REVELATION 2012: #3 – BE HOT OR BE COLD!
REVIEW: Over the past couple of weeks, we have been studying the Book of Revelation.
• In chapter one, we saw John in exile on Patmos receive a vision of Jesus.
• In chapters 2-3, we saw the first six letters that Jesus wrote to seven churches in Asia.
• Themes we have discovered in Revelation: Jesus, His second coming, and worship.
THE BIG IDEA: In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus challenges the Laodicean Church to be hot or be cold, not lukewarm. He speaks those same words to us today.
A REVELATION OF JESUS:
“14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
• The first thing Jesus wants to reveal to Him is about His nature – Faithful & True!
• Jesus the “Amen!” Can I get a witness here today? How about a hearty amen?
• DISCUSS: Liza watching Whitney Houston’s funeral yesterday in a black church!
• Preach it: Jesus is faithful and true, the first-born from the dead, resurrection and the life.
• The Beginning = Originator or Ruler of God’s creation – the Lord God Almighty!
• Of the first six churches, some were good, some stink, some were in-between.
• This is the worst church yet. Jesus had nothing good to say about them.
BE HOT OR BE COLD:
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
• Lukewarm: having or showing little zeal or enthusiasm; indifferent
• Some people say that when Jesus said be hot or be cold, both of those are useful: Hot and cold water are both refreshing. But I want to look at it from a different perspective:
• God wants us to be hot for Him – on-fire Christians. Like the planet Mercury, that is closest in its revolution around the sun, we need to be close to Jesus to be hot for him.
• The planet Pluto (actually lost its planet status!) is far away from the sun and is cold.
• Jesus said, “He he who is filthy, let him be filthy still… he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me…” (Rev. 22:11-12).
• So you have a choice – be hot or be cold for Jesus – just don’t be lukewarm!
• Lukewarm water is good for nothing. Toilet water is lukewarm. This is the vomit zone!
• There’s nothing worse than a lukewarm cup of coffee. Disgusting!
A LOOK AT THE THREE SEATS – WHICH ONE ARE YOU IN?
• The Cold Seat: Worldly and Rebellious
• The Lukewarm Seat: Religious and Compromising
• The Hot Seat: Radical and Committed
• Cold = Worldly: Those who are sinners, they don’t know God or care about God.
• Lukewarm = Religious: Those who go to church, read their Bibles and pray (sometimes).
• Hot = Radically saved: These are the overcomers who are on-fire for Jesus.
• Cold = Rebellious: They lie, cheat, steal, get drunk, do drugs, sleep around, etc.
• Cold are frozen – you can’t move or do anything or go anywhere! Going to hell.
• Lukewarm = Compromising: Don’t walk in love, don’t serve, don’t give, lie and gossip.
• These are the people who hang onto offenses and don’t forgive. Makes Jesus sick!
• Hot = Committed: Willing to lay down their lives for Jesus and His church.
• There’s no lukewarm Christian. Either you’re hot for God, or you’re sinning.
• If you’re lukewarm, Jesus is going to vomit you out of His mouth. So get hot!
A REALITY CHECK AND DIVINE COUNSEL:
17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
• They were so caught up in materialism they didn’t know that they were spiritually dead:
o Wretched - enduring toils and troubles; afflicted
o Miserable - to be pitied; unhappy. Lukewarm people don’t have any joy.
o Poor - lacking wealth, influence and honour
o Blind - spiritually blind (no vision for their lives)
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Prov. 29:18).
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.” (NKJ)
o Naked - unclad, without proper clothing (no robes of righteousness)
• Laodicea was a rich church, similar to modern day North American churches.
• We have so much, but we give so little!
A REVELATION OF LOVE AND CALL TO ACTION:
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.
• There is hope. Jesus said, “You are loved.” It’s never too late.
• God’s goodness leads us to repentance. God disciplines those He loves.
• “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).
• Jesus tells us to give up things that will kill us – sin kills! The wages of sin is death.
• This was written to a church that kicked out Jesus. He’s knocking on your door today.
• The call to action = be zealous (hot for God) and repent (of your sin).
THE OVERCOMER’S REWARD:
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. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3:14-22).
• One of the themes of Revelation = the throne of God. We’ll look at that next week.
QUOTE: “It costs something to be a true Christian. Let that never be forgotten. To be a (lukewarm) Christian, and go to church, is cheap and easy work. But to hear Christ’s voice, follow Christ, believe in Christ, and confess Christ, requires much self-denial. It will cost us our sins, our self-righteousness, our ease, and our worldliness. ALL must be given up. Our Lord Jesus Christ would have us thoroughly understand this. He bids us count the cost.” (J. C. Ryle).
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before.” (Acts 3:19-20).
• When you open the door to Jesus through repentance, you experience His refreshing!
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
