Come | A Sermon on Matthew 4:19

Introduction
It’s been a tough week in a lot of ways. First of all, we had the remembrance of 9/11, which was a dark day in the history of our country, and we were already thinking about that. And then, with the violence we’ve seen this week—the murder of Charlie Kirk—it just breaks your heart. To see these things happening, playing out on our screens, on social media, and people bickering back and forth about it, pointing fingers at each other, it just hurts to think this is the world we live in and this is the way people act.

It’s easy to get swept up in it, to be overwhelmed either by sadness, or by anger, or by fear. But as I think about what’s happening in the world, it helps us see very plainly that our ways of doing things don’t work. They’re broken. They don’t lead to the solutions we hope for and long for.

So the message the Lord laid on my heart today is this: Come and look at a different way. A different way forward. Is there a better way?People are reeling from the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk. Some feel he is a martyr for boldly professing his faith, while others are angry at his rhetoric. Both sides are pointing fingers. Violence, outrage, and accusation swirl in the air.
If we’re not careful, we can get swept into the very cycle of destruction Jesus came to break.

Jesus and His followers faced similar issues in His day. The same troubles that plague the human heart today plagued people’s hearts then. The Jews were oppressed by the Romans, and they hated the Romans. The Romans, in turn, didn’t respect the Jews. It was a constant struggle that continued even after Jesus walked the earth.

Christ, the Son of God—the most perfect person who ever lived—was nailed to a cross. And while on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He warned His followers: “If you follow Me, the world will hate you, because darkness hates the light.”

That’s exactly what happened. The first martyr, Stephen, was murdered simply for speaking the truth about Jesus Christ. Later, James and others were also killed.

But here’s the remarkable thing: how could a group of people teaching about love, refusing to lash out, possibly survive? And yet they did. We are here today in a Christian church because the faith of Christ, the way of Christ, His Kingdom, is the one that lasted.

Israel’s old kingdom is gone. Rome, with all its power, is gone. But the Kingdom built upon love still stands, because love is the most powerful force in the universe.

Matthew 4:19
¹⁹ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

Jesus’ Invitation: Come
In Matthew 4:19, Jesus’ very first word to His disciples was “Come.”  He didn’t start with a lecture on doctrine.  He didn’t demand that they already understand the whole mission.  He simply invited them into His presence: Come and see. Come and learn. Come and walk with Me.

This is where true change begins:

This is where true change begins—not in anger or retaliation. Anger may be a catalyst, but it’s not the answer. The answer is recognizing the world is broken, that our ways don’t work, and that we are utterly helpless to heal it on our own.

Jesus knows it.  We know it.  And so, Jesus invites us to come try His way.  His invitation is wide enough for everyone.  In His day, Jesus invited Jews & Gentiles (whom Jews despised).  He invited tax collectors and the Zealots (who wanted to kill tax collectors).  He invited Romans & people who hated Romans.  All these different groups were broken and needed God’s forgiveness and healing.  If Jesus could bring a Zealot and a tax collector into the same circle, He can bring us together too.

Today, Jesus invites conservatives and progressives, Americans and non-Americans, people of all walks of life. He looks at you—your life, your brokenness, your struggles—and says: “You’ve tried your way. It hasn’t worked. Come, try My way.”

A Different Path Forward
The world says: “Fight fire with fire. Get even. Destroy your enemy.”
Jesus says: “Love your enemy. Pray for those who persecute you.”
The world says: “Do what feels right.  Make yourself happy.  Look out for your own.”
Jesus says: “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.”

On the surface it sounds foolish. How could surrender bring victory? But this is the paradox of the Gospel. In His death, Jesus defeated death. In His forgiveness, He broke sin’s chains. Only His way interrupts the endless cycle of hate, violence, and destruction.

It’s like light shining in the darkness—darkness cannot overcome it. The cycle of hate ends only when one side refuses to pick up the sword and instead picks up the cross. That’s true in personal relationships, in national politics, and in international affairs.

The Real Enemy: Ephesians 6:12
We must remember: people are not the enemy.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world.”

The other side is not your enemy. Sin is. Satan is. And the cure is Christ.  That’s why His invitation is so urgent: Come.

Show me one place in the New Testament where Christians took up arms against their enemies.  There is only one place I know of.  Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane…[i]  Jesus told Peter in Matthew 26:52 “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.”

