TEXT:  Rev. 3:14-22

INTRODUCTION:

A.  LETTERS TO CHURCHES OF ASIA.

          1.  Name the 7 churches.

          2.  Good information for us (1 Cor. 16:1;  4:17;  14:33).

B.  FORM OF THE LETTERS:

          1.  Salutation.                                                        5.  Warning or threat of judgment.

          2.  Jesus’ self designation.                                      6.  Exhortation.

          3.  Commendation of good.                                   7.  Promise.

          4.  Condemnation of evil.

C.  WE WILL FOLLOW THIS FORM.

I.      TO LAODICEA.

A.  WEALTHY – GREAT ASIAN TRADE ROUTE – BANKING CENTER.

B.  WEALTHY FINANCED REBUILD AFTER 60 AD QUAKE.  NO HELP FROM ROME.

          “…have need of nothing.”

C.  COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS – BLACK WOOL – COLLYRIUM (eye salve).

D.  EASY WEALTH – CARNAL PURSUITS – NO GREAT COMMITMENTS OR CAUSES.

II.     JESUS’ SELF DESCRIPTION (vs. 14).

A  AMEN à GUARANTEE-CONFIRMATION OF GOD’S WORD (John 12:49).

B.  FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS (John 1:9;  6:32;  1 John 5:20)..

          1.  No lie or deceit (1 Pet. 2:21-23).

          2.  Testimony can be trusted (2 Tim. 2:11-13).

C.  THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD.

          1.  Firstborn (Col. 1:15;  Jer. 31:9;  Psa. 89:27).

          2.  Preeminence (Col. 1:15-18;  John 1:1-3;  Col. 2:9).

III.    NO COMMENDATION.

A.  IN SPITE OF APPEARANCE AND WEALTH.

B.  IN SPITE OF SELF-VIEW.

IV.   CONDEMNATION è LUKEWARM! (vs. 15-16).

A.  NEITHER COLD NOR HOT.

          1.  Cold used here and Matt. 10:42.  Antagonistic toward the cause.

          2.  Hot à zestos, fervent, boiling.

                   a.  Apollos (Acts 18:25).

                   b.  Roman Christians (Rom. 12:11).

          3.  Some sign of life à Hot good – Cold bad – Alive (Rev. 3:1).

          4.  Nauseating.  No commitment for spiritual, Not serious – not hopeless.

B.  COULD NOT SEE THEMSELVES AS THEY WERE (2 Cor. 13:5).  Wrong Standard.

          1.  Measured by ease and wealth.  Numbers most important.

                   Zeal, but what for?  Party church?  Carnal appeals?  No meat?

          2.  Self-satisfied (Luke 18:9-12).  Like the Pharisee, blind to his own faults.

          3.  Measured themselves by others (2 Cor. 10:12).

          4.  The ONLY true measure of a man (James 1:21-26).

          5.  What were they like? (Rev. 3:17).

V.    WARNING - CHASTENING! (vs. 19).

A.  LOVE IS JESUS’ MOTIVE (Heb. 3:6, 12;  4:14;  10:23).

          1.  Discipline should be expected (Heb. 12:5-6).

          2.  Correction is the desired outcome (Heb. 12:10-11).

B.  A REASONABLE REACTION (vs. 19).

          1.  Be zealous instead of lukewarm à zelos, intense enthusiasm.

          2.  Be zealous in repenting!

          3.  Repent.  A change of heart resulting in a change of behavior.

C.  (vs. 18).OPEN YOUR EYES AND LIVE RIGHT (James 1:22).

          1.  Buy of me Gold – that most precious thing – TRUTH (Prov. 23:23).

          2.  White garments – righteous behavior (Eph. 4:1;  Titus 2:7-8).  No shame for us!

          3.  Eye salve that they might see

                   a.  Jesus teaching (Matt. 13:15) and the glory of the gospel (2 Cor. 4:3-4).

                   b.  Themselves (Rom. 2:19-24).  HONESTY!

VI.   EXHORTATION (vs. 20) – THE GREAT INVITATION.

A.  JESUS DESIRES SALVATION FOR ALL (Heb. 2:9;  1 Tim. 2:4).

B.  HE INVITES ALL – BKUT WE MUST ACT (James 1:22:  2:24;  Heb. 5:8-9).

C.  OBEDIENCE LEADS TO FELLOWSHIP (1 John 1:6-7;  2:3-5).

VII.  PROMISE è GLORIFIED WITH JESUS.

A.  PROMISED (Rev. 5:9-10)

B.  REALIZED (Eph. 2:4-7).

CONCLUSION:

A.  DOES THIS DESCRIBE US AS A CONGREGATION?

          1.  Commendation?

          2.  Condemnation?

C.  HAVE YOU ANSWERED THE DOOR?