The Hope of the Lukewarm
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19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so 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 eat with him, and he with me.
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.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
What is it like?
I loved being in the military, but it wasn’t something I actually planned on doing. However, long story short, at 19 years old... I ended up enlisting in the US Navy.
When I finished Bootcamp and and my initial school at the top of the group. Not a huge thing except I got first choice at my initial orders. So looked at the list (not really knowing what I was looking at) and one of them caught my eye. It was for the USS Enterprise but there was something about it that was different than the others.
What does this mean?
CVN65 thats the USS Enterprise.
And the designation with it, what does that mean?
It means the ship is currently in the shipyard for an over haul.
OK (looking dumb) Is that good?
It means your summer hours will be from 7:00am - Noon.
THAT’S MAY ORDERS!!!
And THAT , loved friends, is how I ended up in Virginia.
Basically I wanted to know, what is life going to be like if I commit to taking these orders.
Today, I want to answer the same question for you as a brother or sister in Christ.
As a member of the body of Christ, what should I expect life to be like?
We have spent the last two weeks talking about the Lukewarm attitude of the Laodicean church.
But that is just one of several issues that Jesus stated for the 7 churches.
What we are going to see today, is that there is a common expectation for all church, regardless of the issues.
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
“Those whom I love I reprove and discipline...”
You really have to consider how to take this statement!
This could seem a little off putting.
I mean who WANTS to be reproved (whatever that means) and disciplined?
“I pick things up and I put them down.”
People who enjoy discipline must be like that.
But lets look more closely at what Jesus is saying here...
“Those whom I love...”
So (reminder) this is to the church
this will be important to remember.
These are churches who have failed!!!
Jesus STILL loves them.
Have you ever messed up so bad that you know in your mind (Jesus loves me) but in your heart you think there is no way.
These church were so bad that Jesus was threatening to REMOVE their lampstand THAT SOUND SERIOUS!!!
It is serious, but here is what we need to understand....
We aren’t serving FOR the love of Jesus, we serve BECAUSE of the love of Jesus.
My salvation story, “Lord let me get my life straight and I’ll serve you.” (That not how it works)
While we were still sinners Christ died for us!!!!!
But there is a perspective that I think needs to be adjusted in many christian and churches...
“Reprove and discipline”
Discipline: we kind of understand
Reprove:
To correct someone …
Ok I’m good with being corrected.
But often times correction means WHAT IS SEEN BY OTHERS.
TO EXPOSE or BRING TO LIGHT.
Jesus brings our faults to light.
Reprove and discipline
The reproof is part of the discipline
(meaning) there is a goal in mind
The whole man philosophy
Military Academies are interested the WHOLE MAN
Jesus is interested in even deeper. He wants to discipline the core of who you are YOUR SOUL!
don’t wash only the outside!!!!
Jesus isn’t interested in your “Sunday Best”
The Laodiceans need to change their perspective on what it mean to have a relationship with Jesus.
They had settled for a relationship that was surface deep at best.
WBC has survived their share of trials and it tempting to relax and be thankful we are still here.
BUT WE JUST CAN’T!!!!
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
“...so be zealous and repent,”
So - because He reproves and disciplines
What should our response to this kind of love?
Be zealous - eager or passionate
Jealous - God burned with jealousy for Isreal.
God wasn’t willing to settle for a second hand relationship with His people.
We should NEVER be willing to settle for a second hand relationship with Jesus!!!
Laodiceans settled for lukewarm apathetic kind of relationship … It make Jesus sick!
Repent -
own your faults.
desire TRUE change
There is only one man who can look back on His life and say, I spent everyday with zeal and passion for serving God the father! I never faltered.....That Jesus Christ
For the rest of us … our life story is marked by
High and lows
when our love was full of passion and also lukewarm
Empowered by victory over sin and feeling defeated by failures.
When I am in the valley and my love feels lukewarm and fake, and I feel utterly defeated.
I want to return to the love I once had with Jesus! But HE seems a thousand miles away.
Remember when I said, “He is talking to His church here and how that was going to be important!
Look what He says to the churches who have failed.
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.
When you have failed and your not sure if you can ever find Jesus again.
HE IS RIGHT THERE AT THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART!!!!
WAITING TO INVITED IN!!!!!
He isn’t even just standing there
HE IS KNOCKING!!!!
He is trying to get our attention.
Right now Jesus is standing at the door of your heart, knocking. Are you going to answer or are you going to leave Him standing there?
Sunday school answer is: Of course I’m going to answer!
But first lets be clear on a couple of things.
“I will come in”
Have ever had someone come to the door
Your house is a mess, people are sick inside
You are hospitable … at the door.
That is socially acceptable.
Jesus knows it a mess and sickness is there
Opening the door isn’t going to be enough
Jesus wants to come in (and you need HIM to)
“eat with Him and he with me.”
This is symbolic is a close relationship.
There is something about eating meals together.
Here is what you need to understand about that relationship.
BECAUSE Jesus loves you
He will reprove and discipline you
I’m not trying to make the sale here. I am trying to help us all see that Jesus doesn’t want to just hang out. He want come in and get you spiritual temple in order. And bring us together and a spiritual body who is prepared for the mission HE has assigned us in this world.
For those who are willing to open the door to Jesus and invite Him in. Yes it means a lifetime of discipline but you know what else He promises?
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.
With Jesus in our hearts, we are conquerers (more than conquerers)
We will be granted to sit on Jesus in His throne
Just as Jesus sat down with the father on His throne.
But do you know when that happened?
After Jesus lived His life here on earth and gave everyday to God the Father!
When His work on earth was through He said, ‘IT IS FINISHED”
We are promised and eternal reward in heaven… but our work on this world is not yet finished!!!!
How will spend the time you have left?
With Jesus at the door waiting to be let in
Our with Jesus in your heart