Test His Way
Jesus told His first disciples, in effect: “Come try My way. Walk with Me. Test it out and see.”  What if instead of lashing out, you came to Jesus first?  What if instead of nursing bitterness, you laid your pain at His feet?  What if instead of seeing others as enemies, you saw them as fellow sinners in need of grace?

An Invitation: Come and see.
The word today is simple but profound: Come.
Come as you are.
Come with your anger.
Come with your grief.
Come with your questions.
Come with your sin.

Jesus doesn’t ask you to clean yourself up first. He simply says: “Come, follow Me.”

But come with your whole heart. Don’t do it halfway. When you come fully, you’ll discover His way—unconventional but eternally true—is the only path to peace, healing, and victory.

Closing Prayer
Father, I pray for hurting hearts today. As fears swirl, as doubts plague us, as we see violence around us, as we see our community and country turning into something we don’t want it to be—help us, O Lord. Give us faith to trust in You. Help us follow Your Son with our whole hearts, so that we may find healing and forgiveness and be part of the Kingdom that lasts forever. In the name of Christ we pray, Amen.

[i] Matthew 26:51–52; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:49–51; John 18:10–11

What is Forgiveness? | A Sermon on Matthew 8:21-35

Introduction

You know, I like to plan ahead on my messages. If you read David's article in the newsletter, he shared how I usually plan months ahead for what I’m going to preach on each Sunday. That way, he can plan the songs to go along with it. But every now and then, the Lord just grabs me and says, "I need you to change what you were planning." That’s what He did today, based on the Bible study we had on Thursday. We were talking about forgiveness, and the Lord said, "You need to preach on forgiveness today." And so, that’s what we’re going to do.

Forgiveness is a key, central theme in the Christian faith. It’s not optional. It’s one of those core things. It’s as central to our faith as the cross we adorn our churches with and often wear as necklaces. In fact, the cross should remind us every time we look at it that forgiveness is central to our faith.

Unfortunately, because it is so central—and because we talk about it so often—I think most people, even longtime, faithful Christians, often misunderstand what forgiveness truly is. So today, the Holy Spirit is urging me to preach on forgiveness. And I ask ahead of time for your forgiveness if this message goes a little long. This is what the Lord has given me to say, and we’ll also celebrate Holy Communion afterward.

Matthew 18:21-35
²¹ Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone^[a] who sins against me? Seven times?”

²² “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!^[b]

²³ “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. ²⁴ In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.^[c] 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.

²⁶ “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ ²⁷ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

²⁸ “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars.^[d] He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.

²⁹ “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. ³⁰ But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

³¹ “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. ³² Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

³⁵ “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters^[e] from your heart.”

The Meaning of Christ’s Parable
Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive. Rabbis taught three times. Peter thought he was being generous by suggesting seven. Jesus responded with seventy-seven or seventy times seven—meaning endlessly.

In the parable, Jesus was teaching about us and God. We are the servants who cannot repay our debt to God. Yet God forgives us completely. And He calls us to do the same for others.

Whenever I’ve preached on this topic over the past 25 years, it gets the most feedback and the most resistance. People struggle with it deeply. They ask, "You mean to tell me I have to forgive my ex-wife? My abusive father? The person who assaulted me?"

I understand. It’s a hard word. But it’s a true word. And it’s central to our faith.

What is Forgiveness?

True forgiveness is releasing resentment and the desire for revenge. It’s choosing to offer grace and let go of the offense.

Here’s the key point: Forgiveness is something you do for your own benefit, not the person you’re forgiving.

People often get hung up here. They think forgiving someone is a gift to the offender. But it’s not. It’s a gift to yourself. It sets you free.

Jesus used a financial example to help us understand. Imagine someone owes you a trillion dollars. There’s no way they can repay it. You can hold onto the debt and let it eat you up, or you can release it. Forgiveness frees you.

Of course, most debts we carry aren’t financial. They are personal. Unfaithfulness. Betrayal. Violence. Abuse. Murder.

You may be wondering, "How could I ever forgive what was done to me?"

Remember, forgiveness doesn’t release the offender—it releases you. They cannot repay you. Nothing they do can restore what was lost. Holding onto the grudge only continues the pain.

Holding onto unforgiveness is like drinking poison every day and expecting it to kill the other person. It only poisons you.

Jesus offers the solution so you can heal: You must forgive.

 

Misunderstandings About Forgiveness

1. Forgiveness doesn’t mean the offender escapes justice. If someone commits a crime, justice must be served. Forgiveness doesn’t erase consequences. But vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:19).

2. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting. The Bible never tells us to "forgive and forget." Only God says, "I will remember their sins no more" (Heb. 8:12). We may still need to remember for the sake of wisdom and protection.

3. Forgiveness doesn’t require an apology. You can forgive someone even if they never say they’re sorry. Forgiveness is what you do—it doesn’t depend on them.

4. Forgiveness isn’t the same as reconciliation. You don’t have to become friends with the person. Reconciliation requires more: repentance, apology, changed behavior, and a mutual desire to restore the relationship.

Reconciliation Requires
Much has to happen in order to truly reconcile and restore a relationship.  Such as:

1.     Repentance – The wrongdoer acknowledges the harm and turns from it.

2.     Confession – Honest admission of the wrongdoing.

3.     Forgiveness – The offended person releases bitterness and offers grace.

4.     Apology – A sincere expression of regret.

5.     Restitution (if possible) – Making things right where harm was done.

6.     Changed behavior – Evidence of growth or a desire not to repeat the offense.

7.     Mutual desire to restore the relationship – Both parties willing to move forward.

8.     Time and patience – Trust may need to be rebuilt gradually.

So, you can forgive someone—release your resentment and expectation of offender restoring you—without being reconciled and becoming best buds with your offender. 

Forgiveness is Hard

This isn’t just theory. Forgiveness is hard. I’ve lived it.

Many of you know I didn’t have a good father. He was abusive and abandoned our family. As a child, I hated him. Over time, I stopped hating him—but the Lord called me to do more. He said, "You must forgive him."

That process began when I was 20. My father died a few years ago. By God’s grace, I was able to forgive him and even reconcile to some degree. I preached at his funeral, by his invitation.

So when I say forgiveness is central to our faith, I speak from experience. It’s not optional. It’s real. It’s hard. But it’s necessary.

Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer and say, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," we’re engaging with this truth.

Every time we look at the cross, we’re reminded of how serious sin is—and how deep God’s forgiveness goes. Jesus was crucified for our sins. And as He hung on the cross, He said, "Father, forgive them."

Let us live in that forgiveness. And let us extend it to others.

 

"Following God" | A Sermon by Guest Speaker, Amy Harris

This week we have a guest blogger post.  Amy Harris shares her struggle with fear and uncertainty as she stepped into a new church role. Though she prayed for closed doors if it wasn’t God’s will, every door opened—including support from her husband. She reflects on Hebrews 11, James 1, and Isaiah 55, teaching that true faith means trusting God’s character and promises, even without full understanding. Growth requires stepping out of comfort zones, facing fear, and obeying despite uncertainty. She encourages the congregation not to miss God’s blessings by hesitating but to follow His leading with trust and confidence.

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Chris asked me several weeks ago to type something up for the newsletter about how excited I was for my new role at the church. Then, two weeks ago, he said, “Oh, can you preach on the 31st?” So, I figured—why type a few paragraphs when he’s given me twenty minutes in the pulpit and I can just talk and talk and talk?

If I’m being completely honest, I couldn’t write anything for the newsletter because “excited” was not the adjective that I was feeling. Stressed, frustrated, confused, unsure—those sounded more accurate, but probably not what he was hoping to accomplish with my brief article.

And if you’ve stopped by and asked me how things are going, I’m not one to sugarcoat things. If my words didn’t come across as my honest thoughts, my face surely did—I have no control over my facial expressions.

Now, let me stop here and make a statement: I’m not leaving my job. This isn’t my resignation sermon. If you only pay attention every now and then, or if I lose you after the first few minutes, you could walk away thinking I’m done. So, call it a spoiler alert—but that isn’t how this chapter ends. This isn’t even the true subject of today’s message; it’s simply my inspiration for it.

Called Into Something New

Have you ever felt called into something and you knew 100% it was meant to be? No reservations, just peace, excitement, and certainty? I have. I can remember multiple times when God gave me a beyond-a-shadow-of-a-doubt “yes.” Those are good, those are fun.

But this job opportunity was not that kind of experience for me. I had reservations. I was hesitant, uncertain, and full of questions. This new role meant big changes—my weekly schedule, my finances, my workload, and my commute (and yes, traffic on Cleveland Highway at 8:00 a.m. nearly drove me insane!).

I began praying very specific prayers: “Lord, if this is not Your will, close the door.” I prayed that before Chris even took the job description to the HR Committee. But the HR Committee approved it. Door one open.

Then the Finance Committee agreed the position was important and trusted God to provide funding. Door two open.

