Sick of church
Revelation 3:14-22
Message #9
Today we wrap up the letters to the Seven Churches, and I pray every one of these letters has challenged us. I pray we’ve taken an honest look at how each of the churches relates to our life, and I pray we’ve responded because every letter has a response – there is a response required. And we’re going to see today the church that stopped responding to the Lord, and this church made Jesus vomit. That’s a hard word, and many translations try to soften it. But today, we look at the church that makes Jesus sick.
And we need to understand the severity of what it is that makes Jesus spew a church out of his mouth like curdled milk sittin’ in the sun. Let’s pray we would have the stomach for the message that the Spirit has for the church today.
So, every single church we’ve talked about how that church has kind of a prophetic representation of times of the church age, from Christ until the end, until the end times.
The church of Laodicea prophetically represents the condition of the church in the end times. The church of Laodicea is a lukewarm, pampered, boastful. self-centered gathering who think they are “in good stead” but are definitely not. Fortunately, there is still hope for this church, even though they taste like sour, curdled milk in the mouth of Jesus, which shows the incredible love Jesus has for those who are lost inside the church.
The city of Laodicea was outwardly very impressive, and it had three big “claims to fame.”
1). It was a great banking center
2). It was a great textile center and
3). It was KNOWN for its medicinal EYE salve
The city and the church were successful and comfortable, and they had settled into the good life. They had no real troubles, no persecution, no real needs. The only problem is they made Jesus WANT TO VOMIT.
And guys, this lukewarm church is all around us today. This church permeates our current culture, and it is why most of us believe we are living in the End Times. And so, since this church is prominent in our culture, we need to be not only aware of it but as uncomfortable as possible with it in the hope that we would make sure that we individually are never numbered with the Laodicean Church.
Now, as successful and comfortable and wealthy as Laodicea was, the city did have one problem. As a city, they did not have their own water source. Laodicea got their water via aqueduct from two nearby cities. Hierapolis was seven miles away and famous for its hot spring water, so Laodicea channeled it – to them. The only problem was, by the time it got to Laodicea, the water wasn’t’ hot anymore. It was lukewarm, and because it had been hot, it was now bitter.
Colossae was ten miles away and known for its sparkling cold water. But it also had to be channeled to Laodicea, and by the time IT got there, it was also lukewarm, and as it was stored for use, it got stale. And so, in all its wealth, the city of Laodicea had learned to live it its lukewarm, bitter, and stale water supply, and the church of Laodicea had learned to live with the exact same thing.
And so, Jesus begins his letter to the church that prophetically represents the church of the last days.
Revelation 3:14 (NLT)
14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:
As always, the description Jesus uses for himself is exactly what this church needs to know him as. He says these are the words of the Amen – it speaks of certainty, assurance, and truth.
Then Jesus describes himself as the Faithful and True Witness because he is getting ready to contrast the real thing with the fake thing. And finally, Jesus describes himself as “the beginning of God’s new creation.” It means Jesus was the originating source (John 1 says) of all creation, but specifically for this church of God’s New Creation which is what this church desperately needs. This church needed to be a new creation, and Jesus is the originating source of that.
And then Jesus completely bypasses any possible encouragement. Jesus can’t even come up with one little itty bitty bit of encouragement for this church. Not even a “you tried” or a “you meant well.” Jesus just goes straight for the jugular. He’s going to get right to the point, and he is going to make it loud and clear and graphic.
And listen, guys, when God wants to make something clear, he writes it clearly in the Bible. And so, when we read it, we can’t just skip over it and say, yeah, whatever. Instead, we have to say, Whoa! God really wants us to hear this.
Revelation 3:15–16 (NLT)
15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!
|16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will [VOMIT] (spit) you out of my mouth!
Here, the NLT tries to “soften” the word that is best translated as vomit.
And again, for the seventh time, Jesus begins his letter by saying, “I know,” and to this final church that prophetically represents the church of the Last Days, Jesus says, “I know that you are neither hot nor cold.” And then he says, “I wish that you were either hot or cold!”
Why would Jesus say, “I wish that you were either hot or cold”? Maybe because we could say people relate to God in three spiritual temperatures.
