Revelation 3: Laodicea - The Lukewarm Church

[UNKNOWN]: Thank you.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, good morning.

[SPEAKER_00]: How you doing first free?

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, good stuff.

[SPEAKER_00]: Hey, if it's your first time here, first and foremost, who's just going to say, man, we are so glad that you're with us today.

[SPEAKER_00]: However, it is that God brought you here.

[SPEAKER_00]: We'd love to see you just continue to be around, get connected, and for this to be able to call the place that you call your church home.

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[SPEAKER_00]: go to the QR code located in the seat in front of you, you can kind of see it with your phone and it will get you all the information and all the links that you need to click on just so that we can get to know you and help you get connected more here at the church.

[SPEAKER_00]: My name is Kyle and I'm one of the pastors here and some of you may know that I have a student ministry background and so you may be looking at these stage props with a slight bit of nervousness going.

[SPEAKER_00]: is he going to try to use these to talk about Jesus' words to the Church of Lao to see him?

[SPEAKER_00]: No.

[SPEAKER_00]: Timting, but no.

[SPEAKER_00]: Actually,

[SPEAKER_00]: If I was going to do that, it'd be Revelation 12 and 13 where the sea monster comes up and Jesus has got to put that thing to rest.

[SPEAKER_00]: So anyways, but yeah, so it is we, if you're joining us online and you're just catching up, this is for our take connection camp, which begins tomorrow, address or so 12 to four today.

[SPEAKER_00]: for any of you that are a prayer that all right but begins tomorrow over 230 kids are going to be here to hear about Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: So learn about the life that He has offered them through his death and resurrection and about how to go and be His witnesses in and throughout the world.

[SPEAKER_00]: So really exciting week for us and also next Sunday is something that we have a few times a year called worship together and that is the time we're both at the nine o'clock and the 1045

[SPEAKER_00]: We have everyone in here together.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so there will be no kick connection next week.

[SPEAKER_00]: You'll just be with you.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you guys will have a grand old time.

[SPEAKER_00]: Adam O is does some things to help the service to be interactive and age appropriate and accessible for everyone that's in the room.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I really look forward to worship together because it is a visible and tangible reminder to me.

[SPEAKER_00]: that we are God's people of the generations, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so it's a really cool opportunity for us to get to do that together in service and to experience worship in that way.

[SPEAKER_00]: So please be sure that you check with your class or Sunday community teacher to make sure to see if you guys are having class next week or your Sunday morning community.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know some are planning on it.

[SPEAKER_00]: Pressing full steam ahead, others may not be.

[SPEAKER_00]: So please be sure to reach out to whoever is responsible.

[SPEAKER_00]: for that in your area here in First Freed.

[SPEAKER_00]: As I said a minute ago, we're going to be looking at Jesus' words to the church of Laodicea.

[SPEAKER_00]: So if you want to go ahead and flip open to Revelation chapter three, verses 14 through 22, that's where we will be here in just a hot second.

[SPEAKER_00]: And if you've ever read through the book of Revelation,

[SPEAKER_00]: At the end of chapter three is where the epistolary form stops, where it's letters written to specific places, and then I say this tongue-in-cheek, and then chapter four and onward is where all the fun wild stuff that sometimes we're like, what is actually going on here begins.

[SPEAKER_00]: So we're going to take a pause on that and come back to that in a few months.

[SPEAKER_00]: So if you've really been enjoying the Revelation series and you show up next week and you're like, hey, why are we talking about Jonah now?

[SPEAKER_00]: No, we're not dodging the fun stuff.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're going to dive into it.

[SPEAKER_00]: We do, we're just going to take a little bit of a break for a minute and then come back to it later in the years.

[SPEAKER_00]: So be sure that you join us.

[SPEAKER_00]: So before I jump into today's passage, I want to take you to a time 500 years ago when I was in college.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that'll, no.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I went to university.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sorry, Central Missouri State University.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think it's called UCM now instead.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I remember, yeah, Go Meals.

[SPEAKER_00]: And Jenny's, all right, Jenny's a few minutes.

[SPEAKER_00]: You'll not sure if you knew that.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I remember arriving on campus.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm a freshman.

[SPEAKER_00]: And a few upper classmen that I got to know told me right away that like, hey, dude, listen.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you're going to survive here at Warrensburg, there's something you need to go to Walmart and buy right now.

[SPEAKER_00]: and it's called a bread of water purifier.

[SPEAKER_00]: Here's a deal.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is the water in Warrensburg is rough.

[SPEAKER_00]: They said ice cold, you can kind of gut it out, room temperature, yeah.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then if you use it for coffee, well, whatever expectation you had of what your coffee was gonna taste like, and then it gonna taste like that once you use this water.

[SPEAKER_00]: So they said, hey, listen, you need to really go by one two day because it's just gonna make your life that much better.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then I still remember this.

[SPEAKER_00]: I was like, maybe first or second day on campus, I went to go and play pick up basketball.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm exhausted, and I go to the water fountain, and I'm like, yo, there is that thing that they were talking about.

[SPEAKER_00]: I am going to Walmart right now until that 15.99 changed my life.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, there's a deal, within the Warrensburg water,

[SPEAKER_00]: There were all sorts of minerals and things in there that I've done a research on as to what those were.

[SPEAKER_00]: I was very what I found.

[SPEAKER_00]: But they just kind of made the water just not taste right.

[SPEAKER_00]: And in fact, it even makes your stomach go a little whew, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: So the reason I share that story is because when Jesus talks about the spiritual condition of the Church of Laodicea,

[SPEAKER_00]: of someone tasting water that just makes you want to spit it out, not because he doesn't love them, not because he doesn't know them, but because of where they've allowed themselves to drift.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so today we're going to talk about this because it's kind of a, it's an interesting

[SPEAKER_00]: From what we can see, it doesn't look like it was, what contributed towards them being there was not something that you would have seen right away and gone up to the local elders and been like, hey, listen, if you don't clean this up in your church right now with bad teaching, bad ethics, bad morality, like this thing is going to the tank.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, from what I can see, from what I can gather, I think it was something that crept in a little bit more subtly.

[SPEAKER_00]: And over time, what we're going to see is that Jesus says,

[SPEAKER_00]: that the church's usefulness for the kingdom had become useless.

[SPEAKER_00]: They had totally lost their way.

[SPEAKER_00]: And in my opinion, from what we can see in the letter, it's not just that, it's even worse, because they had grown to not really see their need for him to depend upon him daily, because they had just let other things become their comfort.

[SPEAKER_00]: They had the other things convinced them, but their default mob was, yeah, Jesus is good and Jesus is nice, but I kind of got this, all right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so today, as we go into this letter, the reason why I love it is not just because Jesus tells them where they are and how they got there, just kind of hard to read, Jesus also gives them a riddle that kind of throws them off balance

[SPEAKER_00]: And as just as much as Jesus says, some very hard to hear things and some direct things.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus also reminds them of his heart and through that riddle that becomes their remedy.

[SPEAKER_00]: And as the message closes, Jesus invites them to a meal that won't just meet them in the here and now of where they were to point them back towards hell, but that would really serve them as a blessing into the future.

[SPEAKER_00]: So as it heads up,

[SPEAKER_00]: Along the way, I'm gonna weave in a little bit of loudnessy and history and topography and they're spot in the marketplace because this actually all ties into this letter, but our promise it's for use and it'll really help us to have some good applications for today as we walk out of here.

[SPEAKER_00]: So if you're looking for a main idea here at the beginning, here it is, and we'll come back to it towards the end.

[SPEAKER_00]: Is this, we never outgrow our need for daily dependence.

[SPEAKER_00]: upon Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: This in some version was a story of the loudest in church.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's go ahead and dive into here about it.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus says this to the church of loudest see it in Revelation 314 right this letter to the angel of the church in loudest see a this is the message from the one who is the amen the faithful and true witness the beginning of God's new creation.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know all the things you do that you are neither hot nor cold.

[SPEAKER_00]: I wish that you were one or the other.

[SPEAKER_00]: But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you from my mouth.

[SPEAKER_00]: You say, I am rich, I have everything I want.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't need a thing.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you don't realize that you are wretched

[SPEAKER_00]: So I advise you to come by gold from me, gold that has been purified by fire, then you will be rich also by white garments from me that you will not be shamed by your nakedness and ointment for your eyes so that you will be able to see.