Finally, I thought my husband would close the door. He doesn’t like uncertain change any more than I do. But when I asked him, instead of “No,” he simply texted, “I think you should change.” God wasn’t closing doors—He was holding them wide open.

So why was I still questioning Him?

Faith Tested

I realized I trust God completely when things are out of my control. But when I do have a say—when choices affect my family, time, and finances—I hesitate.

Yet Hebrews 11:1 says: “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”

Faith is more than believing God exists—it’s trusting His character and His promises. Even when we don’t see the outcome, we walk by faith. Hebrews 11 reminds us of people who died still believing God’s promises without seeing them fulfilled. Sometimes our faith isn’t even for our blessing—it’s for someone else’s.

Isaiah 55:8–9 says: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways.”

A lack of understanding does not excuse a lack of obedience.

Growing Through Trials

James 1 says: “When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

Faith is like a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets. The more you obey God’s call, even when uncomfortable, the easier it becomes to live faithfully.

Fear is the number one barrier to following God. We want guarantees before we take the first step. But growth comes when we step forward without a guarantee—when we get comfortable being uncomfortable.

One month into this new role, I still don’t know exactly where God is leading. But I know this: He opened every door, and He has a plan.

Conclusion

I love Jesus. I love my church. You, my church family, are one of the most precious parts of my life. Your encouragement, kindness, and prayers mean more than I can say.

And because I listened to God’s voice, I get to be part of growing the ministries of Pleasant Grove Methodist in ways I never imagined. I don’t know what that will look like yet, but I know I won’t miss His blessings—because I said “yes.”

So I ask you:

• What areas of your life do you need to stop overthinking and start following God’s direction?

• Is He calling you out of your comfort zone?

• Is fear keeping you from His blessings?

Don’t miss what He has in store for you. Ask Him. Seek His guidance. Be still and listen. And remember—He will never call you anywhere He won’t also go with you.

What Would Jesus Write to Us? | A Sermon On Romans 12:3 & Revelation 1-3

Romans 12:3
Because of the privilege and authority^[c] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Introduction
This is the last sermon in this series about Jesus’ letters to the 7 churches in Revelation (Rev1-3).  And the message today will be much different than the ones before. This will be a summary of all we’ve heard so far.  But it will also be a chance for you to reflect and pray and ask: What is Jesus saying to me today?

So here’s what I will do.  I’m going to briefly summarize the message of each letter Jesus wrote.  Then, I will suggest a few questions for you to ask yourself.

But what you do in today’s sermon is as important as anything I say.  You need to honestly and prayerfully reflect on these questions for yourself.  Them pray about it to the Lord.  Because Jesus is here.  He walks among us.  And Jesus still speaks.  And we need to have ears to hear and listen to what He says.  Are you ready?

Ephesus
To the church in Ephesus, Jesus praised their hard work, endurance, and refusal to tolerate evil. But He rebuked them for losing their first love and He called them to repent and return to the passion they had at the beginning of their walk with Him.

Now I want you to prayerfully ask yourself a few questions.  This is just between you and Jesus.  

Ask yourself:

1.     Have I let my faith become more about duty, knowledge, or activity than about a genuine love relationship with Jesus?

2.     What specific step could I take this week to rekindle my “first love” for Jesus—whether in prayer, worship, or service?

(Take some time for silent reflection and personal prayer before your continue.)

Pray:  “Lord Jesus, forgive us when our love for You grows cold. Rekindle the passion we once had, that we may serve You not only with our hands and minds but with joyful, devoted love. Draw us back to our first love—You. Amen.”

Smyrna & Philadelphia
What Jesus said to Smyrna was very similar to what He said to Philadelphia.  So we’ll address these two churches together.  Jesus commended both for remaining faithful

despite Smyrna facing terrible persecution and Philadelphia being weak and small.  Jesus encouraged them to continue to remain faithful amidst their trials and they would receive eternal rewards.

Ask yourself:

1. How do I typically respond when life feels hard, unfair, or overwhelming—do I lean into Christ or shrink back in fear or doubt?
2. In what ways might I be underestimating how God can use me, even if I feel weak, small, or insignificant?

(Take some time for silent reflection and personal prayer before your continue.)

Pray:  “Faithful Lord, I’m glad You see us even in our weakness and trials. Strengthen us to endure, to hold fast to Your Word, and to remain faithful to the end. Keep our eyes on the crown of life You have promised. Amen.”