1). The person who is ON FIRE for God
They have a heart that burns for God, that truly desires to know God and follow Jesus. This is a person who is spiritually hot.
2). The person who is SPIRITUALLY COLD
This is a heart that is far away from the fire of God. You may think this bad, but Jesus says he wishes a person would be cold over being lukewarm. In my experience, it is often the people who are farthest from God who most easily recognize their need for God. And I’ve always found it easier to talk to that person than to a person who is lukewarm because the person who is far from the fire of God often easily recognizes their need for God.
3). The person who is SPIRITUALLY LUKEWARM
They’re not close enough to the fire to be hot
They’re not far enough away from the fire to be cold
They say things like, “I’m pretty sure God is okay with me.” Or I’m pretty sure I’ll get in when I get there…” They know enough about God to think they’re okay.
But the Bible is very clear. The demons know far more about who Jesus Christ is than we do – and they’re not going to Heaven. There’s another place reserved for them. But they know all about Jesus.
And sometimes, we think that if we know about God, it’s the same as knowing God and that it’s the same as having a relationship with Jesus. And if we’ve been in church and we think we’re okay because we’ve been in church, we can be deceived so easily into thinking that we actually have a real relationship with Christ. That we really are seeking God. Knowing about God and having a relationship of faith in God are two drastically different things.
And because of the deception of being lukewarm, it’s clear in this final letter from Jesus that lukewarm is the scariest place of all to be.
And Jesus does his best to make this perfectly clear in verse 16.
Revelation 3:16 (NLT)
16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit (vomit) you out of my mouth!
Jesus intensifies this picture for them by using a word that means “violently spew out.” But we’ve got to understand Jesus used harsh language because he loves this church and loves every lukewarm person, and he wants us to wake up while it is still possible.
So first, Jesus gives this final church a vivid picture of how he really feels about them. And then, in verse 17, Jesus describes the dream world this lukewarm church is living in. He’s using the city of Laodicea. He’s talking about the church that is there. He’s prophetically referring to the end times church, and he’s, most importantly, talking to us personally.
Revelation 3:17 (NLT)
17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
Very often, Jesus does not see us the way we see ourselves. We may see ourselves as “doing okay” spiritually. But Jesus may see us as wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. This church was proud, arrogant, and well-off, and Jesus is doing his best to help them see their true condition.
Remember, the three big “claims to fame” in Laodicea were banking, textiles, and eye salve. And Jesus ends verse 17 by correcting their view of themselves in these three areas.
He says you think you are rich, but you are actually poor (banking).
You think that you are dressed for success, but you are actually naked (textiles).
You think you can see so clearly, but you are actually blind (eye salve).
You see, Jesus deals with us right where we’re at. Jesus speaks to us right where we’re at, which is why we just allow the Word of God to go out, and then Jesus can teach a dozen different messages from it – or a hundred.
And so, now Jesus is going to give us the remedy in each of these three areas.
First, what to do if you think you are rich, but Jesus would say that you are poor.
Revelation 3:18(a) (NLT)
18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich (truly rich) . . .
Laodicea had all the earthly riches, but Jesus says they are eternally poor. And so, Jesus counsels them to buy eternal gold from him (spiritual gold) so they would become eternally rich instead of eternally poor.
Laodicea was also well-known for a beautiful black cloth (like silk, very high-end) they manufactured for fine clothing.
Revelation 3:18(b) (NLT)
18 . . . Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness . . .
Jesus says you think you are beautifully clothed, but you are actually shamefully naked. Spiritually you’ve been fooled by the world, and you are actually wearing “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Throughout Revelation, the white garments are a picture of the righteousness of the saints, and this righteousness of the saints is put on (like clothing) through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Listen, the righteousness of the saints is put on (Colossians 3 and Ephesians 4) through our identification with Jesus Christ through faith. His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that we exchange our sin for his righteousness. And the Bible refers to it as putting on (being immersed in, being clothed in) his righteousness. It’s the only way to get it.
And finally, Laodicea was famous for its eye salve that it sold all over the Roman Empire.
