Revelation 3

Revelation 3:14–22 ESV

“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. “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 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. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 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. 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

The words of the Amen - expression of affirmation or agreement like so be it or it is true.

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Q: What does beginning of God’s creating mean?

This is a title not a description. Just like firstborn, Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. Firstborn is a title, the inheritor of all.

Q: What about the lukewarm and cold water

Beginning of God's creation. Beginning as in the origin or purpose for, not as in the first creation. (Colossians 1:15-16, John 1:1-3)

Hot, cold, lukewarm. Hot Christians are on fire for God. They desire strongly to know Him more. They enjoy and engage in the faith in a way that allows them to openly discuss and consider how they maybe wrong.

Cold atheists believe strongly that they know the truth and will engage in vehement arguments to prove or disprove their ideologies - often honestly considering the truth based on its merits.

Lukewarm Christians and lukewarm non-Christians alike don't really care for truth or discussion. They have their set of beliefs because it is what makes them feel good about themselves, not because they care for truth. (Matt 7:21) I can teach a child who loves basketball and hates music to play basketball. I can teach a child who hates basketball but loves music to play an instrument. But I can't teach a lazy child who says they love nothing.

You say you are rich but are poor. You're self deceived. Think about the emperor who has no clothes. You can't make him put on clothes until you convince him of his nakedness and shame.

Whom I love, I rebuke. Sanctification is a continual process. My football coach said if you're not getting better, you're getting worse - simply maintaining is a myth. An NFL wide receiver said on a sore I watched once, "as long as the coach is correcting you in practice, you know you're important. It's when the coach stops caring enough to correct you that you know you're in trouble."

I stand knocking. If you're alive, God is knocking on your heart. He wants a relationship with the unbeliever and He desires improvement from the believer. Think of the song lyrics, "if I'm not dead, You're not done." Are you HOT? If not, why not? Have open honest conversations about the reasons you might not be living a HOT life.

If anyone hears, Jesus will come in and sit at the table with them. You don't have to clean up first, just invite Jesus in. To him who conquers, he will sit at the throne of God in heaven one day.

To him who has an ear, let him hear.

Rev 4

Revelation 4 ESV

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”