Revelation's Lukewarm Church

Revelation 3:15-16

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”

You are a Christian or you are not, you are ‘hot’ or you are ‘cold’, you are on fire for GOD or you do not know GOD. People that call themselves Christians, but live as though they never knew GOD, are lukewarm. Lukewarm 'believers' send a bad witness to people who do not know GOD. The non-believers see this person who claims to be a Christian; doing the same things they do, acting the same way, saying the same things. How are we to stand out, be a city on a hill, be a light in the darkness, be the salt of the earth; if we are no different than those without GOD. As Christ's represenatives here on earth, we are the Body of Christ; we are the Church. We need to love as Christ loved, the places our feet walk to need to be places Jesus would have walked to, the things our hands do need to be the things that Jesus would have used his hands to do. There’s a saying, we can’t just talk the talk, we need to walk the talk -but if you’re not going to walk the talk, then please just keep your mouth shut.

 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”  (Matthew 5:13 NLT)

A person who claims to be a Christian, but loses their desire for GOD has lost their ‘flavor’ and are of no use to GOD. Our job as believers is to share the Good News of Jesus’ Salvation, to shine our light and share GOD’s love with others. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)—[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be).”  (1 John5:21 AMP) If you are living only for yourself and your flesh, you are not building up the Kingdom of Heaven, you are tearing it down! In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were lukewarm, “Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, ‘How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” (1 Kings 18:21 NLT) You cannot follow GOD on Sunday, then follow ‘Baal’ (a pagan god, but consider Baal to be your flesh, the world or the enemy) on the other days of the week.

This doesn’t mean a person who has turned from GOD, cannot repent and turn back to GOD.  This is for the person who is being rebellious, knows they are wrong but have no desire to turn back to GOD. If you want to be right with GOD, you can always repent and HE will welcome you back into HIS arms whole heartedly as if you never sinned. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NKJV).  But don’t be lukewarm and repent with your mouth and continue to move in the direction of your flesh, the world, or of the enemy.

When you are on fire for GOD, you thirst for more of HIM, and you are hungry for more of HIS Word. You want to be stirred up, you want to do more for GOD, and you want to put HIM first in your life; not as an afterthought. Jesus said often that, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Mark 4:9, as my Pastor explained this verse last night, almost everyone has ears, what HE is referring to as ears, are our spiritual ears. As new creations in Christ, we have spirit ears, we can listen to more than just the words being spoken, we can be given discernment and ascertain the Will of GOD in our lives by praying and listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Again, Jesus went on to say, “’For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought to light. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.’ Then he added, ‘Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given – and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.’”  (Mark 4:22-25 NLT). There’s another translation that says instead of “the more understanding you will be given” it says, “the measure you give will be the measure you get back”. The more you want to learn, the more you want to read the Word of GOD, the more GOD will reveal and give you wisdom and understanding. It is part of the ‘you reap, what you sow’ principal, so it’s not just a desire and a want, you do have to put forth some effort. If you want more, you have to give more of yourself to GOD. Turn off the TV, step away from the computer, sit down and spend time with GOD, read HIS Word, talk to HIM (pray), and listen for HIM.

When we have a desire and we spend time in HIS Word and time in prayer with HIM. HE will stir us up, HE will cause a burning for more of HIM, and we will want to please HIM.  “...Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 As believers we are called to be a witness to others, by our actions and our words. Jesus commanded us, “And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’” (Mark 16:15 NLT)  That is our purpose here on earth, we all have been given different talents, different skills, different abilities to accomplish this purpose, and each one of us has been commissioned for this task. So be ‘hot’ or be ‘cold’, make a choice, but do not be ‘lukewarm’!

Revelation's Unbelief vs Faith

Revelation 3:8, 10

“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me…Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to the world.”

This letter was to the ‘The Faithful Church’, otherwise known as the ‘True’ church. And as I’ve said in the previous devotions on Revelations, the believers are the church, we make up the church, and we are the bride of Christ, the body of Christ. This message was for the true believers who did not turn away from GOD and to live of their flesh for the worldly pleasures.

