Revelation

Revelation 3: Jesus gives what churches lack

Begin in prayer

Before reading Christ's words to Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea, ask Him to show your family the life and fellowship only He gives. Ask God to expose false confidence and help you hear Jesus' call to repent.

Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your offspring, to love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.

Deuteronomy 30:6

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us Jesus, the Faithful and True Witness, and help us to hear His voice and turn from our sin. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Christ's words uncover a gap between the churches' appearance and their condition before Him. Sardis has a reputation for life, yet is dead and must wake up, remember and repent before He comes like a thief. Philadelphia has little power, yet keeps His word, so He sets before it an open door no one can shut. Self-satisfied Laodicea claims riches while lacking true wealth, clothing and sight, and Christ declares that He will vomit it out. Yet He calls those He loves to repent and offers fellowship to anyone who hears His voice and opens the door. Those who overcome receive His promises of belonging and a place with Him.

As you read Revelation 3, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

Jesus exposes His churches' need and supplies life, security and fellowship as He calls them to repent.

Sardis's fortress had fallen when its watch failed, making Christ's command to wake up a warning the city could understand. A good reputation cannot supply the life that belongs to the Lord who holds God's seven Spirits. The few who have kept their garments clean receive His promise of walking with Him in white. Philadelphia's open door depends on Christ's key of David, and no hostile power can shut what He opens. In a city troubled by earthquakes, His promise of an enduring pillar gives a picture of lasting security. Laodicea's banking, clothing trade and eye medicine sharpen the shame of its spiritual poverty, nakedness and blindness. Christ offers the gold, white garments and sight that its earthly success cannot supply. His loving correction calls for repentance, and the shared meal He promises means fellowship with Him. The overcomer is promised a seat with Christ, whose own victory has brought Him to His Father's throne.

How does Revelation 3 show us that Jesus exposes His churches' need and supplies life, security and fellowship as He calls them to repent?

Jesus exposes dead religion and calls Sardis to wake up.

A reputation for life cannot hide Sardis's death from Christ, who holds God's seven Spirits (verse 1). He commands watchfulness, remembering what they heard, keeping it and repenting (verses 2 and 3). If they refuse to watch, He will come like a thief at an hour they do not know. The overcomer will wear white, and Christ will never blot his name from the book of life (verse 5). He will confess that person's name before His Father and His angels.

Jesus gives weak Philadelphia an open door and lasting security.

Christ has David's key, so His authority opens what no one can shut (verses 7 and 8). Christ will make the hostile synagogue come and worship before Philadelphia's feet, and know that He has loved this church (verse 9). Because they kept His command to endure, He promises to keep them from the hour of worldwide testing (verse 10). They must hold firmly so no one takes their crown (verse 11). He will make the overcomer a permanent pillar, marked with God's name, new Jerusalem's name and His own new name (verse 12).

Jesus exposes Laodicea's false riches and supplies what it needs.

Laodicea's proud claim to need nothing hides a wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked condition (verse 17). Christ will vomit this lukewarm church out of His mouth (verse 16). He counsels it to buy gold, white garments and eye salve from Him (verse 18).

Jesus calls those He loves to repent and promises fellowship.

Christ's rebuke and correction express His love, and He commands zeal and repentance (verse 19). He stands at the door and knocks (verse 20). If anyone hears His voice and opens, He promises to come in and share a meal with that person. The shared meal means fellowship with the Lord speaking to this church. The overcomer will sit with Christ on His throne, as Christ overcame and sat with His Father (verse 21).

Memorise

As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.

Revelation 3:19

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, when I hear Jesus' voice, will I turn from my sin and come to Him?

Christ exposes Laodicea's boast, “I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing.” Before His eyes it is wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Yet He says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” He calls this self-satisfied church back to fellowship with Him.

Sin leaves us unable to clothe ourselves before God. The faithful Witness went to the cross for His people and bore God's judgment against their guilt. His blood provides everything needed for their cleansing and acceptance. He rose from death and sat down with His Father on His throne. This living Lord can give what a proud heart cannot supply.

Please hear His voice. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus, abandoning the claim that you need nothing. Forgiveness belongs to everyone who receives Him in faith. His call is earnest, and His promise of fellowship is sure.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus calls sinners to Himself, and that only He can give a heart that opens. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Parents, verses 9 and 16 are hard, so please explain them in your own words.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that Jesus calls sinners to Himself, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Revelation 3:21

Lord Jesus, thank You that You call sinners to Yourself. Thank You that You died on the cross and rose again. Please help each of us to hear Your voice, to turn from our sin, and to trust You. Give us hearts that open to You, and help us to follow You this week. Amen.