Revelation 3:18(c) (NLT)
18 . . . and (buy from me) ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
Jesus says you may think your eye salve is all that, but you are actually spiritually blind, and before it’s too late, you need to invest in my personal eye-opening miracle eye salve so those scales will fall off your eyes and you’ll be able to see your true spiritual need.
Jesus has now systematically crushed every single thing this church had mistakenly “put their faith in.” But he’s doing it because he loves them, and he does it to us because he loves us.
Jesus is shaking us up so that we will stop being that lukewarm “Yeah, I know there’s a God, but I better not say anything about it.”
Look at verse 19.
Revelation 3:19 (NLT)
19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
Look at this last word here, indifference. Aren’t we indifferent? Isn’t that what we’re being “programmed” to be? Indifferent. It’s like anything is okay, everything is okay, nothing is a problem.
Jesus loves us, and he knows what we truly need, so he exhorts us, and he warns us – over and over again – and his goal is to save us – if we will let him.
The steps are simple, but it requires surrender and sacrifice. And so, some people don’t see it as easy, but it’s so simple. The steps are simple, and the eternal life they offer is free. And so, if you are living a lukewarm spiritual life today, today you can become diligent to seek and know Jesus Christ in your life.
And today, you can turn from your indifference and genuinely put your full faith and trust in Jesus as your Savior and Lord. If you are lukewarm today, you can change it. That’s what repentance is all about. You can turn from your indifference and become diligent in your desire to know who Jesus is, your desire to walk with him more closely, to experience his presence, and to know him personally. You do it by genuinely putting your full faith and trust in him as your Savior and Lord. Just go all in! We’re not playing “church.” We want to love Jesus. We want to put our full faith and trust in a Savior and Lord who will transform our lives and ensure us an eternity with him in Heaven.
You can decide – today. Eternity is more important than this world. Eternity is more important than this vapor of a life.
And the righteousness of Christ is more important than your “emperor’s new clothes,” and having the eyes to truly see your spiritual need is better than being spiritually blind.
You need to put on the white garment of righteousness of Christ. You think you’re ready for church, but Jesus says you need my righteousness. You receive it through your identification with him by faith in him. You receive his righteousness.
And you need to have the eyes to see your spiritual need. That’s what we need. We need eyes to see. I want eyes to see Jesus. I want to look for God working. We want to look for God working in our lives because there’s a confirmation there that we have a real relationship with him because we see him working. And then, when we have the faith to join him where he’s working, then BAM! We’re off and running.
But HOW do we begin? WHERE do we start? The answer is in the next verse.
Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
Jesus is talking to those who have locked him out of their lives personally and traded a personal relationship with him for some type of superficial religious surface. Jesus is pleading with people who think they’re okay with God when actually they are not.
And Jesus might be pleading with you today. Please, if you hear his voice, open the door and invite him into your life.
Jesus says, open the door, invite me in, and I will do two things.
First, verse 20 says I will come in to him. This is a reference to salvation. Jesus will come into your life. He will make his home in your life, and he will bring with him his righteousness and his new life – for you.
But that’s not all.
Verse 20 also says we will share a meal together as friends. This is a reference to communion. The picture of eating together is communion – oneness – fellowship with Jesus. If you invite Jesus into your life, he will come in to your life, and he will give you HIS righteousness, and he will commune with you as a friend.
Jesus says, “I stand at the door of your heart and knock.” The Good News is the tragedy of a lukewarm heart can be remedied by truly receiving Jesus Christ into your life by faith as your Savior and Lord and by living in communion with him as a friend.
These are the ones who have freely received the eternal gold from Jesus. These are the ones who are clothed in the white robes of his righteousness. These are the ones who have had their spiritual eyes truly opened to Jesus.
They are the true church, and they are the victorious conquerors.
Revelation 3:21 (NLT)
21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
Those who will hear the knock of Jesus and receive him into their lives to be their righteousness and to commune with him, they will conquer this world, and they will rule and reign with Jesus Christ.
The choice seems to be so clear. But still, Jesus pleads one last time as we close these seven letters.
