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Revelation 3:14-19 “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.”

(16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

(18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Many who have it – don’t know it Those that do – don’t care! Indifference A Common Problem Many who have it – don’t know it Those that do – don’t care! Affects Every Congregation

Indifference Defined Apathy, unconcerned, and disinterested. “1. Characterized by a lack of partiality or bias. 2. Not mattering one way or the other; of no great importance. 3. Having no marked feeling one way or the other 4. Having no particular interest or concern 8. Not active or involved” (American Heritage Dictionary, p. 655). Lack of diligence, dedication and devotion. Attitudes and actions that say, “I don’t care!”

God’s People Have Always Been Plagued Indifference God’s People Have Always Been Plagued Lamentations 1:1-12 – Judah is doomed – act as if nothing I Corinthians 5 – Fornication in midst – done nothing – not even upset Revelation 3:15-16 – Church at Laodicea was lukewarm

Eats away at the life of a Christian & a local church Indifference Is Like a Cancer Eats away at the life of a Christian & a local church

People of God Should Be Diligent, Devoted & Zealous Indifference People of God Should Be Diligent, Devoted & Zealous Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the kingdom of God I Peter 3:15 - Sanctify the Lord in your heart Romans 12:11 - Fervent in spirit serving the Lord Colossians 3:23 – “heartily” - put everything you have into the service of the Lord Ecclesiastes 9:10 - Whatsoever - do with all your might Titus 2:14 - Zealous of good works

Indifference I. Its Subtlety

I. Its Subtlety A. Develops Gradually & Slowly 1. It doesn’t happen overnight. a. Not diligent / enthused one day – indifferent the next b. This makes it hard to recognize 2. It strikes first at the heart – then manifest itself in action I. Its Subtlety Mind Manifest Actions

Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (NKJV) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (KJV) Footnote KJV “run out as leaking vessels”

Gradually & Slowly Hebrews 2:1 Jan. 2006 July 2006 Jan 2007 July 2007 2008 July 2008 Jan 2009 July 2009 Jan 2010 July 2010 Jan 2011 July 2011

Within 10 years – Complete Change! Gradually & Slowly Hebrews 2:1 July 2012 Jan 2013 July 2013 Jan 2014 July 2014 Jan 2015 July 2015 Jan 2016 July 2016 Within 10 years – Complete Change!

A. Develops Gradually & Slowly B. Harder To See What Not Doing I. Its Subtlety

B. Harder To See What Not Doing 1. Hebrews 5:10-12 2. Overt acts are easily seen by self & others (Lie, curse, steal, drink) 3. Even sin in attitude involves doing. (hate, lust, bitter, envy, jealous, anger) 3. Harder to see what I fail to do! 4. Even harder to see: That I don’t care as much as I ought to That I’m not involved as I ought to be That I’m not as dedicated as I should be That I should have grown more by now

A. Develops Gradually & Slowly B. Harder To See What Not Doing C. We Focus on Signs / Fruit – Rather Than the Real Problem I. Its Subtlety

C. We Focus on Signs / Fruit – Rather Than the Real Problem 1. When we see the symptoms, we deal with them a. If one doesn’t attend as he should – we preach on attendance. (It may not help) b. If one doesn’t study and grow, we talk to them about study & growth (It may not help) 2. The real problem is the heart (Prov. 4:23;Matt.15:19) a. Problem is they don’t care! b. Cure the indifference – symptoms will be gone

I. Its Subtlety II. Its Causes Indifference I. Its Subtlety II. Its Causes

II. Its Causes A. Lack of fear of God 1. Fear involves: Afraid of Displeasing God 1 Sam. 11:7 Psa. 119:120 Isa. 66:2 Heb. 10:31; 12:29 Respect & Awe Luke 7:16 Jonah 1:9 Deut. 28:58

II. Its Causes A. Lack of fear of God 1. Fear involves: 2. Those who fear will: II. Its Causes 1. Do what God says (Duet. 6:2; 13:4; 17:19) 2. Be dedicated (Deut. 10:12, 20; 31:12)

II. Its Causes A. Lack of fear of God B. Focus on the present world 1. Get wrapped up in this life a. Spiritual pushed aside b. Matt. 13:22 – cares of the world c. 2 Tim. 4:10 – loved present world 2. Materially blessed a. Tendency to forget God (Prov. 30:8-9; Deut. 6:10-12) b. Beware when at ease (Amos 6:1-6) c. Riches make us overconfident in material things (Psa. 30:6) II. Its Causes

II. Its Causes A. Lack of fear of God B. Focus on the present world C. Ignorance II. Its Causes

1. Ignorance destroys God’s People (Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:13) C. Ignorance 1. Ignorance destroys God’s People (Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:13) 2. Reasons why there is ignorance: a. Not been taught (cf. Matt. 28:20) –we leave them to “sink or swim” b. Forgot what knew (Heb. 5:11-12) c. Ignore what taught (Rom. 10:3, 17)

