A Church Jesus Knocks On

The Seven Churches of Revelation

Part 3: A Church Jesus Knocks On | Revelation 3:7-22

Tonight I am excited to be back teaching on Sunday night and will be finishing my three-part series on the seven churches in Revelation.

Tonight we are going to look at two final churches in Revelation 3:7-22

The title of my message is “A Church Jesus Knocks On.”

PRAYER

Revelation 3:7-13— “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; 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 My new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Reminders about these letters/postcards:

• Jesus is writing these letters to real ancient churches.
• Jesus is not distant from these churches but is among the lampstands.
• Jesus is aware of their challenges, their faults, and their needs.

We also discussed that there is a formula for these letters.

1. Jesus reveals his glorious power.
2. Jesus says, “I know.”
3. Jesus commends them
4. Jesus corrects them and warns them to act.
5. Jesus promises a reward for his church.

• Jesus starts this letter with an assertion about his character.

1. Jesus is Holy!

• Jesus declares the is “holy and true who holds the keys of David.”
• Jesus emphasizes his holiness and his covenantal faithfulness.
• Why the keys of David? Jesus wants to remind this church who is in charge. He is the messianic king prophesied to come from the line of David to sit upon an everlasting throne. He is the one who has the authority to open the doors of the kingdom to all who call upon his name and to shut the doors to all who rebel against his power and authority.

QUESTION: What is your picture of Jesus? If your picture of Jesus is a simple, hippie-like man. Please consult the scriptures, specifically Revelation.

AW Tozer is quoted saying: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.

Don’t make an idol. Be aware of how Jesus reveals himself! Not the version of him that you have created or others have created. He is the glorious, powerful resurrected King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Throughout the Old Testament, God revealed Himself to the people of Israel and to the Holy One. The only word used to in repetition in the Old Testament to describe God is Holy Holy Holy.

The declaration of the heavens in sight of Jesus is Holy, Holy, Holy.

I want to spend a moment later to remember some of these attributes, but what Jesus is revealing here about himself is key.

He is the author of our salvation. He is the one who unlocks the key to heaven for you, me, and all who believe.

At Christmas, we remember a meek and lowly Jesus because he is gentle and lowly. He humbled himself. But don’t allow the incarnation to lower your view of our God.

Jesus is now risen and seated on high. He is Holy.

Now Jesus’ letter is a little different to this church.

Jesus has little to complain about regarding the church. He encourages them in many ways because they are doing what they are expected to do.

2. Jesus opened a door before them.

• Jesus says he knows their deeds, and because of their faithfulness, he is now placing an open door before them.
• When we read this, we might think. What is the open door? Is it a prize? What is behind the door for our church?
• Well in scripture, open doors mean “opportunity.” Jesus is going to allow them to serve him. We see this elsewhere in Paul’s letters and the book of Acts.
• So Jesus is the one who opens the door for us to have a greater opportunity to serve and to be on mission for him.
• This is despite his statement in verse 8 that they have little power.
• Isn’t it encouraging to hear that a powerless church was actually still able to be powerful in the mission of Christ?
• It is often in my weakest points that I am no good for Jesus, and that he couldn’t use me at all. However, the church here is doing two things right.
• They are “kept to His word” and “not denied His name.” It is in our weakness that all we have to do is hold fast to his name and remember His promises. He will do the rest.
• CULTURAL POINT: Philadelphia was considered by many historians to be the “doorway” to the ancient world. Its placement in the ancient landscape would have made it a highly trafficked site by militaries, ancient leaders, trade routes, and other ancient travelers.
• It would be as if Jesus were writing a letter to the churches of Portland, saying, “I am creating a bridge for you to cross.”
• They are given a mission. And this mission is hard.

