The Church in Laodicea Part 2

Revelation 3:14-15 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!”

We have been meditating the churches mentioned in the book of revelation. The Lord is giving specific messages to these churches where he commends and condemns them. When we meditate all these things, we can clearly understand the expectation of the Lord concerning a church or a believer. Laodicea was a wealthy city known for its banking, textile industry, and a famous medical school that produced eye salve. If a city is wealthy , it will also be a city filled with sins. Despite their material wealth, the church in Laodicea was spiritually poor and self-sufficient. The Lord Jesus gives this church a stern rebuke, calling them to repentance and renewal. The Spiritual lukewarmness—indifference and self-reliance—leads to spiritual poverty of this church. Let us take warning from the message God gave to this church.

1. The church expected to believe in Jesus

Revelation 3:14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

Here we see the Lord Jesus introduces and calls himself "Amen". In general we use Amen when we conclude our prayer. “Amen” is not just a conclusion to prayer—it means “so be it” or truth assured. When we say Amen, we unknowingly use the name of Jesus. We ask a lot of things in prayer and in the end we conclude by saying 'Amen' where it indicates we agree the Lord will do everything we asked of him. Jesus is the Amen, the guarantee and fulfillment of every promise of God. The English translation of the Hebrew word ἀμήν - Amen means Firm, Trustworthy -
Surely. We read in 2 Corinthians 1:20 'For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.' All the promises given by the Lord will surely be fulfilled by the Lord. When we use the word 'Amen' we should understand Jesus is the final word, the certainty of all God has spoken. When Jesus speaks with us , we can trust him completely. He is the unchanging God and a trustworthy One. By saying 'Amen', let us grow in faith in Jesus.

2. The Call to Repentance

Revelation 3:19 'Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.'

Here the Lord calls the church for repentance. The Lord wants this church to mend their ways. The Lord rebukes the ones he loves. Even in this situation, the Lord rebukes the church because he loves them. Those who are loved by the Lord, he rebukes and disciplines them. Therefore let us be earnest and repent. Even in our lives, our parents rebuke us to reform us. The Hebrew word is “shuv” (שׁוּב(, which means: “to return” or “to turn back”, especially to return to God. The Greek word is “metanoia” (μετάνοια), which literally means: “a change of mind”, implying a turning away from sin and turning toward God. Our Lord Jesus disciplines out of love, calling His people to turn from their complacency and pursue Him wholeheartedly. Jesus does not correct to condemn, but to restore all the things we lost. Therefore this means his correction is proof of relationship, not rejection. If we feel convicted or challenged, do not run from it lean into it, because it is a sign that God cares too much to leave us as we are. God’s correction is an expression of his love. Repentance is the pathway to renewal. Repentance is not just about saying “I’m sorry”, it is about a heart shift—turning from sin and self and turning to Jesus in surrender.

We need to understand repentance leads to revival. Where there is true repentance, there is always renewed fellowship with Christ, fresh fire, and spiritual clarity. God’s correction is an expression of His love. He calls us not to guilt, but to grace—to shake off complacency and pursue Him wholeheartedly.

John Newton was born in 1725 in London. He was raised by a devout Christian mother who died when he was only six, Newton fell into a life of rebellion and sin at an early age. By his teenage years, he was profane, defiant, and deeply involved in the brutal Atlantic slave trade—a system of unimaginable cruelty. He worked on slave ships, transporting African men, women, and children under horrific conditions. At one point, he was even enslaved himself in Africa after falling out of favor with his crew. Despite his suffering, he remained hard-hearted and far from God.

Everything began to change in 1748 during a violent storm at sea. Newton was aboard a ship called the Greyhound when it was nearly torn apart by a fierce tempest. As water flooded the ship and death seemed certain, Newton cried out in desperation: “Lord, have mercy on us!” That moment became a turning point. Though the storm passed, something deeper began to stir within him. For the first time, he saw the depth of his sin and began seeking God’s truth. This was his moment of repentance illumination—a spiritual awakening.

Over time, Newton’s heart softened and his life was transformed. He left the slave trade and eventually became an Anglican minister. He worked with William Wilberforce, helping to abolish slavery in England. Most famously, he penned “Amazing Grace”—a hymn born from his personal encounter with divine mercy.

3. The Invitation to Fellowship

Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! 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."

Over here we see the Lord is standing at the door and knocking it. This indicates the presence of the Lord. We need to open the door and invite him inside. The Lord wants to have a fellowship with us. He wants to dine with us.

In Hebrew, the word most commonly associated with fellowship is רוּתֵבֲח Chaverut - Companionship, Friendship, Fellowship. Greek word: Koinonia (κοινωνία) “sharing,” “partnership,” “communion,” or “participation” It implies deep relational and spiritual connection.

Today many of our relationship or fellowship with God has become dormant and dysfunctional. We are lagging behind in our spiritual life and we have gone far from the presence of the Lord. Jesus is not distant or absent. But he is very much present and involved. Today, we need to open the door as the Lord knocks. Only if you allow the Lord inside, he will come have a fellowship with the Lord. Jesus offers personal fellowship and intimacy to those who respond to His call. The Lord will knock the door gently and he will now compel or force his children.
For many of us, the Lord has been knocking the door for years. The knocking shows both persistence and gentleness. The door represents our hearts—our willingness matters. The invitation is not forced—we must open the door. Hearing and responding to them are the key steps of faith. The Lord is not knocking the door to judge us but he knocks the doors as sign of invitation to intimacy. This invitation from Christ is for the individual, showing that revival begins with personal commitment. We need to open our hearts to Jesus and restore our relationship with him. There is a lot of levels of fellowship with the Lord. Eating together with the Lord symbolizes intimacy, acceptance, and relationship. Today, we need to check to which level our fellowship has been progressed in our lives. Amen.