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1 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
REVELATION: THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
Class 8. Church of Laodicea – The Lukewarm Church
Rev 3:14-22
14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the
Beginning of the creation of God:
15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could
wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need
of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable,
poor, blind, and naked—
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you
may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that
the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint
your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and
repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and
he with Me.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches." NKJV
I. BACKGROUND OF LAODICEA
A. The City
1. LAODICEA - [LAY ah duh SEE uh]-a city in the fertile Lycus
Valley of the province of PHRYGIA where one of the seven
churches of Asia Minor was situated (Rev 3:14). About 65
kilometers (40 miles) east of Ephesus and about 16 kilometers
(10 miles) west of Colossae, Laodicea was built on the banks of
the river Lycus, a tributary of the Maeander River.
2 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
The words of the risen Christ to Laodicea in Rev 3:14-22
contain allusions to the economic prosperity and social
prominence of the city. Founded by the SELEUCIDS and
named for Laodice, the wife of Antiochus II (261-247 B.C.),
Laodicea became extremely wealthy during the Roman period.
For example, in 62 B.C. Flaccus seized the annual contribution
of the Jews of Laodicea for Jerusalem amounting to 20 pounds
of gold. Moreover, when the city was destroyed by an
earthquake in A.D. 60 (along with Colossae and Hierapolis), it
alone refused aid from Rome for rebuilding (compare the self-
sufficient attitude of the church of Laodicea in Rev 3:17).
Laodicea was known for its black wool industry; it
manufactured garments from the raven-black wool produced by
the sheep of the surrounding area. (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
2. The Laodicean condition describes the spiritual lukewarmness
and worldliness that will prevail in the professing church of
Christ at the end of the age. Rich, cultured, religiously
ritualistic-this church will have become so self-satisfied and
worldly as to have ostracised Christ completely. He is
represented prophetically as standing on the outside knocking
for admission (Rev 3:20). No longer is He admitted by the
corporate body, but stands outside extending an invitation to
individuals. The awful spiritual condition, so utterly abhorrent
to God, calls forth one of the boldest figures used in the NT.
"So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will
spit you out of My mouth" (3:16; cf. 2 Tim 3:1-8 for the spiritual
and moral conditions at the end of the church age). (From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by
Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)
B. Who Jesus Describes Himself As.
1. Amen – This is the Hebrew word for “truth” and carries with it
the meaning of “Finality”. Everything God is and everything
God has spoken and promised is summed up in the person of
Jesus – the Final Truth of God! Dr. Merrill C. Tenney Stated;
“Christ is the seal of God’s revealed truth, the finality of all that
the Father has spoken. Beyond Him, God has nothing more to
3 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
say to man.” All of God’s revelations to humankind about
Himself are found in the person of Jesus Christ.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me. NKJV
2. The Faithful and True Witness – Jesus accurately serves God
through the testimony of His words and deeds. He once stated;
“If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father.” He knows all
things from beginning to the end and His word can be accepted
as absolute authority because of the fact of His life, death, and
resurrection.
John 3:34
34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for
God does not give the Spirit by measure. NKJV
3. The Ruler of God’s Creation – The word “ruler” here is more
often translated “beginning” or “first cause”. It implies the
beginning of something or the cause of something coming into
being. It means that Jesus is the source of creation.
John 1:1-3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him
nothing was made that was made. NKJV
Col 1:15-17
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over
all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and
that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or principalities or powers. All things were
created through Him and for Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
NKJV
4 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
II. CHRIST’S CONDEMNATION OF LAODICEA
Rev 3:15-18
15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish
you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of
nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor,
blind, and naked—
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be
rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of
your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye
salve, that you may see. NKJV
A. The Lukewarm Church Vs. 15-16
1. Neither Cold Nor Hot – This church took a neutral stand on the
things of God. It had replaced the power of God with a form of
godliness, organizational ability, programs, committees and
activities. We are warned about this in Paul’s letter to Timothy.