3. Jesus tells them they will be vindicated.

• Jesus mentions again this group called the Synagogue of Satan.
• This is speaking specifically of a group of Jews who declared that they had covenantal authority to condemn Christians publicly.
• The Jewish synagogue was the authority system of the Jewish people. Remember that they are living under the Roman occupation. Thus, they do not have power, but they have legal protection under Roman law.
• The Jewish synagogue began turning in Christians to the Roman authority and declaring that Jewish Christians cannot be protected as members of Jewish society.
• What did this mean for Jewish Christians? Jewish Christians (all Christians) were not allowed religious privileges and legal protections. You might ask yourself… were Jews condemned for not worshiping Caesar? They were excused as a people group who did not have to worship Caesar, but were viewed as a subset of society that didn’t matter to the average Roman citizen. The Jews just stayed out of the way, and if they didn’t… well, the hand of Rome was heavy.
• So this Synagogue of Satan… remember Satan is a title for the devil, meaning Accusor/Opposer… are opposing Christians, causing them all sorts of troubles.
• Jesus says they call themselves Jews, but they are not, and that he will come and make them bow down and “make them know that I have loved you.”
• Just like the prophets warned and Jesus spoke… one is not only a Jew outwardly. Jesus promises a day will come when the Jewish people who rejected Him and who cursed the church will realize their failing and they will come to know that they are not the one Jesus loves. They will find themselves on the outside, with the doors closed, and will not be allowed in.

So Jesus promises that he who holds fast to him in the trials ahead will become a pillar.

4. Jesus will hold fast those who hold fast to Him.

• What beautiful promises it has for the church here. If we refuse to let him go, he will hold us fast to the end.
• Philadelphia experienced numerous recorded earthquakes. In 17 AD there was an earthquake so bad that it destroyed most of the city. It took years to rebuild.
• Many people abandoned permanent housing and moved outside Philadelphia’s walls out of fear that their homes would collapse. The fear of collapsing buildings was a daily and weekly threat as there were aftershocks and damage to buildings that continued for years.
• In the aftermath of the earthquake, the city was temporarily renamed in honor of and in worship of the then-current emperor, Tiberius. The thought was that by honoring the emperor and putting a new name over the city, the people would be protected. But issues persisted and fear remained.
• How significant it is that Jesus would proclaim to this crumbling city: Hold fast to what you have. He who overcomes I will make pillar in my city. He will not have to leave this city ever. And I will put my name and the name New Jerusalem over this city. It will be forever mine.”

I pray we hear the same message about our future home and that we hold fast just as the church in Philadelphia did.

Let’s not look at our last letter/postcard.

Revelation 3:14-22— “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; 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 will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down 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.’”

• As a dad, I can’t tell you how many times I have had to be the voice of truth to my kids when it comes to how they dress themselves.
• As they are growing up, I find myself saying… “Your underwear is on backwards… again. Your shirt is inside out. Your pants are on backwards. You can’t wear pajamas to school… yes, those are pajamas.”
• This is an illustration to how the church in Laodicea was living spiritually. They believed everything was fine, but it was not.
• This is a key aspect to understanding what it means to be lukewarm.
• I think this is often misunderstood by Christians. In your Christian walk, there are going to be hills, and there are going to be valleys. There are going to be times that you are ready to tell the whole world about Jesus, and then times that you are struggling to believe in yourself. This is to be expected. We will have trials and that is okay.
• But it is that desire to seek God in the trials and to worship him on the mountaintop that does not exist in the heart of a lukewarm person. God can use your times of struggle… a Lukewarm person is good for nothing, and they don’t even realize it or care.

1. Lukewarm is good for nothing spiritually.

• The city of Laodicea was very wealthy, but it had one issue. It had no access to a close body of water. One neighboring city, Colosse, obtained its water from snowmelt in the mountains. Another nearby town obtained its water from hot springs. Laodicea mobilized its resources and constructed aqueducts to bring water from these two neighboring sources.
• However, the issue was that by the time the water traveled from the mountains, it would go from being ice cold to warm, and the water from the hot springs would go from being hot to a sort of murky tepid mineral water. When these two waters were mixed, they were not lukewarm but tasted unpleasant.
• So Jesus says… this water is like you.
• You are neither hot nor cold. You are not on fire for the Lord, but you are not completely hard of heart. You are complacent and apathetic.
• What is the primary symptom of their spiritual state? They say they are rich, have become wealthy, and are in need of nothing.
• The heart of a lukewarm person is not concerned with spiritual matters but is content to live out a good cruise-ship Christianity built on their comfort, wealth, and self-centeredness.
• Jesus can’t stand artificial prideful religion.
• The person who is lukewarm does not think that they really need Jesus, but is more than okay with making him a once-a-week sort of checklist item for them. Like attending church is what makes them a Christian.
• ILLUSTRATION- Saying you’re a Christian because you attend church is like saying you’re in a car because you’re inside a garage.
• When your Christian walk becomes about attending church or being a part of church things instead of being Christ’s hands and feet and truly living out the call and commands of God… you will find yourself lukewarm, and Jesus says “ick.”
• The church in Laodecia wouldn’t recognize it and Jesus in his love is like: aren’t you tired of being miserable? You bank account is full but your heart is bankrupt! You are blind and you are naked!
• Laodicea was a very wealthy town. They had two primary means of production: black wool for garments and eye medicine. The city was known all around the ancient world for beautiful shiny clothing and a salve that could treat eye issues and blindness.

