Sermon Central
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Lukewarm Christianity Series
Contributed by Robert Glass on Nov 13, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: The effects of lukewarm Christianity on the member and the Church.
) Lukewarm Christianity
Robert A. Glass
The church at Laodicea had a problem. God knew their works and the “test-results” were bad. God had examined them and found them lukewarm or wishy-washy. (Revelations 3:15-18) “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.”
It is easy to drink HOT coffee. I have even heard of folks drinking coffee, COLD. But the most rancid thing is coffee that is neither hot nor cold.
Sometimes, our work in the church is the same way—lukewarm. We can’t decide whether to be dedicated or lazy. We are playing “water-faucet” religion. (A water faucet is a wonderful thing. It works when we turn it on and quits when we turn it off.)
BUT, will it work on SUNDAY MORNING? We get dressed on Sunday morning in our suit and tie or our best dress and hat, and off we go to church.
Where were we Saturday night? On a dance floor, at a karaoke bar, a night club or were we at home studying for Bible study the next morning?
A true Christian, not a lukewarm Christian is dedicated every day of the week. A lukewarm Christian couldn’t be convicted on charges of faith. There wouldn’t be enough evidence to convict him.
His Monday-Saturday language wouldn’t convict him. Her skirts & blouses wouldn’t convict her either. SIMPLY PUT: If you are not a Christian, ALL THE TIME...You are NOT a Christian ANYTIME! Ask yourselves? If every member copied ME for dedication, how strong would the Church be?
Ask yourselves this question: At its present state, where will the Church be in 5-YEARS? How about 10-YEARS? A quick glance at most of the Churches is Virginia in appalling. In most congregations, 1/3 to as much as 1/2 of the faithful membership is above age 50. SO, unless we do something to “turn the tide” in 30 years many congregations will have been carried away by the hearse.
(1 Corinthians 15:58) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” When we are abounding in the work of the Lord, our labour is not LUKEWARM or in VAIN. A lukewarm Christian does not spread the Gospel or “sow the seed”.
(Luke 8:5-15) “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Some seed fell on rock, some fell among thorns, and SOME fell on good ground.)
No GOOD seed will fall from a lukewarm Christian.
YET! Preaching and teaching God’s WORD will never come back void. [Even if we fail to convert a particular person, we will reinforce the teachings of the Lord in OURSELVES. We strengthen ourselves by teaching others. (2 Timothy 1:13) “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
The lukewarm Christian is not solid and firm but weak and wavering. ELIJAH asked a question that we should ask today! (1 Kings 18:21) “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.”
Look at (Hebrews 10:23-26) “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised; And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. A lukewarm Christian misses worship opportunities and misses the fellowship with other saints
The apostle Paul gave us descriptions AND names of lukewarm Christians. (1 Timothy 1:19:20) “Having shipwreck faith, of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” (Their daily LANGUAGE!)
(2 Timothy 4:10) “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica.” We don’t know MUCH about DEMAS, but he left Paul forsaken because he loved the world more than Christ.