Pergamum & Thyatira
Pergamum and Thyatira also received similar words from the Lord, but more critical.  Pergamum was commended for holding fast to Jesus’ name even in a city full of idolatry.  Jesus commended Thyatira for their love, faith, service, and endurance.  However, Jesus rebuked them both for tolerating sin and false teaching.  He sternly warned them to repent, resist compromise, and remain faithful to God’s Word.

Ask yourself:

1.     Are there areas in my life where I’ve tolerated sin or compromise, excusing what I know is not pleasing to God?

2.     What would it look like for me to take a firm stand for holiness this week, even if it costs me something?

(Take some time for silent reflection and personal prayer before your continue.)

Pray:  “Lord Jesus, You’re Word is sharper than a double-edged sword. Forgive us where we have compromised Your truth or tolerated sin. Give us courage to resist temptation, strength to stand firm, and hearts that remain faithful to You alone. Amen.”

Sardis
The Church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive, but Jesus said they were spiritually dead. Jesus called them to wake up, strengthen what remained, repent, and walk in purity so their names would never be erased from the book of life.  

Ask yourself:

1. Am I more concerned with looking spiritually alive on the outside than truly being alive in Christ on the inside?
2. What step of repentance do I need to take today to walk in purity and integrity with Jesus?

(Take some time for silent reflection and personal prayer before your continue.)

Pray:  “Lord Jesus, awaken us from spiritual slumber. Expose the places where our faith has grown cold, and breathe new life into our hearts. Help us to repent, to walk in purity, and to remain faithful so that our names may be secure in Your book of life. Amen.”

Laodicea
Laodicea was lukewarm—neither hot nor cold.  They were proud of their wealth, yet spiritually poor, blind, and naked. Jesus urged them to repent, seek true riches in Him, and open the door so He could come in and fellowship with them.  

Ask yourself:

1. Am I relying too much on my own comfort, resources, or success instead of depending fully on Jesus?
2. In what ways might my faith have grown lukewarm—lacking passion, zeal, or wholehearted obedience?

(Take some time for silent reflection and personal prayer before your continue.)

Pray:  “Lord Jesus, forgive us for the times we have been lukewarm or self-sufficient. Open our eyes to our true need for You. Give us zeal to repent and hearts eager to welcome You in, so we may share in Your fellowship and find true riches in Your presence. Amen.”

Closing Invitation
As we close this message and time of reflection today,  I remind you of Christ’s words from Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Jesus is here, knocking at the door of your heart.  Won’t you open the door to Christ?  Won’t you let Him truly be in charge of your life?  Repent of your sin and He will save you.  Let Him take control and He will welcome you into His Kingdom.

Laodicea - Be Hot or Cold | A Sermon on Revelation 3:14-22

Introduction
Whenever I’m traveling around, people will often ask me, “Where did you come from?” or “Where are you traveling from?” I find myself all over Georgia—sometimes for conferences, meetings, or simply visiting family. Just yesterday, for example, we went down to visit my mother-in-law.

When people ask, “How long did it take you to get here?” or “Where are you from?” I usually say, “Dalton.” Sometimes people know where that is, and sometimes they don’t. So I’ll add, “It’s just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee.” That usually helps them get their bearings.

Every now and then, they’ll respond, “Oh! Dalton—the carpet capital of the world.” I remember back in college, before I became a pastor, I was studying textile engineering. Professors would mention Dalton, saying, “Seventy-five to eighty percent of the world’s carpet comes from there.”

I used to raise my hand and ask, “Don’t you mean Georgia?” No. “Don’t you mean the United States?” No. They meant the world—literally the world. Dalton earned its reputation as the carpet capital of the world because so much of the world’s carpet is made here. And now, not just carpet, but all kinds of flooring materials as well.

Cities often become known for something—Chicago, for instance, is called the Windy City. Hopefully, what we’re known for is good and not something bad.

Laodicea was a wealthy city in ancient Turkey where a group of Christians comprised a church.  They were known around the region for banking, eye ointment, and fine textiles.  Unfortunately, they were also known for their lukewarm water supply that was neither cold and good for drinking (like nearby Colossae’s cold drinking water) nor hot and good for healing (like Hierapolis’ hot springs). Laodicea’s water supply was lukewarm and Jesus said so was their faith.

Revelation 3:14-22
¹⁴ “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning^[e] of God’s new creation:

¹⁵ “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! ¹⁶ But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. ¹⁸ So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. ¹⁹ I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

²⁰ “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. ²¹ Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

²² “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”

Neither Hot nor Cold
Jesus said in verse 15 – “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!”

