GET HOT

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other. But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:15-16

Out of the seven churches addressed by Jesus in Revelation, the church of Laodicia is last. He also shares what could be considered His harshest comments yet about any of the churches…comments that contained an obvious disdain for the way the Laodician church was operating.

First, let’s look at the choice of words Jesus uses to describe the church…words that all have relation to temperature.

Jesus starts by saying the Laodician church was not hot. He was not referring to a church that had adequate ventilation and thus was cool. Rather, He was saying the church had lost its fervor for serving the Lord. Churches are most effective when they are on fire for the Lord…motivated and ambitious to do whatever is necessary to follow God’s will and way and advance His kingdom on earth. And these churches are hot because they are made up of believers who are hot…Holy Spirit hot. Jesus was looking for His churches to be hot. Laodicia was not.

Jesus also said that the Laodician church was not cold. A cold church is one that has no life. There is no forward motivation…no desire to reach out beyond the church walls…and no Spirit of fire for the Lord. These churches are more like social gathering places than instruments of evangelism. So one may think that all is not that bad in the Laodician church. At least they’re not dead.

But Jesus expresses that a church who chooses to steer the middle between hot and cold, serving the Lord in lukewarm fashion, is the worst. In fact, he makes an amazing statement when He says He would prefer they were cold rather than lukewarm ("I wish you were one or the other."). It’s obvious from Jesus’ words that a lukewarm church attitude sickens Him. He says, He would "spit" the Laodician church out of His mouth. In other words, the Lord cannot stomach a lukewarm approach to Christian faith and service.

One other point to repeat. A church will reflect its members. Just as a hot church is that way because its members are on fire for the Lord and are willing to do whatever He calls them to do, the Laodician church was lukewarm because its members were lukewarm...neither hot nor cold. A church and what is able to accomplish is directly proportional to its membership and what they are able to come together to accomplish.

Question: If you have a church home (and I highly recommend you seek and find one), how does your church operate? Is it on fire for the Lord, complacent and unmotivated, or lukewarm? How about you and your personal service to the Lord? Are you hot, cold, or warm?

If you are anything but hot, it’s time to get your priorities back in order. Get back to basics, praying daily, regularly reading God’s word, always seeking His will for your life. Ask the Holy Spirit in and watch your faith life become energized and red hot. For that is what is truly pleasing to the Lord…the very Lord who wishes to use you for great purposes…all to His glory.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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