Get Off the Fence! Revelation 3:14-22

2. Revelation 3:14a NET "To the angel of the
church in Laodicea write the following:
To the "angel," possibly you recall
some time ago when we looked at what the
word "angel" means.
Thayer Definition:
a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an
angel, a messenger from God
So, to the messenger, envoy, one who is
sent, angel, messenger from God of
the church in Laodicea.

3. LAODICEA
[LAY ah duh SEE uh]-- a city in the
fertile Lycus Valley of the province of
PHRYGIA where one of the seven churches
of Asia Minor was situated <Rev. 3:14>.
About 65 kilometers (40 miles) east of
Ephesus and about 16 kilometers (10 miles)
west of Colossae, Laodicea was built on the
banks of the river Lycus, a tributary of the
Maeander River.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)(Copyright (C)
1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

4. 14b "This is the solemn pronouncement of
the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the
originator of God's creation: 15 'I know your
deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I
wish you were either cold or hot!

5. Laodicea was near two other towns, each of
which had a unique water source. To the
north was Hierapolis which had a natural
hot spring, often used for medicinal
purposes. To the east was Colossae which
had cold, pure waters. In contrast to these
towns, Laodicea had no permanent supply
of good water. Efforts to pipe water to the
city from nearby springs were
successful, but it would arrive lukewarm.

7. The metaphor in the text is not meant to
relate spiritual fervor to temperature. This
would mean that Laodicea would be
commended for being spiritually cold, but it
is unlikely that Jesus would commend this.
Instead, the metaphor condemns Laodicea
for not providing spiritual healing (being hot)
or spiritual refreshment (being cold) to
those around them. It is a condemnation of
their lack of works and lack of witness.
(NETnotes)

8. Jesus has known us from before creation.
He knows us as the creator knows his
creation. He knows us as the redeemer
knows those who are redeemed, and from
whence they are redeemed. His knowledge
is complete & perfect. He knows the deeds
of the saints in Laodicea and is not pleased.

9. They neither follow him fully nor do they
turn away from Him. They are riding the
fence. He wishes they would get off the
fence and either "above all pursue his
kingdom and righteousness." or take off
the Christian mask and show their true
intentions. Why does He want them off
the fence?

10. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and
neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you
out of my mouth!
This is why, because they make Him
sick, they leave a bad taste in His
mouth, they are not pleasing to the
palette, He does not want them in Him!

11. I'm sure you can remember a time you had
this experience.
I don’t like the taste of our well water unless
it’s ice cold. Room temperature taste foul.
Maybe you’ve ordered a coke & when you
took that first sip…yuck…it was diet. Worse
yet, you took a drink of milk that had soured
& the instant it hits your taste buds you
spew it out.

12. I'm positive this is the feeling Jesus has with
those who are neither hot or cold. Those
who don't follow Him whole heartily or not at
all. Where do each of us fall. Are we hot or
cold? How can we tell. Let me throw out a
few ideas.
Does the reality that many people you come
into contact with are going to spend eternity
in Hell prompt you into action?

13. Luke 15:4 NET "Which one of you, if he has
a hundred sheep and loses one of
them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the
open pasture and go look for the one that is
lost until he finds it? 5 Then when he has
found it, he places it on his
shoulders, rejoicing. 6 Returning home, he
calls together his friends and
neighbors, telling them, 'Rejoice with
me, because I have found my sheep that
was lost.'

14. 7 I tell you, in the same way there will be
more joy in heaven over one sinner who
repents than over ninety-nine righteous
people who have no need to repent. 8 "Or
what woman, if she has ten silver coins and
loses one of them, does not light a
lamp, sweep the house, and search
thoroughly until she finds it?

15. 9 Then when she has found it, she calls
together her friends and
neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I
have found the coin that I had lost.' 10 In
the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the
presence of God's angels over one sinner
who repents."

16. In this same way we are to search for those
who are lost. Notice that the shepherd and
woman did not stop until the lost was found.
Surely we cannot become so calloused as
Jonah and not want the people saved. Do
you stop before the lost are found or have
you started looking at all?
Well, are you lukewarm?

17. Does Your conscience bother you when
you don't commune with the Lord at His
table? The Lord promised to be there and
is there. Do you make it a point to
commune with Him or do you let any flimsy
excuse keep you away from it? This is a
time when we can come back into contact
with the blood of Christ weekly. Are you
neither Hot or Cold, but lukewarm?

