Sunday Morning Podcast April 19, 2015. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT:REVELATIONS 3:14-22
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because 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:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
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.
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.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
This letter was the counsel God gave to this Church. There were seven churches that seven angels were given messages from God for. This message was given for the church of the Laodiceans. Is this letter applicable to today’s church? Is it applicable to me personally? If it is, it also will imply some action that I need to take. If you say that this letter is not applicable to you, there is a reason why you would not accept that it is. You wouldn’t say it isn’t simply to avoid accountability, but you would have to reason “why,” some or part of this letter is not applicable to you, or the church today. Verse 20, A candlestick or “campstand” …what does it do? It holds up light. It is to illuminate the surrounding darkness so someone is able to see. God intended there to be a place for people to gather, where the light would dispel the darkness. Darkness is the absence of light, just as the world is without God. Darkness. God has shown in His faithfulness, that He would not remove the candlestick of light, where those watching, would take care of those problems God shines His light upon. God illuminates those problems to help us to see what we need to take care of. God warns that if we don’t fix the conditions He has shown us, that He will remove His candlestick of light. God only allows His candlestick of light to be in the midst of a gathered people, that are faithful to His Presence.
All light belongs to God, if faithfulness is not shown shown to that light, He will remove it. Even though people gather that are not fully faithful, it is that they are then gathered instead, in spiritual darkness. They might even still read and use God’s word. But one of the reasons they still would have darkness, is that do not understand about being delivered from sin. Or more often than not, they choose not to be delivered. They enjoy a little bit of sin, and a little bit of holiness. But sin and holiness do not mix. Sin can not abide in the Holy Presence of God. You cannot have both sweet and bitter water come from the same fountain. It is impossible for a life of holiness to be lived while sinning more or less everyday. The letters to the churches throughout the ages each received a message from heaven for their congregation. Is it not possible we can each find answers to our needs in these letters sent to the churches throughout time in Revelations? We need to ask ourselves “Isn’t all God’s word useful for each of us?” Each of these different churches had different needs and messages. Some to be commended, some to repent, some to hold fast, etc. But to the church of Laodicea, there was nothing good to say to them. Only that they were neither cold or hot, but lukewarm, and God would spue them out of His mouth. Unless they would see how blind, miserable, poor, and naked they were, and if they then would zealously repent. What grade would you give yourself? Are you leading others by your life (or living letter) to Christ?
How does God’s Word find us? What would God’s letter say to you?