"On The Outside Looking In" Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr.

the book of Revelation is the writings of the Apostle John that he wrote while he was confined to the Isle of Patmos it is a book that reveals the future gives us insight about the coming events he begins writing this book of revelations by writing letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor that existed at that day and time Jesus speaks to John and tells him to write D seven letters to these seven churches the seven churches are the Church of Ephesus Smyrna Pergamum Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia and the Laodiceans it is this last Church the Church of the Laodiceans that I want to spend time talking about today I feel the tension in the room because somebody saying why should we care about these seven churches that existed thousands of years ago the reason you ought to care about these churches because you are a member of one of these churches your life your walk your journey falls in the category of one of these seven churches my question is which church are you a member of I wanted to talk about this particular Church the Holy Spirit pressed it in my heart I couldn't get it out of my spirit it kept just resonating with me over and over again talk about the lay of the sins and so I'm always trying to be obedient to what God tells me to do and I felt the Lord telling me to talk to you about this church just for a few moments this morning I want to talk about this church and I want to tell you in every one of the letters that was written to the seven churches the format of what is said to the seven churches is exactly the same in other words there was a structure to every letter and the structure to every Church is exactly the same here's the structure five things as a matter of fact these five points or five areas of of this letter are what I'm going to talk about today the first thing is the description of Christ somebody say the description of Christ secondly is commendations of the church where he commends the church on good things third is the rebuke of the church he rebukes them for things that they need rebuking on then fourthly he talks about he exhorts the church he gives them exhortation encouragement on what to do fifthly he gives a promise to the church let me go back and give those to you again a description of Christ a commendation of the church the rebuke of the church the exhortation of the church and the promise for the church for these next few moments I want to take a look at these five things these five areas as it relates to the Church of the Laodiceans as a matter of fact this is the church where Jesus finds himself standing on the outside knocking on the door trying to get in we don't have a whole lot of history about the Laodicean Church or about the city other than we know that the city was built by King who later named the city after his wife the remains of the city can still be found in some parts of aware of that city that existed but I wanted to examine for these few moments what Jesus says in his church area number one I want to talk about the description of Christ what he says about himself to them what is the description of Christ what is Christ description what did he say about himself and he's right here in verse number 14 he says to the angel of the church of the laodiceans write these things says the Amen he is the Amen somebody say he's they men he's the Amen faithful and true witness Jesus says he is va men while I'm preaching and you say amen amen means that's the truth thank you very much I appreciate those amens it means he's the truth he is the truth he says I am not only just saying truth he is the truth he lives the truth in John 14:6 Jesus says I'm the way the truth and the life and no man could get to God except through me he says I am the true way to get to God he is the process you can't listen you cannot get to God through any other means other than Jesus Christ I know that might not be politically correct but it's scripturally accurate come on talk to me for just a moment there is only one way he says I am the Amen and he says I'm the faithful and true witness what I say about myself is true what I declare teach to you is faithful to what God told me to say he is a faithful and true witness therefore we can trust what he says about himself not only in verse 14 does he say he's a faithful and true witness nd a man he's the beginning of the creation of God that's significant because when God started creation the Bible says that God delegated the power to create to his son Jesus Christ everything that was created was created by him John 101 says in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God there was nothing made that had been made except it had been made by the word he made everything he created everything he created the heavens and the earth he created everything that's visible and invisible he he created everything he has all power in his hands he describes himself I'm so glad we serve a God who is so awesome he he we didn't buy our God off a shelf we we didn't find him in a fraternity or a sorority I can't get no help here today our God existed before the world was created he is the Alpha and the Omega he is the Amen the faithful and true witness but he transitions from a description about himself to give accommodation to this church I want to give you the verse where the commendations are write it down there is no verse out of all the churches this is the one church he had nothing good to say about him how tragic it would be to be a church where Jesus has nothing good to say about you he said that the church in Ephesus was a hard-working church that stood against evil the Smyrna church went to church that endured suffering and poverty the Pergamus church was a church that stood fast in the midst of a demonic culture the Thyatira church had a lot of faith and patience and worked diligently the Sardis church was a church that didn't compromise a lot of churches are compromising today the Philadelphia Church