Memory verse: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

  “The Laodicean message applies to the people of God who profess to believe present truth. The greater part are lukewarm professors, having a name but no zeal. God signified that He wanted men at the great heart of the work to correct the state of things existing there and to stand like faithful sentinels at their post of duty. He has given them light at every point, to instruct, encourage, and confirm them, as the case required. But notwithstanding all this, those who should be faithful and true, fervent in Christian zeal, of gracious temper, knowing and loving Jesus earnestly, are found aiding the enemy to weaken and discourage those whom God is using to build up the work. The term "lukewarm" is applicable to this class. They profess to love the truth, yet are deficient in Christian fervor and devotion. They dare not give up wholly and run the risk of the unbeliever, yet they are unwilling to die to self and follow out closely the principles of their faith.” 

     “The only hope for the Laodiceans is a clear view of their standing before God, knowledge of the nature of their disease. They are neither cold nor hot; they occupy a neutral position, and at the same time flatter themselves that they are in need of nothing. The True Witness hates this lukewarmness. He loathes the indifference of this class of persons. Said He: "I would thou wert cold or hot." Like lukewarm water, they are nauseous to His taste. They are neither unconcerned nor selfishly stubborn. They do not engage thoroughly and heartily in the work of God, identifying themselves with its interests; but they hold aloof and are ready to leave their posts when their worldly personal interests demand it. The internal work of grace is wanting in their hearts; of such it is said: "Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."  4 Testamonies 87, 88

Laodicea

1844 A.D. – Until Christ comes

1.      Who is writing this to the Laodicean church? Revelation 3:20    “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”  C __ __ __ __ T.   How do we know?

Revelation 3:14 “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the ________ and ______ ________, the __________ of the __________ of God;”  It is the faithful and true witness the beginning of creation read Colossians 1:15-17. We see in this text that Jesus was the creator of this world.

2.      Jesus said to them, “I know your works”. How was their works, for Jesus? Revelation 3:15 “I know thy _______, that thou art ______ ______ nor ________: I would thou wert cold or hot.”

     “Many of the professed, peculiar people of God are so conformed to the world that their peculiar character is not discerned, and it is difficult to distinguish "between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not." God would do great things for His people if they would come out from the world and be separate. If they would submit to be led by Him, He would make them a praise in all the earth. Says the True Witness: "I know thy works.” 2 Testimonies page 125

3.      Jesus said, since they were not cold or hot, He would do what with them? Revelation 3:16 “So then because thou art ________, and neither cold nor hot, I will _______ thee out of my ______.”

“Halfhearted Christians are worse than infidels; for their deceptive words and noncommittal position lead many astray. The infidel shows his colors. The lukewarm Christian deceives both parties. He is neither a good worldling nor a good Christian. Satan uses him to do a work that no one else can do.” 7 Bible Commentary page 963

     To those who are indifferent this warning is given. They know what is right but fail to come up to the mark. Jesus said, as a figure of speech, they leave a bad taste in my mouth. We are to be on fire for God, doing the work of our first love.

4.      Many today say that they do not need religion? What does Jesus say about this kind of thinking?  Revelation 3:17 (First part) “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and ________ with _______, and have _______ of ________; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

     The Laodicean church has been around since 1844 A.D. It has not been in the best condition. Many Laodiceans live in self deception. They cloth themselves with their own garments of self righteousness, and think they are rich and increased with good’s, they have no need of anything. They feel they have no need to learn of Jesus. For He was meek and lowly in heart, them want, egotism no to be humble. They don’t want to think they need to depend on Jesus.

5.      The last part of Revelation 3:17 We are going to look at what Jesus said about those who don’t need Him. Revelation 3:17 (Last part) “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art, and ______, and _______, and _________, and ________:”

We will look at each one of these.

Miserable = Uncomfortable and / or unhappy, wretched.

Wretched = Wretchedly inadequate. 

“There are many, many, professed Christians who are waiting unconcernedly for the coming of the Lord. They have not on the garment of His righteousness. They may profess to be children of God, but they are not cleansed from sin. They are selfish and self-sufficient. Their experience is Christless. They neither love God supremely nor their neighbor as themselves. They have no true idea of what constitutes holiness. They do not see the defects in themselves. So blinded are they, that they are not able to detect the subtle working of pride and iniquity. They are clad in the rags of self- righteousness, and stricken with spiritual blindness. Satan has cast his shadow between them and Christ, and they have no wish to study the pure, holy character of the Saviour.” Review and Herald February 26, 1901

If we are not close to God, evil is ready to come in and choke the good seeds in our heart. We can be poor and be rich in God’s grace; and blind to our own condition. Naked, that means we do not have on Christ robe of righteousness. These see no need to come to Christ for forgiveness of sins; they are blind to their needs. They just go on with their self righteousness garments which are filthy rags. They see no need to be cleansed in the blood.

