Are You Lukewarm?

[RETIREDFAN1]

Are You Lukewarm?

 

Are you serving God in a pleasing manner? Is your service pleasing to God, or to you? Most of us believe that we are serving God and doing what we must to be pleasing to Him. But are we? Are we basing our views on what we think we are doing is acceptable and pleasing to God, or are we basing them on what Scripture actually says? 

Proverbs 12: 15

 

We always think that what we are doing is right if our own views are the only things that guide us. Today we want to look at whether we are doing what we can to serve God in a pleasing and acceptable way to Him. 

 

First, let’s self examine. How would you describe yourself as a follower of Jesus Christ?  Are you a dedicated follower, committed to doing things as God has shown are acceptable to him?  Are you zealous in your commitment to Him? Do you put God first, above all people and all things?

Matthew 10: 37

Luke 14: 26

 

Hate here means to love them less than you love God. Do you? Are you that zealous servant of Christ? 

 

If not, maybe you are lukewarm. What is lukewarm? This means you serve God half-heartedly and you're a mediocre disciple. Being lukewarm means you are not giving God your all, but instead are sticking Him with the leftovers. We are warned about being lukewarm. 

Revelation 3: 15 - 16

 

So we need to ask ourselves, are we zealous, or are we lukewarm? What does a lukewarm Christian look like? Today, we are going to look at several traits of the lukewarm Christian and examine ourselves to see if we fit this or not. 

 

Lukewarm Christians attend the gathering of the saints somewhat regularly. Notice I didn’t say all the time, as we are told to.

Hebrews 10: 25

 

The lukewarm Christian attends on a somewhat regular basis. They don’t attend even this much because of a desire to gather with other Christians to worship God. Instead, they attend because they believe that others expect them to do it. This is not pleasing or acceptable to Christ.

Matthew 15: 7 - 9

 

When the reason you attend the gathering of the saints on the first day of the week is to meet someone’s expectations and not to worship God in spirit and in truth, you have become a lukewarm Christian. 

 

The lukewarm Christian will give a little bit in the offering. They will give something as long as it doesn’t decrease their standard of living or keep them from buying things that they want for themselves. The lukewarm Christian is nothing like David or the widow.

I Chronicles 21: 24

Luke 21: 1 - 4

 

Now we aren’t told how much to give. We don’t have to give 10% like the Jews. We are told to give of our means as we determine in our hearts to give. We are to be cheerful in our giving.

II Corinthians 9: 7

 

The lukewarm Christian is far from a cheerful giver. Instead of giving to God first and spending what’s left on themselves, the lukewarm Christian will spend what they want on themselves and give God what’s leftover. This is not pleasing or acceptable to God.

 

The lukewarm Christian chooses what is popular over what is right. They are more concerned with what other people think of them than they are what God thinks.

Luke 6: 26

Revelation 3: 1

Matthew 23: 5 - 7

 

The lukewarm Christian wants to be seen by others and have their efforts recognized and praised by others. This is more important to them than simply having God recognize their efforts. 

 

When push comes to shove, the lukewarm Christian will go with the crowd, no matter how much the crowd’s actions are in violation of God’s Word. This is not pleasing or acceptable to God. 

 

The lukewarm Christian will rarely ever try to teach someone the Gospel. They will very rarely share with friends, neighbors, family, or co-workers what they believe and why they believe it. They never invite others to come to the worship service on the first day of the week. They will never hand out pamphlets, tracts, DVD’s or other study aids. The lukewarm Christian totally ignores the Great Commission.

Matthew 28: 19 - 20

Mark 16: 15 - 16

 

The lukewarm Christian will always compare themselves to other people. They gauge their own “goodness” by comparing themselves with those in the world. They feel satisfied that they are doing just fine as long as they are not nearly as bad as some other people. This is not pleasing or acceptable to God. 

Luke 18: 9 - 12

 

The lukewarm Christian will allow God to be only a part of their lives. They give Jesus control over part of their time, part of their money, part of their feelings.  But they give only part. This is not pleasing or acceptable to God.

Luke 9:57-62

 

The lukewarm Christian believes that total devotion is only for missionaries, preachers, and Bible professors.  They do not believe that total devotion is meant for the average person.  Matthew 22:37-38

 

The lukewarm Christian thinks more about earth than they do about Heaven. Their thoughts are focused on the here and now. They don’t give much thought at all to eternity. 

Philippians 3: 18 - 20

 

However, to be pleasing to God, we must focus on Him and on eternity.

Colossians 3: 1 - 2

 

Does any of this sound familiar or strike home? If it does, you may very well be a lukewarm Christian and not pleasing at all to God. If some or all of these things fit you, you should do what Christ told the church in Laodicea as soon as possible.

Revelation 3: 19