Making Room for God: What if Jesus wrote a letter to our church? In his letter to the church in the wealthy city of Laodicea, Jesus strongly warned about being lukewarm in their faith. These Christians were no different than the world around them. But this rebuke was coming from a place of love. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.” Will they make room for him? Recorded on Sep 1, 2024, on Revelation 3:14-22 by Pastor David Parks.
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Make Room is a three-part sermon series considering the need to make room 1) for more of God in our lives, 2) for more people in our lives, and 3) for more people in our church. Why? Because more people need good news! More people need the life and love, the freedom and forgiveness, and so much more that is only found in Christ. Our prayer is that in the coming years, many more people will experience the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sermon Transcript
For the next three weeks, we’re doing something a little different in our preaching ministry. Normally, our sermon series are based on a book of the Bible (e.g., John or Ephesians or Ruth) or a larger section of Scripture (e.g., Sermon on the Mount). But today, we’re starting a three-week topical series called Make Room to talk about some of the Biblical foundations of our 2030 Vision. But fear not; after this short series, we’ll jump back into a more typical expository series on the book of Exodus (which I’m very excited about!). Now, if we had your email address, you got an email this past week sharing some of our thinking behind this 2030 Vision. But I’ll give you a little more context before we jump into our Scripture passage for today. All the way back in February, after considering whether or not we should try and buy our current building facility, the elder board started developing a long-term ministry plan. We realized that our ministry vision should really come before any questions about a building facility because a building is simply a big, expensive tool to use for the mission/vision of a church. In other words, a building serves the ministry, not the other way around. Plus, over the past year, we saw over 50% growth as a church, and, to be honest, we started to feel some growing pains. Some of our systems and structures that used to work just fine were no longer working as well. We realized that if we failed to pray or plan for the next season of ministry, we would struggle to shepherd people well and would be vulnerable to division or discouragement. So, as a board, we spent months listening to our leaders and the congregation and learning from other pastors and churches. We spent months praying together and talking about who we are as a church, where God is bearing fruit in our ministry, and where we believe God is leading us in the next 5-7 years. This process was very helpful in bringing clarity to what really does seem to be the start of a new season in the life of our church. One of the things that became clear was that we did not feel God was leading us in a dramatically new direction. We don’t need to reinvent ourselves or change our mission, vision, or values. Instead, the phrase that kept coming up was “make room.” We need to make room. But make room for what exactly? Well, as we continued to refine our vision, three areas for making room emerged. We need to make room 1) for more of God in our lives, 2) for more people in our lives, and 3) for more people in our church. Making room is what our 2030 Vision is all about. And this is what we’re going to be talking about today and for the next few weeks. So, we’ll start this mini-series by dropping into Revelation chapter 3, and we’re going to consider a very famous passage where Jesus says he’s standing at the door of our lives, and he’s knocking. He wants to come in, be with us, and have fellowship with us. If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Revelation 3:14.
Revelation 3:14 (NIV), “14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” The book of Revelation is a wild place with visions of the cosmic battle between good and evil. It comes from a man named John, most likely the Apostle John, who also wrote his gospel account of the life and ministry of Jesus, as well as several letters bearing his name in the NT. It can be difficult to know how to interpret the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation, but that doesn’t really start until Chapter 4. The first three chapters start with seven letters from Jesus to seven churches located in the Roman province of Asia (modern Turkey). In the letter to the Laodiceans, here in v. 14, John writes that these are the words of “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, ruler of God’s creation.” What a set of titles, right? But this letter is from Jesus, and this is who Jesus is. He is the Amen. He is the God of the Amen. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2Co 1:20). He is also faithful and true. He is the way and the truth and the life. And he is the ruler of God’s creation. He is the first. He is the head. He rules and reigns from heaven today. And one day, he will return to judge the living and the dead. It was this Jesus who was writing to a particular church in the city of Laodicea. Wouldn’t it be wild if we received a letter from Jesus specifically for our church? What do you think he’d say? But who was he writing to? Laodicea was a city located on a major trade route, and by the first century AD, it had been very wealthy for hundreds of years. From archeology, we know they had a stadium, Roman baths, several theaters (one of which could seat up to 8,000 people), and many temples. A few decades before receiving this letter, there had been a major earthquake that devastated many cities in the region. But the Laodiceans were very proud that they could rebuild their own city without any money from Rome. Laodicea was the home of a medical college. Was this where Luke, the biblical author of Luke and Acts, was trained as a physician? Could be. It was also only about 10 miles east of Colossea, and in Colossians chapter 2, Paul refers to the Laodiceans as people he was contending for, even though they hadn’t personally met. Not long before the earthquake, the gospel was brought to both Colossea and Laodicea by disciples of Paul during his years in the city of Ephesus. The book of Acts says that during this time, there was so much evangelistic energy, “…all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” Paul’s contention for these brothers and sisters in Christ, whom he hadn’t met, was in writing letters to them. He mentions a letter he wrote to the Laodiceans (unfortunately lost to history) and that their church (or maybe one of their churches?) was meeting at a woman named Nympha’s house there. So, years later, how are things going for the church in Laodicea? What does Jesus have to say to them?
Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV), “15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Whoa. What is Jesus saying here? Well, Laodicea’s main water source came from natural springs about six miles to the north. They built an aqueduct to bring this water down to the city, but the water was rich with calcium deposits, which built up and narrowed the pipes of the aqueduct, slowing the flow of the water. It was this slow-moving, lukewarm water that Jesus referred to here, and he used their bad water as an analogy for their faith. But let’s think about the analogy for a moment. What’s wrong with lukewarm water? Well, hot water is good and helpful for cleaning or bathing or for preparing food. Cold water is, of course, especially refreshing to drink. But lukewarm water is not nearly as good/helpful/refreshing. Jesus says he knows their deeds, and they are not good or helpful. But let’s press this analogy a little further. How does water become lukewarm? Do nothing. If you leave a glass of cold water or hot water on the counter, if you do nothing, it will gradually become room temperature. There’s a reason your fridge and your stove have electric or gas hookups. It takes energy to keep water (or anything) cold or hot relative to the temperature around it. How does faith become lukewarm? The same way. Do nothing. Don’t pray, or if you do pray, only pray when you’re in trouble. Don’t regularly talk to God; don’t listen to him. Don’t read the Bible. Fill your mind with whatever you see on Netflix or your news feed. Ruminate on the past. Fill your mind with the worst possible outcomes for your future. Don’t meditate on the truth of God’s word. Don’t worship the Lord, or at least make it a low enough priority that it can be interrupted by anything. Don’t sing, serve, or give. Don’t share your faith. Don’t love your neighbor. Don’t serve the poor. Don’t confess your sin. Don’t repent. Don’t let the gospel transform your values. Don’t worry about what you say or do or how you live your life. It takes a tremendous amount of energy to keep our faith a “different temperature” than the world around us. Now, Jesus isn’t talking about the way of salvation. The Bible is clear that we aren’t saved by our religious works (deeds). No one is good enough to save themselves. We’re saved by faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ. But the way of the Christian life is all about learning to follow a new path, the way of Jesus. And though his way takes an incredible amount of energy/effort, it’s the only way that truly leads to life, love, joy, and peace. It’s the only way to find rest for your soul, even as you do the good works that God has prepared in advance for you to do. So, if you say you believe Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead, if you claim to be a Christian, but put no energy toward following the way of Jesus, you too will become lukewarm. You’ll be exactly like the world around you. Now, does this mean you’re not saved? Not necessarily. But Jesus said to judge a tree by its fruit. And a lukewarm life demonstrates no fruit of authentic, saving faith. Jesus says, “I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” This is a very strong warning and should have been taken as an emergency by the church in Laodicea. But what might they have trusted in or pursued if they hadn’t been trusting in God or pursuing the way of Jesus? In other words, who or what might’ve taken the place of God in their lives? There are clues in v. 17.
