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Sunday 27 October 2002 - "The true and faithful Witness"

Engagement of Bonginkosi Buthelezi and Thoko Zondi

(Summary of sermon by Erlo Stegen)

Rev 3:14-22 The people of Laodicea didn't want to accept the words written to them. But the true and faithful Witness said: "I know your deeds".

Recently a man came to the mission to make right his life. One day this man was sitting with his back to the wall, shouting his sins out loud: "I thought I was alone when I did those things, but the true and faithful Witness was there!" Some claim to know Jesus, but do you know the One Who knows all your deeds? A thought is like a deed. Can you stand before God with your thoughts?

We have 2 pictures painted in this portion of scripture:
1. A picture of how we see ourselves
2. A picture of how God sees us.

It's not important how we or other people see us, but how God sees us. The Laodiceans saw themselves as wealthy, with no need, and better off than the other 6 congregations. But they didn't realise in God's eyes they were wretched, poor, blind and naked.

Laodicea was wealthy, had banks, textile industry and a medical university famous for eye ointment. But they had a water supply problem - it was always lukewarm and didn't taste nice. Lukewarm water has some degree of hot and cold temperature - somewhere in-between. Jesus said to them: You're not hot or cold. Were you hot or cold, but now I'll spit you out. They were sitting on the fence, not concerned about the one side or the other, and could not stand for the truth. The one day you side with the truth, the next you're drawn to evil. Like the prophet Elijah of old said: How long will you stand on both sides?

Jesus invited them to get eye ointment, gold purified by fire and pure white clothing from Him. They had to buy it from Him.  Then they would see, and be clothed to hide their nakedness. Many don't have the gold, because they are not willing to pay the price.

Be zealous and repent. To repent means:
1. See & acknowledge your sin. A person who is blind will not see he has sinned and will defend himself to the end. The day you see your own sin, you'll forget about the sins of others.
2. Have sorrow and remorse for the sin you've committed. If you want to be a friend of the world, you're an enemy of God. If the lukewarmness stops, you'll draw a clear line with sin.
3. Confess your sins. If you truly repent, no one will need to tell you to confess your sin.
4. Go and make restitution.

If you repent, God will take you to Himself, as He took Jesus to Himself. Separate from sin, see yourself as God sees you. Remember the coming heavenly wedding. We need to prepare for the great wedding day of the Lamb, that we are dressed in pure white garments. Pray and ask God for grace to be perfect and holy in Him and ready when the last trumpet sounds.