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Self Improvement > Spirituality > Are You Hot, Cold, or Lukewarm?
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Brian K Burns
On a scale from 0 to 10 (0 means you are cold and antagonistic toward God and 10 means you are zealously pursuing His will and are totally dependent on Him and His life), where would you place your relationship with Him. Many people would place themselves around a 6 not wanting to be fewer than 5 (which would put them more toward the cold side). But still realizing they aren’t a 9 or 10 (on fire for God). Let’s see what Jesus has to say about this matter:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:15-16)
Jesus spoke these words to the church in Laodicea. Laodicea was a chief city in Phrygia on the Lycus River, and one of the richest cities in Asia. Its inhabitants were an industrious people who produced their own coins and fared very well in the trading business. Around 64 A.D., the region was destroyed by an earthquake. Many neighboring cities had to appeal to the Roman government for aid - but not the Laodiceans. They were wealthy enough to rebuild for themselves. This earthly wealth and ability produced a spirit of pride in the hearts of the Laodiceans, for they said “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing...” (vs.17) In regard to need, these people expressed, in word and deed, a self-sufficiency apart from God and indifference toward Him, and everyone else for that matter. They thought they really had it together! The people of the church at Laodicea were deceiving only themselves. Jesus said to them, “You do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked...” (vs.17) Jesus went on to tell them they had nothing of real worth, nothing at all that would stand in His presence. He advised them to buy some true, eternal treasure from Him. His price, no doubt, was their pride, their rebellion, and their independence - which was their lives!
Their condition was a sad one, indeed. In vs. 20 of that chapter Jesus says,” Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears My voice and opens the door I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” What a pitiful scene! Jesus standing outside, not at the door of the heart of an unbeliever (as has been depicted by many), but worse than that, He’s standing and knocking at the door of His own church! All doubt about that is erased in vs.22, where it says,”...he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Oh dear brethren, this same scene is repeated in this very day. So many of us manifest lukewarm indifference to God, and to the things of God, in much of our speaking and doing. We, as a people, are so self-sufficient and independent - especially here in America. Many of us have placed such an emphasis on earthly treasures - not just money - but also on other temporal things such as intellectual capability, physical beauty, popularity, and lustful pleasure, that our lives also resound with that proud, arrogant Laodicean lie, “I have need of nothing.”
Oh sure, we may go to church and tithe, we may say the right, glib “churchy” sayings and sing the songs1. We may even have a mental ascension to the truths of the Bible and have a great intellectual grasp of doctrine - but it’s all for naught if we don’t allow the Holy Ghost to express these truths through our lives. It’s all worthless if our existence isn’t becoming more and more dependent on Him and His life. It’s all phony and pretentious if we aren’t LIVING these truths and manifesting the sweet aroma of Christ2 in every place, not just in church or when we’re around a minister (or if you’re a minister, not just when you’re around your parishioners!). Oh, that we all would buy eye salve from Jesus3 so we could see these truths!
Someone might ask, “Why would Jesus vomit4 the lukewarm out of His mouth?” The answer is, quiet frankly, “Because their deeds make Him sick!” The Lord simply cannot stand human pride5 and self-dependence, but more than that; He despises hypocrisy, insincerity, and indifference toward Him by those who have tasted His loving kindness and mercy. The smell of the sacrifices of hypocrites rising to His throne has at least as bad a stench as do those of
the ungodly (the cold)6. The cold against God have never been washed by the blood of Holy Jesus, been sealed by the Spirit of grace, nor been made recipients of life eternal - we have! We’ve been made partakers of His holy nature, not them. How, then, do we dare to foolishly return (or for some, continue) to embrace the filthy, selfish, independent, rebellious, insincere, worldly conduct from which we were saved and cleansed!7 What a slap in the face to the Almighty God who has spread out His hands to receive us as His children! What a mockery we make of His hold name! By manifesting the Laodicean life-style, we not only bring the Father’s displeasure against us, but also give the world cause to further deride and blaspheme His name. The hard word, which God spoke through His holy prophets to the Jews, is definitely applicable to today’s Church as a whole; “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:24). Oh, can’t we see that many turn away from God in disgust because of our unrighteous, lukewarm conduct?8 Can’t we see that others still are being brought into the body of Christ only to immediately imitate this hypocritical, insincere life-style?9 Can’t we see how our lives fall far, far short of our divine assignment, which is to manifest the manifold wisdom of God to the worldly powers and principalities?10 Children! The world is dying for lack of sincere, consecrated, set-apart believers LIVING in obedience to God’s Word.11 Oh friends, listen! And perhaps you shall hear the Father’s voice through this cry. Look! And begin to see His grief and disappointment expressed through these words.
The prophetic cry needs to be raised again in this double-minded day... “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God follow him, but if Baal (the devil), follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21) “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom.” (James 4:8-9)” ... stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God, I speak this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:33-34) (Also read James 1:21-22)
What we need to do is to heed the words Jesus spoke to the Laodiceans, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore and repent.” (vs. 19) Yes, REPENT! Follow the prodigal’s12 example and change your mind, change your heart and most importantly, change your actions!13 Let your life no longer bring discredit to the pure, sweet, holy name of Jesus. Cry to the Father in sincerity and He shall answer you with fire - fire to burn away all that pride and self-sufficiency, fire to consume your indifference toward Him and His kingdom, fire to melt away the chains of worldliness; fire to make you a HOT believer! Oh Lord! Kindle a blaze deep within our hearts! Light a fire in our spirits and raise the flame ‘til they see it!!
end notes
1.) Matthew 15:7-9
2.) 2 Corinthians 2:14-17
3.) Revelation 3:18 The ironic thing is that a company in Laodicea was a major manufacturer of eye salve! Jesus was showing them their hypocrisy!
4) “Vomit” is the more correct translation of the Greek word “emeo”, which we generally translate “spew” or “spit”.
5.) Proverbs 16:5, 15:25, 16:18, 29:23
6.) Matthew 23:13-33; Proverb 15:8
7.) 2 Peter 2:20-22; Hebrew 10:29-31; Galatians 4:8-9
8.) 1 Peter 2:12
9.) Matthew 18:6
10.) Ephesians 3:10
11.) James 1:22
12.) Luke 15:11-32 The word “prodigal” means “recklessly extravagant; characterized by wasteful expenditure” or in noun form, “one who spends or gives lavishly and foolishly” (Webster’s)
13.) The prodigal son changed his mind - “He came to his senses” (vs.17), changed his heart - ”I have sinned” (vs.18,21), changed his actions - “ I will get up and go to my father” (vss. 18-20).
All scriptures taken from the New American Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1977 by the Lockman Foundation, except where noted.
Broken Bread Christian Publications is the literary branch of Broken Bread, Inc. We have other teaching and tract material available to aid you in your spiritual growth. Please email us or write us for a list of other titles and/or to be added to our mailing list.
brian@brokenbread.us
Broken Bread Christian Publications 5114 Balcones Woods 307 Austin, TX 78759
Brian K. Burns is a Christian author and songwriter/producer who simply wants to live and share the profound and merciful love of God through Jesus Christ. He is available to teach and preach the word of God anywhere he is invited and lead to go.
website: http://www.brokenbread.us email: brian@brokenbread.us
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