AM I, OR THE CHURCH LUKEWARM?

August 13, 2013

AM I, OR THE CHURCH LUKEWARM?

Revelation 3:14-21 The Lukewarm Church “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked……”

First: I have accepted the concept of helping the needed “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” On top of that, I keep all the commandments: I Do not commit adultery, I Do not murder, I Do not steal, I Do not bear false witness, and I Honor my parents ” yes I have kept All these things from my youth.”

SO THIS TELLS ME I AM ON THE RIGHT ROAD, THE CHURCH CAN TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. BUT NOT SO FAST!!!  First I, being One person, am also A part of the Church For Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

We as christians first must recognize The Laodicean church  in Rev. 3 represents our church today And I am a part of the body of this Church. Paul tells me in 1 Cor. 12:12-14 “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

And like the church then, our church today has also lost it’s significance and savor, to a dying world. Simply Because we have also become occupied with the things of this world and not the saving grace of the Master. Christ tells us Himself in Matt 24:10 “many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” with the only concern of man is materialism, consumerism, individualism, and apostasy. The purpose of the letter to Laodicea, is so that you and I as part of this church, may overcome. The letter finished on a triumphant ending. It ends with a glorious, and victorious note. It says, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.

So our prayer today must be Lord, we the member’s of the 21st century Laodicean church pray that we will not become lukewarm, but we will have a burning passion and desire to carry out your Mandate, to share Your Word in truth as it is written in your word.  in Colossians 3:2 it tells me to “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Paul also tells me  in Colossians 2:6 -8 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

as followers of Christ we must continue His ministry as a body of believers. And with a fire that burns within our mind and body as we become witnesses to the world, and to everyone we may come in contact with each day. And our prayer should be Lord, everyone I witness to, may also be filled with a fire from within. Luke tells us in Luke 24:32 when the two disciples of Christ on the road to Emmaus, realizing it was  Christ they had spoken too.

Said to one another “DID NOT OUR HEART BURN WITHIN US WHILE HE TALKED WITH US ON THE ROAD, AND WHILE HE OPENED THE SCRIPTURES  TO US?” That word  Burn, meaning to be set, or consumed on FIRE. This is what God wants from each of his Children. If we are consumed with a burning passion to have an intimate relationship with God then everyone we talk to, or witness to, will also feel a exhilarating burn within their hearts.

Which will lead them also to seek Jesus Christ and spend quality time in the all consuming presence of our Savior. This text also tells me that this fire was kindled as He “opened the Scriptures to them”. Zechariah 2:5 says “And I myself will be a wall of fire around it, declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.” John 1:14 tells us And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

But before we can do the work of the Lord we need to study and digest the Word of the Lord. as Jeremiah tells us in Jeremiah 15:16 “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY”. Also Romans 10:17 tells us So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. So It all starts with the Word of God, and a continuous digesting of its precepts.

Acts 2:1-3  explains it best. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire,….” and as I proclaim God’s word today.  Isaiah 61:1-3 tells me  “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me ,Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY