Sunday Service (2)

Sunday Service: Useful for the Master

(07-31-2022) Ptr. Lynard Molo

=Useful for the Master=

*Revelation 3:14-21
"14 "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.

+Laodicea:
-was famous for three things:

1. Wealth: it had a lot of banking centers.
2. Soft Black Wool: which they produced.
3. Eye Salve: which was produced there to treat medical conditions for the eye.

-was known for its independence, having experienced a devastating earthquake in AD 17 but refusing financial aid from Rome. They had no adequate water supply so it had to  have its water pumped in from nearby Colossae or Hierapolis.

+Amen: indicates that He is God's perfect and final revelation.

+the faithful and true witness: Jesus is also God's reliable witness, who never swerves from the truth.

+ruler of God's creation: He is the Source of creation. He is the Creator.

*John 1:3
"3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."

I. Condition of Laodicean Church:

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

+Nothing escapes Jesus' attention

16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

+Lukewarm: It serves no purpose.

"Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope."
-Rick Warren, Pastor

+That us how Jesus felt about them (You make me sick to my stomach, you turn my stomach)

II. Causes of Lukewarm

17 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.

a. Self-sufficient

"They were a church which had material wealth and along with that came an arrogant, proud, self-sufficient attitude.

BEWARE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY

"Our trust and security must be in Him alone, not in ourselves, not in anyone else, not in any material things, because material things will come and go, but God will not. He alone is constant. He alone is completely trustworthy.

b. Self-deception

III. Cure for being a Lukewarm

18 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.

a. Be rich Spiritually
+They needed genuine faith.
+Symbol of righteous conduct.
+It is the Word of God that enables us to clearly see God's perspective.

b. Be repentant.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

*Hebrews 12:10-11
"10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

c. Be responsive.

20 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 him, and he with me.

IV. Promise for the Victors

21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

+He will sit with Him on His throne.

*2 Timothy 2:19-21
"19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.
21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.