[SPEAKER_00]: I correct and discipline everyone I love.

[SPEAKER_00]: So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

[SPEAKER_00]: Look, I stand at the door and knock.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will share a meal together as friends.

[SPEAKER_00]: Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne just as I was victorious and sat with my father on his throne.

[SPEAKER_00]: Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the spirit

[SPEAKER_00]: So, that would not be a fun email to open.

[SPEAKER_00]: Those will be hard words to hear.

[SPEAKER_00]: From the jump in verse 14, what does Jesus say?

[SPEAKER_00]: He says that he is going to speak as a faithful and true witness to where allowed us to see it is, because they can't see themselves.

[SPEAKER_00]: They can't assess themselves.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're blind, they don't get it.

[SPEAKER_00]: And if we're gonna look at what the spiritual condition of loudest here is, and few words, I would just say not good, to hear Jesus say that your condition is like lukewarm or spoiled water and that he is about to spit you out of his mouth, that will get your attention or at least it should.

[SPEAKER_00]: But what does Jesus mean by this?

[SPEAKER_00]: What does he mean by the phrase, Luke warm or a tepid water?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, was this just a suggestion or a calling for them to turn up the passion a little bit?

[SPEAKER_00]: Right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Is this all about just turning up the zeal?

[SPEAKER_00]: Did whoever was preaching just need to talk louder?

[SPEAKER_00]: Try more, be more emotive.

[SPEAKER_00]: Say more 50 things like, did whoever was leading the songs

[SPEAKER_00]: Just need to take a deeper stance with the guitar, like do they just need the volume to go up?

[SPEAKER_00]: Do they just need more fog, more haze, make sure everything is just coming together, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Do they just need more posts?

[SPEAKER_00]: I know that you know they didn't have that, but just say we're like, what do they need, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Do they just, do they need more guys using catchy phrases, like what's what's the deal?

[SPEAKER_00]: Do they just need to turn up the passion?

[SPEAKER_00]: Or is it something else?

[SPEAKER_00]: And by the way, I want to be clear.

[SPEAKER_00]: I have no problem with passion at preaching with music, maybe every now and then getting a little loud.

[SPEAKER_00]: Foggin haste, I'm cool that I'm a student ministry background, bring it on, it's fine, whatever, I can live with it or without it, whatever.

[SPEAKER_00]: Social media posts cool, but what's the why behind it?

[SPEAKER_00]: The nism that just performative and kind of just hinging upon us, doing things.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, is that what Jesus wants?

[SPEAKER_00]: Does Jesus just want a better performance?

[SPEAKER_00]: Does he just want us to be louder in all these other things?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, no, I don't, I don't think that's what Jesus is after at all.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you're not, and I'm not after that either.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, we've all been in situations.

[SPEAKER_00]: Interpersonally, or at work, or hey, even at the church, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Where maybe you felt like someone was getting loud, getting passionate, doing all this stuff, they're turning up the volume on everything.

[SPEAKER_00]: And at the end of the day, you didn't really see much substance come of it.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it's like, oh, so you just wanted me to be convinced that you were passionate, because I was the target market.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you wanted a reaction on it.

[SPEAKER_00]: you want to meet a believe you you want to accept you really want to meet us to believe how sorry you were so you just like went full send on the whole thing and then within a few days I find out oh you weren't really that sorry you just want to things to be cool again so you made this big production out of it when in reality I don't see much difference

[SPEAKER_00]: And if it's just about temperature, if Jesus wants the knob turned higher, then why does He say it would be better for them to be hot or cold?

[SPEAKER_00]: He talks about cold like it's that would be better than where they are.

[SPEAKER_00]: I remember one time, early in my faith, I heard someone who I think they love Jesus, they knew God's word and I think they said something in a well-meaning way, but I think they were off.

[SPEAKER_00]: They were like, well, you know, Jesus is saying that you need to be passionate or it might be better off that you weren't even saved because you just need to be colder.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I remember going, I don't think that's right.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think Jesus wants people who are Luke warm to be spiritually colder.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Is there something within this whole temperature thing that maybe we're missing?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, if we learn a little bit about loudness in topography and geography, I think it gives us a better picture.

