HOT AND COLD, but not lukewarm!

December 5th, 2011 

COME:
Revelations 3

7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": 8 I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 

(When God opens a door no man can shut it! Glory!)

COME:
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 

HEAR:
Laodicea was located between the hot springs of Hierapolis and the cold waters of Colosse. Laodicea used aqueducts to transport water to their city. The hot springs full of minerals cooled to warm on their way to the city. The cold waters warmed and collected minerals on their way to the city. The result was a luke warm sulfur filled water. Periodically the sulfur content would be high enough to produce vomiting in the drinker. 


HOT Springs are naturally hot water, usually heated by underground water being close to lava flows. They are full of minerals and healthy for the body. They have a healing and restorative nature. Desert Hot Springs, CA was a place that had natural hot springs. It would have been beautiful if the drug culture hadn't moved in there. Typically these are bathed in. 


COLD Springs are naturally cold waters, usually good for drinking. They have a cool refreshing nature.


LUKEWARM water was mixed, old, and useless for anything but washing pots and pans. It is full of toxins that make it undrinkable and cause vomiting. 


Both of these are GOOD! They are both gifts of God. Some of us have a calling in life to be HOT for God. We brings heat, healing, and restoration to a people weary of the battles of life. Some of us have a calling to be COLD for God. We bring cool refreshing restoration to people thirsty for God's presence. Most of us will function in both of these things for different situations. 


To be lukewarm is to be without use and cause sickness around you. You are neither hot with healing or cold with refreshing. You are useless to God. 
DO:
Stir Up the gift of God in you... become HOT AND COLD for God again! 


PRAYER:
Father, help me recognize the passion that was in me when I started... help me see how to reignite that passion!


See Also: Passion


DW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laodicean_Church

http://www.bibleplaces.com/laodicea.htm

http://www.padfield.com/2005/laodicea.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laodicea_on_the_Lycus