2 Tim 3:1-7
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal,
despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from
such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make
captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by
various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth. NKJV
5 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
2. Tim LaHaye says in His book, “Revelation Unveiled”; “The
lukewarm church, which claims to represent Jesus Christ, never
sees the transformation of a soul from darkness to life, but
instead deceives many because they do not have the power of
the gospel of Christ. These churches are usually more
interested in social action than gospel action, more interested in
reformation than transformation, more interested in planning
than praying. Consequently, they are sickening to the Lord.”
���� John Hagee recently said; “There is a tomorrow that will usher
in events that will completely change this planet and that will
radically change your life and your future. This is not the time
to procrastinate! This is not the time for complacency. This is
not the time to be lukewarm. This is the time to realize that one
day time will be no more and the choices you have made in life
will be irrevocably ratified for all eternity.” {Hagee, John,
BEGINNING OF THE END, p.32}
� The New Age movement came into being in the United States
during the 1960’s, but it is now a worldwide phenomenon. It
originated as an umbrella for several groups: hippies, feminists,
environmentalists, and others. New Agers are involved in
many “consciousness raising” techniques such as channeling,
transcendental meditation, astrology, and developing psychic
powers. Basically, they see man as the sole designer and maker
of his future. The movement dominates the Untied Nations and
is greatly influencing public education, many politicians,
corporations, and the US military. Its greatest danger lies in its
rejection of Jesus as the Savior, its promotion of false religions
and doctrines, its corruption of the church, and its support of
“peace at any price”. It is a major force behind the one world
religion movement that will trigger the judgment of God on the
world.
3. “I Am About To Spit You Out Of Mouth” – Here is the sad
result of this sin of lukewarmness. This is a problem that can
be found in individual lives as well as in whole church bodies.
Imagine being under the deception that you could live your life
the way you wanted and still thought you were a Christian
because you went to church every Sunday. We are told to
6 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
judge our lives now so we won’t be judged later. This would
be a wise thing for everyone to do on a daily basis.
1 Cor 11:31-32
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be
judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord,
that we may not be condemned with the world. NKJV
Rom 11:21-22
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not
spare you either.
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on
those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you
continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut
off. NKJV
B. Differing Descriptions Of The Laodicean Church.
Rev. 3:17
17 For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am
in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are
wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. AMP [Hos. 12:8].1
1. Laodicea’s description of herself:
a. I am rich ; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am
in need of nothing –The Laodicean church of today is the
finest money can buy. It has awesome architecture, million
dollar buildings, fund raising organizations, and a huge
church membership though the people may be
unconsecrated. The people in these churches can organize,
build, promote, preach and teach but they cannot convict or
transform a human soul! The work of the Holy Spirit is to
glorify Jesus only. If these works glorify humanity or its
achievements, it is not the work of the Holy Spirit.
1The Amplified New Testament, (La Habra CA: The Lockman Foundation) 1999.
7 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
b. Instead of preaching the truth in the face of denial and false
beliefs, they spend their time dealing with social causes,
trying to change a world that is rapidly heading for
destruction instead of warning the inhabitants of the
destruction and judgment that is coming. The Laodicean
church of today would be at the forefront of gay rights, the
feminist movements and be leaders in feminizing the deity
of God and ordaining homosexuals into the ministry.
2. Christ’s Description Of The Laodicean Church:
a. “Wretched, pitiful” – These people didn’t have a realistic
view of themselves. They probably tried all the self-
improvement helps and techniques, yet Jesus said they
were wretched and pitiful. Jesus is the only thing that
can satisfy the hungry human heart!
b. “Poor” – These people were rich in material things but
poor in the things of the spirit. They lacked Christ and
without Him they had nothing.
Mark 8:36-38
36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul?
37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this
adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man
also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His
Father with the holy angels." NKJV
c. “Blind” – These people thought they were wise by the
world’s standards and they probably were. But we are
not to be wise according to the worlds standards but to
God’s standards. Without the wisdom of God they tend
to try to change the problems of the world without
allowing God to change them instead. An old proverb
states; “Before Kingdoms change, men’s hearts must
change.”
8 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
d. “Naked” – The Laodicean church was not clothed with
the righteousness of Christ because it denied Him
Lordship over them as a corporate body and probably as
individuals also. No matter how we clothe ourselves in
this hour, or what we clothe ourselves with, if we do not
put on Christ we will be naked before all.
