My family has a Ring camera at our house. When the notification goes off to let us know that someone is in front of the camera, we immediately look at our phones to see who it is.
That’s been an age-old question for households for many years. “Who is it? Who is at the door?” You might peek through the blinds, or have your spouse look, or simply ignore the knock because you don’t know the answer to the question, “Who is it?”
Well, today, we’re going to hear about when Jesus is knocking at the door.
When you know who is knocking, then it makes it easier to determine if you want to answer the door.
Well, if you knew it was Jesus, would you want to answer the door?
Let’s see what our passage today says about that, then go to God in prayer.
Look at Revelation 3:14-22:
14 “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator, of God’s creation: 15 I know your works, 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 am going to vomit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. 20 See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
21 “To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Join me in prayer as we continue.
(prayer)
Are there things that you sometimes want to spew out of your mouth?
I’m a pretty mild-tempered man when it comes to food. However, my wife is very expressive with her food if it brings her displeasure. If she doesn’t like something, you’ll know it. There are things sometimes that she has to spew out of her mouth (of course, at home where she doesn’t have to be polite and proper).
Well, we learn here what makes Jesus want to vomit something out of His mouth. That’s the title of today’s sermon: “What Makes Jesus Want to Vomit.”
We’re going to see in this passage today three sets of choices that we have. So, let’s dive into them.
First, we should think about . . .
I. Being hot or cold.
We meet the final church of the seven churches, the Church of Laodicea.
Laodicea was a relatively wealthy city, known for success in multiple areas of industry.
The city was a thriving city in many ways, but the church of that city was not so hot (See what I did there?).
We see Jesus introduce Himself to them in verse 14 as “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation.”
Amen means “truly” or “let it be so.” We must recognize that Jesus is the final certainty to all of life; He is the Amen.
He is also faithful and true as a witness to all that God has done, all that God is doing, and all that God will do.
He is also the one who brought creation into existence.
The Apostle John (who is the one recording the Book of Revelation) also wrote about Jesus in the Gospel of John, in John 1:1–3:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.”
So, we must acknowledge that Jesus has the authority to say what He is about to say to the Church in Laodicea.
He says to them:
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot.”
Well, that’s a clear statement. Jesus would rather they pick a side, right? He doesn’t want them to straddle the fence. He doesn’t like half-hearted commitment. He doesn’t like lukewarm. Jesus wants all of them.
However, Jesus turns up the heat in his language (See what I did again?). He says in verse 16:
“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.”
That’s pretty direct, isn’t it?
Jesus says the way that they are living their spiritual lives makes Him want to vomit.
It’s never a good thing when someone says, “You make me want to vomit.” It’s especially not a good thing when the Lord Jesus Christ says, “You make me want to vomit.”
Imagine if Jesus came to speak to us today and we all thought, “I can’t wait to hear what He’s going to say,” and He says, “You make me want to vomit!” That would be terrible to hear!
You see, brothers and sisters, Jesus wants all of us! He doesn’t want us to be in the middle; He doesn’t want us to be lukewarm, where He can’t tell whether we’re hot or cold.
Jesus said in Luke 11:23:
“Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.”
He said in Matthew 6:24:
“No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.”
You see, there is no in-between when it comes to serving Jesus. He wants us to be burning with love and devotion to Him; He doesn’t want a half-hearted lukewarm commitment.
So, are we choosing to be hot or cold?
Next, we need to determine if we are . . .
II. Being rich or poor.
Now, the Laodiceans were likely rich in the ways of the world.
In comparison to the rest of the world, most of us are rich. Some in this room are very rich compared to the rest of the world.
However, this is not at all what is important in the eyes of “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation,” the Lord Jesus Christ.
Look again at verse 17:
“For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”
You see, it appeared that the Laodicians had become so comfortable and satisfied with the things of the world that they had no idea how pitiful, poor, blind, and naked they actually were.
How tragic that would be for someone who is in a desperate state of need to think that everything was just fine.
However, that can happen to us, can’t it? We can chase after the satisfaction of this world, not realizing that in doing so, we are digging a hole of deeper spiritual poverty and more desperate need.
What a tragedy that is. What can we do with such a problem?
Jesus tells the Laodiceans what to do. He says in verse 18:
“I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see.”
Jesus speaks of three items that they should pursue:
First, He speaks of gold, which represents true spiritual riches.
Second, He speaks of white clothes, which represent sinlessness and righteousness.
Third, He speaks of eye ointment, which will help them see with godly eyes.
This instruction from Jesus sounds very similar to what He said in Matthew 6:19–20:
“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.”
Church, we must make a determination when it comes to being spiritually rich or poor.
What will we pursue with the life that we are given? Will it be the blessings of this world, or will it be the blessings of God?
Finally, we must consider . . .
III. Being open or closed.
Look at verse 20:
“See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Brother or sister: Are you open to Jesus coming in to you?
Now, before we give a quick answer to that question, we must consider that this illustration that Jesus gives is in reference to repentance and restoration with Jesus.
Do you know how it’s really hard to reconcile with someone who has offended you or whom you have offended? Do you know how it’s hard to restore that relationship? Well, that’s what Jesus is talking about here.
Jesus is talking about whether or not someone is willing to have Him come into their lives for restoration of their relationship with Him.
I really like how the New Living Translation handles this verse. It says,
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
–Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
Are you open to Jesus coming in to be with you? Are you open to Jesus fixing your relationship with Him so that you can be friends with Him? Are you open to giving up the things of this world in order to gain the riches of heaven?
“Who is it?” It’s Jesus! Jesus is knocking . . . are we willing to have Him come in?
Better yet, are we eager for Him to come in?
That takes us to our bottom line:
Bottom Line: Let us be excited and eager to be with Jesus.
Let’s go back to verse 19. Jesus said:
“As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent.”
That word zealous can also mean “eager” or “earnest.” It means to be very excited.
Church, we should be eager and excited to be close to Jesus.
The way a child can’t wait to go to a theme park.
The way Pastor Dirck can’t wait to get a Coke from Sonic.
The way Pastor Richard can’t wait to get some brisket.
The way I can’t wait to eat some deviled eggs.
The way a dog can’t wait for it’s owner to walk in the door after a long trip.
The way we all can’t wait for the fall time-change and to have that extra hour of sleep.
We must look forward with zeal to being in the presence of Jesus!
Listen carefully: We must look forward with zeal to being in the presence of Jesus, even when it means that we are going to be corrected.
As many as Jesus loves, He rebukes and disciplines. So, let us be eager to receive the discipline of Jesus, repent, and turn back to Him.
When you are in sin, don’t turn away from Jesus; turn toward Jesus.
Challenge yourself this week in this one way:
Weekly Challenge: Commit to conquer with Jesus.
Look at verse 21 again:
“To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
We’re not even sure what exactly this means, but we know that it means in some way that we will be victorious with Jesus and that we will reign with Jesus.
In some way, as Jesus sits victorious with God the Father, we will sit victorious with Jesus. Isn’t that incredible?
So, commit to be with Jesus, commit to turn to Jesus when you sin, and commit to finish your life faithfully with Jesus, so that you will conquer and reign with Jesus.
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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