Those words: “I wish that you were either hot or that you were cold.” Of course, what is He talking about? He’s not talking about water. He’s talking about their spiritual life—their faith.

To be hot is a good thing, to have a hot faith. That means you are on fire for Jesus, excited to be serving Him. You don’t mind coming to church, you don’t mind volunteering, and you don’t mind giving, because you’re excited and on fire for what Jesus is doing in your own life and in your community. You want to share that with others. It’s easy for us to understand that having a hot faith is a good thing. Jesus is the most important thing to such a person.

But Jesus says, “If you’re not hot, I wish you were cold.” And we might think, Well, how can being cold be a good thing? Why would Jesus want someone to be either hot or cold? Because if you’re cold, it means you don’t care about Jesus at all. You might not even be thinking about Him. You’re just living your life however you want, without faith. All you’re doing is living for yourself, often doing the wrong things—even bad things.

So why is that good? Because if you’re living like that, at least there’s a chance something will shake you and snap you out of it. If you’re sinning all the time, doing terrible things, and then something happens—maybe you get into a car wreck that rocks your world, or you’re diagnosed with a disease—it might shake you awake. You realize, Oh my gosh, I need to start getting my life right with God. I’ve been living a coldhearted life, but now I know it. Then, the next step is repentance and turning to God.

So, living a cold, dark life can at least give you the chance to change. But Jesus says the Laodiceans were not hot and not cold. They were lukewarm. And that is very, very dangerous.

If you are lukewarm in your faith, you claim to follow Jesus. You look like you’re following Jesus. You may act like you’re following Jesus. But you lack true passion and commitment. You’re not fully obedient to Him. Maybe you’re doing it for show, but not for real.

It’s dangerous because it blinds you to your need for repentance. It blinds you to the fact that you need renewal. And it risks giving you an excuse to keep going in the wrong direction—walking away from Christ when you should be turning back to Him.

See, if you were cold, you would know it. You don’t have to tell a drunk that he’s not doing the right thing. He’s ashamed of it. He knows it. He knows he needs to change. The struggle is being able to change, but at least he knows.

But there are many people in the world—and maybe even some of you reading this—who fall into this category. You’re not hot. You’re not cold. You’re lukewarm. From the outside, people might look at your life and say, “Well, they go to church, they give money, they do good things, they dress nice, they act like a good person, they say they follow Jesus. Looks like they’re a Christian.”

You may even look at your own life and say, “Well, I’m not a saint, but I’m not a sinner either. I’m somewhere in the middle. I go to church. I do the right things. I’m pretty good.”

But you don’t realize Jesus is not number one in you life. You have other things ahead of Him. That’s idolatry—putting something before God.

So if you are lukewarm, it’s dangerous because it gives you an excuse to keep coasting, to avoid change. Everyone else thinks you’re a good Christian. You even say that about yourself. But you don’t realize there are serious problems you need to address.

The lukewarm faith of the Laodicean Christians blinded them to their true spiritual condition. Jesus spoke the hard truth they needed to hear. And maybe it’s a hard truth some of us here today also need to hear.

Rich, but Actually Poor
Jesus said in verse 17, “You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”

You know, sometimes there can be in us a false sense of self-sufficiency.

Now, I’m the kind of person who believes in self-sufficiency. I like the idea of being able to do for myself. I like being independent, and that can be a good thing. But there are times when that sense of self-sufficiency crosses a line—when you feel like you can do it all yourself. And that’s not a good thing.

I think for many people, this is a natural progression in life. When you start out young, you struggle. You don’t have much income. You don’t have much knowledge. It’s hard to get a good job because you don’t yet have the training or experience you need. So, in those early years, you often realize just how vulnerable you are. You rely on others, and life feels difficult.

Maybe you’re going into debt because you don’t make enough money. You’re borrowing, struggling because you can’t do things on your own. You don’t know how. And so, many people at the beginning of life find themselves praying: “Lord, please help me. Please help me. I don’t know how I’m going to pay the bills at the end of the month. I don’t know what I’ll do if my car breaks down. It’s old, it’s secondhand, it’s got lots of problems—it’s constantly giving me trouble. Lord, please don’t let my car break down. I can’t afford to fix it.”

Have any of you ever been through that kind of life? Maybe you’re in it right now. You pray: “Lord, please help me. Don’t let my tire go flat. I can’t afford to buy another one.”