Revelation 3:17-19 (NIV), “17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” From this, it looks like the Laodiceans had trusted in themselves and their own resources in the place of God. They believe they’re rich because of their own abilities — “I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But from a spiritual perspective, Jesus says they’re actually poor. Well, he says wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. What an awful indictment of their spiritual condition. Can you imagine if Jesus said that about our church? But in v. 18, Jesus says, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” Now, at first reading, it might seem as though Jesus is basically saying, come to me, and I will give you what you need. But again, from archeology, we discover this message specifically targets the Laodiceans. You see, Laodicea was known for three things: their wealth, their clothing industry, and a particular kind of eye powder. Their wealth, as we saw in the rebuilding effort after the earthquake, allowed them to think they were self-reliant. Their clothing industry came from a unique kind of black wool they produced, which was sold all over the Empire. The eye powder, used to treat medical conditions and possibly developed at the College of Medicine, was also “famous in the ancient world.” (Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, p. 1308). But Jesus, the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, and Ruler of all, looks down from heaven at what, from a worldly sense, seems to be their strengths and finds them utterly lacking. You think you’re rich, well-clothed, and have the best medicine to be able to see, but you don’t even realize that you’re poor, naked, and blind. This is very bad. This is a huge blind spot for them. However, v. 19 does give us some hope. Though Jesus used strong imagery/language to provide a strong warning, he reminds the Laodiceans that his rebuke comes from a place of love. “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” Jesus loves them, but they need to be earnest about their faith — they need to recover their zeal for Christ and for the gospel. They need to repent, to turn and go in a new direction. Jesus is full of grace, but he is also full of truth. I’ve no doubt that he might give many of us a similar message today. You’re on the wrong path. I love you, but you need to turn and follow a new path. Now, many people today think that love means we have to affirm anything anyone wants to do at any time, no matter whether it’s right or wrong. But being honest with someone about something that is wrong or harmful to them isn’t unloving. It’s the most loving thing! But what are the Laodiceans supposed to do? How will they get the energy they need for their faith to become good and helpful? How can they receive this gold refined in the fire, this true wealth, clothing, and sight from Jesus?
Revelation 3:20–22 (NIV), “20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This is God’s word. And this is truly remarkable. After a serious rebuke, Jesus offers a blank check. He’s at the door. He’s knocking. He wants to come in. He wants fellowship with us. He wants a real relationship with us. So if anyone (anyone?), if anyone hears his voice and opens the door, he will come in and eat with them, and they will be with him. Sharing a meal in the ancient world represented more than just friendship. It meant unity, mutual commitment, and reciprocity. In other words, Jesus doesn’t just want to be the Lord of your life; he wants to have real fellowship with you and be a real empowering presence in your life. He wants to be in your house and at your table. John Stott, in his book Basic Christianity, points out, “This is all the more remarkable when we reflect that the house is his in any case. He is the architect; he designed it. He is the builder; he made it. He is the landlord; he bought it with his own blood. So it is his by right of plan, construction, and purchase. We are only tenants in a house that does not belong to us. He could put his shoulder to the door; he prefers to put his hand to the knocker. He could command us to open to him; instead, he merely invites us to do so. He will not force an entry into anybody’s life.” (Stott, John R. W. . Basic Christianity (p. 128). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.). Now, this passage is often used as an invitation for people to come to faith in Jesus. Behold! He stands at the door and knocks. Would you let him into your heart and into your life? And, of course, this is part of the gospel message. We do want people to come to faith in Jesus. However, the context of this famous passage is for a church that has lost its spiritual energy; they are trusting in themselves and their own wealth and resources in the place of God, and as a result, they look just like the surrounding non-Christian community. They’re lukewarm. Jesus isn’t even in the room. But he loves them and is faithful to them, even when they haven’t been very faithful to him. He’s at the door and is knocking because he wants to be put at the center of their heart, life, and home once again. This is a call to repentance and spiritual renewal. Well, how does this apply to our lives today? And how can we make room for more of God in our lives? To be clear, I don’t think our church needs a rebuke. I don’t think we’ve become lukewarm, trusting in ourselves or our stuff in the place of God. But I think this is a great warning for us nonetheless. Because the only thing we have to do to become lukewarm is nothing, but we won’t let that happen. We will share the gospel. We will expect our lives to be transformed in every way as we learn the way of Jesus. As a church, we will love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We will refuse to be content with lukewarm faith. We will follow Jesus with all the energy and zeal he deserves from us. We will be different from the world. We need to make room for more of God in our lives. But here’s the good news: We don’t have to do this all on our own. We’ve been given the supernatural nuclear power source of the Holy Spirit. This is what a relationship with God is all about — God doing his part and people doing our part. We can strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in us. (Col 1:28-29) So today, do you hear it? Do you hear Jesus knocking at the door of your life? Will you open that door? Will you let him in? This is what our 2030 Vision is all about. This is where making room starts. Let us pray.
