Sermon Central
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Mild, Medium Or Hot!
Contributed by Tony Searles on Apr 22, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: A picture of the church of Laodicea with a Buffalo, NY flavor... A great message to spur the church on to being "HOT" or "On Fire" for God.
Stand & Read - Rev. 3:14-22
"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: [15] ’I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. [16] ’So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. [17] ’Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, [18] I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. [19] ’Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, 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 will dine with him, and he with Me. [21] ’He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. [22] ’He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ "
“Mild, Medium or HOT!”
Prayer…
For Buffalonians…I know that most like their things HOT!
-I remember when we moved here to Buffalo, many of you were so kind that you all brought us things to fill up our pantry…and among those many items was one thing that I thought was an interesting addition…HOT SAUCE!
And not just a little bottle of Hot Sauce, but a BIG ONE!
-I must admit that for a moment, I thought to myself…”What is all this hot sauce for?” And, “Who uses this stuff?”
But then, after a couple of months I figured it out…”PEOPLE EAT THIS STUFF!”
-And I learned how to use it as well…and we have gone through that bottle ourselves…! J
What did I learn??? People in Buffalo like MOST of their food…HOT!
So I now know that the good people of Buffalo and God have something in common because God likes things hot too!
-God likes His Church to be hot too!!!
-God desires that you be Hot…On Fire for Him…and fervent!!!
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord!” NIV
Many times over that Lord reveals His desire for us to be hot, or on fire for Him…
That we would be passionate, motivated and zealous for Him and good works…
-And today, Rev. 3, emphasizes the same sentiment…to be ON FIRE for God!!!
Let me ask you this question…”What would be the worse thing that could ever happen to a church???”
…if they had a lack of finances? No!
…if they had a lack of Church activities, or ministries? No!
…if they had no Pastor? No! (Keep your comments to yourselves! J )
…if they had no facilities? No!
…if they had no leaders? No!
None of these would be horrific…tragic, but not crippling…
-The worse thing that could ever happen to a Church or Group of Believers is if they began to feel as though they had need of nothing.
-Feeling as though they were self-sufficient and without needs of even God!
-Demonstrating apathy, indifference or even boredom…
My friends…this would be a true tragedy for any congregation to experience!
Thus, this message to the Church in Laodicea is very applicable to even us today.
-Why? Because it is all too easy, for any of us, to fall into an apathy and boredom with God.
-Possibly there are even some here today who are “bored” with God and have grown complacent with Him…BUT! I pray that that changes for you this morning!
No doubt…that when we are bored with God, or complacent, we wind up placing God on the outside of our lives looking in…rather than having Him within our hearts, as He should be...So that He is controlling, guiding and leading us!
Rev. 3:20 tells us…
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
-We often use this verse to witness to people and tell them that Christ is knocking on their heart’s door, wanting to come into their hearts and live in them…
Though he does desire that for all people, there is more to this verse!
This verse was written to the church of Laodicea, remember?
This was written to a group of people who have grown complacent with God, CHURHC PEOPLE! People who have, in effect, placed God back OUT of their lives, so that He is now knocking on their heart’s door desiring to come BACK in…