6.      Jesus gives them counsel. Revelation 3:18 “I counsel thee to _______ of me ________ tried in the _________, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the _______ of thy ________ do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with ______, that thou mayest see.”  “The gold that Jesus would have us buy of Him is gold tried in the fire; it is the gold of faith and love, that has no defiling substance mingled with it. The white raiment is the righteousness of Christ, the wedding garment which Christ alone can give. The eyesalve is the true spiritual discernment that is so wanting among us, for spiritual things must be spiritually discerned.”  7 Bible Commentary 965

Look at this statement above and fill in the blanks. Revelation 3:18 What is the gold? 

a.       F___________ and L________________. (makes the heart rich)

b.      What is the white raiment? R_________ of C_________. (wedding garment) (Righteousness, pure character of Christ.)

c.       What is the eye salve? S_________ D____________. Spiritual discernment (Holy Spirit)

“The gold here recommended as having been tried in the fire is faith and love. It makes the heart rich; for it has been purged until it is pure, and the more it is tested the more brilliant is its luster. The white raiment is purity of character, the righteousness of Christ imparted to the sinner. This is indeed a garment of heavenly texture, that can be bought only of Christ for a life of willing obedience. The eyesalve is that wisdom and grace which enables us to discern between the evil and the good, and to detect sin under any guise. God has given His church eyes which He requires them to anoint with wisdom, that they may see clearly; but many would put out the eyes of the church if they could; for they would not have their deeds come to the light, lest they should be reproved. The divine eyesalve will impart clearness to the understanding. Christ is the depositary of all graces.”4 Testimonies page 88, 89

7.      What does Jesus call for the Laodicean people to do? Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be ________ therefore, and ________.”

We are the Laodicean church today. God calls upon us to be zealous and repent of our half – heartedness in living for Him. He wants to clothe us with His robe of righteousness. As long as we refuse to come to God with our sins, for repentance, God can not give us His robe of righteousness.” We must put into practice what we learn.

8.      Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Notice these are red letter words, so they are Jesus words.

Look at the text and fill in these blanks.

a.       Who is standing at the door of our hearts knocking? J____________.

b.      At who’s heart door is Jesus standing? All M __ __

c.       That means “All men”.

d.      What does he say He will do? C __ __ __   I __.

     How willing is Christ to take possession of our soul temple. He is here represented as standing at our hearts door waiting for us to ask Him in.

     Sin closes the heart door, there can be so much rubbish piled up at the door that must be removed before Jesus can come in, but He keeps calling us to repent, so He can come in. He does not dwell where sin is, so we must get ride of sin in our lives. 

We know that Jesus loves us very much and would desire us in His presence; but we must ask Him to come into our hearts. Ask him to help us to remove the rubbish that seems so hard to get rid of, we can not do it by ourselves. We ask him in to clean our hearts we must ask him to help us remove the rubbish and to keep us clean. We want His will, not our will, in our hearts every day.           

9.      Jesus gives a call to the Laodiceans, and also a promise. Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”  What is the call?  O  __ __ __ C __ __ __. What is the promise? Sit with M __ Father in H  __ __     T   __ __ __ __ E . Read a promise to the overcomer in Revelation 21:7. “He that ________ shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

We must accept the suffering part of religion, if we are to sit down with the suffering one (Jesus Christ) upon His throne. Want it be wonderful to sit with the king of the universe on His throne? Matthew 19:28 “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Jesus is speaking to His followers. He gave them a promise to them that follow Him. That they would sit on twelve T __ __ __ __ __ __ someday and judge T __ __ __ __ __  tribes of Israel. This judgment is the judgment of the wicked.

10.  Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; Revelation 3:6, 13, 22. In these verses we see the same call. Revelation 3:22 “He that _____ an ______, let him ______ what the Spirit saith unto the ________.”

Summery: Laodiceans 1844 – till Christ return.

Revelation 3:14 Faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Revelation 1:5.

Revelation 3:15 Neither cold nor hot.

Revelation 3:15, 16, 17. I would that thou werest cold or hot, not lukewarm. Increased with goods, having need of nothing, while wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

Revelation 3:18 Buy of me gold tried in the fire (faith and love), so you may be rich. White raiment (Christ robe of righteousness, comes with forgiveness of sin) that thou mayest be clothed. Eyesalve (The Holy Spirit) that you may see. (See the sin in your own life and the need for a Saviour)

Revelation 3:16 I will spue thee out of my mouth

“The figure of spewing out of His mouth means that He cannot offer up your prayers or your expressions of love to God. He cannot endorse your teaching of His word or your spiritual work in anywise. He cannot present your religious exercises with the request that grace be given you.

     Could the curtain be rolled back, could you discern the purposes of God and the judgments that are about to fall upon a doomed world, could you see your own attitude, you would fear and tremble for your own souls and for the souls of your fellow men. Earnest prayers of heart-rending anguish would go up to heaven. You would weep between the porch and the altar, confessing your spiritual blindness and backsliding. 

     "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children: . . . let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare Thy people, O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach." Joel 2:15-17. 6 Testimonies page 408

Revelation 3:19 Be zealous therefore and repent.

Revelation 3:21 He that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my throne, sit down with The Father in His throne.

     “Many of the professed, peculiar people of God are so conformed to the world that their peculiar character is not discerned, and it is difficult to distinguish "between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not." God would do great things for His people if they would come out from the world and be separate. If they would submit to be led by Him, He would make them a praise in all the earth. Says the True Witness: "I know thy works.” 2 Testimonies page 125

The Lord will leave no one in darkness who wants to hear and understand truth. The spiritual ear can hear the call of the heavenly voices. The open heart is spoken to be the glory of God through the works of nature. The listening ear can hear and understand the communication of God through nature.

     Matthew 5:6 We are to hunger and thirst after righteousness, if we do, the promise here, is we will be filled. Have you ask Jesus to fill you anew each day with His Spirit and help to remove the rubbish from the heart? Renew your heart in prayer every morning before you move into your day.