Is Christ Outside the Church?
Notes
Transcript
Kid Chat
He can only be outside if we leave Him out there.
Long time ago a man i knew talked about the problem with the world he lived in: He said it was an EGO problem. He defined ego as Edging God Out. He gets replaced with our agenda for work, our desires for our kids or our plans for retirement. He is replaced by our self-assuredness, self righteousness and self reliance. That’s definitely an ego problem.
“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, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. The Amen is an OT title for God. As the Truth He is testifying, telling the truth about this church. He had asked the Father sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth John 17:17.
As the beginning of God’s creation, Jesus is naming Himself as the source. Like the beginning and end of our faith, the author and finisher thereof. The NIV takes the word and translates it ‘ruler’.
The cold and hot is a regional reference to the hot springs near Hieropolis, relaxing and invigorating and to the cold springs near Colossae, cool and refreshing.
We will ask the question today whether you/I are cool and refreshing, hot and invigorating or lukewarm.
The believer who is hot has a fervor, a fire and an enthusiasm for the gospel. You find it is always in your conversation, your daily life revolves around it. It shows up as an unquenchable thirst for more of HIM. The problem with the hot Christian is...
The believer who is cold is refreshing, encouraging and always seems to have a word to lift your spirits. We don't often think of a person who is cold as a positive attribute, but when considering it in this light, it absolutely is! We need the refreshing spirit of the ‘cold’ believer because in this life you will have trouble, but we serve the one who has overcome the world, and the cold believer will remind us of this truth!! The problem with the cold Christian is...
Take the believer who is hot and the believer who is cold and put them in a setting where the Word can be discussed, questions can be asked and opinions can be shared you look out, revival will break out! SNBS and SS so valuable.
The believer who is lukewarm has become complacent. They are no longer thrilled by the move of God around them. Their time in the word is drudgery, if at all. They rarely share the gospel, never is the story of God’s work in their lives part of their conversation. They are stuck in a rut, spinning their wheels but not accomplishing much. We would do well to remember a rut is little more than a grave with both ends kicked out. The problem with a lukewarm Christian is… they are contagious. Lethargy always is. Complacency always is. And Jesus says “it makes me sick”! When in Guatemala we knew if the drink was hot it was safe. If it was cold, it was likely bottled and safe. If it was tepid, room temperature, we were not to drink it. My first time there, I did so good until the day we were flying home...
So what if we find ourselves to be lukewarm? Lukewarm doesn't want to change. Not motivated. So we have to begin asking: Help me want to. Maybe even ‘help me want to want to’.
Behold I stand at the door and knock. Unfortunately we apply this verse to salvation instead of ourselves. We are the ones who need to hear the sound of the knocking at the door. We are the ones who need to open the door. We need to quit with edging God out and go back to letting God in. His plan. His desires. His future. It's all better!
Finally, once again, He says to the overcomer… Let me make sure you understand He is talking about overcoming by the power of His blood and the word of your testimony. He is not talking about setting up an obstacle course in front of you and, if you can somehow make it through, He’ll let you in. No, because that would put the burden of entry into heaven on you. And He has clearly stated He is the way. He is the door. He is gate. No one can come into the presence of the Father except through Him.
Folks when He went to the cross He took the burden OFF you and put the righteousness of God ON you. When HE took the nails and the spear, God took our transgressions and tossed them in the sea of forgetfulness. When HE was whipped with a cat-of-nine-tails, God healed our sin-sickened condition. When HE took our punishment, God gave us HIS peace.
And all He asks in return is to be either hot or cold, but never be lukewarm. You think we can pray that prayer together today?
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