[SPEAKER_00]: of what Jesus is getting at.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I've got a picture up here on the screen.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go ahead and use.

[SPEAKER_00]: And if you learn about where allowed to see it is positioned, it's interesting when you think about water sources.

[SPEAKER_00]: So the North was higher opulists.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now they were really famous because they're hot springs.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're seen as incredibly beneficial for medicinal reasons and therapeutic reasons.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so they were very known for that.

[SPEAKER_00]: There was this reputation, the water in Colosse, which was to the south, it was mountain-fed water, which was very clean, very fresh, very, very quenching, if you were just like about to dive from the pickup game of basketball.

[SPEAKER_00]: So that was beneficial in its own unique way.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, loud ascia on the other hand, despite it being a city of Great Welles, and we'll talk about that here in a minute,

[SPEAKER_00]: And so they had to use piping and aqueducts from miles away to be brought into the city.

[SPEAKER_00]: And by the time it got there, it hadn't just lost its temperature.

[SPEAKER_00]: It was filled with sediment and contaminants.

[SPEAKER_00]: That when you tasted it, it was like, whoa, what's going on?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so if Jesus is saying, he's like, hey, listen, who is your of some benefit?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, what he's saying is not just a matter of zeal or passion, although I do think the passion for the Lord and loud as he was, was part of the issue.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think the bigger issue is, what has gotten into the water of this church?

[SPEAKER_00]: What's been flowing through their culture to where when Jesus looks at their spiritual condition,

[SPEAKER_00]: He says, you're being of no use of no benefit.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's no reputable thing that people would want to come to you to hear about for my kingdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: What is led them to get to that spot?

[SPEAKER_00]: And then also to have maybe been so contaminated in some ways to where it's even if you did taste something.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's just not good.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's not beneficial.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I think that's the million dollar question that we're all kind of reading here.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus reveals how allowed to see a God there, how they got where they were.

[SPEAKER_00]: In verse 17, Jesus says, you say that I am rich, I have everything I want and don't need a thing.

[SPEAKER_00]: And if you just hit pause there, you're like, hey, wait a minute, this sounds pretty good.

[SPEAKER_00]: If they're saying that they have everything that they need, they're rich, all as well, and they're saying those things because of what they have in Jesus, then I mean, come on.

[SPEAKER_00]: What's the problem?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, this is a place that Jesus would call blessed, not because they're perfect, but because they get it.

[SPEAKER_00]: But instead, what does Jesus say?

[SPEAKER_00]: He's like, no, he's like, listen, you're not saying these things because of what you have in me.

[SPEAKER_00]: He says, you don't realize that you are a wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, why?

[SPEAKER_00]: Because in my opinion, and from what I can see and from studying people who have looked in this way more than I have, loud as see or what's seen that they were rich without need.

[SPEAKER_00]: They were saying that they were rich, that they have everything they want, and they don't need anything, because what was bringing them their satisfaction, what was bringing them their comfort was no longer dwelling upon Jesus anymore.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, at one point in time, it seems like this was a church that recognized its desperate need for Jesus to be dependent upon him.

[SPEAKER_00]: But over time, they had lost sight of that.

[SPEAKER_00]: They no longer saw themselves as they needed to, they no longer saw Jesus as they needed to.

[SPEAKER_00]: They weren't cherishing the things of God, like what they once were.

[SPEAKER_00]: And when it comes to the way that which they were stewarding, where God had placed them and what God had given him, they had completely lost their way.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so, even think about like, okay,

[SPEAKER_00]: How does a group of believers who have trusted in Jesus?

[SPEAKER_00]: How do they get there?

[SPEAKER_00]: How do you go from realizing that Jesus is all that you need to a place where you've kind of become spiritually complacent in your walk with Him?

[SPEAKER_00]: And when it comes to being missionarily impactful, you're just like, oh, we're good.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, how do you get there?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, if you jump into loud as see a sisterie, one of the things that you see,

[SPEAKER_00]: is that to be allowed to see him was not to see yourself as a person of need.

[SPEAKER_00]: Here's why.

[SPEAKER_00]: Geographically, they sat right in the middle of the Lycus Valley trade route, which meant anybody that was somebody that had lots of stuff was coming through there.