1. Ignorance destroys God’s People (Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:13) C. Ignorance 1. Ignorance destroys God’s People (Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:13) 2. Reasons why there is ignorance: 3. What we don’t know makes a difference a. If we don’t know commands – can’t obey (Eph 5:17) b. If we don’t know about judgment – can’t fear (Heb. 10:27) c. If don’t know truth – led into error (2 Pet. 3:16-18)

II. Its Causes A. Lack of fear of God B. Focus on the present world C. Ignorance II. Its Causes D. Softness

2. Lack of “teeth” in message D. Softness 1. Soft Preaching a. Comforts those who are indiff. (Isa. 30:10) b. Does little to prick the heart c. “Positive” preaching make people who are in sin (and indifferent about it) feel good! 2. Lack of “teeth” in message a. Not enough to preach truth – must correct, rebuke, withdraw –if no repentance b. Often want the truth taught – nothing more done about it

Indifference I. Its Subtlety II. Its Causes III. Its Signs

A. A Loss of zeal III. Its Signs

A. A Loss of zeal 1. Dedicated people have a burning zeal (Rom. 12:11; Luke 24:32) 2. Possible to lose fire of enthus. (Rev. 2:4-5) 3. Judah let her service deteriorate into a weary routine (Isa. 29:9-14; Mal. 1:6–2:17) 4. When a church has members – lost their zeal – it has a problem with indifference When service to God is “Ho-hum, no big deal” Fire has gone out!

III. Its Signs A. A Loss of zeal B. Loss of spiritual interest Easily follows a loss of zeal Lack of desire for word (Psa. 119; 1 Pet. 2:1-2) No interest in studying Don’t want to know what text means Not bothered by sin in self or others (Prov. 8:13) Not bothered by false doctrine (Psa. 119:136) Not concerned about the lost (Mk. 16:15-16)

III. Its Signs A. A Loss of zeal B. Loss of spiritual interest C. Missing services III. Its Signs

C. Missing services 1. May start as occasional absence a. Maybe allow work to hinder. Bothers us at first, then we adjust b. May miss once in a while for other reasons c. Now becoming easier to miss d. May begin missing BS, or Wed. then Sunday PM and then AM

C. Missing services 1. May start as occasional absence 2.Every service we miss – miss out on spiritual growth a. If being present builds us up (Heb. 10:25; Eph. 5:19), then if we miss we are weaker! b. Thomas Missed out (John 20:20-28) 3. Do you forsake for reasons within your control?

III. Its Signs A. A Loss of zeal B. Loss of spiritual interest C. Missing services III. Its Signs D. Consumed with secular interest

D. Consumed with secular interest 1. This life is merely a land we are passing through (Heb. 13:14) - Means this is temporary - Secular things should rank below sp. things 2. When our secular concerns overshadow and crowd out the spiritual – are indifferent - When don’t have time for worship - When don’t have time to study - When making money is more important - When having fun is pushed ahead of service

III. Its Signs A. A Loss of zeal B. Loss of spiritual interest C. Missing services III. Its Signs D. Consumed with secular interest E. Not bothered by things used to… Heb. 3:7-13

III. Its Signs A. A Loss of zeal B. Loss of spiritual interest C. Missing services III. Its Signs D. Consumed with secular interest E. Not bothered by things used to… F. Big contrast in what I used to be Gal. 1:6-9; 5:7

Indifference I. Its Subtlety II. Its Causes III. Its Signs IV. Its Cure

A. Preach & Warn IV. Its Cure

A. Preach & Warn 1. Col. 1:28 - Goal: present every man perfect (not indiff) - How? “Him we preach, warning…” 2. Preaching is God’s remedy - Gospel has power (Rom. 1:16) - Don’t need gimmicks, social programs, entertainment, etc. - Just need to preach & warn

IV. Its Cure A. Preach & Warn B. Repent Churches with indifference were told to repent Rev. 2:4-5 Rev. 3:16, 19 Repentance is a change of mind Prompted by godly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10) Results in change of life (Rev. 2:5) If you recognize signs of indifference – need to repent! IV. Its Cure

IV. Its Cure A. Preach & Warn B. Repent C. Study Faith is based upon word (Rom. 10:17) More we study – stronger become (2 Thess. 1:3)

IV. Its Cure A. Preach & Warn B. Repent C. Study D. Be doer of word Jas. 1:21-25 Activate the faith you have (Jas 2) More we exercise our faith – easier it is to continue in the practice

Indifference I. Its Subtlety II. Its Causes III. Its Signs IV. Its Cure