Rom 13:13-14
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and
drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and
envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision
for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. NKJV
Gal 3:26-27
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put
on Christ. NKJV
Eph 4:20-24
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21if indeed you have
heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in
Jesus:
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old
man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and that you put on the new man which was created
according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
NKJV
Col 3:9-11
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old
man with his deeds,
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in
knowledge according to the image of Him who created
him,
11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but
Christ is all and in all. NKJV
9 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
� No matter how you describe them, the Laodicean church was an
arrogant, self-sufficient church in an affluent city. Just like
springs of water – cold springs are refreshing, hot springs are
medicinal and lukewarm springs are nauseating!
C. The Counsel Of Christ To The Laodiceans
Rev 3:18-19
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be
rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of
your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye
salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and
repent. NKJV
1. “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that
you may be rich” – Jesus tells them who are rich to buy gold
which He has refined. Gold was superheated in huge furnaces
to draw out all its impurities until it was refines and pure. At
this point in the refining process, the gold took on a clear and
mirror like finish that enabled the refiner to see his image in the
gold.
1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us
again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that
does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while,
if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more
precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by
fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the
revelation of Jesus Christ,
10 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not
see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible
and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your
souls. NKJV
1 Peter 1:3-9 AMP
3 Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy
we have been born again to an ever-living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the
reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and
unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God’s power
through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final]
salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last
time.
6 [You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though
now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and
suffer temptations,
7 So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested,
[your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the
perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This
proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your]
praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the
Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.
8 Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do
not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult
and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant,
heavenly) joy.
9 [At the same time] you receive the result (outcome,
consummation) of your faith, the salvation of your
souls.2
a. It causes great joy to Jesus when He brings us into
a place of fire not only by His Spirit but through
circumstance so that the impurities of our lives
2The Amplified New Testament, (La Habra CA: The Lockman Foundation) 1999.
11 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
may be drawn out and refined so that He may see
us as pure and holy and so He can behold His
image in us. It’s a part of being baptized with the
Holy Spirit and fire.
Isa 55:1-3
1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you--
The sure mercies of David. NKJV
b. We who are poor are counseled to buy or obtain these
items without money. Why? Because Jesus already
bought them through His death and resurrection.
c. Look at the four references He makes to the items
mentioned.
� Waters – this refers to living waters of life
springing up in those who are saved and also refers
to the Holy Spirit Who is living waters.
� Wine – always speaks of covenant blessings
through covenant agreement. It also speaks of
prosperity and the culmination of the harvest.
� Milk – often refers to provisions which have been
made in where there is no longer any lack.
12 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
� Bread – is that which sustains us which Jesus
provided through His death and resurrection.
2. “And white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame
of your nakedness may not be revealed” – These garments
represented the righteousness of God in the believer’s life,
which causes the judgment for sin to pass over the believer. It
can be seen in the following scriptures as robes of
righteousness. Anyone not covered in these robes stood bare
naked before the Lord with their sin exposed, uncovered and
ashamed.
Isa 61:10
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. NKJV
Rev 19:5-9
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our
God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both
small and great!"
6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as
the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty
thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God
Omnipotent reigns!
7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the
marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made
herself ready."
8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen,
clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of
the saints.
9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are
called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said
to me, "These are the true sayings of God." NKJV
13 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
Rev. 19:7-9 AMP
7 Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and
triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory
and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has
come, and His bride has prepared herself. [Ps. 118:24].
8 She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen,
dazzling and white—for the fine linen is (signifies,
represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly
living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God)
of the saints (God’s holy people).
