Revelation 3:14-22 Series

Revelation 3:14-22

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

The introduction in each of these letters from Jesus to these churches are a testament to who Jesus is so lets look at this one.

First, “The words of the Amen” and "Amen" is a Hebrew word that signifies agreement, affirmation, confirmation and truth. In John 14:6 we read this, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”, so being the “Amen” fits well with who Jesus is.

Second, “ the faithful and true witness” as we saw in Revelation 1:5 John calls Jesus this, “and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood”. Jesus is faithful to God and a witness to all things from God first and foremost before anything or anyone else.

Third, Jesus is the “the beginning of God's creation” and this is not a reference to Jesus being created because He was not, Jesus is God and as God the Father is God and has always been and always will be so is Jesus. This reference fits well with Colossians 1:16 ~ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Knowing this then “the beginning of God's creation” means that Jesus is the creator of all things since the beginning.

15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

The Christian is always on fire for Christ, they are not lackadaisical in any way but driven for Christ. I like to use the word compelled because it means a force is moving us to be on fire for Him and that force is the Holy Spirit indwelt in every single believer. The Holy Spirit does not allow the Christian to be “lukewarm” without the believer being at great odds with the Holy Spirit and there will be a great battle for the Christian to get up and get motivated. If there is no battle going on within a self professing Christian that is a big problem.

Being spit out is like someone spitting out seeds after a bite of watermelon. You spit out the seeds while retaining the good of the melon. Jesus will only spit out the false believers in the church when the time comes.

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

We cannot be believers in Christ and put everything before Him as if Christ is not needed or not needed much even. Christ looks at this believer to be the opposite of this rather they are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked because they are lacking Him who should be all things to them.

I know many who are doing well in life may not always see how Jesus takes a backseat to many things but those who are doing well need to understand that all this good has happened because of Christ, He is the source of our good. If Christ isn't our everything then the reality is He is our nothing.

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

The cure for everything that takes us away from Christ is Christ in abundance. Everything pure comes from Christ replacing everything with Him instead of the importance of the things of this world is a must.

To clothe yourself in white garments is to clothe yourself in Christ. The more we are completely covered in Christ the more we have understood the importance of Christ in everything.

19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Discipline is a good thing, it helps keep us inline and on track for God. But with it repentance should follow and it is an indication of our great love for Him. Though we know we are not perfect and repentance can be lengthy at times it is a good sign of a strong faith.

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.