The Cure for Wretchedness Open-334 RR-777 Close-350 When a young man, Robert Robinson had been saved out of a tempestuous life of sin through the ministry of George Whitefield, that great evangelist in England. Not long after he dedicated himself to the Lord, at the age of twenty-three, Robinson wrote the hymn Come, Thou Fount. In that hymn he wrote: Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise. Sadly, Robinson wandered far from those streams of mercy that he had written about and, like the Prodigal Son, journeyed into the distant country. At least until one day. It happened that he was traveling by stagecoach and sitting beside a young woman engrossed in her book. She ran across a verse she thought was beautiful and asked him what he thought of it. Prone to wander -- Lord, I feel it -- Prone to leave the God I love. Bursting into tears, Robinson said, "Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then." -- Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories, p. 52 Fortunately, he did evidently did reclaim the earlier experience, for he was baptized in the Baptist faith and became a bivocational minister, supporting himself by managing a farm. He went on to teach himself Greek and Hebrew and wrote several books. Last week we considered the lukewarmness of churches of Laodicea and Colossae. As we continue looking at this message, today I want to explore the condition of being wretched and miserable which the Lord refers to in Revelation. The council for the church of Laodicea for their miserable condition was for them to open the door of their hearts and Jesus would come and dwell with them. (us) As we wretched and miserable condition of the Colossian and Laodicean churches, I believe that the primary solution given for the Christian here to combat this problem is to walk in Christ. Col 2:6 "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him," Last week we looked at the council to be rooted and built up in Christ. This week we will look at a different metaphor that Paul uses to describe the ideal Christian experience. While rooted and built up tend to indicate a static, permanent location, walking indicates just the exact opposite. Let's explore for a few minutes what makes us miserable and wretched. Then we will discover the cure. Might think that those who are in bad conditions are the most miserable. Sometimes it is those who seem to have things the best who are the most unhappy. I have made several mission team trips to Mexico trip. On these trips we have a mix of young and older people. After one trip a parent came to me and said. " My son was talking to me after the trip and said that the one thing that impressed him more than anything else was how much happier the children and youth seem to be than they are in the States. And they don't have anything. He said, 'Mom, we don 't need all the things that we have to be happy.'" It is interesting that often the more a human has, the less happy he may become. That is also why that the council that is also given here is to be encouraged to gather in Love and abound with thanksgiving. We will consider that in a minute. Let's look at our condition. Wretched -- One commentary says that this means to bear a burden of some kind or have a trial. The word wretched we now use to denote the actual consciousness of being miserable, as with one who is sunk into deep distress or affliction. The word here, however, refers rather to the condition itself than being aware of that condition, because in Revelation it says that they do not know their condition. Their state was, in fact, a miserable state, and was fitted to produce actual distress if they had any just sense of it, though they thought that it was otherwise. Another says that wretched is "being worn out and fatigued with grievous labours, as they who labour in a stone quarry, or are condemned to the mines." So, instead of being children of God, as they supposed, and infallible heirs of the kingdom, they had, in the sight of God, put themselves in the condition of the most abject slaves. Well, you probably get the picture there. I don't know if you have the courage to listen to what miserable is. This word has, means a pitiable state that a person may, again, not even be aware of, rather than one that is actually felt. The condition of the Laodiceans was one that was fitted to excite pity or compassion; not that they were actually miserable. Interestingly enough, in this scenario, the person that is miserable can actually think that they are quite happy. But those standing on the outside can see the truth. Perhaps the best way to illustrate this is with someone with leprosy. As you probably know, one of the most devastating things about this disease is that it takes away the feeling. With feeling gone in a hand, you can literally burn it to a crisp and not know what is happening. And perhaps that is why the frequent sin/leporsy connection we see in scriptures. Well, that should be enough to let us begin to understand the problem. What we need is a solution. And we have one. Rev 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Chasten--"chastise." When we think of that word the first thing that comes to my mind is a hickory switch. In the New Testament means to instruct by chastisement. You will remember that when David's eyes were opened to the great sin he committed with Bathsheba, he was rebuked unto conviction, when he confessed, "I have sinned against the Lord"; the chastening followed when his child was taken from him (2 Sa 12:13,14). In the divine chastening, the sinner simultaneously winces under the rod and learns righteousness. Job 5:17 ""Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty." Be zealous means a lifelong course of zeal. The opposite of "lukewarm." that we looked at last week. The Greek uses similar words to create a special effect that we miss in the English: Laodicea had not been "hot" (Greek, "zestos"), she is therefore urged to "be zealous" (Greek, "zeleue"): both are derived from the same verb, Greek, "zeo," "to boil." As we move on in the solution, verse 20 informs us, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" There are many sayings of this kind among the ancient rabbis. One says, "God said to the Israelites, My children, open to me one door of repentance, even so wide as the eye of a needle, and I will open to you doors through which calves and horned cattle may pass." (Shir Hashirim Rabba, fol. 25, 1) John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." If we let him in, he comes and lives with us. If we reject Him, He turns quietly away--perhaps to return and knock again, perhaps never to come back. The interesting thing here is that the language used, may be understood as referring to every way that Jesus may approach us: Through his word; his Spirit; The turns that life may take; the invitations of his gospel. When he comes in one of these ways He is surely trying to call us to let him in. It tells us something else. Jesus comes to our door. He takes the initiative and seeks us out. John 3:16 "God so loved the world that he give his only-begotten Son;" that "Christ came to seek and to save the lost. Never represented as originated by man. The promise goes on: I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. This is an image denoting intimacy and friendship. In the Middle East supper is the main social meal; and the idea here is, that between the Saviour and those who would receive him, there would be the intimacy which grow between those who sit down to a friendly meal together. In all countries and times, to eat together, to break bread together, has been the symbol of friendship, and this the Saviour promises here. Let's move now to the council that we see in the book of Colossians. We are still in chapter 2. Col 2:6 "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him," Paul has no question about the fact that the believers in Colossae had received Christ. They had experienced justification. They had accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. That was not the problem. The problem was that they were being deceived that Jesus wasn't all that they needed. They were to continue in the faith that they had originally. Christ in you the hope of Glory. Not Christ and diet. Not Christ and feast days. Not Christ and sabbaths, as we will see later on, but Christ alone was their salvation. As I mentioned earlier, here we have a metaphor of moving around as opposed to the previous one of being rooted. A life with Christ has definite deep roots, but it is a life that goes on the road. Over and over Jesus gave illustrations of a faith that goes where it is needed. The salt of the earth. The light taken out from under a bushel. The seed scattered on the ground. The merchant seeking the most precious pearl. Wherever we go, we can go with Jesus. As the song says, Anywhere with Jesus we can safely go. And what exhortation is given that we might gain strength? Colossians 2:1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, The part of this text I want us to focus on is "encouraged, being knit together in love." I remind you that when the disciples were quarreling among themselves, that they did not walk with Christ. This is indicated by Mark 9:33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. Can you imagine what a different picture emerged as the disciples were walking together, carefully listening to the last words they were to hear from their Savior before He was taken back to Heaven. My mind cannot see any striving for supremacy, and yours? Now look at the scene on the day of Pentecost. No puny church here. Again, together in Christ. I submit to you that whatever wretched miserable condition that we find ourselves in as a church, if we will make the determined effort to walk in Christ, we will be encouraged and we will be together. I say this over and over. And I will say it again. For the church to be what it needs to be, it needs to really know Jesus. Christ incarnate, Christ crucified, Christ arisen, Christ victorious, Christ in you, the hope of glory. A people who have as their greatest desire to see Jesus Christ lifted up before the world, will be a church in unity. Notice Col 2:2 again that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, Here we have the sacred circle. As we come closer to each other we come closer to Christ. As we come closer to Christ we come closer to each other. ........"Press together, press together, be of one mind, of one judgment." Christ is the Leader, and you are brethren; follow Him. Walk in the light as He is in the light. Those who walk in the footsteps of Christ shall not walk in darkness, but those who draw apart in unsanctified independence cannot have God's presence and blessing in the work . . . . {ChL 11.4} The Cure for Wretchedness A. Colossians 2:6 You received Christ: Walk in Him B. Wretchedness: Here refers to a less than desirable condition that the individual may not even be aware of. May also mean worn out or fatigued. C. The Solution: 1. Revelation 3:19 Open the door of your heart. 2. God will chastize, correct us. 3. Be zealous. D. If we accept: 1. John 14.23 .....We will come in... 2. John 3:16 E. Council to the Colossians 1. Colossians 2:6 ...Walk in Him... 2. Colossians 2:2 ...Be encouraged 3. Colossians 2:2 ...Be knit together in love. F. Above and beyond all, know Christ. ____ I want to be closer to Christ and my brothers and sisters in Christ. ____I pray that the Lord will keep me from being one who causes trouble in His family. ____I want to be a part of God's family and join this church by profession of faith or baptism. The Cure for Wretchedness A. Colossians 2:6 You received Christ: Walk in Him B. Wretchedness: Here refers to a less than desirable condition that the individual may not even be aware of. May also mean worn out or fatigued. C. The Solution: 1. Revelation 3:19 Open the door of your heart. 2. God will chastize, correct us. 3. Be zealous. D. If we accept: 1. John 14.23 .....We will come in... 2. John 3:16 E. Council to the Colossians 1. Colossians 2:6 ...Walk in Him... 2. Colossians 2:2 ...Be encouraged 3. Colossians 2:2 ...Be knit together in love. F. Above and beyond all, know Christ. ____ I want to be closer to Christ and my brothers and sisters in Christ. ____I pray that the Lord will keep me from being one who causes trouble in His family. ____I want to be a part of God's family and join this church by profession of faith or baptism.