-New classes starting NEXT WEEK at 9AM:
-“Strange New World” how did we get to the point in a generation where the statement “I am a woman trapped in a man’s body” not only makes sense, but has become the norm
-EFCA Denials and Affirmations: social justice, woke, CRT, Christian nationalists, transgenderism, gender roles in the church, annihilationism.
READ/PRAY
1) Sardis: Wake Up! (1-6)
-About the city: one of the most glorious cities in Asia, but it was well past its heyday.
-Almost an impregnable military stronghold. Sheer cliffs on 3 sides, steep approach on the 3rd side.
-Fell in 546 BC because some men climbed up the “unscalable” cliff and just opened the gates to the enemy. “Capturing Sardis” became common language to describe achieving something impossible. Happened again in 214 BC! Another guy climbed up the cliff and opened the gates!
-17 AD a terrible earthquake devastated the town, rebuilt by Rome, who then used the face of the emperor on their currency.
-Special interest in death and immortality, focus on the fertility cycle and bringing life out of death.
-One of the largest Jewish synagogues every excavated was found here, room for over 1,000 people.
-Jesus is the one who has authority and power in heaven, not the strong Jewish community (hold on to that idea, it comes up again at the end)
-Reputation for: literally “name is alive” How would you feel if Jesus’ commendation toward you is: you have a good name. But your name doesn’t match up to reality
-I think this a theme throughout Scripture! Think of the Apostle Peter (Rocky!) yet he might be the most insecure and weak of the twelve apostles because he repeatedly caves in to peer pressure. See Jesus takes what looks useless to us and turns it into something useful. Paul describes the gospel message as a stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Greeks. Yet that’s what we believe!
-How can this church turn it around?
-Be alert! Wake up! Just like the city left their backside unguarded, stop sleeping and start shoring up the weaknesses in their lives.
-Strengthen what remains: 2 Tim. 1:6 “fan into flame” think during the summer when you have a bonfire. If you don’t tend to it, it will slowly burn out. Then you’d need to blow on the smolder, throw some grass on it. Similarly, if there are good things happening, and God is working in some small area, feed it! They’re not dead yet!
-Remember what they have received and heard: think back to the truths of the gospel message they believed in. Don’t stray too far from that simple message that Jesus Christ died for you! Hold to that and live a life of repentance.
-If the church doesn’t stay awake, judgment is coming. No one knows when that day is, but judgment is guaranteed. Think of 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”
-The whole church isn’t on the verge of dying: there’s a faithful remnant who are continuing to serve the Lord. Do you have the conviction to be that kind of person?
-What promise does Jesus give to the conquerors here?
-Dressed in white clothes: mark of purity, completeness
-Never erase: “At some point “the curse of the Minim” was added to the 18 Benedictions prayed daily by Jews in the ancient world. “The curse of the Minim” reads, “May the Nazarenes and the Minim suddenly perish, and may they be blotted out of the book of Life and not enrolled along with the righteous.” (Jim Hamilton). This Jewish commitment Jesus says has it backwards! And if Jesus writes them down, nothing can erase them. Matt 10:32-33 Whoever denies Jesus before others will be denied by Him.
2) Philadelphia: Love Jesus First! (7-13)
-The city: called “The gateway to the east” Volcanic soil fertile and ideal for grapes. (city of brotherly love, just like the one in Pennsylvania)
-Youngest city, founded sometime after 189 BC. Biggest issue: prone to earthquakes. Many people lived outside of the city because of that. Walls of the city were constantly cracked, building were built assuming they would fall. The pillars used would show signs of deterioration. While we don’t have any pillars left from the original, this is what they would have looked like (from archway of the church of St. John the Theologian in Philadelphia)
-After a big earthquake in 17 AD, taxes were removed for 5 years, in response the city renamed itself “Neocaesarea” and then also added the name “Flavia” in response to the imperial dynasty.
-Primary allegiance was to Dionysus, the god of wine.
-While Philadelphia was big and impressive, the church there was the opposite.
