FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 17

TITLE: ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

TEXT: REVELATION 3:18-22

INTRODUCTION: (1) WALTER SALLMAN WAS A GIFTED AMERICAN ARTIST AND ILLUSTRATOR BORN IN 1892 AND LIVING UNTIL 1968.

* HIS MOST POPULAR PORTRAIT IS CALLED THE HEAD OF CHRIST, WHICH I’M SURE IS FAMILIAR TO MOST OF YOU TODAY.

** MORE THAN 500 MILLION COPIES OF THIS PORTRAIT HAVE BEEN PRINTED.

*** NOW HIS 2’D MOST POPULAR WILL BE VERY FAMILIAR TO MOST OF YOU TODAY.

**** IT IS TITLED, “CHRIST AT THE DOOR.”

(2) NOW THIS PICTURE IS SALLMAN’S RENDERING OF REVELATION 3:20 IN OUR TEXT TODAY.

* AND SOME OF US HAVE USED THIS PICTURE TO SYMBOLIZE THAT CHRIST IS STANDING AT THE DOOR OF A SINNER’S HEART WAITING PATIENTLY TO COME IN BY THEIR INVITATION.

** IN FACT, SOME RELIGIOUS BOOK STORES STILL SELL COPIES OF THIS PAINTING UNDER THE TITLE, “CHRIST AT HEART’S DOOR.”

*** AND FOR SEVERAL YEARS EARLY ON IN MY MINISTRY I WOULD USE THAT SYMBOLISM TO INVITE PEOPLE TO CHRIST.

**** I WOULD TELL PEOPLE THAT CHRIST WAS KNOCKING AT THEIR HEART’S DOOR AND WANTS TO COME, BUT YOU MUST INVITE HIM IN.

(3) BUT LITTLE DID I REALIZE AT THAT TIME, THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY THEOLOGICALLY INCORRECT BELIEVING IN IRRESISTIBLE GRACE, BUT CONTEXTUALLY INCORRECT.

* FOR IN REVELATION 3:15-22, CHRIST IS ADDRESSING A REAL NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH, THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA.

** AND A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IS A CALLED OUT ASSEMBLY OF BELIEVERS WHO GATHER CORPORATELY AS A BODY OF BELIEVERS TO WORSHIP, SERVE AND OBEY JESUS CHRIST.

*** WELL, CHRIST WAS NOT THE HEAD OF THIS LOCAL BODY, HE WAS NOT PREEMINENT IN THIS ASSEMBLY OF BELIEVERS.

**** THEY WERE NOT COMMUNING WITH CHRIST, FELLOWSHIPPING WITH CHRIST, SITTING DOWN AND DINING WITH HIM AROUND IS TABLE.

(4) IN FACT, THIS CHURCH WAS LUKEWARM AND MADE CHRIST SICK.

* THEIR WORKS AND DEEDS REVEALED THAT THEY WEREN’T COLD OR HOT, THEY WERE NAUSEATING IN THEIR ALLEGIANCE WITH CHRIST AND THEY WERE NOT EVEN AWARE OF IT.

** THEY WERE SELF-SATISFIED, SELF-DECEIVED AND SELF-SUFFICIENT AND DIDN’T REALIZE, THEY DIDN’T HAVE A CLUE THAT THEY WERE WRETCHED, MISERABLE, POOR, BLIND AND NAKED SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING.

*** AND AS I’VE STUDIED THIS TEXT, IT’S NOT SO MUCH THAT THEY KNOWINGLY KICKED CHRIST OUT OF BEING LORD OF THIS CHURCH.

**** THEY DRIFTED SO FAR AWAY FROM HIM, HE NO LONGER WAS THE CENTER OF THE CHURCH, HE NO LONGER WAS PREEMINENT, HE NO LONGER WAS THEIR FOCUS.

(5) SO IN ESSENCE CHRIST WAS ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF THE CHURCH WANTING TO COME BACK IN AND BE THE CENTRAL PERSON OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL LIVES AND DINE WITH THEM.

* THAT THE SUPPER ROOM WOULD BECOME THE THRONE ROOM AGAIN THAT HE TRULY WOULD BE PREEMINENT.

** BECAUSE OF THAT, I’VE TITLED THE MESSAGE TODAY, “ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.” AND UNDER THAT THEME WE’LL LOOK AT 4 POINTS AS WE FINISH OUR STUDY OF THIS CHURCH THAT WE STARTED LAST WEEK.

*** NO. 1 WE’LL LOOK AT THE COUNSEL OF CHRIST TO THIS CHURCH, V. 18; NO. 2 THE CHASTENING OF THE REMNANT OF TRUE BELIEVERS IN THIS CHURCH, V. 19; NO. 3 THE CALL OF CHRIST, THE REQUEST OF CHRIST TO COME BACK IN THIS CHURCH, V. 20; AND NO. 4 THE CLOSING WORKS OF CHRIST TO THIS CHURCH, VV. 21&22.

*** AND WITH THAT OUTLINE AS A GUIDE TO OUR STUDY, LOOK AT V. 18 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT, THE COUNSEL.

I. THE COUNSEL, (READ V. 18)

A. NOW IT APPEARS TO ME THERE IS A SMALL REMNANT OF PEOPLE AT LAODICEA THAT ARE TRUE BELIEVERS, LIKE THE DEAD CHURCH OF SARDIS THAT WE STUDIED A FEW WEEKS.

* AND I COME TO THIS CONCLUSION BY THE TRUTHS WE WILL COVER IN OUR STUDY TODAY.

** AND I BRING THAT UP, BECAUSE MY FAVORITE BIBLE TEACHER BELIEVES THAT ALL THE PEOPLE AT LAODICEA ARE LOST.

*** AND I ONLY BRING THAT UP BECAUSE MANY OF YOU HAVE HIS STUDY BIBLE AND IT WAS BROUGHT UP AT OUR FLOCK THIS WEEK AND I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL ABOUT IT, WHICH IS GOOD.

*** ALWAYS WE NEED TO BE BEREANS AND SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES TO SEE WHETHER THINGS ARE SO.

1. AND OF COURSE MOST OF YOU REALIZE THAT I DON’T COMMUNICATE EASY BELIEVISM AND THAT TRUE FAITH PRODUCES FRUIT.

* AND ALTHOUGH I SEE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE AS LOST AT LAODICEA, I BELIEVE THERE IS A REMNANT OF BELIEVERS.

** AND MY FIRST REASON IS FOUND IN THE FIRST THREE WORDS OF V. 18, I ADVISE YOU, I COUNSEL YOU.

*** AND THE VERB “COUNSEL” OR “ADVISE” IS NOT IN THE IMPERATIVE MOOD BUT THE INDICATIVE MOOD, AND THE INDICATIVE MOOD COMMUNICATES A SIMPLE STATEMENT OF FACT.

**** IF AN ACTION REALLY OCCURS OR HAS OCCURRED OR WILL OCCUR, IT WILL BE RENDERED IN THE INDICATIVE MOOD.

2. SO THIS VERB IS CLEARLY NOT A COMMAND, WHEREAS IN THE OUTWARD GOSPEL CALL, THE CALL TO REPENT IS A COMMAND TO REPENT IN ACTS 17:30 TO THOSE TO WHOM PAUL IS SPEAKING TO ON MARS HILL, READ ACTS 17:30.

* AND THE CALL WE GIVE IS REPENT OR PERISH AS JESUS DID IN LUKE 13:3, READ IT.

** WE COMMUNICATE WHAT PETER DID IN ACTS 3:19 WHERE IT SAYS: “THEREFORE REPENT AND RETURN, SO THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE WIPED AWAY, IN ORDER THAT TIMES OF REFRESHING MAY COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.”

*** ALSO READ ACTS 2:38.

**** NOW THIS ARGUMENT IS NOT CONCLUSIVE, BUT WILL BUILD THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE VERSES. BUT HERE IN V. 18 OUR LORD ADVISES, HE COUNSELS, THERE’S A DIFFERENT TONE THAT LEADS ME TO THINK ALONG WITH V. 19 THERE IS A REMNANT OF BELIEVERS HERE.

3. NOW WHAT IS THE COUNSEL? TO BUY 3 THINGS OFF OF CHRIST. AND BY THE WAY, YOU DON’T BUY SALVATION, WE ALL KNOW THAT.

* BUT CHRIST USES LANGUAGE THAT IS APPLICABLE TO THEIR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, REMEMBER PHYSICALLY THEY WERE RICH, INCREASED WITH GOODS AND IN THEIR MINDS HAD NEED OF NOTHING.

** THEY DIDN’T NEED TO BUY ANYTHING MATERIALLY. BUT THE IRONY HERE IS THEY HAD GREAT SPIRITUAL NEED.

*** BELOVED BUY STANDS FOR THE CONCEPT OF ACQUIRE OR GAIN. AND OF COURSE NO ONE CAN BUY THE 3 THINGS OFF OF CHRIST THAT HE WILL TALK ABOUT HERE.

**** CHRIST USES THESE WORDS AS A MEDIUM TO CARRY THEIR THOUGHTS FROM THE MATERIAL WORLD AND MATERIAL WEALTH TO THE SPIRITUAL WORLD AND SPIRITUAL WEALTH. THOSE THINGS ONLY COME FROM CHRIST.

4. SO CHRIST USES TERMS THAT WEALTHY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, BUY. THIS IS IRONY HERE, SARCASM IN A SENSE.

* FOR THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE RICH AND THEY WERE MATERIALLY RICH, THEY HAD GOLD. LAODICEA WAS KNOWN FOR IT’S GOLD AS A BANKING CENTER. AND GOLD WAS REFINED AT LAODICEA AND STAMPED FOR PURITY.

** BUT CHRIST’S COUNSEL IS RECEIVE FROM ME PURE GOLD REFINED BY FIRE, PURIFIED BY FIRE THAT GETS ALL THE DROSS AND IMPURITIES OUT.

*** AND OF COURSE CHRIST WAS OFFERING THE GOLD OF HEAVEN, THE CURRENCY OF HEAVEN, ETERNAL RICHES, LAYING UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN IN OUR WORKS FOR CHRIST.

**** NO. 2 HE TELLS THEM TO ACQUIRE WHITE GARMENTS TO CLOTHE YOURSELF AND COVER UP THEIR NAKEDNESS.

5. AND AS I TOLD YOU LAST WEEK, LAODICEA WAS KNOWN FOR IT’S PRODUCTION OF BLACK WOOL THAT WAS USED TO PRODUCE COSTLY BLACK CLOTHING.

* AND CHRIST IS SAYING TRADE IN FOR WHITE CLOTHING, LIVING IN A RIGHT PURE WAY FOR ME.

** FOR IN REVELATION 19:8, THE BRIDE OF CHRIST IS CLOTHED “IN FINE LINEN BRIGHT AND CLEAN; AND THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS.”

*** AND THEY NEEDED TO START LIVING RIGHT, LIVING OUT A LIFE OF SANCTIFICATION, PRODUCING FRUIT THAT GLORIFIED CHRIST.

**** AND NO. 3 THEY NEED TO ACQUIRE OFF OF CHRIST EYE SALVE SO THEY COULD SEE.

6. AND THE IRONY AND SARCASM IS THEY LIVED IN A TOWN THAT WAS FAMOUS FOR PRODUCING EYE SALVE THAT WAS SENT OUT TO THE ROMAN-GRECO WORLD.

* BUT THEY HAD BEEN BLINDED BY THEIR RICHES SO THEY WERE NOT SEEING CLEARLY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BELIEVERS ALL THE TIME THROUGH THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN, READ HEBREWS 3:13.

** AND SIN CERTAINLY CLOUDS OUR VISION, WE CAN SEE, BUT NOT CLEARLY AT TIMES, BLIND IN THAT SENSE.

*** AND THAT IS CHRIST’S COUNSEL AND ADVICE TO INDIVIDUALS IN THIS CHURCH, I ADVISE YOU, I COUNSEL YOU, A REMNANT IN THE CHURCH.

**** AND TO THIS REMNANT, HE REMINDS THEM OF HIS LOVING DISCIPLINE AND REPROOF IN V. 19, IF THEY DON’T REPENT, WHICH IS OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE CHASTENING. LOOK AT V. 19 PLEASE.

II. THE CHASTENING, (READ V. 19)

A. NOW THE CLEAR PRINCIPLE COMMUNICATED IN V. 19 IS FAMILY LOVE DEMANDS DISCIPLINE, FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS.

* AND WHEREAS GOD JUDGES THE UNSAVED, HE LOVINGLY CHASTENS HIS CHILDREN.

** AND THIS IS A CLEAR PRINCIPLE IN SCRIPTURE, READ HEBREWS 12:6-8, PROVERBS 3:11&12, JOB 5:17 AND PROVERBS 13:24.

*** SO THE LORD REPROVES AND DISCIPLINES HIS OWN, HIS CHILDREN. HE CORRECTS WRONG BEHAVIOR.

**** AND IT’S INTERESTING THAT THE GREEK VERB TRANSLATED CHASTEN, DISCIPLINE OR TRAIN, DEPENDING ON WHICH TRANSLATION YOU HAVE, LIT. IN THE GREEK MEANS TO TRAIN CHILDREN, TO BE INSTRUCTED OR TAUGHT, TO LEARN, TO CAUSE ONE TO LEAD IN THE RIGHT WAY.

1. AND THAT’S WHAT GOOD FATHERS DO, THEY DISCIPLINE THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF LOVE TO INSTRUCT THEM AND PROTECT THEM, TO LEAD THEM TOWARDS THE PATH THEY SHOULD FOLLOW.

* AND THAT’S WHAT OUR HOLY HEAVENLY FATHER DOES TO HIS CHILDREN, SO THEY WILL WALK IN HOLINESS.

** AND THE SAME GREEK WORD TRANSLATED CHASTEN OR DISCIPLINE HERE IN V. 19 IS USED THREE TIMES IN THE HEBREWS 12 PASSAGE, ONCE IN V. 6 TRANSLATED CHASTENING OR DISCIPLINE, ONCE IN V. 7 TRANSLATED THE SAME WAY AND ALSO IN V. 10 TRANSLATED CHASTENED OR DISCIPLINES.

*** AND I QUOTED VV. 6-8 TO YOU OUT OF HEBREWS 12, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT VV. 9-11 –

V. 9 – FURTHERMORE, WE HAD EARTHLY FATHERS TO DISCIPLINE US, AND WE RESPECTED THEM; SHALL WE NOT MUCH RATHER BE SUBJECT TO THE FATHER OF SPIRITS, AND LIVE?

V. 10 – FOR THEY DISCIPLINED US FOR A SHORT TIME AS SEEMED BEST TO THEM, BUT HE DISCIPLINES US FOR OUR GOOD, SO THAT WE MAY SHARE HIS HOLINESS.

V. 11 – ALL DISCIPLINE FOR THE MOMENT SEEMS NOT TO BE JOYFUL, BUT SORROWFUL; YET TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY IT, AFTERWARDS IT YIELDS THE PEACEFUL FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

**** AND AGAIN THE PURPOSE IS HOLINESS AND OUR GOOD, IT PROTECTS US AND PURIFIES US.

2. AND THAT’S WHAT THIS SMALL REMNANT OF BELIEVERS NEEDED AT LAODICEA.

* AND THAT’S WHY CHRIST SAYS AT THE END OF V. 19 TO “BE ZEALOUS THEREFORE AND REPENT.”

** AND CALLING CHURCHES, BELIEVERS TO REPENT IN CHRIST’S MESSAGES TO THE CHURCHES IS NOTHING NEW, HE DOES IT TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS TWICE, THE CHURCH AT PERGAMUM ONCE, THE CHURCH OF THYATIRA 3 TIMES AND THE CHURCH AT SARDIS ONCE.