9 Then [the angel] said to me, Write this down: Blessed
(happy, to be envied) are those who are summoned
(invited, called) to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And
he said to me [further], These are the true words (the
genuine and exact declarations) of God.3
a. There can be no denying that the bride of Christ is the
body of Chris, the righteous believers that Jesus came
and pulled out of the earth. It mentions the servants
giving praise and being called and invited to the wedding
and that they wore white garments or robes.
b. Before the time of Moses, when the proposal was
accepted {the plan of salvation and the prophecies revealed},
the marriage price paid {through Jesus’ blood, death and
resurrection}, and the gifts distributed {the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit and His gifts and the gifts of deliverance,
healing and salvation were dispersed among mankind}, the
bridegroom was at liberty to move the bride at once to his
own home {rapture or catching away of the church which is
His bride} (Gen 24:63-67). The essence of the ceremony
consisted in the removal of the bride from her father's
house {earth & kingdom of darkness} to that of the
bridegroom or his father {heaven and the Kingdom of God
and His Son}. There seems, indeed, to be a literal truth in
the Heb. expression "to take" a wife (Gen 21:21; 24:3,38;
26:34; see marg.), for the ceremony appears to have mainly
consisted in the taking. After putting on festive dress,
3The Amplified New Testament, (La Habra CA: The Lockman Foundation) 1999.
14 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
placing a "garland" on his head (Isa 61:10; "crown," Song
3:11, marg., "wreath"), the bridegroom {Jesus} set forth
from his house {Heaven}, attended by his groomsmen
{Angels} (cf. Judg 14:11; Matt 9:15), preceded by a band of
musicians or singers {more angels with a trumpet sound}
(Gen 31:27; Jer 7:34; 16:9; 1 Macc. 9:39), and accompanied
by persons bearing lamps (2 Esd. 10:2; Matt 25:7; cf. Jer
25:10; Rev 18:23). Having reached the house of the bride,
who with her companions anxiously expected his arrival
(Matt 25:1,6), he conducted the whole party back to his
own or his father's house, with every demonstration of
gladness (Ps 45:15). On their way back they were joined
by a party of young girls (virgins), friends of the bride
and bridegroom, who were in waiting to catch the
procession as it passed (Matt 25:6). The inhabitants of the
place pressed out into the streets to watch the procession
(Song 3:11). At the house a feast was prepared, to which
all the friends and neighbors were invited (Gen 29:22;
Matt 22:1-10; Luke 14:8; John 2:2), and the festivities were
protracted for seven or even fourteen days (Judg 14:12;
Tobit 8:19). The guests were provided by the host with
wedding clothes (Matt 22:11), and the feast was enlivened
with riddles (Judg 14:12) and other amusements. The
bridegroom now entered into direct communication with
the bride, and the "friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices
greatly" at hearing the voice of the bridegroom
conversing with her (John 3:29), which he regarded as a
satisfactory testimony of the success of his share in the
work. The last act in the ceremony was the conducting of
the bride to the bridal chamber (Heb. heder, Judg 15:1; Joel
2:16), where a canopy, named a huppa, was prepared (cf.
Ps 19:5; Joel 2:16). (From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by
Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)
3. “And anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” – The
Laodicean church had become blind to Christ – Who He was
and what He was doing, and was missing the calling and
purpose of God for their lives. They were in jeopardy of losing
all including their salvation, and their candle of revelation had
15 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
been removed. Jesus wanted to heal their blindness which
would consist of the new birth if necessary and the infilling of
the Holy Spirit.
John 3:3 AMP
3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that
unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot
ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the
kingdom of God. 4
1 Cor. 2:13-14 AMP
13 And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by
human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and
interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those
who possess the Holy Spirit].
14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome
or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of
the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to
him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively
recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted
with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated
and appreciated. 4
� The salve He speaks of here would be the anointing of the Holy
Spirit to know all things.
1 John 2:20
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know
all things. NKJV
1 John 2:27 AMP
27 But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the
unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in
you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct
you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning
everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in
(live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to
Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do].
4The Amplified New Testament, (La Habra CA: The Lockman Foundation) 1999.
16 | R e v e l a t i o n – C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 8
4. (Vs. 19) “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore
be zealous and repent” – We must remember that because
Christ loves us, He will always be willing to rebuke, chasten
and correct us. He paid an awesome price for us because He
loves us and wants to spend eternity with us and He isn’t going
to let us slip away without a fight.
Heb 12:3-11
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners
against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in
your souls.