was a church that kept his word and did not deny his name but when he comes to this church of the laodiceans Jesus had absolutely nothing good to say about them that's tragic just saying I wonder if God examines your life would he be able to find something good about it I was asking y'all a question y'all didn't answer I mean if he had to really examine your life if he had to go through the ups and down and look at every nook and cranny of your life if he had to investigate and lift up the sheet and look behind the rocks if he followed you around seven days a week 24 hours a day would he have anything good to say about you would he be able to see you witnesses on the Keenan what do you see you praying over your meals in front of your co-workers what do you see you taking a stand for the gospel gonna preach pastor gingka then go say nothing does he see you managing your finances according to biblical principle does he see you loving your husband respecting your husband and loving your wife garland priest pastor they can't handle the truth what would he find about you would he find you brothers taking care of your family would you find your wife taking care of you let me say that again y'all missed that when Shh right over y'all's head let me put it in let me put it the Aussie I thought this 8 o'clock crowd was the educated crowd that would be able to figure out what I was saying I see I gotta break it down for you just like I do to 12 o'clock crowd here's what I'm saying with the drama be that your wife's gonna work while you land on your behind at home that's what I was trying to Amen means that's the truth I'm just looking for a few amens that's all I'm trying to say would she be paying the bills while you loafing around the house oh wait a minute sisters I can't get y'all off that easy do you find yourself being able to give respect to the position that your husband hold even though you may not like the things that he's doing can I get a Amen right here for just a moment you got to learn to respect the position even though you might not agree with everything that the person in the position is doing go on and preach pastor I think I will with God fine with Jesus find anything in your life that he could commend unfortunately for this church and Laodicea he could not find a single thing as a matter of fact he transitions and when he slides over to verse 15 he skips over saying anything good about them when he gets to verse 15 he spends the next three verses rebuking them for some stuff in their life that's not clean and right he rebukes them what is he rebuked them for in verse 15 he says I know your works I've been watching you I see you uprising your downfall I've investigated you and what I've concluded about you is that you are neither cold nor hot but he says verse 15 I wish you would be one or the other oh I feel the Holy Ghost right there in that point I I wish you either get in the church or get out of the church I wish you would either get in Christ or get out of Christ I wish you would go ahead to heaven full steam ahead or go to hell in style I think if you don't go to hell you might as well go ahead and live a hellish life no need to tip toeing in church and not really being committed to the things of God I didn't say that just what Jesus says huh he says you should be one or the other be cold or hot be sold out or don't even try to pretend anymore be on one side of the fence is uncomfortable trying to straddle the fence if you sit on the fence and got one leg on one side of the fence and one leg on the other side of the fence that's uncomfortable position to be sitting in come on look at your neighbor said he preaching to somebody on this row it might be here he says I wish you would get on one side of the other and that's what I've come today to tell somebody today be one of the other cold means to be chilly life is dead and that's how many people are in church and that's how hot a lot of churches are lifeless no life no spiritual life no hunger no passion for the things of God no interest no reading of the Bible no prayer no fasting no Bible study no dedication no witness they're cold some people are cold but then there's some people who are hot they don't fire you say Jesus they get excited about the name Jesus there's some people who own fire they can't wait to tell somebody about what Jesus has done in their life there's some people who are on fire they're committed they're dedicated they are sold out they love it with all of their hearts they are dedicated to his cause they're reading his word they're applying to their life they share the gospel their turn they break down they try to do the things that are pleasing and acceptable to God that hot they're hot they're hot the roof the roof the roof is on fire huh huh the problem with this church is they were right in the middle they weren't hot but they weren't cold they didn't read their Bibles but they bought a Bible they went to church but they didn't participate in church they gave money but it wasn't n times I can't get no help up here today they never had time for Bible study never had time for prayer service I'm folk in this church the Laodicean Church I refuse to pass the DeLeo to see in church yeah we try to preach so hard that you get mad and leave rather than sit up here and be in a lukewarm condition yeah yeah that's why you know some I don't make any compromises about what my convictions are what I believe in what I teach it I'm not trying to be popular or accepted by people a charge I have to keep in a God to glorify I will declare this word whether you like it or not whether it applies I'm not going to compromise to make you happy and my prayer is you either get on fire or get cold I can't get no help up in here but I don't want you to be lukewarm sitting coming up here feeling comfortable thinking you okay cuz you go to church oh no I don't want you to be uncomfortable I want you to be saying I'm a member of the First Baptist Church of Glen Arden but you're not sold out to Jesus I'm trying to preach the hell