Revelation 3: 14-22<\/p>\n
14 <\/sup><\/i>\u201cTo the angel of the church in Laodicea write:<\/span> 19 <\/sup><\/i>Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 <\/sup>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 him, and he with me. <\/i><\/p>\n 21 <\/sup><\/i>To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 <\/sup>He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n It\u2019s Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. We now begin our forty day journey to Jesus\u2019 cross and empty Easter tomb.\u00a0 Notice the color has changed.\u00a0 It\u2019s purple.\u00a0 That\u2019s because this is a season of preparation.\u00a0 What do we prepare?\u00a0 Our hearts to welcome two wonderful pieces of Good News.\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 words from the cross,\u00a0 It is finished<\/i> and the angel\u2019s words at Jesus\u2019 tomb, He has risen.<\/i><\/p>\n I have chosen this Word of God to help us prepare.\u00a0 Of course, here you might be wondering.\u00a0 Why did the pastor pick this text? This letter to the church in Laodicea?\u00a0 \u00a0You may have noticed the Lord has nothing good to say about this church.\u00a0 Does our pastor mean to say this describes our church?\u00a0 Is he saying this describes me?\u00a0 No, only Jesus can look into our hearts and give this kind of diagnosis.\u00a0 But that doesn\u2019t mean we can\u2019t benefit from this letter.\u00a0 After all what does Jesus say at the end of this letter.\u00a0 He has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches<\/span>.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t checked you out tonight but as far as I know, all of us have at least one ear.\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 words are for us too, aren\u2019t they?\u00a0 And these words point each of us in one very important direction. To the heart preparation we all need.\u00a0 Our Savior says it this way:<\/p>\n \u201cBe Earnest and Repent\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Let\u2019s make sure we understand that key word.\u00a0 Repent.<\/i>\u00a0 It means to have a change of mind.\u00a0 A good way to think of it might be this.\u00a0 We often hear Lent described as a time to give up something like chocolate or internet.\u00a0 Repentance means that we spot something in our life and realize. God doesn\u2019t want that there.\u00a0 The way I\u2019ve been treating that person, the attitudes I\u2019ve carried.\u00a0 It\u2019s stands between me and him.\u00a0 My God tells me that in his Word. I need to turn away from that. But that\u2019s only half of repentance.\u00a0 Then I need to turn to God like the tax collector in our gospel lesson. \u00a0His words are the theme of our service.\u00a0 God have mercy on me a sinner<\/i>.\u00a0 And he does. He forgives us in Christ. That\u2019s repentance.<\/p>\n Jesus warned <\/b>this church that they needed to repent.\u00a0 Think about that.\u00a0 When you warn someone of some kind of danger, you want them to take you seriously.\u00a0 At least if you care.\u00a0 You don\u2019t tell a joke and then say, oh by the way your house is burning down<\/i>.\u00a0 You speak to be listened to.\u00a0 That\u2019s what Jesus does here.\u00a0 He is about to bear witness to their lack of faith.\u00a0 He wants them to know this is not just some person\u2019s opinion. So he says 14 <\/sup>\u201cTo the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God\u2019s creation<\/span>.\u00a0 In other words, listen up, people.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n A cardiologist will run all kinds of tests to determine the condition of that mass of muscle that pumps your blood.\u00a0 Jesus, the ruler of God\u2019s creation can see far more than our physical heart.\u00a0 He can clearly see another heart- a heart that believes or doubts.\u00a0 A heart that treasures or couldn\u2019t care less.\u00a0 Jesus knew the heart of these people.\u00a0 And he didn\u2019t like what he saw.\u00a0 15 <\/sup>I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!<\/span> \u00a0These Christians had become lukewarm.\u00a0 You might think that Jesus would prefer lukewarm to cold and unbelieving. But think again.\u00a0 A lost person might be reached.\u00a0 He might be led to see how lost he is.\u00a0 But the lukewarm.\u00a0 That person has a kind of a shrug your shoulders attitude when he thinks of Jesus\u2019 cross. \u00a0Sin.\u00a0 What\u2019s the big deal.\u00a0 Forgiveness.\u00a0 Let\u2019s move on.\u00a0 That person goes through the motions of worship, mouth moving, heart far away. \u00a0And haven\u2019t we all been there?<\/p>\n That\u2019s dangerous.\u00a0 Jesus wanted them to know how dangerous.\u00a0 He wanted to wake these people up from their apathy. 6 <\/sup>So, because you are lukewarm\u2014neither hot nor cold\u2014I am about to spit you out of my mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n How had it come to this?\u00a0 They had let true riches slip away from their hearts and lives.\u00a0 You see, the town of Laodicea was wealthy and so too the people of this church.\u00a0 They had a thriving wool industry.\u00a0 It\u2019s cloth was famous.\u00a0 The town was a center of banking and a place where they minted coins.\u00a0 Laodicea was known far and wide for a special salve produced for the eyes. They were very well off.<\/p>\n Now it\u2019s not a sin to be well off.\u00a0 But wealth can blind us to the truth.\u00a0 And don\u2019t think you\u2019re immune because you\u2019re not living in a mansion. Compared to people in Bible times, many of us are wealthy. So we need to be careful.