Revelation 3:22 (NLT)
22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”
Don’t wait until it’s too late.
See your true spiritual condition.
Hear what the Spirit is saying.
Open the door of your life and truly and completely invite Jesus in to be your righteousness and to commune with you as your Savior, Lord, and friend.
And we need to understand the severity of what it is that makes Jesus spew a church out of his mouth like curdled milk sittin’ in the sun. Let’s pray we would have the stomach for the message that the Spirit has for the church today.
So, every single church we’ve talked about how that church has kind of a prophetic representation of times of the church age, from Christ until the end, until the end times.
The church of Laodicea prophetically represents the condition of the church in the end times. The church of Laodicea is a lukewarm, pampered, boastful. self-centered gathering who think they are “in good stead” but are definitely not. Fortunately, there is still hope for this church, even though they taste like sour, curdled milk in the mouth of Jesus, which shows the incredible love Jesus has for those who are lost inside the church.
The city of Laodicea was outwardly very impressive, and it had three big “claims to fame.”
1). It was a great banking center
2). It was a great textile center and
3). It was KNOWN for its medicinal EYE salve
The city and the church were successful and comfortable, and they had settled into the good life. They had no real troubles, no persecution, no real needs. The only problem is they made Jesus WANT TO VOMIT.
And guys, this lukewarm church is all around us today. This church permeates our current culture, and it is why most of us believe we are living in the End Times. And so, since this church is prominent in our culture, we need to be not only aware of it but as uncomfortable as possible with it in the hope that we would make sure that we individually are never numbered with the Laodicean Church.
Now, as successful and comfortable and wealthy as Laodicea was, the city did have one problem. As a city, they did not have their own water source. Laodicea got their water via aqueduct from two nearby cities. Hierapolis was seven miles away and famous for its hot spring water, so Laodicea channeled it – to them. The only problem was, by the time it got to Laodicea, the water wasn’t’ hot anymore. It was lukewarm, and because it had been hot, it was now bitter.
Colossae was ten miles away and known for its sparkling cold water. But it also had to be channeled to Laodicea, and by the time IT got there, it was also lukewarm, and as it was stored for use, it got stale. And so, in all its wealth, the city of Laodicea had learned to live it its lukewarm, bitter, and stale water supply, and the church of Laodicea had learned to live with the exact same thing.
And so, Jesus begins his letter to the church that prophetically represents the church of the last days.
Revelation 3:14 (NLT)
14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:
As always, the description Jesus uses for himself is exactly what this church needs to know him as. He says these are the words of the Amen – it speaks of certainty, assurance, and truth.
Then Jesus describes himself as the Faithful and True Witness because he is getting ready to contrast the real thing with the fake thing. And finally, Jesus describes himself as “the beginning of God’s new creation.” It means Jesus was the originating source (John 1 says) of all creation, but specifically for this church of God’s New Creation which is what this church desperately needs. This church needed to be a new creation, and Jesus is the originating source of that.
And then Jesus completely bypasses any possible encouragement. Jesus can’t even come up with one little itty bitty bit of encouragement for this church. Not even a “you tried” or a “you meant well.” Jesus just goes straight for the jugular. He’s going to get right to the point, and he is going to make it loud and clear and graphic.
And listen, guys, when God wants to make something clear, he writes it clearly in the Bible. And so, when we read it, we can’t just skip over it and say, yeah, whatever. Instead, we have to say, Whoa! God really wants us to hear this.
Revelation 3:15–16 (NLT)
15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!
|16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will [VOMIT] (spit) you out of my mouth!
Here, the NLT tries to “soften” the word that is best translated as vomit.
And again, for the seventh time, Jesus begins his letter by saying, “I know,” and to this final church that prophetically represents the church of the Last Days, Jesus says, “I know that you are neither hot nor cold.” And then he says, “I wish that you were either hot or cold!”
Why would Jesus say, “I wish that you were either hot or cold”? Maybe because we could say people relate to God in three spiritual temperatures.
1). The person who is ON FIRE for God
They have a heart that burns for God, that truly desires to know God and follow Jesus. This is a person who is spiritually hot.