right out of you yeah up in here that's what I'm trying to do trying to make you change your life trying to get you to get converted and committed and sold out I find it that Jesus says when it pertains to lukewarmness he says I didn't say this y'all Jesus said this he says I wish you were cold or hot but because verse 16 you were lukewarm neither cold nor hot I will vomit you out of my mouth Jesus said I would much rather that you just leave rather than sit around thinking that you okay when in reality you're not okay if you ever drink a warm glass of water it's nasty cold water is good for you on a sweltering hot day hot water with some chocolate put in it is good on a cold day but lukewarm water it ain't good for nothing but to be poured down the sink and that's what Jesus is saying your your spirituality is lukewarm it's it's not good for anything he says I'm going to spit you out of my mouth but wait a minute he says I'm not only rebuking them for their spiritual lukewarmness he says I gotta also review them because they're arrogant and we live in a culture where people arrogance verse 17 he says you say I am rich have become wealthy and have need of nothing if there's ever a description that describes our community is people who think that because they have stuff that they're okay the amount of money that's in your bank account is not an indication of your spirituality with God the kind of car you drive the neighborhood you live in is not an indication of your spirituality I can't get no help up in here matter of fact the scripture says it warns against first Timothy 6 says it warns against those who equate gain to godliness matter of fact the scripture says withdraw from people who think that because they have gained that that equates to godliness matter of fact some of y'all were more spiritual when you didn't have nothing y'all can't handle the truth up in here today you pray more we need to know where your next meal was coming from you in church more faithfully and manage your money better when you didn't have all that money sitting up in the bank when you didn't know how you were going to get to church and you had to pray and call people to come and pick you up you were more faithful to church then then you are now and you got a car I'm sorry I know y'all thought I was gonna give y'all a nice Christmas sermon this morning I'm sorry maybe they'll be next Sunday or the Sunday after but I have to share with you today that Jesus is disturbed and troubled because we say we're rich we've become wealthy and have need of nothing but he says you do not know verse 17 that you are wretched and miserable poor blind and naked y'all skewed me for a second he said your wretched that means you're in great pain in trouble some of the most miserable people I've met in the world are people who have plenty money but ain't got no joy and no peace he says your wretched your miserable you need pity you poor you got money but you have nothing spiritually you're blind that's what he says you're blind you got eyes but you can't see you don't understand my truth you don't understand my ways you know what kind of culture we live in we live in a culture that sees life not from God's vantage point but from the vantage point of what the media tells you you ought to believe in see that's who paints the picture of our culture today what paints the picture what people believe today is based on who has the most money to influence you by the commercials that they buy and the public relations things that they can promote that's how we think God says when you have your eyes open by me you know new life from the world fantage point you look at life from a heavenly vantage point said you're miserable and you're wretched and poor you have nothing you don't have anything when this life is over all the stuff you take pride in will be left behind you can't take it with you I told my kids I'm trying to spend all the inheritance while I got it right now then he says they're naked he's rebuking them because they got clothes they got the st. John's is that stealing style oh now y'all acting like y'all don't know what I'm talking about what y'all wearing now I'll see I see lieutenant-governor they acting like they don't know what I'm talking about because you here today but they know what they be wearing you got your Gucci bags Louis Vuitton yeah y'all got that but you're naked you're spiritually naked you don't have on the full arm of God you don't have the helmet of salvation or which means you're thinking right you don't have the shield of faith when you have the shield of faith no matter what comes your way you still believe that God is able to work it out you're next when you don't have the sword of the Spirit that you're able to ward off the darts of the devil and the lies of the devil with the truth of God's Word you don't have your pants are falling off because you don't have to build the truth you don't have truth wrapped around you you he says you're naked because you don't have on the full arm of God but hold on it's not a clock but time is running out I got to go past what else I want to say I got to give you an explanation somebody say exhort on Jesus he says buy gold tried in the fire he says his verse verse 18 this one says I 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 ourselves that you may see he gives a description of what they need to do he says I want you to invest in my kingdom I want you to try that which has proven the test of time see the stuff that we're buying and putting our energies and our resources on cannot stand the test of time but when you sell out to Jesus here he is two thousand years after his death on the cross and he is still changing lives get from him what has been tried and pure get from him that which changes lives put on you the garment and I notice he says the white garment I like that terminology the white garment because it indicates and reflects to us that we need to get dressed up in the righteousness of God what does that mean here's what he is saying don't base your your