Turn the Tap to ‘Hot’ or ‘Cold’ A Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Turn the Tap to ‘Hot’ or ‘Cold’ Keywords: "open door" "perseverance" "power" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. In each of these studies (June 1-7), we will be looking at one of the seven letters to the seven churches of Revelation. These are actually letters written by Jesus to churches that existed in the first century. The letters have great application, though, for Christians today. They point out what Jesus commends in a Christian and what He wants to see changed in a Christian. There is even helpful application for people who are struggling with chronic temptation to destructive habits like porn. Read on — and God bless you! Passage: Revelation 3:14-22* 14. And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15. ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. 16. ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17. ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18. I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19. ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent. 20. ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21. ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Questions 1. What do you think Jesus is saying when He expresses the wish that the Christians in Laodicea be either “cold” or “hot”?   2. What is the self-image of these Christians (verse 17)? What is the reality of their situation?   3. What is Jesus’ advice to these Christians who think that they have it all together (verse 18)?   Practical help In order for Jesus truly to help people in a predicament, they must first admit that they are in a predicament. They must admit that they are in need. This, the Christians in Laodicea were unwilling to do. What about you? Could it be that the reason you are struggling and seemingly unable to resist the strong temptation to porn is that you have not honestly come to Jesus and admitted that you desperately need Him? That if He doesn’t come through for you, you are sunk? That you are “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” and that you need Him to make you all new? Living in the land of fence-straddling, middle-of-the-road, lukewarmness means that we have neither the inclination nor the courage to call on the Lord and to pursue God and His ways passionately. We are complacent in our half-hearted struggle with porn and have no real desire to cease and desist. This last letter of Jesus to the churches from Revelation 2 and 3 calls all who struggle with sin — of any variety — to turn the tap to hot, get off the fence, cross the road and declare ourselves as his! eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2000, 2004 by eXXit *Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. ----