the door?
In Revelation 3 we see that Jesus is entering church doors and He is opening doors of opportunity. In the last letter, to the 7th church, we see that Jesus is also knocking at the heart’s door.
3. KNOCKING AT THE HEART’S DOOR
Laodicea Revelation 3:14-22
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 him and he with me. Revelation 3:20
When you look at this in context, it’s a tragic picture. Here is Jesus, locked out of His own church … patiently knocking at the door hoping someone will care enough to let Him in. Let’s take a minutes to examine the church Jesus was addressing:
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. Know your deeds… Revelation 3:14-15
Here is Jesus, the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation, speaking to a church that is amazingly UNIMPRESSED. Laodicea is the epitomy of apathy. The church that is neither hot nor cold. In fact, this bunch is so LUKEWARM and tepid that Jesus says he will spew them out of his mouth.
It makes me think of one particular group of young people I worked with back in my youth ministry days. Now, you need to understand that a Youth Group changes and starts over every 3 to 4 years. One time in particular … after some great teenage leaders graduated from High School … the group that was left just wanted to party. They had no interest in getting into the Bible or developing Christian character.
I had to go before the elders of the church and tell them their kids had rotten attitudes. (Naturally, some of the worst attitudes came from the Elders’ kids. I have to sympathize some since there was a day when I was one of those elders’ kids who probably gave my teachers grief.) Anyway, I know what it is like to work with a lukewarm group. If you’ve ever tried to teach a group of yawners and snoozers, you probably know how discouraging it can be. It’s no wonder that Jesus threatened to spew them out of his mouth.
Sadly this is a picture of many churches today. I hope it never becomes the picture of this congregation. Luke-warm is a disheartening diagnosis for any church. They can’t get enthusiastic about anything, and they can’t even work up any passion to turn tail and run from God. Everything is mushy and comfortable, predictable, traditional, and as tepid as yesterday’s coffee.
And yet look how patiently Jesus appeals to these Lukewarm Christians. He explains in verse 19: Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Revelation 3:19
CONCLUSION:
And then Jesus gives us a picture of GRACE and MERCY that is almost beyond comprehension. Jesus, who has the power to break down any door is standing patiently at the heart’s door, waiting to be invited in.
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 him and he with me. Revelation 3:20
What a beautiful image of Grace and Patience. These words have inspired artists to paint pictures of Jesus knocking at the door, waiting patiently for someone to answer. But we need to remember, these words were not written to unbelievers, but to lukewarm Christians who probably didn’t realize that they had shut Jesus out. All it takes on our part is some complacency, some compromise, some apathy … and we will find we have put Jesus on the outside looking in.
Do you hear Jesus knocking at your heart’s door today? Will you let Him in. Don’t treat Him like you would some telephone solicitor! He wants you to fling open the door of your life and invite Him to come in and change it.
Consider that picture of Jesus standing at your heart’s door as we sing a song with those very words: The savior is waiting to enter your heart. Why won’t you let him come in?
