7. The Church at Laodicea
Notes
Transcript
Sermone Notes:
Sermone Notes:
John McCarther video on youtube… https://youtu.be/jGfkjbOgGP8
Rev. Terry Anderson (Lilly Grove Church): The Legacy Of Laodicea… https://youtu.be/yNde72l7frc?feature=shared
INTRO:
INTRO:
Today we come to the end of our series on the 7 Churches of Asia Minor...
RECAP
RECAP
Map of Roman postal route where the 7 churches were located...
Let's take a look at the last church In our series:
“Laodicea” The Lukewarm Church
“Laodicea” la Iglesia Tibia
Laodicea has the most problems out of all seven of churches of Asia Minor. .
Of the seven churches that we've been studying this one most closely resembles the church today. The church of the end times.
Paul said of the Church of the end times...
2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NIV)
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 (RVR60)
3 Nadie os engañe en ninguna manera; porque no vendrá sin que antes venga la apostasía, y se manifieste el hombre de pecado, el hijo de perdición,
This one is not pretty… So, hang on… (Ésto no esta bonito... asi que, agarrense…)
TEXT:
TEXT:
14 “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. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 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 that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
14 »Escribe al ángel de la iglesia de Laodicea: Esto dice el Amén, el testigo fiel y veraz, el soberano de la creación de Dios: 15 Conozco tus obras; sé que no eres ni frío ni caliente. ¡Ojalá fueras lo uno o lo otro! 16 Por tanto, como no eres ni frío ni caliente, sino tibio, estoy por vomitarte de mi boca. 17 Dices: “Soy rico; me he enriquecido y no me hace falta nada”; pero no te das cuenta de cuán infeliz y miserable, pobre, ciego y desnudo eres tú. 18 Por eso te aconsejo que de mí compres oro refinado por el fuego, para que te hagas rico; ropas blancas para que te vistas y cubras tu vergonzosa desnudez; y colirio para que te lo pongas en los ojos y recobres la vista. 19 Yo reprendo y disciplino a todos los que amo. Por lo tanto, sé fervoroso y arrepiéntete. 20 Mira que estoy a la puerta y llamo. Si alguno oye mi voz y abre la puerta, entraré, y cenaré con él, y él conmigo. 21 Al que salga vencedor le daré el derecho de sentarse conmigo en mi trono, como también yo vencí y me senté con mi Padre en su trono. 22 El que tenga oídos, que oiga lo que el Espíritu dice a las iglesias.»
INTRO:
INTRO:
I can't think of a single time when I've craved something to drink that was room temperature!
On a really hot day; you want a really cold drink.
on a really cold day you want a hot drink.
But rarely do you want something to be lukewarm.
TEXT:
TEXT:
Please keep Your Bible Open and follow along as we study this last church.
14 “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.
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.
20 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 that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
14 »Escribe al ángel de la iglesia de Laodicea: Esto dice el Amén, el testigo fiel y veraz, el soberano de la creación de Dios:
15 Conozco tus obras; sé que no eres ni frío ni caliente. ¡Ojalá fueras lo uno o lo otro!
16 Por tanto, como no eres ni frío ni caliente, sino tibio, estoy por vomitarte de mi boca.
17 Dices: “Soy rico; me he enriquecido y no me hace falta nada”; pero no te das cuenta de cuán infeliz y miserable, pobre, ciego y desnudo eres tú.
18 Por eso te aconsejo que de mí compres oro refinado por el fuego, para que te hagas rico; ropas blancas para que te vistas y cubras tu vergonzosa desnudez; y colirio para que te lo pongas en los ojos y recobres la vista.
19 Yo reprendo y disciplino a todos los que amo. Por lo tanto, sé fervoroso y arrepiéntete.
20 Mira que estoy a la puerta y llamo. Si alguno oye mi voz y abre la puerta, entraré, y cenaré con él, y él conmigo.
21 Al que salga vencedor le daré el derecho de sentarse conmigo en mi trono, como también yo vencí y me senté con mi Padre en su trono.
22 El que tenga oídos, que oiga lo que el Espíritu dice a las iglesias.»
BODY:
BODY:
This church had the most problems and it’s the one that most resembles the church today.
One of the signs of the End Times will be the “Great Rebellion/Falling Away” Apostasy.
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
3 No se dejen engañar por lo que dicen. Pues aquel día no vendrá hasta que haya una gran rebelión contra Dios y se dé a conocer el hombre de anarquía, aquél que trae destrucción.
This church most resembles the modern church today. falling into apostasy (total dessertion/abondonment of faith).
This church has the most problems of all the 7 churches.
Falling away.
Teachers, itching ears, won’t endorse sound doctrine.
Form of godliness but denying its power.
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
3 Porque llegará el tiempo en que no van a tolerar la sana doctrina, sino que, llevados de sus propios deseos, se rodearán de maestros que les digan las novelerías que quieren oír.