I do believe that the believers will be raptured before the Great Tribulation, I do not know if by this verse that it means that those who were saved BUT turned away from GOD after receiving salvation, will have to endure the Great Tribulation or not. That thought never occurred to me until just now. Perhaps understanding the types of unbelief will explain my thoughts on this…

I learned yesterday that are two types of unbelief, the type of ignorance (just don’t know any better) and non-persuadable (the kind where you do know, rebellion). The first type, ignorance unbelief, is explained by Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” This type of unbelief have no knowledge of GOD, so they have never experienced salvation, because they have chosen not to accept it.

The second type is the type of unbelief that happens when someone has accepted Christ as their Savior, but after sometime have turned away from GOD and has placed the desires of the world above GOD. This is same rebellious unbeilef that the Israelites showed when they were in the desert. They had seen the miracles of GOD, they had seen the Red Sea part, they had eaten the Manna, they had seen GOD’s miracles every day, yet they doubted GOD's goodness in their lives. They chose their flesh over GOD. “How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ Then the Lord said, ‘I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are.’” Exodus 32:8-9 You see, GOD brought them out of Egypt, but Egypt was still in them! GOD had delivered them from their bondage, but they chose not to receive their freedom from that bondage.

The rebellious unbelief is what happens to believers when they allow their hearts to harden; they’ve choked the ability for their hearts to receive GOD’s blessings, grace and mercies. “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.” A reference in my Bible to this verse says that, “Those who abandon the truths and morals of the gospel in favor of false doctrine meet with catastrophe.” I imagine this to be the removing of GOD’s hand and favor from their life. These believers have experienced GOD's redemption and grace, but chose to turn away from HIM and thus removing HIS protection from their lives.

We that remain faithful will be received into Heaven without enduring the Great Tribulation. We will be watching from the Heavens the events that unfold here on earth. When we keep the Faith and honor the name of Jesus, doors will be opened to us that no one can shut. This door is blessings, mercy, grace, and love, GOD’s favor upon our lives. The door to eternal salvation as children of GOD, we have received permanent home with our Father in Heaven.  These doors are for us to use for GOD’s Kingdom, we are to use our blessings to bless and encourage others. We are to build HIS Kingdom here on earth, each of us make up the Body of Christ, and each of us has an individual responsibility. If you are not sure what your purpose is, pray for the answer, but know that while you are waiting for an answer, GOD can still use you to strengthen, encourage, and lead others to Christ.

Revelation's Love Command

Revelation 2:4

But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!

If you read this chapter, you’ll see that this was one of the letters written to the seven churches, the heading to this chapter is ‘The Loveless Church’. I believe this ‘Loveless Church’ was mentioned first, because love is so important and when you have love, everything else will fall into place. As believers of Christ, we are the body of Christ, we are the church. Church is not meant to be a religious routine without emotion, church is the coming together of believers to worship GOD, to give HIM all the honor and glory HE deserves, the message the Pastor (Preacher, Priest) brings is to strengthen, encourage, grow our knowledge, and give us understanding of GOD’s word.

There is only one warning with love, do not love the world, do not love the ‘things’ of this world, do not put them above others. Do not compare your church with other churches, by who has the larger building, which has the larger sanctuary or attendance. Do not fall into the trap of comparing.  ”Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” (1 John 2:15-16) There is nothing wrong with gaining possessions; the problem is when your possessions possess you.  We have to remain faithful to GOD, loving HIM and giving to HIM and others. As long as our stuff doesn’t become the center of who we believe we are. GOD wants to bless us, HE wants us to not have any wants, this doesn’t require us to be poor (why we would be called upon to help the poor if HE wanted us poor), and as long as our first want is to please and serve GOD, we are in the right place with our hearts for GOD.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” (John 15:9-12) Jesus showed us how important love was, by being the example of love. Jesus went on to say in the next verse the example of that ultimate love, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) This command was so important, Jesus repeated it again in verse 17, “This is my command: Love each other”.

