HOT

Dear Brethren,

What does Jesus mean when He says to us, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were either cold or hot?”  (Revelation 3:15)   Does it make a difference if we are cold or hot?  Yes!  Which is correct, and which is to be avoided?  Obviously, Jesus does not desire for us to be “cold,” because then we would not be practicing Christians at all.  He is also saying that we are not to be lukewarm Christians.  “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”  (Revelation 3:16)

We can conclude then, that Jesus desires that we be “hot!”  And that is exactly what we find in Revelation 3:19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”   The Greek word ‘zeloo’ means zealous – to have warmth – to be hot.  What does Jesus mean when He says to be a hot Christian?  It means we had better make up our minds to be HOT – HOTT – HOTTT!!!

We had better take God’s admonition to us and be Holding On To The Truth – all of it – and, we had better be living it!!!  Take a good look at what Jesus Christ is saying to us, and apply it to ourselves.  “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”  (Revelation 3:15-22)

We are becoming too much like the evil world in which we live.  Jesus is telling us to repent, and come out of this world.  He tells us that we had better hear what He is saying to us.  Don’t point the finger at other groups and say, “Hey, look, they are lukewarm.”  We, ourselves, had better be on fire – zealous – Hot!!!

How many of our brethren have fallen by the way side?  How many of our brethren think they are doing okay – but they have left the Truth once delivered (Jude 3).  Maybe they never made the effort to prove the Truth for themselves.  Maybe they never studied or wrote out the Correspondence Course.  In 1Thessalonians 5:21, Paul told Timothy to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”  That advice applies especially to us as well.  We, too, had better be holding on to the truth – all of it – and we had better be living it!!!

It is Jesus Christ, Himself, who says that the Church is letting down in these last days.  Mark His words!  One way or the other, things are about to get hot.  Either we become zealous about our faith and get hot now – or we will face the purifying fire of the tribulation (Revelation 7:14).  What are we to do?  Jesus’ half-brother, Jude, has the answer in verse three.  “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

“Earnestly contending for the faith” is much more than receiving a set of right doctrines written down in our booklets.  That is why Jesus says that we only suppose that we are rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. Why does Jesus tell us that we are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked?  It is because, earnestly contending for the faith, means that we need to repent and get to living and practicing the very basics of true Christianity.  That is the gold tried in the fire.  That is Godly character.  That is the white raiment of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 

“Earnestly contending for the faith,” means truly loving God and one another with the zealousness, and with the fervor, that Jesus Christ demonstrated for us.  There are other ways of saying HOTTT – Hold On To The Truth.  " Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."  (Romans 12:9)  That is the Love of God.  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.” (Proverbs 4:13)  "Jesus said to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed."  (John 8:31)

Brethren, we need to be hot, alive, zealous and on fire.  In our words and actions we represent the True Creator God on earth today.  Hold on to the Truth – God’s Truth – and live it.

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Sermon:  "HOT"      


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