[SPEAKER_00]: In the marketplace, they were famous for three things.

[SPEAKER_00]: One,

[SPEAKER_00]: was their fashion and textile industry.

[SPEAKER_00]: They had this famous black wool that people would travel from just to get there.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like beyond loveliment of the day, if you will.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so if you had that kind of stuff, it was like, hey, you're making it.

[SPEAKER_00]: You got some status in this broken world.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so people would travel there for that.

[SPEAKER_00]: They were also famous because of their baking industry, which had notable Romans that would come in to invest and do business there

[SPEAKER_00]: Thirdly, they were famous in the medicinal world because they were a distributor of what was called phyrogen, phyrogen eye powder.

[SPEAKER_00]: And when you could bind this with oil and you could put it in your eyes and it would help with eye with eye ailments, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so if you think about it as a city, you're right in the middle of a major trade route, your famous for your banking industry,

[SPEAKER_00]: And fashion, I mean, what need do you have?

[SPEAKER_00]: No evit in history points this out better than in 60 AD, a massive earthquake, rocks loud to see it, causes lots of damage.

[SPEAKER_00]: Rooms response was the same word like, hey listen, we all, we heard all about all that's happened.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let us help you finance the reconstruction of things.

[SPEAKER_00]: We want things to go well for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know what, Lalo, just see his response was?

[SPEAKER_00]: We're good, we don't need your money.

[SPEAKER_00]: Why would they say that?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, maybe they're just like, hey, I don't know if you guys forgot this or not, but our checks are always cash.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, talk about a tough place that's so insurance, like this is just to tell you the bill, I mean, this is crazy.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so within this city, I mean, you're talking about a place where if you grew up here,

[SPEAKER_00]: You did not see yourself as a person of need.

[SPEAKER_00]: You saw yourself as a person other people probably needed.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because that was what it was to be allowed to see.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so, I mean, with this story from the earthquake, although it's in a way kind of a cool story of blessing and the way that a city could come together, it's also a really dangerous one, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: because you could just believe if you were allowed to see and that your affluence was always gonna save the day and to help make things better if things got uncomfortable.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, fast forward, at some point in time, the gospel of Jesus Christ comes to loud ascia and this is wonderful.

[SPEAKER_00]: Their eyes are open to see that there's more to this world and their wealth and their position and their place and Rome and there's more to their existence.

[SPEAKER_00]: And other than just stuff and earthly things, they're eyes are open to Jesus, they're trusting in Him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Things are going, well, at some point in time.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're realizing that their life's calling is about Him and loving their neighbor.

[SPEAKER_00]: What a game changer that must have been.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now they know the truth about the biggest questions of life.

[SPEAKER_00]: They've probably been given a nuisance of purpose and mission.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're learning about what God is up to in the world.

[SPEAKER_00]: to a group of believers in the church.

[SPEAKER_00]: If suddenly we begin to forget about our daily need to depend upon Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: We don't see things, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's not that we're cherishing things that are bad, but sometimes we begin to cherish things like they're actually what can really make us happy, they're really what can satisfy us, they're really what makes us rich.

[SPEAKER_00]: when in reality, passing and temporary things can't do that.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're nice, but they can't do what Jesus does.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so at some point in time, Lao Dissia begins to go from seeing Jesus as the thing to something else.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so when you look here, you're like, okay, so there's the condition of Lao Dissia,

[SPEAKER_00]: There's what is at the root of it?

[SPEAKER_00]: Where in the world is this going to get better?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, in verses 18 and 19, Jesus gives them a riddle that's going to point them toward the remedy that they need.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so he says this.

[SPEAKER_00]: He says, so I advise you to by gold for me.

[SPEAKER_00]: Gold has been purified by fire.

[SPEAKER_00]: then you will be rich, also by white garments for me so that you will not be ashamed of your nakedness and ointment for your eyes so that you will be able to see.

[SPEAKER_00]: I correct and I discipline everyone, I, what's the next word?

[SPEAKER_00]: Love.

[SPEAKER_00]: So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

[SPEAKER_00]: What does Jesus mean by this?

[SPEAKER_00]: Come and buy from me, gold.

[SPEAKER_00]: but gold has been refired by fire.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's loud to see it, it's your loud to see it.