-Jesus is holy and true: don’t give in to the worldly standards or expectations, and don’t put your hope in the wrong places.
-Key of David: allusion to Isa. 22:22 “I will place the key of the house of David on his shoulder; what he opens, no one can close; what he closes, no one can open.” Entrance into God’s presence. The Jews had kicked the church out, but Jesus won’t.
-No negative word said about this church. They’ve remained faithful and haven’t denied Jesus’ name.
-Similar phrasing from Smyrna, but Jesus promises to be with His people in the midst of the hour of testing.
-“Earth dwellers” (CSB-“those who live on the earth) always refers to unbelievers throughout Revelation
-Remain faithful to Jesus, don’t deny, even unto death.
-Conquerors receive:
-Pillar in the temple: unlike the pillars that were prone to earthquakes, this pillar can’t be knocked over!
-Remember how many times the name of this city was changed? If Jesus writes His name it will never change, and they’ll be a part of a new city: New Jerusalem. Ties to the book of life where the names reside.
3) Laodicea: Let Jesus In! (14-22)
-This city: 2 major trade routes through here, a hub of trade and communications in the province. Allied closely to Rome, administrative and judicial center for the area. Eventually became the banking center adding wealth. Became the home to a textile industry known for producing raven-black wool. And a famous school of medicine that created “Phrygian powder” and eye salve.
-Also prone to earthquakes, destroyed in 60 AD, but refused help from Rome. The citizens paid to rebuild.
-No water supply, piped in via an aqueduct.
-Amen, faithful and true, OG:
-Col. 1:18 “He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.”
-Not that Jesus is a created being, but think of what we learn about Jesus in John 1:3 “All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.”
-Works are neither hot nor cold. I remember being told that God wishes they were either spiritually on fire for him, or cold enough to be done with them, but that’s not the point he’s making.
-Just as He’s done other places, and for the same reason I will use illustrations from movies or events taking place around us to help us understand the text, Jesus here is saying that He wishes the people were hot and healing like the waters at Hierapolis (city 6 miles away), or cold and refreshing like the waters at Colossae (10 miles away), but lukewarm (like the water than came through the aqueducts) which was repulsive. Additionally, the water would pick up minerals as it was transported, so by the time it got to the city it was repulsive, literally vomit inducing!
-So because they are neither bringing the healing power of the gospel to bear in their conversations, or refreshing others with the message of the gospel Jesus is going to vomit them out. Be done with them! It’s because of how they define themselves:
-They think they’re wealthy, and they are! But only on earth.
-Remember, one of the purposes of Revelation is to help us change our glasses, or the way we see and interpret events that are taking place around us. Jesus’ goal with these letters is to give these churches a glimpse of what’s happening spiritually. So because of the immense wealth of this city, this church has started to imbibe that same thinking and think they need nothing. But spiritually, they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. What an indictment!
-Jesus goes on to give them some advice: buy true gold (spiritually), white clothes (contrasted with the black wool or purple cloth that was a marker of wealth), and spiritual ointment to have their eyes opened to the spiritual world instead of only focusing on the physical/material world.
-This is similar to a story in Acts 8 – Simon the Sorcerer thinking material wealth gives you access to God’s kingdom. He actually asks the apostles to give him the ability to lay hands on people and give them the Holy Spirit! Peter responds “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart’s intent may be forgiven.”
-Despite having all the material wealth they could need, spiritually both Simon and the church at Laodicea are spiritual bankrupt. The only way to get true and lasting riches is to repent of putting your hope and trust in God’s good gifts, and instead put your hope and trust and confidence in Him.
-We then come to one of the most quoted verses from Revelation that has been used in more evangelistic messages than I can keep track of! But it misses the point of what Jesus is saying here.
-Is this letter written to a person or a church? A church! Instead of Jesus standing at the door of someone’s heart, it’s painting a picture of being too wealthy and independent to admit their need for Jesus. It’s a terrifying indictment of a church! This is another way of saying this church has stopped functioning as a church and instead has become a social club.