But then what happens? God answers prayers. Over time, you may get to a point in life where you’ve saved up a little money. Now, you still don’t want that tire to go flat, but not because you couldn’t survive it—rather, because you’d rather spend that money on something fun, like going to see the Braves. If you get a flat now, you can handle it. You don’t like it, but you’ll be okay.

And that’s when the shift begins. You start to think: “Well, it’s okay. I can handle it myself. I don’t need anyone to step in and save me.” Of course, you’d never say that out loud—especially in church. Church people don’t talk like that. But somewhere, way in the back of your mind, a thought creeps in: “It’s okay. I don’t need God to bail me out of this one. I can handle it myself.”

And that is where the danger comes. You start to develop this false feeling of self-sufficiency: “I’ve got insurance. I’ve got money in savings. I can do it myself.” And when that happens, you start to think you don’t need anyone else—and you don’t need Jesus.

That is a very dangerous place to be. Because our hope is not in our talents, not in our insurance, not in our savings, and not in our money. Our hope is in God. We don’t need to walk around constantly feeling fearful and vulnerable—but neither do we need to walk around with the false pride that says, “I can handle this life all by myself.”

Because the truth is: we can’t.

And that’s exactly where the Laodiceans found themselves. They were known for their wealth, and they believed they could handle life on their own.

Our hope is not in our money.

Well Clothed, but Actually Naked
The Laodicean's were known for their textile industry, making fine clothing that everyone around admired. People wanted clothing as good as the Laodiceans’. But Jesus said they were naked. Isn’t that interesting? He says, “You’re naked. You need to buy some white robes from me.”

In Scripture, nakedness symbolizes shame, exposure, and vulnerability.

Now, the Laodiceans thought they were finely clothed. They believed they were people to be admired. Their fashion was on point. But Jesus saw through their outer appearance. He said, “You might wear nice clothing. People may admire you for your fashion. But to me, you’re naked and vulnerable. And you ought to be ashamed of your spiritual condition, not proud of the clothing you’re wearing.”

Spiritual Blindness
The Laodiceans were known not only for their textiles but also for their eye ointment. They had a famous medical school that trained healers, who went out and treated people across the region. From that school, they developed a special ointment—a salve called the Phrygian powder. It was applied to the eyes and was believed to heal diseases, correct dysfunctions, or soothe pain.

People from all around craved this ointment and were willing to pay good money for it. Of course, that only made the Laodiceans even more wealthy, since they were selling medicine that others desperately wanted.

And yet, ironically, Jesus said they were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Blind! They had this famous eye ointment, but they couldn’t even see their own spiritual condition. They were blind to how wretched they truly were.

Their wealth, their self-sufficient attitude, and their lukewarm faith had blinded them. They needed more than ointment for their eyes. They needed Jesus to cure their spiritual blindness.

Revelation 3:18–19 says, “So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich.” He’s not talking about physical gold. He’s talking about something spiritual, something that’s been refined. He is saying, Let your character be refined. Let the fire of tribulation and trial refine who you are on the inside.

Build up treasures in heaven—not by hoarding wealth on earth, but by doing good deeds, serving the Lord faithfully, and sacrificing for His kingdom. Then Jesus says, “Buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness.” They needed the Lord to give them spiritual clothing—to cover up their sin and their shame. He also says, “Buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.”

And then Jesus says, “I correct and I discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.” It’s a hard word, but not an unkind word. It’s not unloving. He speaks it for their sake. He says, “I love you, and I correct those I love.”

Is Jesus Knocking on Your Door?
So if you are here today and feel the Lord convicting you—if you sense He has placed a hard word upon your heart—don’t puff up with pride or get defensive. The Lord is not speaking to you from a judgmental spirit. He speaks as a loving parent to a child, saying: “I see this in you. You don’t see it. You’ve been distracted, and you’ve missed it. But I’m showing you for your own good—to help you be better, to heal you, to cover your shame, and to give you true riches in heaven.”

Perhaps there are some listening who feel Christ convicting them today. Has your faith grown lukewarm? Is Jesus truly the most important thing in your life—or has something else taken His place?

Don’t you long to go back to the time when you were on fire for Jesus? When you were excited just to worship Him? When serving wasn’t an obligation but an opportunity you craved? Maybe on the outside you still look like a Christian, but on the inside the passion has faded. The wholehearted commitment and obedience have diminished. That’s dangerous. It blinds you. It leaves you naked and ashamed.