18. Do you put as much as possible in the
offering plate having faith?
Mark 12:41 NET Then he sat down
opposite the offering box, and watched the
crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people
were throwing in large amounts. 42 And a
poor widow came and put in two small
copper coins, worth less than a penny.

19. 43 He called his disciples and said to
them, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow
has put more into the offering box than all
the others. 44 For they all gave out of their
wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in
what she had to live on, everything she
had."

20. Do you have the faith of this widow or do
you, being weak in faith, give meagerly?
Do you really believe Jesus when he
said, But above all pursue his kingdom and
righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 NET
Jesus has promised that you would have all
you need. Get off the fence and live in
faith!

21. How much emphasis and importance do
you put in studying and guidance of God's
Word?
Josh 1:8 NIV Do not let this Book of the
Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it
day and night, so that you may be careful to
do everything written in it. Then you will be
prosperous and successful.

22. Do you, "above all pursue his kingdom and
righteousness" through careful study of His
Word privately and with "God's Children?"
Do you make being with your brothers and
sisters in Christ of major importance. Are
you with them for study, fellowship, and
praise at ever available gathering of the
saints?

23. Hebrews 10:19 NET Therefore, brothers
and sisters, since we have confidence to
enter the sanctuary by the blood of
Jesus, 20 by the fresh and living way that
he inaugurated for us through the
curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and
since we have a great priest over the house
of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere
heart in the assurance that faith
brings, because we have had our hearts
sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and
our bodies washed in pure water.

24. 23 And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope
that we confess, for the one who made the
promise is trustworthy. 24 And let us take
thought of how to spur one another on to
love and good works, 25 not abandoning
our own meetings, as some are in the habit
of doing, but encouraging each other, and
even more so because you see the day
drawing near.

25. 26 For if we deliberately keep on sinning
after receiving the knowledge of the
truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for
us, 27 but only a certain fearful expectation
of judgment and a fury of fire that will
consume God's enemies. (An allusion to Isa
26:11) 28 Someone who rejected the law of
Moses was put to death without mercy on
the testimony of two or three witnesses. (An
allusion to Deut 17:6)

26. 29 How much greater punishment do you
think that person deserves who has
contempt for the Son of God, and profanes
the blood of the covenant that made him
holy, and insults the Spirit of grace? 30 For
we know the one who said, "Vengeance is
mine, I will repay," (Deut 32:35) and
again, "The Lord will judge his people."
(Deut 32:36) 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall
into the hands of the living God.

27. It seems these passages are used many
times in many ways. According to the
commentaries and Bible foot notes I have
studied, this whole passage is dealing with
falling away. It seems to be saying that if
we give up meeting whenever Christ
Church meets we are deliberately sinning,
thus trampling the Son of God underfoot.

28. For this God will judge and repay. How
terrible it is for God's wrath to fall on us.
Are you present whenever God's people
gather. Are you present just
sometimes, thus neither Hot or Cold? Get
off the fence! Show some HOT
commitment and whenever God's people
are together to study, sing
praises, fellowship be there!

29. Lets read the remainder of the 3rd chapter
of Revelations.
Revelation 3:17 NET Because you say, "I
am rich and have acquired great
wealth, and need nothing," but do not
realize that you are
wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, 18
take my advice and buy gold from me
refined by fire so you can become rich!

30. Buy from me white clothing so you can be
clothed and your shameful nakedness will
not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put
on your eyes so you can see! 19 All those I
love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest
and repent! 20 Listen! I am standing at the
door and knocking! If anyone hears my
voice and opens the door I will come into
his home and share a meal with him, and
he with me.

31. This verse is so often misused and quoted
to non-Christians. Jesus is standing at the
door knocking, seeking entrance into His
church, which he is the Head of, which he
purchased with His own blood. Jesus is
speaking to the saints, the Christians who
are neither hot or cold. He wants Christians
to get off the fence and let Him back into
their lives.

32. 21 I will grant the one who conquers
permission to sit with me on my throne, just
as I too conquered and sat down with my
Father on his throne. 22 The one who has
an ear had better hear what the Spirit says
to the churches.' “
What an extraordinary promise! If we are
lukewarm, that can be changed. Jesus
promises, I will grant the one who conquers
permission to sit with me on my throne.

33. Have you heard, Did you hear the message
Jesus has for you? Stop riding the fence.
Make a commitment to serve Jesus with all
your heart.
Matthew 6:33 NET But above all pursue his
kingdom and righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well.