Lukewarm-A substance that should be hot;neither hot or cold.
Colossians 4:16 says, “…read the epistle from Laodicea.”
-What epistle? There are many theories on this lost epistle, one thing is for sure, this generation has been robbed and is lacking from the starting line. Knowing that the times are shortened, the enemy is already making it difficult for our laodicean generation to become righteous through rebuke (by reading the instruction within the pages of this lost epistle).
Rev.3:20 says, “…behold, I stand at the door and knock.”
-Our vomitous state, which to explain in detail, vomit is actually to emit something in an uncontrollable stream or flow. So, our vomitous state is nauseating to God. So much so that He stands at the door of His own Church, not even stepping in to commune with them.
This church (generation) sits there, hears the word, agrees, and even goes up for prayer. They make all the promises possible under the sun, committing their faithfulness, only to then turn around and unable to stomach the responsibility of their new life in Christ, they immediately emit the Word in an uncontrollable stream. The flow of the Holy Spirit that once drew them near, is immediately emitted by our vomitous generation.
Rev.3:20 also says, “…He stands at the door and knocks…(amplified version) If anyone hears, and listens to, and heeds my voice…”.
The Verb put a verb (Knock) into action!
Jesus stands at the door knocking to attract attention, but the key is in hearing, listening to, and heeding His voice.
2 Peter 2:21 says, “For it would have been better for them not to have known, the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them”.
In other words it’s not the knocking that will get this generation to turn around, the knocking they’ve heard. The knocking is Religion and our church culture. They have already opened the door to that and are still lukewarm. The Voice will be this generation’s ticket out of their Laodicean trance.
One of the characteristics of Laodecia was the fact that nothing was known of it’s ministy in preaching the gospel throughout it’s region as it was with Ephesus, so needless to say, knocking on doors wasn’t their thing nor did they respond to it. This voice that will save this generation will sound like the bell @ chow time. It will be what the hungry will be listening out for. Those that want out will be known for their desire and hunger for action on behalf of our bridegroom, Jesus. They are waiting by the door, they are listening for a voice. They are ready for a real meal. They will know that God wants intimacy rather than what we have had for years… a religious experience.
Rev. 3:20 furthermore says, “…I will come in to him and dine with him.” The origin of the word dine comes from the Old French for ‘desjeuner’ which means‘to break fast’. This generation will deeply desire to end their fast from God. They will no longer walk around indifferent to the Holy Spirit ignoring every knock, too busy to come to the door. They will no longer hold back, avoid, refuse, forgo, or do without the presence of God.
A Hot and Hungry Word, and a Hot heart will increase the degree of intimacy between this generation and God. And, this generation is crying out for Freedom. Freedom from religion, church culture, from a stale and mediocre Christianity. We are in a war, a Spiritual war against principalities and strongholds that are holding this generation captive, but we are starting to arise out of the trenches of war and this generation is crying out: FREEDOM.
*******by Jen Figueroa
So because you are lukewarm(tepid. metaph. of the condition of the soul wretchedly fluctuating between a torpor(dulllness, apathy, extreme sluggishness, stagnation) and a fervour of love), and neither hot(boiling hot.
metaph. of fervour of mind an zeal) nor cold(of cool water metaph.
cold i.e. sluggish, inert(powerless to move, lacking in active properties)
in mind: of one destitute of warm Christian faith and the desire for holiness), I will(to be on the point of doing or suffering something
to intend, have in mind, think to) spit(vomit, vomit forth, throw up) you out of my mouth(the mouth as part of the body, or the edge of a sword).
What strikes me is that the proper translation is I am about to spit you… This is a warning. Lukewarmness is the fluctuating between apathy and fervor. It is not that you are never hot and never cold. You are not decidely one thing.
As I was looking up references to God’s mouth, I found that mostly it is the place of His word.
It is also the place of fire. Both 2 Samuel 22:8-10 and Psalms 18:7-9 say “Then the earth shook and quaked, The foundations of heaven were trembling and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up out of His nostrils, fire from His mouth devoured; Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down with thick darkness under His feet.”
Psalms 33:6 says, “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.”
Isaiah 11:4 says, “But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.”
This speaks of the breath of His mouth, and the rod of His mouth. It is very interesting that the greek word ‘mouth’ in 3:16 also means the edge of a sword. Revelation 1:16 says, “In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.” Revelation 2:16 says, “`Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.” Revelation 19:15 says, “From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.” Revelation 19:21 says, “And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse…”
I think Jen has something here with Him knocking at the door. God is tired of playing games with this generation. Either they want Him or they don’t. If they do, let them open the door and let Him come in and live in true communion with Him.
I love her ‘ready for a real meal.” Here’s the thing. Before Christ came, there was a veil separating us from God. That veil was rent by the cross. However, God, as a gentlemen, still will only come in with invitation. Until Jesus came and abolished the law, the religious community kept Him at the door, where He was waiting for our redemption to be able to come in. The problem is 2000 years later, we still hold Him outside the door of our hearts. We have to understand His desire for us, His desire to come in, to be intimate with us. He said He would abide in us and we would abide in Him. If this is not happening, we are stuck in the religious. We need to proclaim His heart to this generation. He stands at the door and knocks, but WE are the voice they will hear that will cause them to fling open the door of their hearts and enter into the high calling of His fullness in their lives.
We, as prophetic worshippers, come to proclaim to the hearts of a generation that has been lied to, stolen from, and beaten down that God is passionate for them. That He is jealous for their love and desires that they walk in love and power and in all He has for them. We will declare Who God is and His purposes. If only by creating the atmosphere of the Spirit, so He can show them. Once they experience Him, they will no longer be satisfied with anything less. The baptism of fire will come and seal their hearts to love Him forever!!
Anyway, finally we got done, so we all gathered at the front in a circle and took hands. God instructed us to do this on Monday, I think, to pray for unity as we pray in the Spirit. At some point Chris said, “Every time we get in this circle, we are stirring things up. Not that we are trying to stir something in ourselves, but the enemy is getting stirred up. This strikes fear in his heart. And that is why he is attacking. And not that he is attacking, but we are seeing his schemes. It’s like the Spirit chips away at the mask that he wears and we truly begin to see him for who he is.”
