Revelation 3:16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot or cold, I will spit you from my mouth.
I got revelation of what this meant one day while I was working. The funny thing is that sometimes people need a "physical example" to help them understand a statement or a verse in the Bible. I recently learned the degrees of seperation that brings either enjoyment or a bad taste in the mouth. It's pretty amazing how a few degrees can change the way something tastes.
At the Baristo Bar, we serve our drinks a different temperatures. For a hot cup of black coffee, we brew the water to 210 degrees. The lattes are made at 154 degrees. But if you want a cold drink, we serve iced coffee or tea at 34 degrees. It amazing to see the degree difference and how some people like their drinks. But then again, there are people who like their drinks at certain temperatures. I am going somewhere with this, just hang with me.
Did you notice that there are degrees that cause a taste difference? Let me show you! You have coffee that can be served ice cold, lukewarm or melting hot. The temperature that it's at determines whether or not you will like the drink. The same goes for Revelation 3:16 and how Christ himself said it is better to be hot or cold instead of lukewarm. So why is it bad to be lukewarm? Look at it like this. When milk is steamed, it is cooked at 154 degrees for lattes. The "lukewarm" degree is between 100-105 degrees. This is the point where milk will start to sour. It's too cold to use, but not hot enough to fully make a drink. If you drink it at times, it will make you sick to your stomach, that will cause you to possibly "vomit" for awhile.
"Are you catching the point?"
Look at it like this! You are a cup of coffee, and Jesus is the customer that is drinking you. When he gets His drink, it might not be hot enough or cold enough. So that means, it's kind of lukewarm. He takes a drink of it, swallows it and then all of the sudden, he spits it out because the milk is bad. Then it starts to make him sick at his stomach. Then Jesus goes into a "vomit rage." The undecisiveness, or the lukewarm-ness of our life, is literally making Christ "sick to His stomach." I am not saying that it is okay to be one way or another, but I am sure that He wants you to be hot. So the question remains?
"So how do you get to that point, and if so, how do you change it?"
Well the truth is that there are a few ways that you can check yourself on your level of "hot or cold." Obviously staying in the Word is one way of stoking the fire within you. That will always help you maintain that fire . "Purpose brings desire that will burn your fire." There are also a couple of other ways that you can keep yourself in check. One of the biggest ways that I have found is actually answering the call that God on my life. By simply being obedient, stepping out in faith and doing the Will of the Father will re-direct that lukewarmness in your life. This is a good way to measure our walk, our faith level and our desire to chase God during these times. You may not get it right everytime, but the effort and stepping out will cause you to be more "open to the things of God."
Being lukewarm is a state of condition that your heart is in towards Christ. Look at it from the this perspective. Lukewarm is the same as being gray, not black and white. I am not saying it's okay to be gray in some areas when it comes to parts of the Bible. There are alot of things that we may not get to understand on this side of heaven, but we can't let that unknowing be the center of our undecisiveness towards Christ. God not only wants a relationship with us, but He wants to believe, live and recieve all that Christ himself lived and died for. But also wants us to make a decision. He wants our heart to FULLY believe in Him, not just halfway. If you believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, then your halfway there. But take a step further and believe that you can do so much more in Christ.
1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is GREATER than the one who is in the world.
Jesus himself doesn't wish to "vomit" anyone from his mouth. But He knows that there are people that have not fully made the decision to follow him. Simply believing what He did for you at the Cross is the best decision that you will ever make in this life. But take it a step further, and actually take part of what of what He has called you to do. When you start ministering to people, encouraging them and helping them grow in the things of God, that is when your fire will burn so hot, that the world will see that God himself has empowered you in all that He has provided for you.
Believing is a good thing. Participating is even better. Believing and not participating is halfway.
Revelation 3:16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot or cold, I will spit you from my mouth.
So ask yourself this question?
"Do I make Jesus sick to His stomach, or does he enjoy what I do everytime He drinks of what He has given to me?"