4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as
to sons:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be
discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every
son whom He receives."
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for
what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become
partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and
we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in
subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to
them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His
holiness.
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but
painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of
righteousness to those who have been trained by it. NKJV
D. Christ’s Counsel To The Church And All Individuals
Rev 3:20-22
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and
opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with
Me.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I
also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
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22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." '
NKJV
1. Vs. 20 – Holman Hunt, the painter of the famous painting of
Jesus standing at the door and knocking, invited his friends to
come by and critique his painting of Jesus. One friend told him
that he left out something very important, the door handle.
Holman Hunt replied; “This door is the picture of the human
heart, and the handle is on the inside.” We are often waiting for
Jesus to move around us when all the while, He wants to move
inside of us. He will never do this however, without a willing
invite to come in and have intimate fellowship – hence the
supper. All too often we desire to invite those who we know
and love or are interested in, to come and have supper with us.
If we haven’t invited Jesus lately, we must ask ourselves –
why?
2. Jesus has been patiently knocking on the door of our hearts for
some time now. How has He done that you ask?
a. Through His Word – Warren Wiersbe once said; “Every
time I open my bible, God opens His mouth.” We can
hear messages in church like this one, but if we have
become lukewarm, we will often sleep in the pews with
our eyes open. We are seeing and listening, but not
perceiving or hearing. Many forget the messages as soon
as they leave the building, forgetting all the while that
God will hold them accountable for what they have just
heard. If they haven’t been faithful with what they have
heard, to do something with it, even what they have He’ll
take away.
Mark 4:10-29
10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the
twelve asked Him about the parable.
11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know
the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are
outside, all things come in parables,
12 so that
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'Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they
may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And
their sins be forgiven them.' "
13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this
parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
14 The sower sows the word.
15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is
sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and
takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who,
when they hear the word, immediately receive it with
gladness;
17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only
for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution
arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the
ones who hear the word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches,
and the desires for other things entering in choke the
word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who
hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold,
some sixty, and some a hundred."
21 And He said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be put under
a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a
lampstand?
22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed,
nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come
to light.
23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
24 Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With
the same measure you use, it will be measured to you;
and to you who hear, more will be given.
25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever
does not have, even what he has will be taken away from
him."
26 And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should
scatter seed on the ground,
27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed
should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.
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28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then
the head, after that the full grain in the head.
29 But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the
sickle, because the harvest has come." NKJV
b. Through His people – Many times God uses ordinary,
everyday, often obscure people to touch the lives of those
He is trying to reach. We mistakenly think it will be the
super preacher that reaches a loved one or someone we
are praying for, but this is not always the case.
� A Sunday school teacher, a Mr. Kimball, in 1858 led a
Chicago shoe clerk to Christ.
� The clerk, Dwight L. Moody, became an evangelist. In
England in 1879, he awakened evangelistic zeal in the heart
of Frederick B. Meyer, pastor of a small church.
� F.B. Meyer, preaching on an American College campus,
brought a student named J. Wilbur Chapman to Christ.
� Chapman, engaged in YMCA work, employed a former
baseball player, Billy Sunday, to do evangelistic work.
� Billy Sunday held a revival in Charlotte, North Carolina. A
group of local men were so enthusiastic afterward that they
planned another evangelistic campaign, brining Mordecai
Ham to town to preach.
� During Ham’s revival, a young man named William Graham
heard the gospel and yielded his life to Christ.
� It may be that you are one of the tens of thousands who have
been affected by the ministry of Billy Graham.
c. Through the work of the Holy Spirit – He is the agent
that convicts this world of its sin and causes many to toss
and turn at night fighting with their consciences about
their need for a savior. John 14:8
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3. “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My
throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on
His throne.” Imagine what Jesus is saying here. He said we
would share the same seat of power and authority as Jesus.
With this comes favorable honor and recognition. I imagine it
would be too much for me as I believe we would all want to
cast our crowns at His feet. But imagine the blessing of this
invitation.