[SPEAKER_00]: Are you thinking about your banking industry?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like Jesus, you want, you're telling us to come buy something from you.

[SPEAKER_00]: And to come and buy gold that's terrified by fire.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like Jesus, that's the kind of, that's the way that,

[SPEAKER_00]: That's the way that like Heavenly rewards are talked about for people that are in you and for people that steward what you've given them for your cause and your motives and your kingdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I would have seen money camp by that Jesus, who can afford that?

[SPEAKER_00]: To come and buy white garments that show our status before God and that cover our

[SPEAKER_00]: That's a lot more costly than our fire and black wool than everybody comes here for.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, hey, the fire and black wool is been good for us.

[SPEAKER_00]: But how can we come and buy that from you, Jesus?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, for us to come and buy I-self, I-O-A-E-O-A-E-Mint so that we can see Jesus, that I mean, I mean, we got our fire region, I-Powder.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're talking about something different.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because when you talk about being able to see, you're talking about being able to see you for who you are, life for what it is, ourselves for who we are, your mission in the world, everything.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus, who can buy that from you?

[SPEAKER_00]: If you were allowed to see it and you were thinking this way,

[SPEAKER_00]: I think Jesus would have had these words maybe for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: Good job.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're seeing that all the things that you're known for and that have brought you so much comfort, and maybe even falsely tricked you into thinking that your affluence could always fix everything for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, all of a sudden, you're seeing that I'm the press.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then what I give is greater.

[SPEAKER_00]: and that all these things that I'm telling you to come and buy from me, you actually don't have the finances to buy.

[SPEAKER_00]: You can only receive it by my grace.

[SPEAKER_00]: Interesting and who I am and what I've done for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: And by the way, you still need me today.

[SPEAKER_00]: Just as much as you did back then.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think Jesus might have said something like I haven't moved away, but you have.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus, even for the people that have moved away from him, what does he have?

[SPEAKER_00]: He has discipline, and he has love.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus wants to remind them that he is the prize.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's the prize.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's the one that opened up their eyes so that they could even see and understand who he was to begin with.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus is the one that opens up our eyes to be able to see and understand what God is like.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus is the one who opened up their eyes to see that his atoning death on the cross for them was what they needed.

[SPEAKER_00]: It was all that they needed.

[SPEAKER_00]: He was the one that opened up their eyes to see that, you know, his resurrection life brings us the life for whoever trusts in Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus was the one that they needed.

[SPEAKER_00]: He was the prize.

[SPEAKER_00]: And guess what?

[SPEAKER_00]: Even though the Church of God has gone off the rails,

[SPEAKER_00]: And they have forgotten how much they needed Jesus to be dependent upon him.

[SPEAKER_00]: And they have forgotten about how to have a heart for the way he wanted to use them in their space and in their world.

[SPEAKER_00]: What does Jesus respond to?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, he's the one that says, hey, listen, I see your condition.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'll tell you how you got there.

[SPEAKER_00]: But listen, come by my grace to me admit your need and I've got what you need.

[SPEAKER_00]: So as we read on in this passage, after Jesus gives them the remedy that's going to point them toward their need, which is him.

[SPEAKER_00]: What does he do?

[SPEAKER_00]: In verses 20 through 22, he invites them to a meal.

[SPEAKER_00]: When Jesus said, look, I stand at the door and knock.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and I will share a meal together.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sorry, and we will share a meal together

[SPEAKER_00]: Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and set with my father on his throne.

[SPEAKER_00]: Anyone who hears, anyone who hears to hear, must listen to the spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

[SPEAKER_00]: This meal that Jesus gives is a metaphor.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's such a powerful picture.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because Jesus doesn't just ask for any meal to share with them

[SPEAKER_00]: He asked to share a depnaio with him.

[SPEAKER_00]: This was the principle and long and big meal of the day.

[SPEAKER_00]: It was the meal that you had after the day's work was over to put it in modern day times.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's the meal that you're texting who ever was cooking about, hey, what we have tonight.

[SPEAKER_00]: And when they say what you're excited for, like, oh, thank you.

[SPEAKER_00]: Cause it's the long meal.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's not, he's not asking for a rushed cup of coffee.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's not asking for a quick breakfast.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, hey, I got to get the lunch and get back.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm so sorry, I'd love to hang out longer.

