EXPERIENCE JESUS. REALLY: INVITE JESUS IN

We are moving steadily toward Holy Week and Easter morning.  The ongoing power of resurrection since that first Easter morning is experiencing Jesus.  Mary Magdalene was one of the very first people to encounter our risen Savior, and it transformed her fear and sorrow into joy and hope.  This was only the beginning.  Resurrection power is not just for a singular morning, but for our entire existence.  The purpose of our study and this series of Experiencing Jesus Really is to renew this power in our lives.  We are encouraged to make the risen Lord our refuge.  It is moving us toward a renewal of experiencing Jesus, especially in the fear, sorrow, despair, and difficulty of our lives.   Yet at times, there is a mismatch between our experience of life and the vision of new life found in experiencing Jesus.  The assurance of Psalm 91 seems to be distant and powerless.  What can help us when the pain of our circumstances is overwhelming, the evil one seems to have the upper hand, and we are struggling with forces that are beyond our control?  The sermon this week is Invite Jesus In.  We know that God has committed to be our refuge and shelter from the storm, but our will, wandering, and wounds keep us from finding the strength of new life.  Our scripture for this week is Revelation 3:14-22.  It is the voice of God to the church of Laodicea, but they could not see their condition.  They had wandered from God’s path and needed to desperately change their direction!  If they had paused to listen, they would have heard the sound of Jesus longing to be invited into their lives to bring redemption and hope.  They just needed to invite him in!  These words were also intended to help them, and us reach a place of clarity to open the door of our hearts.  As you read Revelation 3:14-22, we pray that you will hear the sound of Jesus’ voice longing to come into the broken places in your heart, and you will open the door and welcome him in!

Revelation 3:14-22: 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. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm– neither hot nor cold– I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. ¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 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. ²¹ To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.