Through the Bible - Micah 3, Revelation 11
Good morning,
For today's verse we'll return to Revelation 3 to see what Christ had to say to the final church, the church at Laodicea, the "lukewarm church". The city was a wealthy city with thriving, banking, medical, and textile industries. It was also known for it's sparse supply of water. All of these points come into play in the message to the church.
The church was wealthy and self sufficient, self reliant, at least financially, and boasted that they "were in need of nothing". It is noteworthy that this is the only church among the seven for which Jesus has nothing positive to say.
Barclay comments that the city "was famous for two kinds of medicine, namely, an ointment for soar ears and an eye powder for sore eyes." Sadly, they were blind to the vision of Christ and deaf to His words.
Rev 3:17 Because you say,'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. NKJV
or from The Message
Rev 3:17-19 You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.
"Here's what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that's been through the refiner's fire. Then you'll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You've gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.
John MacArthur writes, "The lukewarm are like the unbelieving Jews of whom Paul lamented, "for I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge" (Rom. 10:2). They are those who "(hold) to a form of Godliness, although they have denied it's power" (2 Tim. 3:5). Such obnoxious hypocrisy nauseates Christ."
John Stott compares the situation to what we see going on in the late 20th and into the 21st century, he writes that this letter "describes vividly the respectable, sentimental, nominal, skin deep religiosity which is so widespread among us today. Our Christianity is flabby and anaemic. We appear to have taken a lukewarm bath of religion."
What are we to watch out for? For being self absorbed, self sufficient as individuals and as a church, oblivious to our spiritual needs. Instead, (adding one more ingredient to what we considered yesterday), our desire should be - to love, win, build, and send, through the power of Christ in us.
We can also look back to the beginning of Christ's ministry when he quoted from the book of Isaiah in Luke chapter 4:
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." NKJV
Notice the points in these verses compared to what Jesus calls the people in the church in Laodicea. They were "miserable, poor, blind, and naked" because though they had the resources there is no indication that they did anything for people in this physical condition, leaving them in that spiritual condition.
Read 3:19, what other verses and passages come to mind? Think of the invitition in Isaiah 55 or this from Matthew 6:
Matt 6:31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
Instead of posting this passage from Revelation 3, I'll post today's Old Testament reading from Micah which gives shows this spiritually blind condition.
In Christ,
Mike
Mic 3:5-4:1
Here is God's Message to the prophets,the preachers who lie to my people:"For as long as they're well paid and well fed,the prophets preach, 'Isn't life wonderful! Peace to all!'But if you don't pay up and jump on their bandwagon,their 'God bless you' turns into 'God damn you.' Therefore, you're going blind. You'll see nothing.You'll live in deep shadows and know nothing.The sun has set on the prophets.They've had their day; from now on it's night. Visionaries will be confused,experts will be all mixed up.They'll hide behind their reputations and make lame excusesto cover up their God-ignorance."
But me — I'm filled with God's power,filled with God's Spirit of justice and strength,Ready to confront Jacob's crimeand Israel's sin.
The leaders of Jacob andthe leaders of Israel areLeaders contemptuous of justice,who twist and distort right living, Leaders who build Zion by killing people,who expand Jerusalem by committing crimes. Judges sell verdicts to the highest bidder,priests mass-market their teaching,prophets preach for high fees,All the while posturing and pretendingdependence on God:"We've got God on our side.He'll protect us from disaster." Because of people like you,Zion will be turned back into farmland,Jerusalem end up as a pile of rubble,and instead of the Temple on the mountain,a few scraggly scrub pines.
(from THE MESSAGE)
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