[SPEAKER_00]: I got to go.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus, like, no, let's enjoy supper to get.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's enjoy Depneo.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're gonna talk.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're gonna share time.

[SPEAKER_00]: And Depneo, it wasn't just about the meal.

[SPEAKER_00]: It was about who was there, catching up on life.

[SPEAKER_00]: spending time together.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, something important if you'd understand is that and loud to see a last bit of history, that there was not always a time that loud to see and looks forward to hearing a knock at the door.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it could be someone you wanted to see.

[SPEAKER_00]: It could be an honor guest, whatever.

[SPEAKER_00]: It could also have been a Roman soldier and depending on which one it was, they might not always be very pleasant.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you had no other choice as allowed to see them, but to let them in your home, where they would take their one night's bill it for a meal, stay through the morning.

[SPEAKER_00]: Some of them might be a respectable guest, some of them might not be at all.

[SPEAKER_00]: And wouldn't feel bad if they were because they saw you as a spoiled person, who had more than they did.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so for the people of loudness, a knock at the door could meet a burden to bear.

[SPEAKER_00]: But because Jesus is saying, it's him, it's the door.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, this is grace.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is mercy.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is the one who sees them as they are and how and what got them there.

[SPEAKER_00]: But the one who wants to come in and to have a meal as friends.

[SPEAKER_00]: As far as

[SPEAKER_00]: what would the meal be?

[SPEAKER_00]: I have to tell you this.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think the meal might have been the conversation.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, if Jesus was going to come in a commune with them, what's the meal?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, is it maybe him telling them how to have their vision restored for them to be able to see him and their lives and their purpose and their calling again?

[SPEAKER_00]: Is it him renewing their mind about what it meant to be rich?

[SPEAKER_00]: What it meant to be on mission?

[SPEAKER_00]: What it meant to be his kingdom's salt and light in the world was at him reminding them of the way that he had clove them with his righteousness, was at him reminding them of what, of all that he had given them in their status through what he had done versus through what they could try to achieve.

[SPEAKER_00]: Was it reminding them of how to steward their time, their influence, their resources, their energy, their passions,

[SPEAKER_00]: The various strategic place got a given them within the Empire.

[SPEAKER_00]: Was it going to be about that?

[SPEAKER_00]: In my opinion, I would say, that's a pretty good meal.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, let's all be frank.

[SPEAKER_00]: How many of us can be so much more filled by a conversation that we needed, a truth that was shared, and it's far better than a fly, no, it's hard to imagine.

[SPEAKER_00]: I can point to things like that in my life.

[SPEAKER_00]: You probably can't, too.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so, was this conversation that allowed us to see the loudest scene needed?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, was this just allowed us to see a thing or no?

[SPEAKER_00]: Because failing to see that we never outgrow our needs for Jesus, that's not allowed to see a thing.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's a human thing.

[SPEAKER_00]: That doesn't have a tax bracket.

[SPEAKER_00]: That doesn't have a neighborhood.

[SPEAKER_00]: That doesn't have a school district.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's just a human struggle.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, sometimes it's like, wow, you know, I mean, I know I need to sit with Jesus and let him speak to me and set me straight, but man, just so busy, I got so much going on.

[SPEAKER_00]: Just can't get around to it.

[SPEAKER_00]: I got a lot of happening.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm gonna talk about script shooting here, but there's other ways we sit with Jesus, but yeah, I don't know how long you want to do with this.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't read yet somehow, some way we can find the latest greatest deal on Amazon or Facebook Marketplace or fancy football ratings or whatever it is.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, there's things we sit for, there's things we're eager to absorb in the consume,

[SPEAKER_00]: Sometimes Jesus isn't that anymore.

[SPEAKER_00]: And when that becomes the case, and I don't think any Christian would probably overtly say, oh, I think I've outgrown my needs for David Penneson.

[SPEAKER_00]: She has no one says that, but we can drift there.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so, in applications for today, what are some words that I would leave us with as our time has come into a close?

[SPEAKER_00]: I would just say this, accept Jesus' invitation to the table,

[SPEAKER_00]: Fellowship with him is the meal you never outgrow.