“We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters” 1 John 4:19-21 If we love one another, we are fulfilling all of GOD’s commands, because we cannot sin against a person if we love them. It’s easy to love our friends and families, but it’s completely difficult to love our enemies and those who just get on our nerves.

If we are struggling with loving others, ask GOD to help you love others, ask GOD to enlarge your heart, give you compassion and understanding. We are called to love all, because Jesus died for ALL, not just the people we like.  “Owe nothing to anyone –except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These- and other such commandments- are summed up in this one commandment: “love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.” Romans 13:8-10

So now that we know that we are to love others and not this world, we need to know what love really is. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

If you are struggling with this, ask GOD for help, HE is faithful and will answer your request. Remember we are the church, we are to share the Good News and share Christ’s love.  “I also tell you this: if two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.For where tow or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:19-20

Revelation's Preparedness

Revelation 1:3

“God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.”

A little disclaimer...

I’ve been writing on a verse from my daily bible reading every day and I wasn’t aware that I was going to be in Revelations. I had read a book last year that my pastor had recommended and I’ve had an ‘urging’ to read again, but have yet to, so now that I see I will be reading in Revelations, I will pick it up again (“What in the world is going on? 10 Prophetic clues you cannot afford to ignore by David Jeremiah). When I write these devotions, I don’t necessarily have a specific knowledge or background information on the topic beforehand. I just pray beforehand that God would give me the wisdom, knowledge, discernment, reasoning and understanding that I need and that God would guide me to the verse and topic I will write on for these devotions. My purpose is only to bless and encourage others and yet I have been blessed and encouraged in the process, praise God! Without further ado, let’s learn together….

“for the time is near” This is not a reference to a precise historical time, it is an urgent call to the obedience. Obedience, the Hebrew word ‘hupakoe’, from ‘hupo’ means ‘under’ and ‘akouo’ means ‘to hear’. The word signifies attentive hearing, to listen with compliant submission, assent, and agreement. It is used for obedience in general, for obedience to God’s commands, and for Christ’s obedience. So we are to continue to follow Christ's commands to us, until the day of HIS return.

 “But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6

Jesus revealed to John, “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” Revelation 16:15  Jesus said to the disciples about the second coming, “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!” Mark 13:32-33 NLT

We are to be prepared, not spend our time calculating the time for HIS return. Jesus himself said that HE did not know the time, if we knew the time of HIS return, how many people would live their lives however they wanted to, then repent the day before, it seems there would be a lot of selfishness occuring instead of selflessness. The main point I’m getting here, is that we are not to try and figure out a day of the Lord’s coming, The writings of Revelation are not written in chronological order of events to happen, but in chronological order of the visions John had. This does not mean that we won't see the events leading up to, just know that the events leading up to could still be a hundred years before the Second Coming.

“Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief”. Revelation 3:3

We are to continue following Jesus commands to love one another and to spread the Good news, to share our testimony and win as many people to Christ.

Jesus gave many parables as to what HIS second coming would be like, all of them show that we need to be prepared because we don't know when HE will return. “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

Luke 12:35-40

Jesus told the disciples, “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 35 You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. 36 Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37 I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!” Mark 13:34-37

Preparedness is the theme, not merely waiting.

Again Jesus told his disciples, “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 27 In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building—29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home. 32 Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! 33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. 34 That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.” Luke 17:28-35 NLT

When the Lord returns, life will be ‘as usual’, we need to be prepared for HIS return by continuing the works HE commissioned for us. We will not know the date or time when Jesus returns, but yet we are to fully prepared, not as in packed and ready to go, but as in our hearts prepared. We are to be vigilant and ready for that day, we are to watch for the signs and events, BUT watching the events and signs should ONLY put urgency in us to win lost souls for the Lord and for ourselves to be spiritually prepared for the events to come, "for the time is near".