2022/05/01

Knock, knock?

Service Type:

Knock, knock?
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser

“Consider this, I have taken my stand at the door and am politely knocking.”
What does this reveal about Jesus’ intentions for his church? His character? His way of dealing with his kingdom.
Let’s return to the beginning of this letter to Laodicea:
To the Church in Laodicea
Rev 3:14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
Rev 3:15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
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—
Rev 3:18 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.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Rev 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Rev 3:22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' "

To Summarize:

CHURCH Laodicea “Lukewarm”
City of Medicine; Hot Springs material wealth
Revelation of Christ
Amen; True & Faithful Witness; Beginning of Creation (Source)

+ Positives Negatives
Works neither cold nor hot Lukewarm; Think they are rich, not needing anything
Wretch; miserable, poor, blind & naked

Instructions
Counsel – buy gold refined in fire; white garments clothed cover shame; anoint eyes with eye salve to see
Be Zealous (hot) repent

Rewards
Knock at Door – open for Jesus – communion;
Sit on Throne with Jesus with His Father

A little history:
Laodicea was on the trade routeh from Ephesus to Antioch in Syria. That explains the trade of gold refined in the fire. Buying eye-salve – there is a cold wind that blows in Turkey that severely affects the eyes- ophthalmia is caused and was experienced by apostle Paul on his missions. Apostle Andre had the same experience and had to get special eye salve while touring through the region on his way to a mission in Baku, Azerbaijan. There were Jewish banks and guilds that made coats of wool. The textile industry made so much revenue that the Jewish settlers sent gold to Jerusalem once a year. “Gold refined in the fire.” In 62 BC the Roman governor confiscated the shipment.
There was a teaching of Montanus that despised the written word and only emphasized the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit. He did, however, believe John’s revelation letter. Later the orthodox church accepted the book of revelation into the canon of scripture we have today.

There were several baths that were hot, tepid, or cold.
Nymphaeum A.
Laodicea also had one of the largest stadia in the region for games, races and gladiator fights.
Laodicea was dependent on external water supply.
Hierapolis to the north hosts springs, where tourists flock to this day. In sunlight, the limestone is blinding white, its undulating lines giving the appearance of frozen river rapids. There are tourist resorts here that echo an ancient city of pleasure. The Jews that lived here commented: “The wines and baths of Phrygia have separated the ten tribes of Israel.” (Saint Paul and the Sven Churches of Asia Minor, Silk Road Publications.) p. 135
Christian tradition holds that Philip the Evangelist was martyred here. He had probably lived here with his four prophetic daughters.

Jesus points out considerations that will spark our fire for God again:

1. Are you after Spiritual riches, or the deceitful riches of the world that can never satisfy? Is Jesus truly your source of righteousness, joy and peace? Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?
Jesus is revealed as the one who says to you: “So be it – according to your faith.”
The Aman! The faithful and true witness to the facts of your spiritual life. Moses went after the greater riches that even included suffering with the people of God, leaving behind the pleasures of Egypt so that he may experience the glory of God.
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
Heb 11:25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
Heb 11:26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
Heb 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

Let us not allow the deceitfulness of riches to choke the words we read, hear through preaching and encouragement of the saints.
Mat 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

There is a promised blessing for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness:
Mat 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

2. Have we been looking at our lives with earthy parameters of with spiritual vision?
It’s about changing one’s perspective about life, things and people. Have you read our Creed of faith lately? Jesus Christ is the beginning of the creation of God and is therefore our source. It all flows from that belief.
2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
2Co 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For us at Harvester, we are seeking God’s kingdom first and all other things will be added unto us. “We make seeking God the most pre-eminent thing in our lives and He takes care of so many things that we think we have to take care of…”
This also changes the key performance indicators we look for in our daily walk of faith.
We understand and see through the temporal and seek the eternal values that only God can sustain.
We realize that resources and wealth are there to establish God’s covenant with generations to come. While God allows us to eat of the fruit of our labours, this is not the final outcome of our all striving and efforts.,, we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth and we declare plainly that we seek a homeland:
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

3. How have we been exposed to sin, worldliness and become susceptible to conforming to the world?
Faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and a key element of Jesus’ character being revealed.
Jesus will remain true and faithful in us, if we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and make us holy, build faithful ways into our lifestyles and not compromise in a midst of a wicked and perverse generation:
Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act 2:39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
Act 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
Act 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

To conclude, let's be hot for God and shift our focus and vision to what counts in his kingdom, and we will feast with Him and rule and reign with Him on his throne!

Leave a comment