2). The person who is SPIRITUALLY COLD
This is a heart that is far away from the fire of God. You may think this bad, but Jesus says he wishes a person would be cold over being lukewarm. In my experience, it is often the people who are farthest from God who most easily recognize their need for God. And I’ve always found it easier to talk to that person than to a person who is lukewarm because the person who is far from the fire of God often easily recognizes their need for God.
3). The person who is SPIRITUALLY LUKEWARM
They’re not close enough to the fire to be hot
They’re not far enough away from the fire to be cold
They say things like, “I’m pretty sure God is okay with me.” Or I’m pretty sure I’ll get in when I get there…” They know enough about God to think they’re okay.
But the Bible is very clear. The demons know far more about who Jesus Christ is than we do – and they’re not going to Heaven. There’s another place reserved for them. But they know all about Jesus.
And sometimes, we think that if we know about God, it’s the same as knowing God and that it’s the same as having a relationship with Jesus. And if we’ve been in church and we think we’re okay because we’ve been in church, we can be deceived so easily into thinking that we actually have a real relationship with Christ. That we really are seeking God. Knowing about God and having a relationship of faith in God are two drastically different things.
And because of the deception of being lukewarm, it’s clear in this final letter from Jesus that lukewarm is the scariest place of all to be.
And Jesus does his best to make this perfectly clear in verse 16.
Revelation 3:16 (NLT)
16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit (vomit) you out of my mouth!
Jesus intensifies this picture for them by using a word that means “violently spew out.” But we’ve got to understand Jesus used harsh language because he loves this church and loves every lukewarm person, and he wants us to wake up while it is still possible.
So first, Jesus gives this final church a vivid picture of how he really feels about them. And then, in verse 17, Jesus describes the dream world this lukewarm church is living in. He’s using the city of Laodicea. He’s talking about the church that is there. He’s prophetically referring to the end times church, and he’s, most importantly, talking to us personally.
Revelation 3:17 (NLT)
17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
Very often, Jesus does not see us the way we see ourselves. We may see ourselves as “doing okay” spiritually. But Jesus may see us as wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. This church was proud, arrogant, and well-off, and Jesus is doing his best to help them see their true condition.
Remember, the three big “claims to fame” in Laodicea were banking, textiles, and eye salve. And Jesus ends verse 17 by correcting their view of themselves in these three areas.
He says you think you are rich, but you are actually poor (banking).
You think that you are dressed for success, but you are actually naked (textiles).
You think you can see so clearly, but you are actually blind (eye salve).
You see, Jesus deals with us right where we’re at. Jesus speaks to us right where we’re at, which is why we just allow the Word of God to go out, and then Jesus can teach a dozen different messages from it – or a hundred.
And so, now Jesus is going to give us the remedy in each of these three areas.
First, what to do if you think you are rich, but Jesus would say that you are poor.
Revelation 3:18(a) (NLT)
18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich (truly rich) . . .
Laodicea had all the earthly riches, but Jesus says they are eternally poor. And so, Jesus counsels them to buy eternal gold from him (spiritual gold) so they would become eternally rich instead of eternally poor.
Laodicea was also well-known for a beautiful black cloth (like silk, very high-end) they manufactured for fine clothing.
Revelation 3:18(b) (NLT)
18 . . . Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness . . .
Jesus says you think you are beautifully clothed, but you are actually shamefully naked. Spiritually you’ve been fooled by the world, and you are actually wearing “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Throughout Revelation, the white garments are a picture of the righteousness of the saints, and this righteousness of the saints is put on (like clothing) through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Listen, the righteousness of the saints is put on (Colossians 3 and Ephesians 4) through our identification with Jesus Christ through faith. His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that we exchange our sin for his righteousness. And the Bible refers to it as putting on (being immersed in, being clothed in) his righteousness. It’s the only way to get it.
And finally, Laodicea was famous for its eye salve that it sold all over the Roman Empire.
Revelation 3:18(c) (NLT)
18 . . . and (buy from me) ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
Jesus says you may think your eye salve is all that, but you are actually spiritually blind, and before it’s too late, you need to invest in my personal eye-opening miracle eye salve so those scales will fall off your eyes and you’ll be able to see your true spiritual need.