4 Dejarán de escuchar la verdad y se volverán a los mitos.
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
5 Actuarán como religiosos pero rechazarán el único poder capaz de hacerlos obedientes a Dios. ¡Aléjate de esa clase de individuos!
Jesus has a problem with this church. He knows their work.
V. 14
Jesus identifies Himself in this verse “…message from the one who is...”
The Amen
Revelation 7. To Laodicea (3:14–22)
the Amen, the reference seems to be to the fact that Christ is the affirmation of God
When we say Amen it means “so be it”
When He says Amen it means “So it is”
Faithful & True Witness
Christ is the faithful and true witness… (He is both reliable, and not a false witness)
He will always be faithful to give testimony, and he will perpetually speak truth.
The beginning of God’s new creation
Many religious sects i.e. The Mormons take this to mean that Christ was created by God (Arian Christology).
Christ is not created but rather the originator & ruler of all creation.
archē (Gr.) = means beginning, first, or ruler (gobernante).
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
1 En el principio era el Verbo, y el Verbo era con Dios, y el Verbo era Dios.
2 Este era en el principio con Dios.
3 Todas las cosas por él fueron hechas, y sin él nada de lo que ha sido hecho, fue hecho.
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
15 Cristo es la imagen visible del Dios invisible. Él ya existía antes de que las cosas fueran creadas y es supremo sobre toda la creación
16 porque, por medio de él, Dios creó todo lo que existe en los lugares celestiales y en la tierra. Hizo las cosas que podemos ver y las que no podemos ver, tales como tronos, reinos, gobernantes y autoridades del mundo invisible. Todo fue creado por medio de él y para él.
17 Él ya existía antes de todas las cosas y mantiene unida toda la creación.
18 Cristo también es la cabeza de la iglesia, la cual es su cuerpo. Él es el principio, es supremo sobre todos los que se levantan de los muertos. Así que él es el primero en todo.
19 Pues a Dios, en toda su plenitud, le agradó vivir en Cristo,
20 y por medio de él, Dios reconcilió consigo todas las cosas. Hizo la paz con todo lo que existe en el cielo y en la tierra, por medio de la sangre de Cristo en la cruz.
V. 15
We understand why Jesus wants the church hot (but why a cold one?)
Hot = Reference to the medicinal mineral hot Springs six miles north of Laodicea in the city of Hierapolis.
Cold = Cold mineral water originating ten miles east in Colossae.
The water would arrive Lukewarm at Laodicea via aqueduct.
Water was hot in Hierapolis, cold in Colossae but by the time it got to Laodicia it was Lukewarm and the pipes had chemical buildups which made the water taste disgusting once it arrived there.
Jesus said because you are Lukewarm, I’ll spew you from my mouth.
Many. In the church today are like this. So Lukewarm, nothing moves them:
• Worship
• prayer
• preaching
Nothing moves them
The church has become a great place to go on Sunday, but people don’t really Go there, expecting any real change.
Like Ephesus, they have left their first love…
There was a time back when you 1st believed, that nothing could keep you from the House of God.
But God has blessed you so that you have become complacent (camplaciente)
now pretty much anything can stop you from coming to the house of God: the game (el Partido), a little bit of rain, the time change, etc…
I come to church because I need God to give me a new dose of the Holy Ghost, a new dose of strength!
• When life turns on me , I need God to give me a new dose of strength!(• When life turns on me , I need God to give me a new dose of strength!
• When the time comes to bury that person that I love… I’ll need God to give me a new dose of strength!
“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth”. -psalm 34:1
You’re not hot
You’re not cold
You’re not up
You’re not down
You’re not happy
You’re not sad
You’re not joyful
You’re not depressed
Just spiritually lethargic, inert.
How can you not be moved?
Do you realize that you were not worth saving? There was nothing in you for God to say. I’m going to save that one. It was in spite of the fact that we were not worth saving, that God did so anyway.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8
“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands;
no one seeks for God.” - Romans 3:10-11
That’s the Lord’s problem with that church. They have forgotten the grace that was given to them.
I know your works:
Neither HOT nor COLD.
V. 16
Remains of an ancient aqueduct have been discovered and in those pipes that brought water to the city of Laodicea.
Examination of the pipes, showed large mineral deposits had accumulated over the years. So the water arriving in Laodicea was very likely nauseating (nauseabunda / repugnante), not very tasty.
Imagine tepid smelly water coming out of your faucets at home. (Imagínete agua tibia y maloliente saliendo de los grifos de tu casa todo el tiempo.)
Another way to paraphrase Jesus’ comment would be:
“I wish that you were either a fresh, life-giving drink of cold water or else a healing, hot mineral bath. But, because you are neither refreshing and life giving nor healing, you are simply disgusting; and I will spew you out of my mouth.”
