By far one of the hardest messages I have EVER had to speak. I had to face this one before my students got it… BTW: The idea of this message came from reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan (EVERYONE should read this book). Hopefully this message inspires someone.
The message tonight is titled “Profile of the Lukewarm”. We are going to take a look at what it means to be lukewarm in the eyes of a Holy God. Tonight I want to talk to you from two separate passages of Scripture that are extremely powerful, but first I want to ask you a question. When was the last time you saw someone throw up? When I say throw up I’m not talking about the little throw up in your mouth thing, I’m talking about really seeing someone up-chuck. For me it was two years ago when I was on a road trip with the baseball team. We were going to a college that is up in the mountains and unknown to me one of my teammates gets car sick. He’s got his head tilted back and he looks like he’s asleep and then all of a sudden “PUKE” he throws up everywhere. Luckily he pointed it down and not out so it got on the floor and started to run up to the front of the van. It was disgusting! For me, the whole throw up thing is not a big deal when I do it. If my stomach is really hurting or I feel like I’m going to throw up, I just go ahead and do it. But it’s a completely different when other people do it, you know what I mean? I mean I’m good with seeing it but the whole smell just makes me want to gag! Ughh!!! So by now everybody’s got that picture in their minds, the last time they saw someone throw up. You are probably thinking where in the world is he going with this? Well, I’m glad you asked. When God looks at your life what do you think he thinks? Do you think He’s pleased or do you think it makes Him want to throw up? Seriously, how do you think it makes God feel? But Kenneth, God doesn’t throw up! Let’s look at the first Scripture. Turn to Revelation 3:14-16.
READ Revelation 3:14-16
Jesus says, “I know your deeds…” Jesus sees what we do. He knows where our heart it is. He knows if we are living for Christ or if we just exist in a lukewarm state. We have to do something, I mean we can’t say that we have experienced the love and salvation and the freedom of Christ and then live like it hasn’t changed us. How many of you like coffee when it is lukewarm? How many of you like soda when it is lukewarm? Exactly, you like your coffee hot and you like your soda cold. And it’s the same way with God. God can’t stand when we are lukewarm. He would rather us make up our flippin mind whether we are going to serve him or not. I mean seriously if you are not living to please Him why would you want to spend eternity with Him? If nothing in your like looks like you believe in heaven why would you ever want to spend eternity there? You say you believe in heaven but most of the time you live like hell. For so many of you your life is an oxymoron. We need to make up our minds!
And so this second passage kind of covers the lukewarm lifestyle but in a different way so let’s take a look at it. Turn with me to John chapter 15, verses 1 through 8. We will get back to the whole idea of the lukewarm lifestyle. Let’s read.
READ John 15:1-8
I want you guys to notice one of the first things that I read in that passage. It says, “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.” Where have we, as American Christians, gotten the idea that we can be Christians but bear no fruit? How does that even make sense? If we honestly think that we can say a prayer and then see NO life change but yet still feel like we will spend eternity in heaven, I have a real problem with that. I heard it said once that, “Information without transformation equals damnation”. Basically what the means if I can break it down is if you know everything you need to know about Christ yet you have never seen a change in your life then you are in real danger of spending eternity in hell. I don’t know how else to say it. Let me ask you a few questions to try and make it a little more clear for you guys. Has your relationship with God actually changed the way you live? Do you see evidence of the things of God in your life? Or is your relationship with God overshadowed by other activities, sports, addictions, and sins in your life? I believe that lukewarm Christianity has become an epidemic in America today! I say this because when I read the New Testament and see the things that Christ calls us to do and then I look around at the people that call themselves Christians it is really hard to match the two up. It just doesn’t make much sense. I mean when people actually take the words of Christ literally and seriously they are considered “radicals” or “overboard” when in reality they are getting it right! So with that said would you describe yourselves as totally in love with Jesus Christ or do the words halfhearted, lukewarm, and partially committed fit better? Because Jesus says in this verse that He cuts off EVERY branch that bears no fruit and that’s not very promising to those of you in here that do absolutely nothing to show that your life is in the hands of Almighty God. As a matter of fact, that’s a scary place to be. I am going to take a few minutes and explain to you what the lukewarm person looks like and you can decide for yourself whether or not you are truly following after Christ or if you are just a lukewarm believer.
•Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “Good Christians” do.
•Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict.
oThis is what we talked about two weeks ago but it is worth repeating. Our desire is to fit in both at church and outside of the church. But the problem is most of you care more about what others think of you than what God thinks about your hearts and lives.
•Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one.
oJohn 10:10
•Lukewarm people are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act.
oLukewarm people call radical what Jesus EXPECTED of ALL His followers.
oYou think it is so awesome the Anthony and Joe would give up their summers and go away from their families and friends to minister to people in Ireland yet you do not do anything. You choose to be quiet when you have the opportunity to tell your friend about Christ or invite them to Fuel/Traffic.
•Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their friends or classmates. They do not want to be rejected. They would rather be disobedient to God then rejected by their peers.
oJesus says, Matthew 10:32-33 “Whoever acknowledges me before me, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns be before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”
•Lukewarm people gauge their goodness by comparing themselves to others.
oI’m not a Bible thumper or Jesus Freak like _________
oor I’m not nearly as bad as _________
•Lukewarm people say they love Jesus and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give him a section of their time, their hearts, and their thoughts, but He isn’t allowed to control their lives.
•Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength.
•Lukewarm people lobe others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves.
•Lukewarm people will serve God and others as long as it doesn’t inconvenience them.
•Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep them from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, “to be good enough” without requiring too much of them.
•Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control.
•Lukewarm people probably drink and cuss less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever.
