WEBVTT 00:00:04.333 --> 00:00:05.700 Thank you, worship team. 00:00:05.700 --> 00:00:07.732 Thank you all for joining us today. 00:00:07.732 --> 00:00:09.266 It's great to worship with you. 00:00:09.266 --> 00:00:13.733 We are wrapping up our series on the Seven Churches of Revelation. 00:00:13.733 --> 00:00:22.733 We've been working around the what is now Western modern Turkey, working through a series of churches, and today we're landing on the last one. 00:00:22.733 --> 00:00:29.500 We've traveled through that area, and if you've traveled overseas, you know this experience. 00:00:29.500 --> 00:00:33.899 You go to another country, you can't use your money there. 00:00:33.899 --> 00:00:37.466 You've got to exchange it for their money. 00:00:37.466 --> 00:00:42.365 Probably ten years ago or so now, I went to Rwanda. 00:00:42.365 --> 00:00:46.133 In fact, we have our kids with us here this month. 00:00:46.133 --> 00:00:48.500 Who which kids know where Rwanda is? 00:00:48.500 --> 00:00:51.500 What continent is that on? 00:00:53.033 --> 00:00:56.033 Anybody? 00:00:56.966 --> 00:00:58.066 Okay, I heard Africa. 00:00:58.066 --> 00:00:58.665 Thank you. 00:00:58.665 --> 00:00:59.899 Somebody rescued me there. 00:00:59.899 --> 00:01:02.265 Africa. It's a small country. 00:01:02.265 --> 00:01:05.566 To be fair, it's pretty small in Central Africa. 00:01:05.566 --> 00:01:10.332 But they had a partnership with a church we were connected to in Little Rock at the time. 00:01:10.332 --> 00:01:13.665 And so they invited me there to teach in their Bible college. 00:01:13.665 --> 00:01:18.733 But they do almost everything in cash, like a lot of smaller countries do. 00:01:18.733 --> 00:01:25.500 And so I came with all the cash I was going to need for the whole week, right on the front to exchange it, which didn't feel like much. 00:01:25.500 --> 00:01:33.365 I was carrying in maybe $1,000, ten, $100 bill bills, you know, for a week in a foreign country that doesn't feel like that much money. 00:01:33.365 --> 00:01:39.533 But we go into exchange, and the exchange rate at the time was 600 of their dollars to one of ours. 00:01:39.900 --> 00:01:42.965 So I laid down my tiny little stack and slide it under the window. 00:01:42.965 --> 00:01:46.400 And then they start counting our bills and more and more. 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:52.700 And by the time they're done, there's these 3 or 4 huge piles, because they only have smaller denominations, these huge piles of money. 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:57.299 And and I stood there and looked at those and I thought, how am I going to get all those in my pockets? 00:01:57.299 --> 00:02:00.233 I'm shoving them in my pockets like a drug dealer or something. 00:02:00.233 --> 00:02:04.566 And as I'm doing it, I'm thinking, I've got to be the richest person on earth right now. 00:02:04.566 --> 00:02:09.566 It just felt like I was incredibly rich, even though nothing had changed. 00:02:09.566 --> 00:02:13.832 For a moment I thought, I'm so rich, I'm the richest person to ever live. 00:02:13.832 --> 00:02:17.332 Possibly just because of feeling all that cash on me. 00:02:18.466 --> 00:02:24.765 But the reality is, nothing had changed about my financial state. 00:02:24.765 --> 00:02:26.133 In fact, it was about to go down. 00:02:26.133 --> 00:02:28.300 I was about to be rid of all that cash. 00:02:28.300 --> 00:02:35.733 Very soon I was walking around for just a moment with a sense of false pride that was better off than I really was. 00:02:35.733 --> 00:02:38.765 For a moment I thought, I'm so much more rich than ever been. 00:02:38.765 --> 00:02:40.133 I might be the richest person on earth. 00:02:40.133 --> 00:02:41.566 I'm probably better than everybody else. 00:02:41.566 --> 00:02:43.966 I'll see you today for just a glimpse. 00:02:43.966 --> 00:02:46.966 Walking in false, empty pride. 00:02:47.665 --> 00:02:51.300 I think that's a challenge that our country faces. 00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:55.699 Our church is face, and we're going to see it today as we look at the church in Laodicea. 00:02:55.699 --> 00:03:00.099 So if you have a Bible, turn to Revelation chapter three, Revelations at the end of the Bible. 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:01.900 If you don't have a Bible, we have them out in the lobby. 00:03:01.900 --> 00:03:03.532 We'd love to put one in your hands. 00:03:03.532 --> 00:03:07.932 If you just turn towards the back of the Bible, you should find the Book of Revelation. 00:03:07.932 --> 00:03:17.133 Turn to chapter three and let's all stand as I read verses 14 through 22, just as a sign of reverence and respect for God's Word. 00:03:19.032 --> 00:03:22.032 Revelation chapter three, verse 14. 00:03:22.300 --> 00:03:32.532 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 00:03:32.665 --> 00:03:34.532 I know your works. 00:03:34.532 --> 00:03:36.866 You're neither cold nor hot. 00:03:36.866 --> 00:03:39.966 Would that you were either cold or hot. 00:03:40.366 --> 00:03:48.966 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 00:03:49.265 --> 00:04:03.765 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 00:04:04.233 --> 00:04:15.633 I counsel you to buy from me, gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and buy white garments, so that you may clothe yourself so the shame of your nakedness may not be seen. 00:04:15.633 --> 00:04:19.966 And buy salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 00:04:21.132 --> 00:04:23.533 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. 00:04:23.533 --> 00:04:26.033 So be zealous and repent. 00:04:26.033 --> 00:04:28.865 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. 00:04:28.865 --> 00:04:37.865 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me, the one who conquers. 00:04:37.865 --> 00:04:45.466 I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and set down with my father on his throne. 00:04:45.466 --> 00:04:49.699 He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. 00:04:49.699 --> 00:04:52.699 You can be seated. 00:04:54.966 --> 00:05:05.500 As I said, we've been journeying through Western Turkey, and each week I've shown you a map of the series of churches that are in this area, and they operate in a circle. 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:07.165 If you want to put that on the screen. 00:05:07.165 --> 00:05:16.333 You can see we started in Ephesus and worked our way around Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, ending up today in Laodicea. 00:05:16.333 --> 00:05:26.533 And there is so much, as I've pointed out each week, there's so much in each of these letters to the church that relates directly to that city, the identity of that city. 00:05:26.533 --> 00:05:33.932 Every city has an identity of who they are, the things that are important to them, the the things they do culturally, the things they value culturally. 00:05:33.932 --> 00:05:35.733 And we've seen that we've drawn that out. 00:05:35.733 --> 00:05:39.132 And it really stands out today in Laodicea. 00:05:39.132 --> 00:05:47.065 In fact, Laodicea was situated when it was built, when it was established, it was established in a place that didn't have any natural source of water. 00:05:47.065 --> 00:05:49.500 You think that would be important in setting up a city? 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:52.300 For whatever reason, they had an oversight. 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:53.432 They didn't do that. 00:05:53.432 --> 00:06:00.300 And so what they had to do, in fact, if you look at the next map, you will see there are two cities nearby. 00:06:00.300 --> 00:06:07.432 The main two cities near them are the cities of Hierapolis and Colossi. 00:06:07.432 --> 00:06:11.300 Of course we know colossi from Colossians, so you can see this up here. Here's how. 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:13.665 And here's Colossi. 00:06:13.665 --> 00:06:16.466 Book of Colossians is named after that was written to that. 00:06:16.466 --> 00:06:23.132 These were the two closest cities to them, and also they both had their own natural water sources. 00:06:23.132 --> 00:06:27.966 In fact, Hierapolis was known for its famous hot springs. 00:06:27.966 --> 00:06:29.733 In fact, bring up the next picture. 00:06:29.733 --> 00:06:30.533 You'll see. 00:06:30.533 --> 00:06:39.466 You can even go there today and see they had these hot springs that were full of minerals, and over time they built up cascading pools and it's amazing. 00:06:39.466 --> 00:06:40.699 It's so beautiful. 00:06:40.699 --> 00:06:42.766 That's a picture from modern day era. 00:06:42.766 --> 00:07:04.500 You can see these incredible cascading hot springs pools, and people go there today to experience them, to enjoy them, to get refreshed, much like in the US, probably back maybe at the turn of the 1900s, people would go out of their way to go to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to go there, experience the hot springs, taking the hot bath, the healing mineral waters of the area. 00:07:05.533 --> 00:07:12.033 So Hierapolis could see basically from that pictures down. 00:07:12.033 --> 00:07:12.699 Now that's okay. 00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:13.165 Leave it down. 00:07:13.165 --> 00:07:17.266 But you could see off a mountain across across from them was Laodicea. 00:07:17.266 --> 00:07:25.365 They could basically see Laodicea off in the distance and they had their own hot water spring source, famous for that, famous for the hot refreshing water. 00:07:25.365 --> 00:07:29.432 The other city inside of them with their own water source Colossae. 00:07:29.432 --> 00:07:33.132 They were famous, well known for their cold water springs. 00:07:33.132 --> 00:07:40.565 So we've spent time in Florida in the summers, and one of our favorite things to do as a family was to go down to the cold water springs. 00:07:40.565 --> 00:07:49.500 It's 90 a million degrees outside, but there's 70 degree water coming up out of the ground constantly, and you could swim in that. 00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:59.432 And it's so refreshing Colossae had this cold water source, but they were right on a river, but also they had their own cold water springs. 00:07:59.432 --> 00:08:01.533 And so both here's the point. 00:08:01.533 --> 00:08:08.533 Both had a desirable source of water, either hot or cold were desirable. 00:08:08.565 --> 00:08:11.665 Laodicea had no source of water their own. 00:08:11.665 --> 00:08:15.533 In fact, we had they had to bring in water from outer sources. We even have. 00:08:15.533 --> 00:08:17.665 I should have brought up a photo to show you. But they had. 00:08:17.665 --> 00:08:19.665 Archeology has found stone pipes. 00:08:19.665 --> 00:08:24.932 They hollowed out stone to make pipes, to bring water to their city. 00:08:24.932 --> 00:08:29.466 And of course, whichever direction it came from, by the time it got there, it wasn't hot or cold. 00:08:29.466 --> 00:08:33.066 At that point, it would have been lukewarm. 00:08:33.066 --> 00:08:39.666 And anybody who drinks coffee knows it's great to get it when it's hot, but by the time it cools down, I'm dumping it out. 00:08:39.666 --> 00:08:40.865 I don't want it anymore. 00:08:40.865 --> 00:08:41.832 It's lost its taste. 00:08:41.832 --> 00:08:42.700 It's lost its appeal. 00:08:42.700 --> 00:08:43.100 It's a lot. 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:44.365 It's lost its flavor. 00:08:44.365 --> 00:08:46.365 And I don't understand any of you who drink iced coffee. 00:08:46.365 --> 00:08:47.332 That's weird. I don't get it. 00:08:47.332 --> 00:08:51.533 But apparently that's desirable to give it hot or nothing. 00:08:51.533 --> 00:08:56.432 I don't want that lukewarm. 00:08:56.432 --> 00:08:58.765 Here's the main issue they were facing as a church. 00:08:58.765 --> 00:09:03.299 Okay, this is the first point in your outline what had happened over time. 00:09:03.299 --> 00:09:10.899 They had been deadened by this calcified complacency, right? 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:16.765 They come to a place of just complacency, just ho hum, just so. 00:09:16.765 --> 00:09:20.966 So we're not hot or cold. 00:09:20.966 --> 00:09:28.265 And I think at first reading of that, you think it's better to be hot, passionate, full of zeal and cold means dead and distant from God. 00:09:28.265 --> 00:09:31.899 But in this context, hotter, cold both were refreshing and good. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:33.466 Either one, pick one. 00:09:33.466 --> 00:09:36.466 But you are neither. 00:09:37.332 --> 00:09:40.332 You've become. 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:43.700 Coasting, deadened as a church. 00:09:44.365 --> 00:09:46.332 The things that made you passionate. 00:09:46.332 --> 00:09:48.633 And I think anyone here could relate. 00:09:48.633 --> 00:09:53.265 When you first came to Christ, there was this excitement, there was this passion, there was this zeal. 00:09:53.265 --> 00:09:54.765 You wanted everybody to know about him. 00:09:54.765 --> 00:09:56.633 You were so excited about what he was doing in your life. 00:09:56.633 --> 00:10:04.432 And then for many, over time, you kind of forget about that change, about that excitement, about what he's done. 00:10:04.432 --> 00:10:10.432 And we slip into the routine of life, and he just becomes one other thing tacked on to our life. 00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:16.500 Now, why did that happen in Laodicea? 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:21.466 Why did they become calcified, complacent? 00:10:22.232 --> 00:10:28.232 Why did it become this scenario where Jesus says, I will spit you out of my mouth? 00:10:28.232 --> 00:10:32.200 In fact, that word, that words way stronger than that. 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:34.966 Why is it that we feel like we got to tone down the Bible? 00:10:34.966 --> 00:10:39.865 I wonder, because the word there is actually a lot more like vomit. 00:10:39.865 --> 00:10:41.466 Maybe that's why that didn't go over well. 00:10:41.466 --> 00:10:46.066 I could hear a few of you go, oh gosh, why do we have to tone it down? 00:10:46.066 --> 00:10:46.899 We don't like that. 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:48.133 That's a little too strong. 00:10:48.133 --> 00:10:49.966 Let's not go there. 00:10:49.966 --> 00:10:52.966 Let's just say spit. 00:10:52.966 --> 00:11:06.832 Well, in Laodicea, the water was such that for whatever reason, by the time it got there, or just whatever wells they were able to dig, oftentimes the water actually did cause vomiting and so they would have understood this. 00:11:06.832 --> 00:11:08.633 We don't want that in us either either. 00:11:08.633 --> 00:11:10.700 We know that's not how it should post to be. 00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:12.432 It's not supposed to be that way. 00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:17.666 It's almost like Jesus is saying, you are so complacent. 00:11:17.666 --> 00:11:20.666 You make me sick. 00:11:21.332 --> 00:11:22.666 I don't know about you, but I don't. 00:11:22.666 --> 00:11:23.732 I don't want to be called that. 00:11:23.732 --> 00:11:25.566 I don't want our church to be called that. 00:11:25.566 --> 00:11:26.966 That's a tough place to be. 00:11:26.966 --> 00:11:39.133 And by the way, I don't think it's any coincidence that on the anniversary 250th anniversary of our country, that we're looking at this church today, I think there are some ways the American church can relate. 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:40.232 How did this happen? 00:11:40.232 --> 00:11:42.100 Look at verse 17. 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:43.365 So 15 and 16. 00:11:43.365 --> 00:11:45.466 We're all about the hot and cold and I'll spit you out. 00:11:45.466 --> 00:11:47.232 How did they become so complacent? 00:11:47.232 --> 00:11:56.232 Look at verse 17 for you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing. 00:11:58.633 --> 00:12:00.232 This was the condition of their heart. 00:12:00.232 --> 00:12:02.365 We would say they were full of number two in your outline. 00:12:02.365 --> 00:12:05.365 Self-sufficient pride. 00:12:05.966 --> 00:12:10.466 The reason complacency comes about because of self-sufficiency. Pride. 00:12:10.466 --> 00:12:11.533 I'm good. 00:12:11.533 --> 00:12:12.765 I don't need anything. 00:12:12.765 --> 00:12:15.500 I've got it all figured out myself. 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:19.765 And by the way, I think part of us as Americans can appreciate that. 00:12:19.765 --> 00:12:24.966 I think a core American value is this idea of the self-made person. 00:12:25.033 --> 00:12:29.566 The self-made individual pulls them up selves up by their own bootstraps. 00:12:29.566 --> 00:12:31.533 We value a lot more. 00:12:31.533 --> 00:12:34.932 A person who made their own money versus someone who inherited. 00:12:34.932 --> 00:12:36.166 Personally, I'll take either. 00:12:36.166 --> 00:12:45.299 I'm fine with both, but we put great, much more value on the person who slaved and worked hard and made themselves, and they were self-sufficient. 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:46.899 They don't need anything else from anyone. 00:12:46.899 --> 00:12:50.066 We put huge value on that part of that's good, by the way. 00:12:50.066 --> 00:12:53.100 But it becomes when it becomes prideful. 00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:59.566 That's a big problem when it comes to the point of, I've got this, I don't even need God. 00:13:01.466 --> 00:13:06.365 That leads to complacency, that leads to a place of spiritual death. 00:13:06.365 --> 00:13:07.966 And this is what they were saying. 00:13:07.966 --> 00:13:09.865 We're we're good. 00:13:09.865 --> 00:13:12.865 We're self-sufficient. 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:16.500 In fact, this would have related to the Laodicean. 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.932 They would have connected with this. 00:13:17.932 --> 00:13:21.500 They would have understood that the lay of the sins. 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:28.899 You remember, I've talked about earthquakes that have hit some of these other cities a few times, and how they devastated, like Sardis, basically just slid off the hillside. 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:30.133 It was on last week. 00:13:30.133 --> 00:13:33.166 We looked at Philadelphia and how they had to rebuild and how it took time. 00:13:33.166 --> 00:13:36.533 And maybe it wasn't as amazing as it used to be. 00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:42.633 Part of the reason they were able to rebuild was because the Roman emperor said, look, take five years off of taxes. 00:13:42.633 --> 00:13:44.832 You put your money towards rebuilding, don't give us taxes. 00:13:44.832 --> 00:13:46.332 We're going to give you a break. 00:13:46.332 --> 00:13:47.466 We could say it this way. 00:13:47.466 --> 00:13:50.033 They took the bailout money at that time. 00:13:50.033 --> 00:13:51.232 Help us out. 00:13:51.232 --> 00:13:51.899 They offered it. 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:56.865 But when they came to Laodicea after the earthquake, it hit Laodicea as well. 00:13:56.865 --> 00:13:57.566 They had to see us. 00:13:57.566 --> 00:13:59.732 Said, no thanks. 00:13:59.732 --> 00:14:01.533 We don't want any help. 00:14:01.533 --> 00:14:03.432 We're going to do this ourselves. 00:14:03.432 --> 00:14:08.332 We're self-sufficient, you know, they were known for being a wealthy city. 00:14:08.332 --> 00:14:19.666 And so what happened was a number of the rich people in the city said, we will take care of rebuilding often so that they could put their name on whatever it was they rebuild and said, look how rich I am. 00:14:19.666 --> 00:14:26.666 Look how great I am at rebuilding this city a lot of times for self pride to build themselves up. 00:14:26.666 --> 00:14:36.765 And so when Jesus says to them, you think you're rich, you think you're self-sufficient, they could relate to that. 00:14:36.765 --> 00:14:43.966 Their whole city identified with that, the self-sufficient pride that said, I got this. 00:14:43.966 --> 00:14:47.832 I don't need anyone else that has been at the root of their complacency. 00:14:47.832 --> 00:14:53.100 But there's also something else here, because the reality is, look at the second half of verse 17. 00:14:53.100 --> 00:15:06.066 You say, I'm rich, I have prospered, I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. 00:15:06.066 --> 00:15:08.299 That's a tough place to be. 00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:11.332 I think I am self-sufficient, rich. 00:15:11.365 --> 00:15:17.232 I got this all figured out myself, and I'm actually, according to Jesus, the opposite. 00:15:17.432 --> 00:15:19.899 This reminds me of if you've ever watched American Idol. 00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:28.899 You always get these episodes where somebody gets up and they they get up and say, you know, all my friends think I'm an amazing singer. 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:31.932 My mom says I'm the best ever. 00:15:32.865 --> 00:15:38.100 And they start singing and they don't even get through the song and the judges stop them. 00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:42.533 You are actually literally the worst singer I've ever heard in my life. 00:15:42.533 --> 00:15:44.265 So let's say something like that. 00:15:44.265 --> 00:15:48.033 And of course, the person on stage is like, what are you talking about? 00:15:48.033 --> 00:15:50.865 I'm great at karaoke on Thursday nights at work. 00:15:50.865 --> 00:15:53.133 How can you dare say that you're wrong. 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:57.365 They're completely blind to reality. 00:15:57.365 --> 00:15:58.432 They're self deceived. 00:15:58.432 --> 00:16:01.432 They can't even see the truth. 00:16:02.066 --> 00:16:08.566 In fact, the challenge I think here that we're highlighting for the church is that they suffered from spiritual blindness. 00:16:08.566 --> 00:16:14.432 Number three, in your outline, we're looking at three problems this church faced in their pride. 00:16:14.432 --> 00:16:17.899 And then we're going to look at three solutions. 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:19.865 That is spiritual blindness. 00:16:19.865 --> 00:16:24.332 They were completely blind to their condition. 00:16:24.700 --> 00:16:26.932 That's a tough place to be. 00:16:26.932 --> 00:16:29.166 I think I'm rich. 00:16:29.166 --> 00:16:31.066 I think I'm successful. 00:16:31.066 --> 00:16:32.666 I think I've got it all figured out. 00:16:32.666 --> 00:16:40.500 And in reality, I've been looking at the wrong source for that. 00:16:40.633 --> 00:16:43.133 I'll tell you what's really hard about the church in Laodicea. 00:16:43.133 --> 00:16:47.166 Every other church we've looked at, Jesus had some hard things to say to a number of them. 00:16:47.166 --> 00:16:49.865 A couple of them he didn't, but to a lot of them he had some hard things to say. 00:16:49.865 --> 00:16:53.500 But he he also balanced that with some good things. 00:16:54.633 --> 00:17:00.666 I know your works, but also, look, I know these other things are going well. 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:03.899 Not in Laodicea, not here. 00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:06.566 He's got nothing good to say to them. 00:17:06.566 --> 00:17:09.532 It is all difficult things. 00:17:09.532 --> 00:17:12.333 And again, I think we've got to take that to heart. 00:17:12.333 --> 00:17:15.532 Let this be a warning to the modern American church. 00:17:15.532 --> 00:17:24.900 I think as we read through these, we can see some ways we might relate the pride of wealth, the self-sufficiency, the sense of complacency. 00:17:25.066 --> 00:17:28.833 It's great that we have freedom of worship, by the way. 00:17:28.833 --> 00:17:30.900 I wouldn't want it any other way. 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:38.232 But you want to know the countries where the church is flourishing the most, where it's growing the most. 00:17:38.232 --> 00:17:43.333 It's in places like China where it's outlawed. 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:44.732 That's a hard truth. 00:17:44.732 --> 00:17:46.365 That's a hard truth for me to hear. 00:17:47.665 --> 00:17:52.965 There's something about it being illegal or that makes it truer for each person that follows it. 00:17:52.965 --> 00:17:53.833 You know, the cost. 00:17:53.833 --> 00:17:57.566 It could genuinely, really, truly cost you your life. 00:17:57.566 --> 00:18:00.066 You know that they're not just Sunday Christians. 00:18:00.066 --> 00:18:03.066 They didn't mean something real to them. 00:18:04.333 --> 00:18:05.500 That's something. 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:08.633 Look, it's not wrong to have freedom of worship, by the way. 00:18:08.633 --> 00:18:10.165 I am deeply grateful for that. 00:18:10.165 --> 00:18:14.965 But also, we need to be aware of the tendency for that to lead towards complacency. 00:18:14.965 --> 00:18:16.333 We've got to be mindful of that. 00:18:16.333 --> 00:18:19.333 We've got to be on guard with that. 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:23.566 All this world just wants to lull you to spiritual sleep. 00:18:23.566 --> 00:18:28.465 The whole everything about this world wants you to care about everything else except Jesus. 00:18:29.665 --> 00:18:31.465 And it's always facing that. 00:18:31.465 --> 00:18:33.133 You're always facing that pressure. 00:18:33.133 --> 00:18:33.900 The church does. 00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:35.732 We do individually. 00:18:35.732 --> 00:18:37.900 What does he say about how do we deal with that? 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:38.865 How do we approach that? 00:18:38.865 --> 00:18:41.665 We're going to look at three responses to that. 00:18:42.766 --> 00:18:46.066 And the first is in verse 14. 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:50.133 How do we deal with our blindness, our pride, our self-sufficiency, our complacency? 00:18:50.133 --> 00:18:53.766 Look at verse 14 to the angel of the church in Laodicea. 00:18:53.766 --> 00:19:00.032 Write the words of the A men, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 00:19:00.032 --> 00:19:10.932 This is Jesus's self-description here, and most find that this verse in particular connects to the book of Colossians. 00:19:10.932 --> 00:19:15.066 I mentioned that Colossians or Colossae was near Laodicea. 00:19:15.066 --> 00:19:16.833 We saw that on the map. 00:19:16.833 --> 00:19:20.365 But Paul even mentions Laodicea in the book of Colossians. 00:19:20.365 --> 00:19:22.865 He says to the Colossians, I wrote you a letter. 00:19:22.865 --> 00:19:24.833 Be sure to let the Laodiceans read it. 00:19:24.833 --> 00:19:27.700 I wrote the Laodiceans a letter which we don't have. 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.633 I wrote them a letter. 00:19:28.633 --> 00:19:33.432 You be sure to read it so we know they probably were facing some similar spiritual challenges. 00:19:33.432 --> 00:19:42.299 There was some overlap there, and many find this verse in the way that Jesus is described the faithful, the true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:43.700 Many see a connection to Colossians. 00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:44.833 So flip over to Colossians. 00:19:44.833 --> 00:19:50.266 It's probably about 50 pages back towards the front in your Bible. 00:19:50.266 --> 00:19:53.900 We're going to look at Colossians chapter one and just read a couple of verses there. 00:19:56.333 --> 00:20:03.833 If you find Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians comes right after those couple of letters he wrote to cities in this area. 00:20:03.833 --> 00:20:06.665 We already looked at Ephesus. 00:20:06.665 --> 00:20:08.032 Colossians chapter one. 00:20:08.032 --> 00:20:10.365 Look at how Jesus is described here. 00:20:10.365 --> 00:20:13.365 Verse 15. 00:20:13.665 --> 00:20:18.766 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 00:20:18.766 --> 00:20:20.833 Here we get a bit of this description. 00:20:20.833 --> 00:20:27.032 We saw in Revelation the beginning of God's creation, the firstborn of God's creation, similar language. 00:20:27.032 --> 00:20:35.432 For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible, invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers, authorities. 00:20:35.432 --> 00:20:38.633 All things were created through him and for him. 00:20:38.633 --> 00:20:43.299 And he is before all things in him all things hold together. 00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:45.865 He is the head of the body, the church. 00:20:45.865 --> 00:20:54.665 He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent or have first place. 00:20:54.900 --> 00:21:06.665 And so what we see here in Colossians, this description of Jesus, and this is the first solution to the problem, is realize that control is an illusion. 00:21:09.333 --> 00:21:22.232 The financial wealth, maybe the access to health care, maybe whatever gives us this sense of self independence, self-sufficiency, and pride. 00:21:22.232 --> 00:21:31.833 Ultimately, it's a sense that we are the ones in control, but realize and recognize that control is an illusion. 00:21:31.833 --> 00:21:40.266 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, you see that there is someone else in control. 00:21:40.266 --> 00:21:43.732 It's easy to forget that Jesus is ultimately the one in control. 00:21:43.732 --> 00:21:45.099 He created all things. 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:50.299 He sustains all things in heaven and on earth. 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:52.333 He is the one that is ultimately in control. 00:21:52.333 --> 00:21:58.665 And if we lose sight of that, and that's part of the challenge of wealth, by the way. 00:21:58.665 --> 00:22:01.700 And I know you're thinking, John, I don't know who you're talking about. 00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:03.333 You keep talking about money and wealth. 00:22:03.333 --> 00:22:04.365 You're not talking about me. 00:22:04.365 --> 00:22:05.732 And I'm like, well, yes, I am. 00:22:07.266 --> 00:22:08.465 All of us. 00:22:08.465 --> 00:22:12.066 Even the poorest person in here are in the 1% of the world. 00:22:12.066 --> 00:22:16.566 And I get the fact that, look, you know, cost of living here is higher and all that. 00:22:16.566 --> 00:22:19.133 That's true. That's a reality. 00:22:19.133 --> 00:22:27.766 But you can be poor here and still have air conditioning, car, cell phone, plenty of food. 00:22:27.766 --> 00:22:31.066 This isn't to minimize whatever situation you're in, whatever challenges you're facing. 00:22:31.066 --> 00:22:38.365 I know those are real okay, but the reality is we all face a level of ease unprecedented in human history. 00:22:38.365 --> 00:22:41.365 All of us. 00:22:42.432 --> 00:22:44.865 And we've got to recognize and remind ourselves. 00:22:44.865 --> 00:22:48.500 Ultimately, though, I'm not the one in control. 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:53.700 He is the one in control, and he's the one I have to look to. 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:55.566 So that's the first point. 00:22:55.566 --> 00:22:57.066 Control is an illusion. 00:22:57.066 --> 00:22:58.633 Recognize that. Remember. 00:22:58.633 --> 00:23:02.232 Remind yourself Jesus is the one in control, not me. 00:23:04.266 --> 00:23:22.965 The second thing to be aware of the second response to the problem is in verse 17 for you say, I am rich, I've prospered, I need nothing, not realizing you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, naked. 00:23:23.432 --> 00:23:30.932 Part of the reason Jesus says in Matthew 19, it's hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:23:33.432 --> 00:23:37.066 It's because it's easy to think, I don't need anything else. 00:23:37.066 --> 00:23:39.865 I'm good when I've got riches. 00:23:39.865 --> 00:23:42.333 But number two, here's the second response. 00:23:42.333 --> 00:23:49.566 Here's how we should respond and said, instead, we have to deal in the currency of the kingdom. 00:23:51.665 --> 00:23:57.766 You've got to deal in the currency of the kingdom, not in what you think the currency is, not in what I think the currency is. 00:23:57.766 --> 00:23:59.865 We got to deal in the currency of the kingdom. 00:23:59.865 --> 00:24:03.333 Just like when I went overseas to whatever country I went to. 00:24:03.333 --> 00:24:05.066 I can't pay with my US dollars. 00:24:05.066 --> 00:24:06.232 They won't take them. 00:24:07.532 --> 00:24:11.700 You change them out, you come back to me and bring me my money. 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:15.566 Deal in our currency if you want to transact here. 00:24:15.566 --> 00:24:17.333 What is the currency of the kingdom? 00:24:17.333 --> 00:24:21.365 What's interesting here-- three words I want to look at in verse 18. 00:24:21.365 --> 00:24:24.700 You are poor, blind and naked. 00:24:25.833 --> 00:24:32.465 He directly responds to each of those words when he talks about the currency of the kingdom. 00:24:32.566 --> 00:24:34.766 First, let's look at that word naked. 00:24:34.766 --> 00:24:41.500 And all three of these relate to things that were culturally relevant in Laodicea. 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:45.732 If you look at the middle of 18, he says, and I'm adding the word buy its improved. 00:24:45.732 --> 00:24:53.165 I counsel you to buy white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and the shame of your nakedness nakedness may not be seen. 00:24:54.665 --> 00:24:55.766 Laodicea was known. 00:24:55.766 --> 00:24:57.032 He says, you need white garments. 00:24:57.032 --> 00:24:58.432 You need white garments from me. 00:24:58.432 --> 00:25:00.032 You need garments that I provide. 00:25:00.032 --> 00:25:08.365 Laodicea became rich where their wealth came from initially was their sought after flock of raven black sheep. 00:25:08.365 --> 00:25:11.633 Their wool was black and silky and sought after deeply. 00:25:11.633 --> 00:25:15.465 And because it was naturally, deeply black, they didn't have to diet. 00:25:15.465 --> 00:25:17.532 They didn't have the expense and time of that. 00:25:17.532 --> 00:25:24.665 And so because of that small margin, they were able to build on the wealth of the cost savings of that process and the desirability of that wool. 00:25:24.665 --> 00:25:33.732 And Jesus is saying, hinting to them, you think your garments are the best and most desired, but they they don't get you into the kingdom. 00:25:33.732 --> 00:25:37.232 Your own efforts won't work to get you there. 00:25:37.232 --> 00:25:37.932 You're naked. 00:25:37.932 --> 00:25:39.299 You come to the kingdom naked. 00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:42.732 Even with your finest clothing that you developed, you still come naked. 00:25:44.465 --> 00:25:48.465 Second, he talks about their eyes. 00:25:48.766 --> 00:25:50.732 First he said buy white garments. 00:25:50.732 --> 00:25:55.766 Now he says buy salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 00:25:55.766 --> 00:26:04.700 Laodicea was actually known for having a what we would call a modern in modern language, an ophthalmologist medical school. 00:26:05.165 --> 00:26:09.865 They had discovered or found, whatever the combination of minerals or elements. 00:26:09.865 --> 00:26:17.432 Partly, I think, because of the way the water was delivered to them and the mining in the area, they had discovered. 00:26:17.432 --> 00:26:23.465 The right combination of that, when put into cream form, actually helped heal people's eyes. 00:26:23.465 --> 00:26:24.665 So they were known for this. 00:26:24.665 --> 00:26:30.266 People would come there specifically to get their eyes healed. 00:26:30.266 --> 00:26:38.066 And you think your salve, your special formulas are the things that will get you into the kingdom. 00:26:38.066 --> 00:26:42.365 But it's not that. You're still blind, It's not your own efforts. 00:26:43.865 --> 00:26:48.133 But then lastly, look at how he started this section in verse 19, verse 18. 00:26:48.133 --> 00:26:53.732 He says, I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire. 00:26:54.500 --> 00:27:02.266 The key part of that there is buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich. 00:27:02.266 --> 00:27:09.165 I would add the word that's not in the original language, but it certainly draws it out that you may be truly rich. 00:27:10.365 --> 00:27:13.165 This is where we have to come in the currency of the kingdom. 00:27:13.165 --> 00:27:23.165 If I come to the kingdom thinking gold, will my own gold that I earned or found or dug up, if I think that's what will get me into the kingdom. 00:27:23.165 --> 00:27:25.133 That's not the currency of the kingdom. 00:27:25.133 --> 00:27:26.865 Gold. In fact, gold is worthless there. 00:27:26.865 --> 00:27:28.099 I've pointed this out so many times. 00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:29.732 They pave the streets with it. 00:27:29.732 --> 00:27:31.432 It's got no value. 00:27:31.432 --> 00:27:33.665 You can't come to the door or go and look how great I am. 00:27:33.665 --> 00:27:35.633 Look how much I've collected. Let me in. 00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:40.165 Colossae was known for being a financial center. 00:27:40.165 --> 00:27:47.099 In fact, famous writers at the time, people like Cicero, wrote that they had exchanged money there. 00:27:48.133 --> 00:27:52.566 At one point, the Jews who lived there had collected so much gold they were going to send it to Jerusalem. 00:27:52.566 --> 00:27:56.032 And the emperor confiscated something like 20 pounds of gold. 00:27:56.032 --> 00:28:02.566 They were known for their gold, their richness. 00:28:02.865 --> 00:28:05.232 That won't work in the kingdom. 00:28:05.232 --> 00:28:08.232 What is the currency of the kingdom? 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.700 One word. 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:12.165 It's in verse 19. 00:28:12.165 --> 00:28:13.633 Look at verse 19. 00:28:13.633 --> 00:28:16.032 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. 00:28:16.032 --> 00:28:21.299 So be zealous and repent. 00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:28.900 Repentance is the currency of the kingdom, one of the things they needed to repent of. 00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:33.365 If you look back in your notes, I skipped over this phrase Propriis Opibus. 00:28:34.932 --> 00:28:40.465 That is a phrase when they rejected the bailout money that they really took to heart. 00:28:40.465 --> 00:28:40.900 They can. 00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:43.500 They found it on etchings all over the community. 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.266 It become. 00:28:44.266 --> 00:28:47.532 It became a phrase for their independence. 00:28:47.532 --> 00:28:56.165 And it's translated something like, we did it ourselves, or maybe more accurately, by one's own means. 00:28:56.365 --> 00:28:57.365 Frank Sinatra said it. 00:28:57.365 --> 00:28:58.532 I did it my way. 00:28:58.532 --> 00:29:00.299 I did it myself. 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.965 He still died God's way. 00:29:01.965 --> 00:29:04.965 But by my own means. 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:06.965 We got this. 00:29:06.965 --> 00:29:10.299 That's not going to get you into the kingdom of heaven. 00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:15.900 Repentance is the currency of the kingdom of heaven. 00:29:15.900 --> 00:29:26.032 And what this means for the church today is that we don't walk in pride of how great we are, and every church has had their seasons of pride. 00:29:26.665 --> 00:29:37.266 I've heard from people who've been here a long time that there have been seasons where Valley View has really struggled with pride, and any individual, any one of us, will have seasons of pride. 00:29:38.766 --> 00:29:40.465 Repentance, says Jesus. 00:29:40.465 --> 00:29:42.865 I'm sorry. 00:29:42.865 --> 00:29:45.665 I want to come to you in humility. 00:29:45.665 --> 00:29:48.099 I thought I could figure out life myself. 00:29:48.099 --> 00:29:49.766 I thought I could do it on my own. 00:29:49.766 --> 00:29:52.266 I thought I didn't need you and I'm sorry. 00:29:52.266 --> 00:29:54.665 Will you forgive me for that? 00:29:54.665 --> 00:29:56.665 I'm coming to you in repentance. 00:29:56.665 --> 00:30:00.465 I'm bowing down before you and saying, I want you to be my Lord. 00:30:00.465 --> 00:30:02.232 I want you to be the one in control. 00:30:02.232 --> 00:30:06.665 I recognize that the control I thought I had is an illusion. 00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:11.566 Humility is what opens the door to the kingdom. 00:30:11.566 --> 00:30:16.432 Repentance is what opens the door to the kingdom. 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:17.766 Not my complacency. 00:30:17.766 --> 00:30:20.099 Self-sufficiency, pride. 00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:23.099 Gold. Expensive fabric. 00:30:23.665 --> 00:30:24.865 Ability to heal. 00:30:24.865 --> 00:30:27.865 None of that. 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:34.000 All this leads to the third solution, the third response to the big problem of pride and Laodicea. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:36.532 And we see it in verse 20. 00:30:36.532 --> 00:30:39.066 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. 00:30:39.066 --> 00:30:48.465 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me, the one who conquers. 00:30:48.465 --> 00:30:55.232 I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and set down with my father on his throne. 00:30:56.266 --> 00:31:01.032 The picture here is of Jesus knocking on the door of the church. 00:31:01.232 --> 00:31:08.732 And it is, I think, for many of us, in fact, this is a verse that meant a lot to me when I first came to know Christ. 00:31:08.732 --> 00:31:12.700 It's a picture of him calling, calling you to him. 00:31:13.932 --> 00:31:15.932 But keep in context here. 00:31:15.932 --> 00:31:17.932 What door he’s knocking on. 00:31:17.932 --> 00:31:22.700 He's knocking on the door of a church that has said, we don't need you. 00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:24.932 We've got this. 00:31:24.932 --> 00:31:31.833 We're going to appear, maybe to be a church, but ultimately we've pushed Jesus out the side door. 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:36.900 And that's a huge temptation of the modern church, by the way. 00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:38.299 It's so easy. 00:31:38.299 --> 00:31:42.333 If you've been in any kind of business meeting, you hear him use the phrase mission creep. 00:31:42.333 --> 00:31:45.965 It's so easy because you're good at one thing to start to want to do everything. 00:31:46.965 --> 00:31:52.432 And before long you think, man, we got 100 different things going, and what are we really about? 00:31:52.432 --> 00:31:54.432 What's at the center of who we are? 00:31:54.432 --> 00:31:56.465 And the church is facing that. 00:31:56.465 --> 00:32:04.299 So many churches are caught up in everything other than the gospel, and it's something Valley View has got to fight for as well. 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:12.766 In fact, the third thing to take heart, and it's the most important we've got to keep Christ at the center of everything we do. 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:15.165 We gotta keep him at the very center. 00:32:15.165 --> 00:32:23.032 That's why we can celebrate our country today without turning it into country worship, because we're going to keep Christ at the center. 00:32:23.032 --> 00:32:25.299 We didn't cover up the cross with the flag. 00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.266 We kept it. 00:32:26.266 --> 00:32:29.165 The most prominent thing up here. 00:32:29.165 --> 00:32:30.066 I love our country. 00:32:30.066 --> 00:32:30.900 We want to celebrate it. 00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:34.932 But we got to keep Christ at the center of everything we do. 00:32:35.766 --> 00:32:38.532 And you've got to in your life as well. 00:32:38.532 --> 00:32:41.432 And I know it's a battle every day. 00:32:41.432 --> 00:32:44.665 It's got to be a battle every single day. 00:32:48.066 --> 00:32:50.932 In fact, Julie and I used to serve with a missions organization. 00:32:50.932 --> 00:32:57.066 You've you've probably heard of it, Campus Crusade for Christ or it's called Cru in the US now. 00:32:57.066 --> 00:33:04.299 Part of the reason we stepped away from serving with them is we felt we could see the mission creep happening. 00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:06.599 Well, this is ten years ago now. 00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:14.133 We could see them getting excited about the gospel was still there, but other things became the main topic of our annual meeting. 00:33:14.133 --> 00:33:17.532 It was all about whatever was going on in the culture at that time. 00:33:17.532 --> 00:33:20.900 And how do we battle that, and how do we align ourselves to best reach the culture? 00:33:20.900 --> 00:33:22.932 And part of that's important and necessary. 00:33:22.932 --> 00:33:25.099 But it was too much. 00:33:25.099 --> 00:33:29.266 They were losing the center, and it was a big concern to us. 00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:40.032 I pointed out last weekend that we had two friends here, Tim and Mandy Castiel, and he served still with Campus Crusade in Arkansas at the University of Arkansas. 00:33:40.032 --> 00:33:46.232 Every day, his job is to talk to college students about Jesus, to walk around talking to them, growing them up in their faith. 00:33:46.232 --> 00:33:49.665 And it was so fun to listen to their stories. 00:33:50.432 --> 00:33:54.865 I mean, imagine if Christ got radically ahold of you at that age. 00:33:55.165 --> 00:33:56.833 Imagine the path of your life. 00:33:56.833 --> 00:34:03.165 So many of those kids become on fire for Jesus and walk with him faithfully for a lifetime. 00:34:03.165 --> 00:34:06.266 And I said, man, how are things going? 00:34:06.865 --> 00:34:10.932 Because part of the reason we stopped serving with Campus Crusade is because the mission creep we were seeing. 00:34:10.932 --> 00:34:14.532 And he said, John, I got to tell you, things are turning back. 00:34:15.965 --> 00:34:17.833 Christ is at the center again. 00:34:17.833 --> 00:34:22.565 Leadership has stepped up and said, we are going to be all about sharing Christ with the world. 00:34:22.565 --> 00:34:24.166 That's at the core of everything we do. 00:34:24.166 --> 00:34:26.666 And they say it over and over and over again. 00:34:26.666 --> 00:34:32.500 And I almost wept in front of him as he told me that, because I was so grateful to hear that. 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:36.965 We don't want to hear that missions, agencies and churches are straying away from the Lord. 00:34:36.965 --> 00:34:39.865 We don't want to hear that they're going after other things. 00:34:39.865 --> 00:34:42.800 We want to know that Christ is at the center of all they're doing. 00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:48.065 And I just I gave deep thanks for the gratitude of what that campus crusade had meant to me. 00:34:48.065 --> 00:34:49.699 How to change my life. 00:34:52.532 --> 00:34:55.166 Keep fighting to keep Christ at the center of your life. 00:34:55.166 --> 00:34:59.065 And by the way, keep fighting for that to be true of Valley View. 00:34:59.065 --> 00:35:02.766 When it seems off center, press into it. 00:35:04.632 --> 00:35:08.065 All of us have to work together to make sure we keep Christ at the center of our life. 00:35:08.065 --> 00:35:11.065 Let's pray. 00:35:13.632 --> 00:35:15.065 God, I thank you for Valley View. 00:35:15.065 --> 00:35:18.632 I thank you for what this church has meant to me in my life. 00:35:18.632 --> 00:35:28.900 How you've used the gospel here to transform hundreds, thousands, probably tens of thousands across the south end of Louisville. 00:35:33.532 --> 00:35:38.833 And we want to see that happen in a renewed way. 00:35:38.833 --> 00:35:44.132 We want to see people turn to you like never before. 00:35:44.266 --> 00:35:47.865 We don't want to be stuck in the past complacent. 00:35:47.865 --> 00:35:50.532 Look at the great things you did do here. 00:35:50.532 --> 00:35:52.432 We are grateful for that. 00:35:53.365 --> 00:35:56.365 But God, would you move. 00:35:56.365 --> 00:35:59.900 Help us to put you at the center of everything. You. 00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:02.365 You are creator. 00:36:02.365 --> 00:36:03.532 You are a king. 00:36:03.532 --> 00:36:09.733 Help us to realize that and act in accordance with that every day. 00:36:11.465 --> 00:36:17.766 Help us to walk in repentance for the ways we've walked in prideful self-sufficiency. 00:36:20.766 --> 00:36:22.932 We love you, Jesus. 00:36:22.932 --> 00:36:23.465 Amen.