So you try to cover it up—with the outward appearance of godliness—but you lack the inward spiritual power of true godliness. And no matter how hard you try, you cannot hide from Jesus. Remember, He is the one with eyes like burning fire. He sees into the very center of your soul. He knows what’s really in your heart when no one else can see.

And yet—I love what Revelation 3:20 says. Even though He sees the good, the bad, and the ugly in every one of us, He does not run away. Instead, it says He stands at the door and knocks. He knocks. He waits. He longs for us to open the door.

If we will welcome Him in, He will come and sit with us like a friend. He will share a meal with us—a meal of reconciliation, a meal of healing, a meal that nourishes us so we can grow into all He wants us to be.

As we close this message today, I want to give you an invitation. Whatever the Lord has spoken to your heart, listen. How will you respond?

Maybe He is calling you to turn around because you’ve been going in the wrong direction. Maybe you’ve been cold, and He wants to set you on fire. Or perhaps, more dangerously, you’ve been living a lukewarm faith. But Jesus does not want you blind. He does not want you deceived.

He wants you to see your true need. He wants you to turn to Him. He wants you to come home.

Philadelphia - Hold on to What You Have | A Sermon on Revelation 3:7-13

Introduction
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

This is both an exclusive statement and an open invitation. It’s exclusive because anyone who refuses Jesus cannot come to God or Heaven. But it’s open to everyone, because anyone who chooses to come through Jesus is welcome.

This same Jesus spoke to seven churches in ancient Turkey. Today, we look at what He said to the church in Philadelphia—a small, weak church.

Revelation 3:7-13
⁷ “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.

This is the message from the one who is holy and true,
    the one who has the key of David.
What he opens, no one can close;
    and what he closes, no one can open:^[c]

⁸ “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. ⁹ Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.

¹⁰ “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. ¹¹ I am coming soon.^[d] Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. ¹² All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

¹³ “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

The Key of David
In the opening lines, Jesus—holy and true—says He holds the “key of David.” This means He has full authority to give people access to God and His Kingdom. He welcomes all who truly belong to God.
If you follow Jesus as Lord and Saviot, if you've truly repented of your sins and follow Him, He welcomes you into the Kingdom of God.  And He has the key to let you in!
But the thing about keys is, the both unlock and lock the door.  And whether it is a good thing that a door is locked or unlocked depends on what side of the door you are on.  You don't want to be locked out of the Kingdom.  But once you are inside the Kingdom, it is a really good thing for the door to be locked behind you so you are protected from the evil locked outside.

The Synagogue of Satan
In the first century, Jewish people proudly claimed to be God’s chosen people. But many rejected Jesus, God’s Son and the promised Messiah. Even worse, they opposed Christians who followed and served Him. They believed the claim that Jesus was the Messiah was false and even blasphemous. They thought Christianity was a dangerous break from Judaism, especially because Christians welcomed Gentiles into God’s family without making them follow Jewish traditions.

Early Christians were sometimes accused before local authorities of being troublemakers or heretics, which hurt their reputations and could lead to being excluded from their communities, losing income, or even facing legal punishment.

Jesus said they were “liars who claim to be Jews but are not.” He called them a “synagogue of Satan,” meaning they were a group of people working against God and His Kingdom.

Jesus promised that one day He would humble the “synagogue of Satan,” making them bow at the feet of the Christians in Philadelphia and admit that God loves them as His chosen people.

The Great Tribulation
In verse 10, Jesus talks about something that many end-times teachers and so-called prophets love to discuss—the Tribulation. He says, “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.”

The “Great Tribulation,” which Jesus warned about in Matthew 24:21 and Mark 13:19, will be unlike anything the world has ever seen—worse than anything before, and never to be repeated. Over time, so much has been said about it that the phrase has even made its way into popular culture.

For about the last 200 years, many Christians have believed that believers will be taken from the earth before the Tribulation begins (a view called the pre-tribulation rapture). But for most of church history, Christians were taught they would go through the Tribulation before Jesus returns. So a big question remains: Will Christians escape it, or will we have to endure it?

Sometimes, as comfortable American Christians, we might think we’ll be spared from any real trouble—especially if we believe we’ll be raptured before things get bad. But many of our brothers and sisters around the world already face intense persecution for their faith. They’ve been beaten, imprisoned, and even killed for following Jesus.

Whether or not we escape the Great Tribulation, the Bible calls us to be ready, to trust Jesus no matter what, and to stay faithful even when life is hard. Our hope isn’t in avoiding trouble—it’s in Jesus, who promises to be with us through it all.