David Jeremiah has stated, “From a prophetic perspective, Laodicea is a picture of the church in the Last Days.”

Revelation 3:14-20 is where we will begin today. The Book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John through prophetic visions given to him from God through Jesus Christ by an angel. (Revelation 1:1 and 22:16).

The Laodiceans were known for their dye and famous wood. They were prosperous from their trading. When they experienced an earthquake, they were self sufficient and needed no help to rebuild. They thought they were all right. (Matthew Henry Concise Commentary).

We read in Revelation 3 verses 15 through 17 how Jesus perceived them compared to what they thought of themselves. Verse 15, "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Looking at the Greek meanings of the words Jesus used to describe the church of Laodicea, we see in verse 15, ‘cold’ (psychros) meaning: destitute of warm Christian faith and the desire for holiness; chilly, sluggish. "‘Hot’ (zestos) means fervor of mind and zeal; a passionate enthusiasm and passion. Then, in verse 16, He described them as ‘lukewarm’ (chilaros) meaning: tepid, metaphorically, it is a condition of a soul wretchedly fluctuating between ‘torpor’ (mental or physical inactivity or insensibility), lethargy and apathy, and a fervor of love. Jesus very emphatically states that since they are ‘lukewarm’, He will spit them out of His mouth. ‘Spit’ (emeo) means: vomit, throw up and also to reject with extreme disgust.

I don’t know about you, but I hear a very clear warning to members of the church who are lackadaisical, lukewarm, indifferent, and half-heartedly claiming to love and serve God! They will be rejected with extreme disgust!

Verse 17 of Revelation 3 reveals how the Laodicean church saw or perceived themselves: ‘rich’ (plousios) abounding, rich in Christian virtues and eternal possessions. They also described themselves as wealthy (plouted) thinking they had obtained eternal spiritual possessions, or to be richly supplied. Then, they stated, “we have need of nothing.” ‘Need’(chreia) means: to be in want of something (the condition of one deprived of those things which he is scarcely able to do with out). They had no lack of things. ‘Nothing’ simply means nothing.

Jesus then declares, “You do not ‘know’ (perceive, understand or are aware that “you are” ‘wretched.” (have toils, troubles, and are afflicted). He also stated that they are pitiable or miserable, He continued describing them as ‘poor’ (destitute of Christian virtue and the eternal riches); ‘blind’ (mentally blind), and ‘naked’ or unclad, without clothing , which brings shame.

According to Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary regarding their being lukewarm, the “Laodiceans were indifferent.” They did not correctly recognize the true state they were in. We see that clearly when we read and compare Jesus’ perception of them. They were ‘self conceited’ and ‘self delusional!’ They flattered themselves, were prideful, and deceived. They were without God.”

Interestingly, Barnes Notes states, regarding the Laodiceans being ‘lukewarm’: “love was professed where it did not exist and vows were assumed which were not fulfilled. They needed to be more honest, with no disguise or indifference.”

Think about the condition of the church today and you can understand why prophetically the church in Laodicea is a picture of the Church in the last days. David Jeremiah added, “It is sad to imagine Christ standing outside His own Church, but we need to ask ourselves if it is a picture of us. Has the Lord been pushed out of our assemblies? Has His Word been compromised in our pulpits? Are we too busy with plans and programs to even notice that we have crowded Him out?”

What needs to happen to bring about the changes in the church and our lives that Jesus desires that we make?

Revelation 3:20 has the answer to this question. Jesus stated, “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.” Looking at the Greek meanings in this verse, it reveals that: Jesus is seeking entrance into our souls. If we yield in obedience to His voice and give Him entrance to our soul, He will enter into an intimate relationship with us! (eat with us)!

The Apostle Paul also expressed his concern for the church in Laodicea and encouraged them regarding their relationship with Christ. Paul, in Colossians 2:1-5 stated,” For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” Paul was praying that they would be united and that they would gain an assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God, which they would have in Christ, wherein is all wisdom and knowledge. In verse 4, Paul stated why he was encouraging them in their relationship with Christ - “That no one may delude you.” Remember, they were deceived. Many in the church today are deceived, in fact, Scripture reveals to us that in the last days, if possible, even the very elect of God will be deceived. (Matthew 24:24).

Jesus very seriously desires to fellowship with us, however He can’t, if the church rejects His efforts. He offers so much and yet the church chooses to accept only the parts they determine are enough!

1 John 1:3-7 reveals, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship (intimacy) with him while we walk in (be subject to error and sin) darkness (immorality), we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Take special note of verses 5 and 6. He is light! In Him is no darkness at all! If we say we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth!

Our heavenly Father is faithful and continues to encourage the church to fellowship with His Son, Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:9 reads, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” ‘Fellowship’, koinonia as used in this verse means: community, communion, and to obtain fellowship in the dignity and blessings of the Son of God. Kingdom Dynamics in the NSFLB added this insight, “The followers of Jesus, who had been baptized by the Holy Spirit, literally devoted themselves to communication and unity with God and each other. In relationship with God, they continued steadfastly. “

These verses clarify that Jesus knocks at the entrance into our souls because it is the desire of God’s heart. He will enter into an intimate relationship with us if we open the door and give Him entrance!

Look at what John 15:4 and 5 reveals, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” ‘Abide’, meno means: to continue to be present, not to leave, not to depart, it is where we live. If we dwell in Him, He will dwell in us! We cannot remain cold, indifferent, or lukewarm when we are living together! If you lived in this way with your family members, your relationships would be disastrous.

To encourage you in your understanding of the heart of the Lord toward you we will look at a few more Scriptures:

John 17:20 and 21, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Actually ‘one’ means perfectly one. He desires that we exhibit the same heart, mind, spirit, and desires as He does. Do we live there?

1 Corinthians 6:17, “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” ‘Spirit’ in this verse means the rational spirit - the power by which we feel, think, exercise our wills and make decisions.

God doesn’t want just part of your heart. He wants all of it!

Deuteronomy 10:12, “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,”

Mark 12:30, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'“

Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Do you hear Him knocking?

My wife and I had gone to a conference in a town some distance from our home. When the conference was over, we started the long drive home, however, we realized part way there that we were just too tired to make it all the way. Since my mother and father lived an hour and a half from our town, and we were going near their town, we decided we would stop in, spend the night, and complete our journey the next morning. This was before cell phones, so we arrived at their house with no notice. My mother had gone away for the weekend. It was late and my dad had gone to bed. We started knocking on the door, waiting for him to answer. My father was deaf in one ear and slept with his good ear toward the pillow. We knocked and knocked, then eventually starting shouting out my dad’s name! We found ourselves eventually pounding on the door in hopes that my dad would hear us! We were starting to feel a little desperate thinking we would not be able to awaken him and be let in.! Finally, we had to go over to his bedroom window (which we had avoided doing because we didn’t want to frighten him) and after more knocking, he awakened and let us in!

I wonder if that is how Jesus feels sometimes, wondering if we will ever hear His knocking, or stop ignoring it, and then, invite Him in. His heart’s desire is that we have an intimate relationship with Himself. He is knocking.

Open the door and let Him in!

You see, God wants us to be in love with Him as much as He is in love with us.

All Scripture is taken from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.

NSFLB New Spirit Filled Life Bible