II. THE SUMMARY OF ALL WE WOULD RECEIVE IF WE ARE
OBEDIENT
1. We will eat freely from the tree of life, which is in the midst of
the Paradise of God. Only over comers will eat of this tree
which Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat from. Overcoming
the world is the experience that takes place in the life of the
individual who puts his or her faith in Jesus Christ. There is no
other way a person can become an over comer!
Rev 2:7
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat
from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise
of God." ' NKJV
2. We will not be hurt by the second death, which is eternal
separation from God in the Lake of Fire, which burns forever.
Death is the bible’s term for the complete ruin of a person’s life
so they can never fulfill God’s plan for their life, which is
eternal. Death occurs when a person is forever separated from
God instead of united with Him as God intended. The second
death is that state when people who have died in unbelief are
resurrected and cast alive into an eternal state of separation
from God in the place called “the lake of fire”. This is a place
of great suffering and torment, of weeping, screaming and
gnashing of teeth. This second death need never cause the child
of God to fear, for it will have no power over them.
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Rev 2:11
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the
second death." NKJV
3. We will receive hidden manna is a food prepared and given to
the children of God to sustain them and strengthen them as was
the manna in Moses’ day. This manna is hidden and therefore
must be symbolic of a special and sacred substance or ability of
God to nourish us and sustain us with refreshing and strength,
which the world has no knowledge of.
The white stone would most likely represent the righteousness
of God in the form of an acquittal from the crime of our sins.
White usually represents righteousness. In times past during at
a court hearing, a white stone was laid down as a vote for
acquittal for a man’s crimes thereby finding him not guilty.
The white stone, then, stands as a beautiful symbol of the
eternal acquittal we gain through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev 2:17
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of
the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white
stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one
knows except him who receives it." ' NKJV
4. Again, if we overcome, He will give us power and authority to
rule with Him over the nations of the earth. We must
understand that at the height of the battle of Armageddon, there
will be those who bow their knee to Jesus and surrender who
will be spared and will enter into the 1000-year millennial reign
of Christ. They will not have glorified bodies as you and I have
and Jesus will use us to rule and govern over them, which is
why we must be taught and trained in the here and now for
what lies ahead for us in eternity. The bible also declares that
we would rule over angels also. Therefore, we are being
prepared now and we must be faithful over what Christ gives us
in order to be faithful over that which we will be given in that
day.
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We are also promised the morning star. In ancient times,
mariners who traveled through dark and stormy seas depended
on a star (which is actually he planet Venus) which appeared
early in the morning. It was so bright that it could be easily seen
and bearings could be made so the ship wouldn’t lose its way.
Christ is that brightest one shining in the darkest night we could
ever endure. No matter how bad the storm gets, He will show
us the way out of it, and bring us to a place of safety.
Rev 2:25-28
25 But hold fast what you have till I come.
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the
end, to him I will give power over the nations--
27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'--
as I also have received from My Father;
28 and I will give him the morning star. NKJV
5. If we overcome, we will be clothed in the righteousness of
Christ Jesus along with those who have done the same.
Because we were not afraid to testify about Jesus before men,
Jesus Himself will introduce us individually to the Father and
His angels. Imagine being introduced to God the Father as a
faithful and true witness and the joy you would fell for not
letting Christ down. Because of this, our names will not be
blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life and we will enter into the
joy of the Lord.
Rev 3:5-6
5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,
and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;
but I will confess his name before My Father and before
His angels.
6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches." ' NKJV
6. If we overcome, Jesus will cause us to stand immovable and
unshakable as a memorial of God, of Jesus, and all that He will
provide for our future. We will receive His new name, which
will grant us entrance into the things of God and into His city
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where no one else will be able to enter into. It will identify us
with Christ with His seal upon us. We will be able to see Him
face to face.
Rev 3:12-13
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple
of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write
on him the name of My God and the name of the city of
My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of
heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new
name.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches." NKJV
7. If we overcome, we will share Christ’s throne just as He shares
His Father’s throne. This speaks of a divine unity between God
and His children such as has never been seen before in time.
And our rest with Christ and the Father will be eternal as one
with each other in intimate relationship.
Rev 3:21-22
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My
throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father
on His throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches." NKJV