Post by Admin on Nov 15, 2018 6:56:15 GMT
Tonight we discussed the final letter in the series of seven which Jesus wrote to early Christian churches and to all generations of churches down to us today. After reviewing the geology of Laodicea – a well-known hot springs to the north, and cool, refreshing drinking water to the south, while in the middle the water made people sick – we understood Jesus’ description of the Laodicean church as being neither passionate in their relationship with the Lord (hot) nor calm and refreshing and peacefully connected (cold). Instead they were apparently looking the part, without any relationship to God or spiritual fruit underneath - lukewarm.
According to verse 17, the Laodiceans thought everything was going great since they were materially blessed in a city with good commerce and well-known for advanced medicine. As we often do, they may have equated earthly signs of success with God’s blessing, always a complete mistake. Jesus is provoking this congregation to get them out of their bland, no-growth comfort zone, using accusations such as, “you are naked,” to get them to really analyze their condition. We talked about whether we are willing to examine our spiritual status in light of all the advice Jesus gives and not gloss over His suggestions for improvement.
After reading a list from one website of characteristics of lukewarm Christians, we talked at length about our own willingness to cuddle in a comfortable warm zone, resigned that we are doing okay. We discussed when we pray for help, when we try to resolve issues on our own, and the delicate balance of growing to be like the Lord Jesus and exercising that maturity while remaining humbly under His control.
A final discussion point was to run through the main faults or dangers highlighted in each of the seven letters and consider what they offer in analysis for both our congregation and for us personally.
Ephesus
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
Smyrna
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Pergamum
I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.
Thyatira
You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
Sardis
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Philadelphia
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Laodicea
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
According to verse 17, the Laodiceans thought everything was going great since they were materially blessed in a city with good commerce and well-known for advanced medicine. As we often do, they may have equated earthly signs of success with God’s blessing, always a complete mistake. Jesus is provoking this congregation to get them out of their bland, no-growth comfort zone, using accusations such as, “you are naked,” to get them to really analyze their condition. We talked about whether we are willing to examine our spiritual status in light of all the advice Jesus gives and not gloss over His suggestions for improvement.
After reading a list from one website of characteristics of lukewarm Christians, we talked at length about our own willingness to cuddle in a comfortable warm zone, resigned that we are doing okay. We discussed when we pray for help, when we try to resolve issues on our own, and the delicate balance of growing to be like the Lord Jesus and exercising that maturity while remaining humbly under His control.
A final discussion point was to run through the main faults or dangers highlighted in each of the seven letters and consider what they offer in analysis for both our congregation and for us personally.
Ephesus
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
Smyrna
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Pergamum
I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.
Thyatira
You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
Sardis
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Philadelphia
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Laodicea
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!