[SPEAKER_00]: And for application, it's gonna give you these.

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe writing these down is gonna be helpful for you and for me and for us as a church.

[SPEAKER_00]: Pray something like this.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus helped me to see what I need to see because the default ways in which I think and operate sometimes just, I get lost in my day.

[SPEAKER_00]: I get lost in my calendar, I get lost in the things

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus helped me see you as I need to.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus helped me to see myself.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus helped me to see your words for what it is.

[SPEAKER_00]: Help me to see my church for what it is.

[SPEAKER_00]: Help me to see the position in place that you've put me in a neighborhood in my county or my kids sports teams wherever.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus helped me see because I can't.

[SPEAKER_00]: I won't do it on my own.

[SPEAKER_00]: I just, I don't always see it right.

[SPEAKER_00]: Would you pray that?

[SPEAKER_00]: Would I pray that as a church we'd pray that?

[SPEAKER_00]: Second prayer, Jesus, help me to continue to understand the beauty and the power that you have given me and what you've done for me, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, that's the white garments.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like remembering what Jesus done for us and what that means for us, that He's given us as righteousness, that He's given us new life, that He's giving us victory over sin and death and to live that way.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I almost feel past, say, even saying that since it's not just stopping to think about that for a minute, but I wonder if that became part of our daily posture.

[SPEAKER_00]: If God would use that to help us just slow down and pause and just sit with Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: And if maybe coming out of those conversations with Jesus now that time,

[SPEAKER_00]: The status we are most concerned with and the approval that we're most we're most and we see as most important is the way that he loves us.

[SPEAKER_00]: The last prayer and then we'll we'll pray and close out last last prayer is this Jesus helped me to invest in labor for what lasts.

[SPEAKER_00]: Last one is this Jesus helped me to invest in labor for what lasts.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because no matter how you see the stuff to position the place, where God has put you, there is a way to use all of it that will honor him in a way that lasts and in a way that is for his kingdom and in a way that is advancing his mission.

[SPEAKER_00]: And in a way that when you die and you stand before him, he will say, well done.

[SPEAKER_00]: Good and faithful servant.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because you saw things right.

[SPEAKER_00]: cherish the things that endure in that last.

[SPEAKER_00]: And all of those earthly comforts that are cool, you didn't let that become the thing.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, you kept me the thing.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so whether it's our finances, our time, our energy, our gifts, our talents, the way in which you're able to make people laugh, the way in which you're able to do things with your hands that could maybe be of a great service to somebody else.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus helped me to invest in labor for what lasts and that honors you.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so this is just my thoughts and my challenge.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I kind of have an easy punt and pass on the fact that Jesus tells the church of loudest to you that those who want to hear

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, they'll seek the spirit and the spirit will tell them what they need to do in response to all that Jesus said.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm going to go ahead and use that.

[SPEAKER_00]: But there's ask you to pray, those three prayers, and I got to tell you a close with this.

[SPEAKER_00]: I really do think if individually and if collectively, that's the spot that we get to.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that's the way that God continues to move us.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think that he is going to use us to be a refreshing drink of water to a parched world.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's searching for truths.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's going to use us to be able to give a healing message that's just going to be soothing to someone's soul.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think I know that's what God will do.

[SPEAKER_00]: So would you join me in prayer as I pray for that?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, sing this last song.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus, we thank you, that one of the stories we see that you teach about water is that you say that you're living water to this conversation, you have with the woman at the well.

[SPEAKER_00]: from she was so thirsty and so parched to know that she was seen and loved and that she mattered.

[SPEAKER_00]: And Jesus, you gave her a message that completely transformed her life.

[SPEAKER_00]: And even though you didn't tell her to, she wouldn't told everybody she knew about you in a great awakening happened in that town.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus, we thank you that you are still that living water today.

[SPEAKER_00]: And we just, we wanna drink of it.

[SPEAKER_00]: In Jesus, we want to be used as your people that provide that same thirst-quenching drink to others that we're around within our family, within our workplace, and with all the places that you have us.

[SPEAKER_00]: Would you send us out this week, hungry for you, seeking to live daily, dependent upon you, and praying things that really just help us to be oriented to whatever you would have us?

[SPEAKER_00]: So we pray all these things in your name, amen?