Hot nor Cold - Lukewarm - Revelation 3:14-21

Introduction

Who in here likes coffee?

Ok cool! I hate coffee!!

How do you think that God likes His coffee?

Hot? Cold?

Well what we are studying today gives us some indication but also can teach us many things

The Text - Revelation 3:14-21

Hot or Cold - Not Lukewarm (v.14-17)

Revelation 3:14–16 ESV

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

The Water (v.14-16)

We may not know which type of coffee God likes but we know which one he does not like!

The water supply to Laodicea had to be supplied by a distant source through pipe - because of this the water was lukewarm and unbearable to drink!

Meanwhile the neighboring towns of Hierapolis had a medical hot spring

Colossae was supplied by a cold mountain stream

What do your works say about you?

Are you Hot or Cold - this is the good version!

Have you lived out your faith?

Have you made it your own?

Or are you Lukewarm?

Are you still just riding the wave of mom and dad’s faith?

Are you just showing up to church because they make you?

Maybe your only interaction with God outside of these four walls is a prayer before a meal!

Do YOU read scripture on your own? Do YOU pray on your own?

Or do you just come here and put on a good face while meanwhile you are completely dead inside?

Pride in our hearts - God’s grace freely given (v.17-18)

Revelation 3:17–18 ESV

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

They don’t know how bad they are because of their self-righteousness and pride (v.17)

The sin of these people is they say in their hearts “I have no need for God”

We go our own way feeling that we have no need for God.

Meanwhile the Lord calls them to freely return to Him! (v.18)

God is not telling them to literally buy gold from him

Rather he is inviting him to come and freely take of God’s grace

Maybe you have been this “lukewarm” Christian who has been going through the motions. Maybe you have sat here and lived life feeling that you do not need God because you are all set in your own power.

God invites you to come back to him

Isaiah 55:1–4 ESV

1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.

That fatherly discipline (v.19)

Revelation 3:19 ESV

19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Maybe you are this person who has strayed and you keep walking away from the offer from God to come back.

You think: “I just enjoy living for myself right now”

I have these pet sins that I really enjoy and do not want to hand over to God

Well God will discipline you - He will bring you to correction!

He did this in my life when I was your age - I was not living out my relationship with my girlfriend in a godly way - so the Lord disciplined me.

Got set me straight!

I would have saved myself a lot of heartache

BE ZEALOUS and REPENT -

Be zealous a care about your walk with God and turn back to Him!

The Invitation to Return (v.20)

Revelation 3:20 ESV

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 eat with him, and he with me.

This is the invitation by God to turn away from being “lukewarm” and turn back to God

Something to note though this not a homeless person seeking shelter - no God is the owner of the house coming and is seeking obedience from those who serve Him in the house.

This a call to reconciliation

Gospel

Maybe you are sitting here and you do not know Christ

Well today can be the day that you choose to follow Him

Sin : Hard truth: We are all sinners who have defied God’s law

We cannot do enough good things to get ourselves back to God - we cannot work our way to Him

The wages of our sin is spiritual death - that is an eternity in a very real place called hell completely separated from the love of God.

Christ’s Life: God saw that we were in this dilemma and sent his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to live the perfect life that you and I could not live.

Christ’s Death: He then died on the cross - taking sin upon his shoulders - paying the debt that we owe and then accounting to us His righteousness.

Ressurection: After dying he remained in the grave for three days but then rose again just like a he said he would (defeating death) and appeared to over 500 witnesses.

Repentence and Faith: Now we must respond trusting in Christ in faith - trusting in him and him alone for our salvation - not ourselves and the things we do, but rather, trusting in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.

Maybe your are the “lukewarm” person here - you are a Christ follower but you sure have not been living like it.

Well Christ calls you back - get right with God - be zealous for Him and repent turning back to him.

Now why should we do this? (v.21)

Revelation 3:21 ESV

21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

We shall trust in him and come back to Him because by doing so we conquer alongside Him.

Now for many of us the idea of Conquering is distant from us but Christ invites us to conquer with him.

You are soldiers of the cross - therefore live like it.

Christ conquered death and invites us to conquer with Him - Will you accept the invitation?