Jesus has now systematically crushed every single thing this church had mistakenly “put their faith in.” But he’s doing it because he loves them, and he does it to us because he loves us.
Jesus is shaking us up so that we will stop being that lukewarm “Yeah, I know there’s a God, but I better not say anything about it.”
Look at verse 19.
Revelation 3:19 (NLT)
19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
Look at this last word here, indifference. Aren’t we indifferent? Isn’t that what we’re being “programmed” to be? Indifferent. It’s like anything is okay, everything is okay, nothing is a problem.
Jesus loves us, and he knows what we truly need, so he exhorts us, and he warns us – over and over again – and his goal is to save us – if we will let him.
The steps are simple, but it requires surrender and sacrifice. And so, some people don’t see it as easy, but it’s so simple. The steps are simple, and the eternal life they offer is free. And so, if you are living a lukewarm spiritual life today, today you can become diligent to seek and know Jesus Christ in your life.
And today, you can turn from your indifference and genuinely put your full faith and trust in Jesus as your Savior and Lord. If you are lukewarm today, you can change it. That’s what repentance is all about. You can turn from your indifference and become diligent in your desire to know who Jesus is, your desire to walk with him more closely, to experience his presence, and to know him personally. You do it by genuinely putting your full faith and trust in him as your Savior and Lord. Just go all in! We’re not playing “church.” We want to love Jesus. We want to put our full faith and trust in a Savior and Lord who will transform our lives and ensure us an eternity with him in Heaven.
You can decide – today. Eternity is more important than this world. Eternity is more important than this vapor of a life.
And the righteousness of Christ is more important than your “emperor’s new clothes,” and having the eyes to truly see your spiritual need is better than being spiritually blind.
You need to put on the white garment of righteousness of Christ. You think you’re ready for church, but Jesus says you need my righteousness. You receive it through your identification with him by faith in him. You receive his righteousness.
And you need to have the eyes to see your spiritual need. That’s what we need. We need eyes to see. I want eyes to see Jesus. I want to look for God working. We want to look for God working in our lives because there’s a confirmation there that we have a real relationship with him because we see him working. And then, when we have the faith to join him where he’s working, then BAM! We’re off and running.
But HOW do we begin? WHERE do we start? The answer is in the next verse.
Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
Jesus is talking to those who have locked him out of their lives personally and traded a personal relationship with him for some type of superficial religious surface. Jesus is pleading with people who think they’re okay with God when actually they are not.
And Jesus might be pleading with you today. Please, if you hear his voice, open the door and invite him into your life.
Jesus says, open the door, invite me in, and I will do two things.
First, verse 20 says I will come in to him. This is a reference to salvation. Jesus will come into your life. He will make his home in your life, and he will bring with him his righteousness and his new life – for you.
But that’s not all.
Verse 20 also says we will share a meal together as friends. This is a reference to communion. The picture of eating together is communion – oneness – fellowship with Jesus. If you invite Jesus into your life, he will come in to your life, and he will give you HIS righteousness, and he will commune with you as a friend.
Jesus says, “I stand at the door of your heart and knock.” The Good News is the tragedy of a lukewarm heart can be remedied by truly receiving Jesus Christ into your life by faith as your Savior and Lord and by living in communion with him as a friend.
These are the ones who have freely received the eternal gold from Jesus. These are the ones who are clothed in the white robes of his righteousness. These are the ones who have had their spiritual eyes truly opened to Jesus.
They are the true church, and they are the victorious conquerors.
Revelation 3:21 (NLT)
21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
Those who will hear the knock of Jesus and receive him into their lives to be their righteousness and to commune with him, they will conquer this world, and they will rule and reign with Jesus Christ.
The choice seems to be so clear. But still, Jesus pleads one last time as we close these seven letters.
Revelation 3:22 (NLT)
22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”
Don’t wait until it’s too late.
See your true spiritual condition.
Hear what the Spirit is saying.
Open the door of your life and truly and completely invite Jesus in to be your righteousness and to commune with you as your Savior, Lord, and friend.