your relationship with God on the basis of your righteousness because your righteousness in mind is has a filthy rag he says our righteousness is not good enough my best and your best is not good enough tell that nasty joke next to you your best ain't good enough y'all didn't tell him Kepler attitude telling what attitude roll your head around on that extra bone in your neck tell him your best thing good enough I can come to God and I only can come to God on the basis of the fact that I put my faith in his death burial and resurrection and when you put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus and invite him into your life he dips you in his blood and wipes your slate clean clothes you in a white garment is no longer your righteousness there's no longer your good works it's no longer what you do is what he has done that gives you a relationship with him I wish I had a few more amens I'm sorry i'ma have to skip some let me hurry up here for just a moment but he says in verse 19 he says because I love you I rebuke you and chasing you my father who's here this morning used to whip us kids he whipped in syllables I told you not to do and the worst whipping he gave us is when we had to go and pick out our own switches you don't know whether to get the fat switch you young people don't know nothing about this or the thin switch some of y'all grew up on on your parents listening to dr. Spock who didn't have no blackheads he didn't handle blackheads my father chasing us cuz he loved us he whipped us because he wanted us to make different choices in life now I haven't quite forgiven my father for the time he whipped all three of us because one of us went and broke into the closet finagled away to open the door to take some sodas out of the closet that we weren't supposed to go in and none of us admitted to doing it so he whipped all three to make sure he got the right one I was bruised but had I haven't recovered from that I still haven't forgiven him for that whippin daddy you know it what me why you with me he whipped us because he loved us and God whips you and says some things to you because he loves you he wants to change you he's tired of you live in your life the way you live in your life and he wants you to change he wants you to be transformed as a matter of fact he says I stand at the door and knock is it someone outside trying to come in your life I'm standing at the door knocking cuz I want to come in you know what I find amazing is even though he had nothing good to say about him he still stand on the outside trying to get I don't know who I'm preaching to this morning but all I know is that you're here all I know is that you're here and he promises that if you hear his voice and open up the door he says I'll come in and dine with you and you with me he says if you can swallow your pride and humble yourself and hear my voice he says I'll come in and live with you and change your life I don't know who I'm preaching to but all I know is that you're here today and you're life is raggedy and jacked up you're miserable and you're wretched and you're poor and you're blind and you're naked but I've come today to tell you that there is a balm in Gilead I come to tell you that it is a physician here who died that your sins might be forgiven who who is wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquity who died on the cross was buried in the tomb and early Sunday morning got it with all power in his hands I come to declare to you that you can't be forgiven no matter what you've done in your life he's on the outside looking in trying to get into the inner recesses of your heart and if you would humble yourself and let him in he will change you today as a matter of fact he doesn't stop there the promise says in verse 21 he says if you will overcome I'll grant you to sit with me on my throne I like that he says you know the scripture says listen to this the scripture says somebody gon shout in this the scripture says is not here to determine who sits on his left or his right he says I don't have that authority but what I can do is let you sit on my throne with me so this morning I want to challenge somebody today whose distant and away from God who's in the best linen mode somebody who's unsaved somebody who's unsure I want to make an appeal to you somebody who's not walking the way God wants you to live and doing the things he's calling for you to live to humble yourself he's standing at the door knock and he says if you will open your heart he'll come in and sup with you dine with you live with you and he'll transform your life he will forgive you of your sins no matter what you've done in your past no matter how reason you did it how often and who you did it with we serve a God who will wipe your slate today's dynamic message from pastor Jenkins is one that has the power to change your life but it can only do so if you have a heart and soul that belong to Jesus Christ perhaps you want to be able to make such a claim but you don't know how it's simple you just have to confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and rose again with all power your sins and now forgiven and you're part of the family of God welcome maybe you're already saved and in need of a church home one that will nurture your growth and development as a Christian or perhaps you were once in fellowship with God but have since drifted away and are ready to return to your first love whatever the case we'd love to have you become a part of the first baptist family simply contact us a 301 773 3600 or visit our website at WWDC Glenarden org for more information on any one of our four convenient services or our one hundred-plus ministries designed to meet you most Tim it means First Baptist Church of Glen arc where God is developing dynamic design

Channel: Inside FBCG

Views: 22,466

Rating: 4.8575063 out of 5

Keywords: John K. Jenkins Sr, FBCG, First Baptist Church of Glenarden, Baptists (Religion), Glory, John Jenkins

Id: ViqH9-EbDNg

Length: 29min 57sec (1797 seconds)

Published: Sat Jul 19 2014