Laodicea: Those I Love I Rebuke & Discipline
Jesus teaches us that we should not be lukewarm but rather receive His loving rebukes and discipline so we can be rich and have close fellowship with Him!
REVELATION 3:14-22
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. [Colossians 4:12-15 & Daniel 7:14] 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. [Matthew 7:21-23 & Titus 1:16]
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. [John 14:15] 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. [Revelation 5:13-14; 22:1] 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
JESUS’ OPENING DECLARATION
- Jesus is the Amen
- The faithful and true witness
- The ruler of God’s creation
REBUKE FOR THE CHURCH
- Because their deeds are neither hot or cold but they are lukewarm, Jesus is ready to spit them out of His mouth.
- They say they are rich and don’t need a thing, but Jesus says they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
ENCOURAGEMENT & INSTRUCTION
- Jesus commands them to buy gold from Him so they can be rich, have white clothes to wear to cover their nakedness, and salve for their eyes to see.
- They are to be earnest and repent
- They should open the door for Jesus to dine with them
JESUS’ CLOSING DECLARATION
- To the victorious Jesus will give the right to sit with Him on His Father’s Throne
- Whoever has ears let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches