Reviving Spiritual Wealth: A Call to Relationship
Summary
In today's gathering, we began with a heart of gratitude, acknowledging the blessings in our lives, from our families and homes to our jobs and sustenance. We recognized that every good and perfect gift is from God, and we offered our hearts, lives, and worship to Him, thanking Him for His forgiveness, mercy, grace, and the promise of eternal life.
We then transitioned to our financial stewardship, praying over our tithes and offerings, and seeking wisdom in managing the resources entrusted to us for the advancement of God's kingdom.
Our focus was on the Book of Revelation, specifically the message to the church in Laodicea. We explored the pattern of the letters to the seven churches: an address to the angel of the church, a depiction of Jesus, an acknowledgment of the church's deeds, a commendation or rebuke, a call to hear what the Spirit says, and a promise to the overcomer.
The Laodicean church was rebuked for being lukewarm, a metaphor drawn from their local water supply, which was neither hot like the healing waters of nearby Hierapolis nor cold like the refreshing waters of Colossae. Their lukewarmness was symptomatic of a deeper spiritual malaise: a self-sufficient complacency rooted in material wealth that blinded them to their true spiritual poverty.
Jesus counseled them to buy gold refined in fire, white clothes to cover their nakedness, and salve for their eyes, symbolizing true riches, righteousness, and spiritual insight. This was a call to repentance, motivated by Jesus' love and desire for genuine relationship, as depicted in the famous verse where He stands at the door and knocks, promising to dine with anyone who opens the door to Him.
The sermon concluded with an invitation to open our hearts to Jesus, to let Him into our struggles and sins, and to start a relationship with Him. We were reminded that our spiritual condition is not determined by church attendance but by a living relationship with Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
- True wealth is not measured by material possessions but by our relationship with Christ. The church in Laodicea was materially rich but spiritually impoverished. We must guard against allowing our material blessings to blind us to our spiritual needs. [42:36]
- Jesus' rebuke is an expression of His love. Just as a parent disciplines a child out of love to protect them from harm, Jesus' harsh words to the Laodiceans were meant to turn them back to true riches found in Him. [44:40]
- Spiritual lukewarmness is a dangerous state where one is neither serving God's purposes nor experiencing His refreshing presence. It's a call to examine our lives for complacency and to seek a fervent, purposeful relationship with God. [32:27]
- Jesus stands at the door of our hearts, knocking and offering intimate fellowship. This image is not about physical proximity but about the willingness to invite Jesus into every aspect of our lives and to experience the transformative power of His presence. [48:08]
- The promises of God are 'Yes' in Christ. As the 'Amen' of God's promises, Jesus is the foundation upon which all of God's promises are fulfilled. Our faith is built on the certainty that in Him, we have the assurance of God's faithfulness. [19:24]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Revelation 3:14-22 (NIV)
> "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. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 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. 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. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 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. 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. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
### Observation Questions
1. What metaphor does Jesus use to describe the spiritual state of the Laodicean church? ([27:07])
2. How does Jesus describe Himself in Revelation 3:14, and what is the significance of these titles? ([17:30])
3. What are the three things Jesus counsels the Laodiceans to buy from Him, and what do they symbolize? ([42:01])
4. What promise does Jesus make to those who open the door to Him? ([46:46])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus use the metaphor of lukewarm water to describe the Laodicean church's spiritual condition? How does this relate to their local water supply? ([27:07])
2. What does it mean for Jesus to be the "Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation"? How does this title challenge the Laodiceans' self-sufficiency? ([17:30])
3. How does Jesus' rebuke of the Laodiceans reflect His love and desire for a genuine relationship with them? ([44:40])
4. In what ways might material wealth blind someone to their true spiritual condition, as it did with the Laodiceans? ([34:10])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be spiritually lukewarm? How can you seek to become more fervent in your relationship with God? ([27:07])
2. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, offering intimate fellowship. What steps can you take this week to open more areas of your life to Jesus? ([46:46])
3. The Laodiceans were blinded by their material wealth. Are there material possessions or comforts in your life that might be blinding you to your spiritual needs? How can you address this? ([34:10])
4. Jesus counsels the Laodiceans to buy gold refined in fire, white clothes, and salve. What practical steps can you take to seek true spiritual riches, righteousness, and insight? ([42:01])
5. How can you ensure that your faith is not just about church attendance but about a living relationship with Jesus? What changes might you need to make in your daily life to reflect this? ([41:12])
6. Jesus' rebuke is an expression of His love. How do you respond to correction or discipline in your spiritual life? Can you think of a recent instance where you felt God was correcting you out of love? ([44:40])
7. Identify one specific area in your life where you feel self-sufficient. How can you invite Jesus into that area and rely more on His strength and guidance? ([49:10])
Devotional
Day 1: Discovering True Spiritual Wealth
True wealth is found in the richness of our relationship with Christ, not in the abundance of our material possessions. The church in Laodicea was a prime example of this principle gone awry. They were materially prosperous, yet they were spiritually bankrupt. This serves as a stark reminder that one's net worth is not an indicator of one's spiritual health. Material blessings can often create a false sense of security, leading to complacency and a lack of perceived need for God. It is essential to regularly assess one's spiritual state, ensuring that the pursuit of material wealth does not overshadow the pursuit of a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Christ. This relationship is the true treasure, offering peace, fulfillment, and eternal life that no amount of money can buy. [07:40]
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:20-21 ESV
Reflection: How can you invest in your spiritual life this week to cultivate true riches in Christ?
Day 2: Embracing Jesus' Loving Rebuke
Jesus' rebuke is a sign of His deep love and concern for our well-being. Just as a loving parent disciplines their child to guide them towards a better path, Jesus' stern words to the Laodiceans were meant to redirect them towards the true riches found in Him. This rebuke was not meant to condemn but to awaken them to the reality of their spiritual condition and to encourage them to seek the lasting wealth of a relationship with Jesus. It is through His loving correction that we are often reminded of what truly matters and are called back to a life that is centered on Him and His purposes. [44:40]
"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent." - Revelation 3:19 ESV
Reflection: In what ways has Jesus' loving rebuke been evident in your life, and how can you respond to it with a zealous heart?
Day 3: The Peril of Spiritual Lukewarmness
Spiritual lukewarmness is a dangerous state of complacency that can creep into one's faith life. It is characterized by a lack of enthusiasm for God's purposes and an absence of the refreshing presence of the Holy Spirit. This condition is often the result of being too comfortable in one's circumstances, leading to a faith that is neither hot nor cold. The Laodiceans were chastised for this very reason, as their lukewarm faith was neither healing nor refreshing. It is a call for self-examination, to identify areas of indifference and to reignite a passionate pursuit of God's will and presence in one's life. [32:27]
"So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." - Revelation 3:16 ESV
Reflection: What area of your spiritual life has become lukewarm, and what steps can you take to rekindle your passion for God?
Day 4: Opening the Door to Intimate Fellowship
The image of Jesus standing at the door and knocking is a powerful illustration of His desire for intimate fellowship with us. He does not force His way in but instead invites us to willingly open the door to our hearts and lives. This invitation is not about mere physical proximity but about a deep and personal relationship. When we allow Jesus into every aspect of our lives, we experience the transformative power of His love and presence. It is in this close communion that we find the strength to overcome our struggles and the grace to grow in righteousness. [48:08]
"Behold, 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." - Revelation 3:20 ESV
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have kept the door closed to Jesus, and how can you open it to Him today?
Day 5: Standing on the Promises of God in Christ
The promises of God are 'Yes' in Christ. He is the 'Amen' to all of God's promises, serving as the firm foundation upon which our faith is built. In Jesus, we have the assurance of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. This certainty allows us to trust in His plans and to live with confidence, knowing that He is with us and for us. As believers, we are called to hold fast to these promises, allowing them to shape our lives and guide our actions as we navigate the complexities of the world. [19:24]
"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." - 2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV
Reflection: Which of God's promises do you need to cling to this week, and how can it change your perspective on your current circumstances?
Quotes
"Our faith is not a religion, our faith is built upon the foundation of a person and his name is Jesus. So it's not about checking the box that you went to church today, it's about being in a relationship with Jesus." [42:36] ()
"Because that's, be honest, we don't eat with strangers. We eat and have dinner with our family. We eat and have dinner with our loved ones. We eat and have dinner with our close friends or even a queen." [48:08] ()
"Is your lifestyle or way of living shutting Jesus out of your life? Like let's take a step back and truly examine the spiritual condition of your heart and of your life." [49:50] ()
"Here, he's going to share his throne with us. Now, let me just say this, don't misinterpret this. When you die and go to heaven, you are not, and I am not, we are not little gods." [51:26] ()
"And the reason why he has the liberty to do all of that is because his father is the lead pastor of this house. And when we get to heaven and Jesus shares the authority with us..." [53:08] ()
"God is not afraid of our struggle. God is bigger than our struggle. In fact, he's an ever-help to our struggle. But don't let that struggle, don't let that addiction, don't let that secret sin be the door that keeps Jesus shut out of your life." [54:49] ()
"Jesus, Jesus, twice, because Jesus is the amen found in scripture. In fact, look it in the New Testament. Second Corinthians chapter 1, verse 20, Paul says, for no matter how many promises God has made..." [19:24] ()
"Jesus is the ruler of God's creation, he's the beginning of God's creation, the other verse in this Revelation shows up here and there's a reference to water. Just remember water and Laodicea, it's going to connect." [25:16] ()
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