“Ojalá fueras una bebida de agua fría, fresca y vivificante, o un baño mineral caliente y curativo. Pero, debido a que no eres refrescante, ni vivificante, ni curativo, eres simplemente repugnante; y te vomitaré de mi boca”.
V. 17
“You say, ‘I am rich...’”
Laodicea was so rich:
Revelation 7. To Laodicea (3:14–22)
Laodicea’s position at an intersection of three imperial trade roads favoured its development as a commercial and administrative centre. In Roman times it became the wealthiest city in Phrygia, so that when it suffered all but total destruction by earthquake in AD 60–1 it refused the offer of imperial aid, which other similarly afflicted cities were glad to accept.
Laodicea had always taken pride in its relative independence and self-sufficiency.
Laodicea was a banking center. (think: Where are the largest banking centers in the world today? New York, London, Hong Kong, China)
In some ways Laodicea was the New York of its day.
They didn’t just say they were rich… in terms of earthly wealth they were off the chart!
But here is where the trouble begins doesn’t it?
10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
10 Pues el amor al dinero es la raíz de toda clase de mal; y algunas personas, en su intenso deseo por el dinero, se han desviado de la fe verdadera y se han causado muchas heridas dolorosas.
V. 18
“buy ... from me (gold, garments, and ointment)
1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
1 »¡Vengan a las aguas todos los que tengan sed! ¡Vengan a comprar y a comer los que no tengan dinero! Vengan, compren vino y leche sin pago alguno.
2 ¿Por qué gastan dinero en lo que no es pan, y su salario en lo que no satisface? Escúchenme bien, y comerán lo que es bueno, y se deleitarán con manjares deliciosos.
V. 19
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline… be earnest and repent (sé fervoroso y arrepiéntete)
This letter is actually an expression of love from God.
If you love your children you’ll discipline them. Or else they’ll suffer in life if you don’t.
God connects discipline to saving a child’s soul...
13 No rehúses corregir al muchacho; Porque si lo castigas con vara, no morirá.
14 Lo castigarás con vara, Y librarás su alma del Seol.
13 Withhold not correction from the child: For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shalt deliver his soul from hell.
The remedy with God is always repentance!!!
Repent… do it quickly.
LILLY GROVE NOTES:
Laodicea
Revelation 3:14-22.
• This church most resembles the church today falling in. falling into apostasy.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “The Great falling away. At the end.”
• This church has the most problems of all the 7 churches.
o Falling away.
o Teachers, itching ears, won’t endorse sound doctrine.
o Form of godliness but denying its power.
• Jesus has a problem with this church. He knows their work.
The Lord has a problem with that church, but it also. Has a plan for that church.
He says:
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” -Rev. 3:19
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.” -Proverbs 27:5-6
An open rebuke or discipline comes out of love…
You don’t love your child if you don’t discipline your child.
His plan for his church is to “repent”.
You’re going in the wrong direction. Turn around.
Repent doesn’t mean slow down (it doesn’t mean “drink less” / “party less”) That’s not repentance.
Thank God for grace
Thank God for mercy
Some of us aren’t here because we’re good… we’re here because God gave us another chance.
We would do well to remember the very. Things we think we have. Going for us are often the very things that are separating us from God. That was the problem with this church.
Laodicea had this special type of wool that was made in their city (a black wool) that was highly desired for making clothing and carpets. People came from all over to buy it.
Jesus said: “ With all of that you’re still naked. You have something to close yourself with, but it’s not righteousness”
You’re rich. You say, but you need to buy gold that’s been tried in the fire.
He says, you think you can see because you have this eye clinic that makes an eye salve that can heal blindness. But you’re spiritually blind.
Jesus to the church “with all the stuff you have going on materially… spiritually you are still dead!”
Without hope / faith in Christ you’re naked.
Promise to the church.
• Behold I stand at the door… (this promise is for believers, not for the unbeliever).
• Jesus is saying “Let me in to my church, let’s talk”.
• Some pastors have hijacked the church, put Jesus outside! Unbelievable.
• This is not your church; all this belongs to Him!
All God needs is one person to open the door!
Here’s how you get God’s blessing…
Come talk to Him when you don’t need anything.
Learn to praise God for what He has done.
If you open the door… if you open your heart… I’ll come in
But remember that the door only opens from the inside! He won’t force himself in you have to let Him in.
He’ll fellowship with Him. Won’t even need to be at church.
END:
END:
End w/
Play song: “He Looked Beyond My Faults (Amazing Grace)”
Isaiah 55:6–7 (NIV)
6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
6 Buscad a Jehová mientras puede ser hallado, llamadle en tanto que está cercano.
7 Deje el impío su camino, y el hombre inicuo sus pensamientos, y vuélvase a Jehová, el cual tendrá de él misericordia, y al Dios nuestro, el cual será amplio en perdonar.