The
Self-Sufficient Church
Revelation
3:14-22
1.
Introduction
As
we finish the trip from church to church around the ancient
world the last church specifically mentioned is
Laodicea
. The city has
a lot of rich history but for our purposes this morning
there are just a few things I want to mention.
First,
they had received great teaching from the Apostle Paul (Col.
2:1-5).
Second,
the city prided itself as being self-sufficient.
Third,
was the fame
of
Laodicea
.
Wealth-
she was famous for her wealth. This city was made up of the
very rich.
Medicine-
In the ancient world, this was the center for medical
research and breakthroughs in science and medicine.
Clothing-
she was famous for very special black wool that was woven
into very expensive garments and expensive rugs.
2.
Christ’s Commission (vs. 14)
The
Amen
Jesus
declares Himself to be the Truth. He is the Amen of
God…the truth of God (2 Cor.
1:20
).
The Faithful and True Witness
His
witness to Himself is absolutely true.
The Source of
Creation
Finally,
just to let these church leaders know who they’re up against,
Jesus calls Himself the creator of the universe.
3.
Christ’s Condemnation (vs. 15-17)
Their
attitude of self-sufficiency made them useless to Christ.
Jesus
tells them that they were not a hot spring of water that
could be used for healing or a cold mountain stream that
could be used to reduce swelling. Christ is speaking
spiritually. He says when the spiritually sick come to you
for help and for healing you don’t help at all. All this
church had to offer was lukewarm water.
Here’s
where Christ begins to show them their true state.
This
church thought that money made it rich when in fact it was
spiritually poor. See
in Jesus’ logic, things aren’t always what they seem
(Matthew 5:1-6).
When
the Church of Jesus Christ begins to think it has arrived
and can rely on itself, it has lost sight of its purpose to
glorify Christ (John 15:5).
In
essence, Jesus is telling them that they need to apply their
eye salve to their own eyes. Their opinion of themselves was
terribly wrong. Their perception of themselves was clearly
not the Lord’s opinion.
4.
Christ’s Counsel (vs. 18-20)
Jesus
tells this church, instead of finding security in your
money, I
counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you
may be rich.
Rather
than dressing yourself in fine wool garments, I
counsel you to buy from me white garments so that you may
clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be
seen.
Instead
of walking around spiritually blind, I
counsel you to buy from me salve to anoint your eyes, so
that you may see.
Why
is Christ so concerned about this church? [19]
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous
and repent. Jesus loved these people too much
to have left them to themselves. He challenges them to be
zealous and repent.
What
verse 20 is referring to is that this church was engaged in
programs and productions and all kinds of promotions.
They had become good at running the machine, so good
in fact that they didn’t need Christ anymore. They had
showed Him the door. By their actions they had asked Him to
leave.
5.
Christ’s Challenge (vs. 21-22)
As
with all the letters that mention being an overcomer,
Jesus extends to His faithful people an invitation to take
part in the eternal kingdom.
6.
Implications
What
are some marks of a
Laodicean
Church
?
A.
The mindset of being self-dependant rather than being
Christ-dependant.
B.
Focusing more on outward appearance than on inward holiness.
C.
Focusing more on what is popular than what is proper.
D.
Trusting more in politics, finances, and programs than on
the power of Christ.
We
can guard against becoming this kind of church by reminding
ourselves over and over that we only find sufficiency in
Christ.
Old
Testament example of the Church at
Laodicea
.
Jeremiah
2:13
(
ESV
)
for my people have
committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living
waters,
and hewed out cisterns for
themselves,
broken cisterns that can
hold no water.