\u00a0 If not, we can begin to think like these people did. \u00a0I\u2019m doing fine on my own.\u00a0 Talk about fool\u2019s gold.\u00a0 Think of what Jesus said.\u00a0 7 <\/sup>You say, \u2018I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.\u2019 But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked<\/span>. \u00a0For without Jesus, that\u2019s what we are. We may have a house full of stuff or not, but without Jesus we are poor beyond measure. And sadly these people were blind to it.<\/p>\n Listen closely to Jesus words. We need to hear them too. \u00a018 <\/sup>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<\/span>. \u00a0There is only one who can make us rich \u2013 rich in God\u2019s forgiveness and hope.\u00a0 The Son of God who went to a cross and became poor for our sakes.\u00a0 There is only one way to cover the shameful nakedness of our guilt.\u00a0 By being clothed in Jesus\u2019 perfect righteousness\u00a0 And there is only one way to see things as they are.\u00a0 As the Spirit uses God\u2019s Word to open our eyes and see that Jesus is our treasure.<\/p>\n It must have been humiliating for the church people in Laodicea to hear these words from their pastor.\u00a0 How does it make you feel to hear them? \u00a0\u00a0Spit me out of his mouth.\u00a0 Wretched, poor blind. <\/i>Why does Jesus speak to them this way? It\u2019s a warning, a warning that spills over onto us as well.\u00a0 And ouch that hurts,<\/i> Jesus.<\/i>\u00a0 But now listen closely.\u00a0 19 <\/sup>Those whom I love\u2026<\/span>did you hear that?\u00a0 <\/span>This is about love, Jesus\u2019 love for people in danger. Love for you and me.\u00a0 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.<\/span> So be earnest, and repent.<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>There is a Hebrew word that God spoke again and again to his stiff necked Old Testament people.\u00a0 It is pronounced shub.\u00a0 It means to turn or return to the Lord.\u00a0 In the book of Ezekiel you hear the Lord pleading with his people.\u00a0 Turn, turn.\u00a0 That\u2019s repentance.\u00a0 What these people needed to do. What we need to do every day.\u00a0 Shub.\u00a0 Be earnest and repent.<\/b><\/p>\n But here don\u2019t picture a guy with a big stick prodding you on.\u00a0 Picture a bridegroom calling out to his bride.\u00a0 He loves her very much.\u00a0 Well Jesus loves us very much. \u00a0And he stands ready to draw near to us.\u00a0 So be earnest and repent.<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Listen to how Jesus puts it. The way he starts out in this letter, you might think he\u2019d say I \u2018m going to come to your nice Laodicean house, kick in the door and wreck the place. But no, instead he comes to sinners like you and me with a grace-filled invitation. When you turn to me in repentance this is what you will find.\u00a0 \u00a020<\/sup>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 him, and he with me.<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, this is a picture.\u00a0 Jesus is not saying that he\u2019s going to walk in your front door and take a place at your dinner table. That would be special.\u00a0 But Lord please don\u2019t come on a night when I am supposed to cook.<\/p>\n No, this is a picture, a picture of something far more wonderful. \u00a0A fellowship he offers each of us.\u00a0 It\u2019s not something we can touch, taste or see.\u00a0 It\u2019s not something I can even begin to explain.\u00a0 But it\u2019s something so special.\u00a0 Think about this One who becomes our guest.\u00a0 He made this planet.\u00a0 Angels worship and serve him.\u00a0 Yet he came to be your flesh and blood brother.\u00a0 He knows you, what troubles you, what you struggle with every day. \u00a0And he is able to help you.\u00a0 In fact, he promises it.<\/p>\n So think about this One.\u00a0 This season we remember once more the extent of his love. How he \u00a0took every one of our sins on himself.\u00a0 How he bled and died for each of us. And now he promises each of us a very special place with him in his heaven.<\/p>\n Well he says to each of us.\u00a0 Remain in me and I will remain in you.<\/i>\u00a0 But have we?\u00a0 Do we\/ We know the answer.\u00a0 We sin daily.\u00a0 We get complacent.\u00a0 We put distance between us and our Savior.\u00a0 So it\u2019s time.\u00a0 It always time. Be earnest and repent<\/i>. \u00a0Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Revelation 3: 14-22 14 \u201cTo the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God\u2019s 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\u2014neither hot nor cold\u2014I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ash-wednesday","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=419"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":420,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419\/revisions\/420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/i>These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God\u2019s creation. 15 <\/sup>I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 <\/sup>So, because you are lukewarm\u2014neither hot nor cold\u2014I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 <\/sup>You say, \u2018I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.\u2019 But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 <\/sup>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.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nI.\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 warning speaks to us
\nII.\u00a0 Jesus stands ready to draw near to us<\/b><\/p>\n