-But this also paints a picture of an historical reality that the people would have understood. At this point in history, most cities in this area were so safe and secure that they never closed their gates. But that wasn’t the case in Laodicea. They wanted to protect and preserve all the wealth and prestige they’d accumulated so every night they’d close their gates. In fact, when the city was rebuilt, the gates had placards on them noting who paid for it. So the church would have had that image in mind when Jesus is condemning them in this way. Jesus had been shut out of the church the same way the city shuts people out of their gates. They think they have arrived and need no help, even from Jesus!
-If the church finally acknowledges their need of Jesus, and let Him back in (to where He belongs), He will come and eat with them. This is a way of signifying restoration of relationship. Eating together was the sign of close connection and relationship building. (think of the accusations of Jesus who ate with sinners) Jesus wants to be in close relationship with His church, but the church can become so independent that we’ve inadvertently thrown Him out and closed the door.
-The final call to the church is to sit in proper judgment. Don’t assume that because of material wealth that you have spiritual blessings! Jesus is the one who sits on the throne of judgment, and He invites His followers to sit with Him IF they remain faithful to Him
-What about us? Where are we at today? If we were to be given a letter from Jesus, where would we be commended, and where would we stand condemned? In 2014, an author and researcher named Thom Rainer wrote a book titled “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” that had some incredibly helpful information on it! And then he followed it up with “Anatomy of a Revived Church” in 2022. Look at the chapter titles of his first book:
-Let’s think about some of these: “the past is the hero.” Anyone ever heard someone say “we’ve never done it that way before!” That’s a good description of this issue. And because I’d rather talk about issues than dance around them, this has been an issue in our history! We have a tendency to look back on 04-10 as the “glory days” when our halls were filled, when attendance was up, but what we forget it he turmoil that was taking place behind the scenes. The past tends to be viewed through rose colored glasses, but God’s still at work here today! And we know from Revelation that the best is always in the future!
-“The budget moved inwardly.” As of today, 13% of our annual budget is given toward outside ministries, missionaries, or organizations. From a crisis pregnancy center to campus ministries to missionaries in China, our dollars aren’t just being focused on ourselves.
-“The Great Commission Becomes” the great commission is Jesus’ command in Matt. 28 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” We can summarize that as Make & mature disciples of Jesus. If discipleship isn’t taking place (either new conversions or people growing more like Jesus), then we stop being a church on mission with what Jesus has called us to do and be. Going means going into even our local community, our neighborhoods with the gospel message. (“from the edge of the parking lot to the end of the world”) It means we have to live different from the same worldly pursuits our neighbors are living out.
-“The preference-driven church” As soon as someone starts defining the church based on their preferences we’re going to die. Period. Unless we are willing to die to our preferences we have not hope of being a healthy church. As soon as you find yourself says “I don’t like __” realizing this is what’s happening in your heart. Whether it be the music, the class topics, the LG materials, the kid’s ministry, or even the preaching. When you start viewing the church through what you get instead of what you give you setting the church up to fail.
-“The church rarely prayed together” I read an article a few months ago that was titled “32 Random Thoughts About the Local Church” One of them says “Few people want to be part of a church that doesn’t pray, but few people want to attend a prayer meeting. You should ponder this conundrum.” Do you spend time in prayer for our church, or time praying with other members of the church? One of the commitments I’ve made since coming here is trying to end as many meetings as I can praying. Not every time, but a majority of the meetings I have I try to close in prayer. If we’re not praying, we’re not growing.
-There’s more that could be said, and I’m not trying to say this book is the same as the Bible, it’s not, but it gives us some time to pause and reflect on where we are as a church. Are we too complacent about what’s going on around us to be effective in witnessing to those around us? Are we too blind to the spiritual realities we’re facing because we’re too obsessed with earthly riches?
-Yes, these letters are to churches, but churches are comprised of individuals. So every single one of us needs to ensure that we’re keeping Jesus as the center and focus of everything we do, so that we as a church can move toward that same goal.