*** SO CHRIST CALLS 5 OF THE 7 CHURCHES TO REPENT OVER SOMETHING, THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL. THEY NEEDED TO CORRECT AND TURN FROM WRONG BEHAVIOR, JUST AS WE NEED TO DO AS BELIEVERS OVER SINS IN OUR LIVES.

**** AND THE LORD CHASTENS US TO BRING US TO REPENTANCE AND THAT’S THE CHASTENING THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN V. 19 WHICH LEADS US TO OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE CALL. LOOK AT V. 20 PLEASE.

III. THE CALL, (READ V. 20)

A. NOW AGAIN THIS VERSE COMMUNICATES AN INVITATION TO INDIVIDUALS IN THIS CHURCH, THIS SMALL REMNANT, NOT AN INVITATION TO UNBELIEVERS TO BE SAVED.

* AND THE TRUTH HERE IS FOR BELIEVERS TO REPENT, TO OPEN THE DOOR PER SAY AND HAVE CHRIST COME BACK IN THIS CHURCH SO THAT HE WILL BE PREEMINENT AGAIN, THEIR FIRST LOVE, HAVING A HOT FERVENT LOVE FOR HIM.

** FOR CHRIST’S OFFER TO DINE WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT MAKE UP THIS CHURCH SPEAKS OF FELLOWSHIP, COMMUNION AND INTIMACY.

*** I MEAN SHARING A MEAL IN ANCIENT TIMES SYMBOLIZED THE COMMUNION OF PEOPLE IN LOVING FELLOWSHIP.

**** IN FACT, THE WORD DINE, SUP OR EAT, DEPENDING AGAIN ON WHICH TRANSLATION YOU HAVE REFERS TO THE EVENING MEAL, THE LAST MEAL OF THE DAY, THE MAIN MEAL.

1. AND THE PROMISE TO DINE MUST BE KEPT IN THE CONTEXT AS SEEN IN THE SWEET COMMUNION AND FELLOWSHIP THAT WILL BE ENJOYED AS THE RESULT OF REPENTANCE.

* THEY MUST OPEN THE DOOR WHICH IS DOING GOD’S WILL HERE REPENTING, AND WHAT FOLLOWS WILL BE AN INTIMATE, PRECIOUS, SWEET TIME OF FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNION AS THEIR HEARTS ARE MADE RIGHT BY TURNING FROM THEIR SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND SIN.

** AND WHEN THEY REPENT, THIS SUPPER ROOM BECOMES A THRONE ROOM AS THEY YIELD TO THEIR KING WHO IS GRACIOUSLY AND ACTIVELY KNOCKING AND ASKING THEM TO COME IN AND DINE.

*** SO THIS VERSE ADDRESSED TO INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS THAT MAKE UP THE CHURCH. IT’S A CALL TO REPENT.

**** AND WE’LL MOVE FROM THIS CALL TO THE CLOSING OF THIS LETTER, OUR LAST POINT TODAY, LOOK AT V. 21 PLEASE.

IV. THE CLOSING, (READ V. 21)

A. NOW THE WONDERFUL PROMISE HERE IS TO OVERCOMERS. AND WHO ARE THE OVERCOMERS, THOSE WHO OVERCOME?

* OVERCOMERS ARE BELIEVERS, THOSE WHO PERSEVERE BY GOD’S GRACE IN THE FAITH. I’LL USE

I JOHN 5:4&5 ONE MORE TIME (READ THEM).

** NOW TO OVERCOMERS, THOSE WHO TRULY KNOW CHRIST, THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE GRANTED THE PRIVILEGE OF SITTING WITH CHRIST ON HIS THRONE.

*** AND IN THE CONTEXT OF A FUTURE TIME, THE PRIVILEGE AND RIGHT TO SHARE IN CHRIST’S AUTHORITY AND RULE IN HIS KINGDOM.

**** BUT NOTE THE BASIS OF THIS IN V. 21: “AS I ALSO OVERCAME AND SAT DOWN.”

1. AND THE REAL VICTORY OF DEATH, SIN AND SATAN WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY CHRIST IN HIS LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION.

