Dont become lukewarm about Gods way of life! It doesnt matter if you sit on the hot side of the room, or the cold side of the room, dont sit in the lukewarm center. Its another way of saying, Listen up! A lustrous black wool was produced there which was woven into much-desired clothing. So how did Jesus overcome? The phrase ears to hear is used throughout the Bible, starting with Deuteronomy 29:4. Associated with the temple was a medical school. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Jesus is the power and authority that God utilized in creating the universe. It costs our will. These Christians believe they are rich by believing in Christ and have abundance by their good works. The letter starts as if being written to an angel, but there is no doubt that it is the congregation itself who is the focus of the letter. Laodicea on the Lycus, located at the crossroads of important trade routes, was once a prosperous city, famous for its black wool, banking services, and medical achievements. What he was telling his listeners was that what they were about to hear from him was faithful, reliable, true, and believable. Lets remember the overall lesson from Christs message to Laodicea. Jesus knows what it is like to be human. Near the temple of the special god associated with healing there was a market for trading all sorts of goods. -- Revelation 3: 14 (ESV) . In the Old Testament, the sacrifice could not be slain until it had been presented to the priest. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? The church at Laodicea stands accused of being shamefully naked. God cares more about the condition of our hearts than the condition of wallets. This promise is amazing because, whenever we do overcome in the battles of life, it is always through Him. Jesus was in heaven with God, but voluntarily became a man for our sakes. Ho! When they heard this letter for the first time, what did they hear? We cannot deny our sin or find excuses to justify it. 3. 19btherefore be zealous and repent. David Treybig is a husband, father and grandfather. Additionally, it was the home of a medical school known for the treatment of eye problems, where it produced a famous eye salve. It is to have a sense of what is right and what is wrong. He was the beginning of all things. You, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. His obedience was because, as a man, He had self-will that was in agreement with the Father's. Greek 2854. kollourion -- eye salve. (15) I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. We now come back to the question of how do you buy from Jesus' refined gold? Youre going to have to give him your time. Jesus starts by calling himself the Amen, a term reserved for God himself in the Old Testament. Click the button below for more information about the copyright.Copyright. Copyright 2004 -, Transliteration of Amen From Hebrew to Greek to English. Physical money cannot purchase the merchandise Christ has for sale; it takes something else. Listen that you may live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you. Buying gold tried in the fire from God requires several things from us: And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. It is possible that faith was the refined gold that Christians were told to purchase from Jesus. 14a To the angel of the church in Laodicea. The word for overcomes is the Greek word (nika), which means to be victorious.25 What does it mean to overcome, to to be victorious? If were doing something hoping that it will bring ourselves glory or accolades or pats on the back, then were not doing for God. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Our eternal perspective affects our earthly priorities. 18a I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich. The Corinthian believers were engaged in some seriously messed up things. People traveled from around the world to obtain these supposed healing elixirs. Both churches were in a downward spiral of carnality. You dont expect (or want) to have lukewarm coffee served to you. Isaiah 55:1-3 speaks of buying from God without money things that dont have a price. He wants to be a friend with whom we enjoy spending time. The word for love used in this verse is not agape but phileo. 14bthe faithful and true Witness. . Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. Jesus also told the Laodiceans to "anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (Revelation 3:18). Thats pretty strong language. To fully understand what amen means, you must turn to the Old Testament. Local resources of zinc and alum became the basis for the production of eye ointments, known as kollyria, also sold by merchants from Laodicea.3 The powder would be mixed with water to give it a paste-like consistency and then applied to the eyes. The city of Laodicea (Greek Laodikeia) on the Lycus (Laodicea ad Lycum), situated one mile south of the Lycus River in the Lycus Valley west of Colossae and south of Hierapolis, was established and fortified about 261 BC by the Seleucids under Antiochus II Theos. Whatever were doing, or however were serving, we need to examine our hearts and our motives and see if were doing it for the right reason. In addition, its wealth came from the production of a fine quality of famous glossy black woolwhether dyed or natural in color is not known. A third lesson is that we need to vigilantly maintain our spiritual eyesightour ability to see things from a spiritual perspective. The town was built, perhaps unwisely, on a geological fault from which noxious vapors and hot mineral water escaped. 2. valley. In other words, the name indicated that people made their own decisions. Those terms are imputed righteousness and imparted righteousness. They have a lot in common with the church in Corinth. (17) Because you say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, The eye salve must be purchased, and it is expensive. The Greek word for "witness" ( - martus) means "one who can or does aver what he has seen or heard or knows. Gratitude Vision Optometry offers premier primary eye care, specialty contact lenses & more. Jesus doesnt just look at the actions we perform; he focuses on the heart. After he sinned, he felt his nakedness and shame. For the Laodiceans, this meant forsaking whatever might perpetuate the lack of spirituality and unwarranted self-sufficiency in which they languished. White is the most frequently mentioned color in the Bible. Colossae quickly decreased in importance. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:5-9 NASB). Justification is God's declaration of righteousness (it is imputed). It is interesting to note that verse 15 starts with Jesus telling the church that he knows their deeds. It is through our relationship and identification with Christ and His work, and our faithfulness in the conflict with sin as we draw upon Christ, that we get to share in His reign as a reward for faithful service. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. More than likely, the members of the church in Laodicea were carnal Christians. Youre going to have to spend time reading the Bible to learn the truth, and by meditating on the Word, reinforce the truth. (16) So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. What I said was important! Those who have ears to hear allow the Word to bear fruit to the glory of God. 17 Because you say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. "Laodicea had a famous school of medicine; and a special ointment known as 'Phrygian powder,' famous for its cure of eye defects, was either manufactured or distributed there, as were ear ointments also. The black wool of Laodicea produced some stunning dark-colored garments. Along with Colosse and Hierapolis, it was one of the cities in the fertile Lyous [sic.] Concluding with encouragement, Jesus reminds them that if they overcome, they will rule with Him (verse 21). Pay close attention! He humbled Himself so that He could achieve His purpose in God's plan by putting God's will before His own. Laodicea was a church that had not overcome sin but rather been overcome by sin. Both churches needed a severe rebuke. It doesnt matter which one you are, as long as you are one or the other. This act concealed the shame of his nakedness. The depressing part of this verse if the word if. He has served in the pastoral ministry for over 40 years, pastoring congregations across six states. According to Roman writer Tacticus, Rome offered to pay for the city to be rebuilt, but the people declined, saying that they were wealthy enough to restore their own city. 21a He who overcomes. They think they have need of nothing because they are saved and on their way to heaven. Why does the church not hear his voice? And it works better than modern antibiotics in both lab and mouse models. The also liked to add a little hot water to their wine. The church at Laodicea was very active. How do you buy gold when youre poor? What exactly is forgiveness? All rights reserved. While God sanctifies by grace, Christians are responsible to appropriate God's grace by faith. 14cthe Beginning of the creation of God. Modern Laodicea: Four Characteristics Similar to its ancient type, 21st-century Laodicea suffers from a number of specific ailments including: (1) pride in financial wealth and abundance of goods, (2) lukewarm temperature, (3) blindness, and (4) nakedness. NPI number for Mrs Salve Aldea Pineda is 1669536868 and her . We now come back to the question of how to purchase white garments from Christ, but before we do that, there a couple of terms that I need to define. John is only the recorder of the words, faithfully writing down what Jesus is saying. The city's reputation was for its money transactions and the good quality of raven-black wool grown in the area.1 The black wool, spun into dark yarn, was added to yarn dyed in other colors and made some very intricately patterned colored clothing, which sold for a high price in Rome. The major idea behind this word is constancy and reliability.8 Isaiah referred to God as the God of amen, due to his truthfulness and trustworthiness (Isaiah 65:16). Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothingand do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and nakedI 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. Ho! We have been warned and cautioned to be ready for His arrival. 1 Peter 1:5-9 compares faith with refined gold. As a man, Jesus also had this self-will and was tempted, but His firm resolve from the very start was, Not My will, but Yours! For us to overcome as He overcame, we need to make that same decision and faithfully stick to it, no matter what happens or how we feel. Fertile ground of the valley was good grazing for sheep. Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. It was important for ancient Greeks to eat with company. Verse 14 leaves no doubt the Jesus Christ is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. How is your hearing? It was about 100 miles east of the port city of Ephesus. Laodicea quickly became a rich city, rich enough to be able to rebuild itself without outside help after the destructive earthquake of 60 A.D. Trusted Eye Doctor in Baldwin Park, CA. They were a prominent banking center for the entire region. And it fits not only with the larger context of Jesus' teaching; it fits perfectly with the flow of this passage. Its like lukewarm coffee. It is showing that all things were created through Him. That the citys banking assets were noteworthy is evidenced by the fact that Cicero cashed huge bank drafts in Laodicea. Verse three follows with, Incline your ear and come unto Me. The ruins, now called Eski Hissar, or old castle, lie near the modern Gonjelli on the railroad, and they have long served as a quarry to the builders of the neighboring town of Denizli. You would probably spit it out at the first sip. He currently pastors the Austin, Texas, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. The focus of this verse is on deed or works. Its as if he was served something to drink that was inadequate, subpar, or even bad tasting. While we may never be free from temptation and sin in this lifetime, we can still be victorious and overcome. His motivation is His Sovereign rule over the Church He built and bought, as well as by His unfailing fierce love for those He has redeemed and called. His entire life was a fulfillment of God's Word, and thereby, Gods will. As a testament to its wealth, Laodicea had two theaters, a gymnasium, and a large stadium. This theory deems the letter addressed to a human messenger rather than an angelic one. 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