2. Lukewarm selective sight and purposeful ignorance

• So what does Jesus say: Yeah, go buy yourself something to cover up this nakedness. You are so blind, maybe you need an eye doctor.
• This church has prioritized the wrong things and has allowed its attention to wane. They are walking around clothed in fine wool and things of this world but have nothing stored up for the things of heaven.
• QUESTION: Do you remember what it was like when you first burned brightly for the Lord?
• I remember those moments in my life when I said “Jesus I am fully yours,” and I really meant it. I remember the feeling in my heart that nothing in the world matter more to me than to glorify Jesus and to make the gospel known.
• Jesus is urging this church to wake up and to realize their need for Him.
• How miserable we are when we try to live our lives without Him? And what a shame it is when we then tell people, “I trust God.”
• Jesus says, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.”
• The Greek word for zealous here is “to be on fire, to burn.”
• The church is called to be a lampstand shining in the darkness.
• We are called as believers to burn for Him. To desire him. To repent of our sin and our idol worship. To heed the discipline as love from Jesus because he wants us to burn brightly for Him.

John Welsey said “When a man becomes a Christian, he becomes a flame, and when he burns brighter and brighter, people will come from miles to watch him burn.”

3. Jesus invites all to the table.

• The end of this chapter is one of the most famous passages of scripture.
• In Middle Eastern culture, to eat with someone was to identify with them. It was to welcome them to be near but also to share in unified humanity together.
• The food that you eat together means that you two shared the same life together. This is why when Jesus ate with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners… it was so scandalous.
• But this is the invitation he gives to all and importantly to a church that in every way has locked him out.
• He says: Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
• William Holmon, a nineteenth-century painter, was inspired to paint a depiction of the resurrected Jesus standing at the door of a cottage, knocking with a lamp in his hand and a crown of thorns on his head.
• When he first showed the painting at a gallery, someone came up to him to point out a mistake he had made. They said, “You forgot to put a knob on the door to the cottage.” To which he replied, “I left it off on purpose.”
• The door to our heart is locked from the inside. We have to open the door to let Jesus in.
• I think the door to many churches is locked from the inside. We are so preoccupied with church things that we don’t think for a moment whose church this truly is.
• Jesus is the one who holds the keys to heaven. Jesus is the one who declares himself the Amen, faithful and true witness, the source of all creation.
• The god of the universe wants to lead you into so much more. He wants to reveal his amazing plans for you. But we settles for so much less.

CS Lewis in Mere Christianity said, “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with silly things when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

The letters we have read to these churches are meant to wake us up to our need for him and to remind us of what we truly have in Christ as His church. To no longer settle but to surrender!

Ephesus- Jesus promised to Ephesus that we will eat from the tree of life in paradise with God. Eden fully restored.

Smyrna- While we may die we will be raised with Christ and no longer be eternally judged or condemned.

Pergamum- We will receive hidden manna, with a white stone of acquital and a new name written upon it. Jesus will supply what we need and he will give us a brand new identity. No matter who you have been.. get prepared for who he can make you to be in Him!

Thyatira- Jesus promises that we will get to rule and reigh with Him for eternity and the greatest gift is his eternal presence with us. He will be the light and the darkness will never return.

Sardis- We will be clothed in white garments and cleansed of our sin and shame. Our name is written in the book of life and can never be removed. We have eternal security in Him.

Philadelphia- We will be a pillar and get to be apart of an everlasting city of God that can never be crushed or destroyed. We will no longer be wanderers in exile but will have home with God.

Laodicea— We will sit with Jesus on his throne. We are seated with Christ on high. We have a place with him eternal.

Oh what beautiful promises that Jesus has given us his church.

If you want this then receive Him today!