* AND BECAUSE OF HIS SINLESS LIFE AND PERFECT OBEDIENCE TO THE FATHER’S PLAN – EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS, CHRIST OVERCAME SIN, SATAN AND DEATH AND WAS GRANTED THE RIGHT AND AUTHORITY AS THE GOD-MAN TO SIT DOWN WITH HIS FATHER IN HIS THRONE.

** SO BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, BY OUR UNION AND IDENTIFICATION WITH HIM IN HIS PERSON AND WORK, AND THROUGH THE OVERCOMING PERSEVERING GRACE WE RECEIVE, WE AS TRUE BELIEVERS WILL RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF REIGNING WITH CHRIST IN HIS KINGDOM HERE.

*** WHICH LEADS US TO OUR FINAL VERSE FOR TODAY. LOOK AT V. 22 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 22. NOW AS DID THE OTHER SIX LETTERS, THE LETTER TO THE LAODICEANS CLOSES WITH CHRIST’S EXHORTATION, HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES.

* SO FOR THE SEVENTH TIME CHRIST ISSUES HIS CALL FOR THE RESPONSIVE EAR. HE CALLS FOR US TO LISTEN UP, TO TAKE HEED TO WHAT HE HAS SAID, TO PAY ATTENTION.

** AND THIS IS A COMMAND, FOR THE VERB HEAR IS IN THE IMPERATIVE MOOD.

*** AND ALL CHURCHES, PLURAL, ARE COMMANDED TO HEAR AND HEED WHAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS SAYING TO THE CHURCHES. AND MAY WE SUBMIT TO THAT COMMAND AS A CHURCH, AND AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH.

AND IN WRAP UP TODAY (1) THE MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA IS MOST CHALLENGING TO THE CHURCH IN AMERICA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

* FOR WE SEE A GREAT DEAL OF LUKEWARMNESS, NOMINALNESS, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, WORLDLINESS AND PRIDE.

** THERE ARE MANY THAT ARE LETHARGIC, TEPID AND ANEMIC AND LACK WHOLEHEARTED COMMITMENT TO CHRIST.

*** AND FOR MANY, THEY FLAT OUT HAVE BEEN DECEIVED THAT THEY ARE CHRISTIANS WHEN THEY ARE NOT AND HAVE NEVER REALLY TURNED TO CHRIST IN REPENTANT FAITH.

**** THERE ARE NO HOLY AFFECTIONS, NO LOVE FOR THE WORD, NOR LOVE FOR THE LOST AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THAT CAN BE SEEN IN YOU BETWEEN THOSE WHO DO NOT PROFESS TO KNOW CHRIST IS YOU GO TO CHURCH.

(2) YOU ARE IN A DANGEROUS POSITION. I PRAY THAT THE LORD OPENS YOUR SOUL TO HIM TODAY.

* BUT THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE TRUE BELIEVERS THAT HAVE ALLOWED OUR CULTURE TO WATER-DOWN YOUR LOVE FOR CHRIST.

** MY CALL TO YOU IS TO REPENT TODAY, AND DINE WITH CHRIST. MAY HE BE PREEMINENT AGAIN, YOUR FIRST LOVE.

*** MAY YOU HAVE A HOT FIERY BURNING LOVE FOR HIM AGAIN.

**** AND MY ADMONITION TO YOU CAN BE FOUND IN A FEW CLOSING VERSES. READ MATTHEW 6:33, COLOSSIANS 1:18, REVELATION 2:4, COLOSSIANS 3:1-4, MATTHEW 6:19-21 AND I CORINTHIANS 6:19&20.

(3) BELOVED, CHRIST PAID MUCH TOO HIGH A PRICE FOR US, IN TEARS, IN BLOOD AND PAIN, TO HAVE OUR SOULS JUST STIRRED AT TIMES, BUT NEVER TRULY CHANGED.

* HE DESERVES A FIERY LOVE, THAT WON’T IGNORE HIS SACRIFICE, BECAUSE HE PAID MUCH TOO HIGH A PRICE.

** MAY WE BE HOT FOR CHRIST IN OUR PRIORITIES AND PASSION.