 Does not APPEAR to be dangerous  To some it even appears to be a friend.  The Lord identified being lukewarm as a REAL and DEADLY threat. 10/19/20151

 Cold—psuchos—cold, chilled, or chilly.  Hot—zestos—to boil, be hot, fervent.  Lukewarm is neither cold or hot. 10/19/20152

 Some are full of ZEAL  They attend services regularly  They study diligently  They invite and teach others.  Some are COLD  They have quit serving all together  They are covetous of their time and money  Their Bibles collect dust  They are ashamed by the Gospel of Christ  Some are LUKEWARM  Attend sporadically  Give leftovers to the Lord  Neglect opportunities to study  Engage in little or no personal work 10/19/20153 LUKEWARM in context spoke of more than just apathetic. Being LUKEWARM meant being COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE.

 Blindness (Rev. 3:17)  Pride (Rev. 3:17) 10/19/20154

 Causes us to overlook our faults (Luke 18:9-14)  Causes boasting (Matt. 26:33)  Causes us to be stubborn and unrepentant when confronted with sin (2 Chron. 26:16-20)  Allows wealth, position, and accomplishments of the past to cause complacency. (Rev. 2:4-5)  Causes a failure to see the need for God’s blessings. (Rev. 3:18)  Is at the root of self-satisfaction that brings about lukewarm behavior. (Rev. 3:17-18) 10/19/20155

 Blindness (Rev. 3:17)  Pride (Rev. 3:17)  Worldliness (Rev. 3:17)  Failure to Properly Appreciate God (Rev. 3:18) 10/19/20156

 BLINDNESS 10/19/20157

 The Scriptures encourage self-examination. (Matt. 7:3-5; 2 Cor. 10:12; 13:5)  We will struggle with PRIDE, APATHY, WORLDINESS, and being LUKEWARM until we recognize they are problems.  Being lukewarm is a great “Trojan Horse”.  Solution: Fortify ourselves in the Word (Hebrews 4:12) 10/19/20158

 Do cares and worries of the world dominate most of our time and conversations?  Do I practice sin on a regular basis?  Do I love the things of this world more than the things of God?  Am I too busy for Jesus?  Do I use God’s name in vain?  Do I pray earnestly and pray earnestly for the lost?  Do I seek opportunities to teach others?  Am I indifferent about sin?  Do I seek after worldly wealth more fervently than I seek the Lord’s kingdom?  Do I obey Christ consistently? 10/19/20159

 BLINDNESS  PRIDE  WORLDINESS 10/19/201510

 When we adopt the standards of the world we will get complacent.  We will evaluate our success by the world’s standards.  We will fail to evaluate self by God’s standards. (Ref. 1 Tim. 4:15; Eph. 4:15-16; Eph. 6:4) 10/19/201511

 BLINDNESS  PRIDE  WORLDINESS  FAILURE TO APPRECIATE GOD AND CHRIST 10/19/201512

 Ref. John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8;  Apathy comes when we fail to remember what God has done for us. Therefore we fail to sanctify Jesus as Lord. (1 Peter 3:15)  This is why:  Lessons on God’s plan of salvation are important  Lessons on God’s grace are important  Lessons on Christ’s death are important 10/19/201513

 BLINDNESS  PRIDE  WORLDINESS  FAILURE TO APPRECIATE GOD AND CHRIST 10/19/201514

 A burning heart (Luke 24:32)  A cold heart (Matt. 24:12-13)  A lukewarm heart (Rev. 3:16) 10/19/201515

 Loss of VIGOR 10/19/201516

 We should be fervent in serving the Lord. (Rom. 12:11)  Paul referred to his ministry as a “gift” (Gal. 2:9; Eph. 3:8; Rom. 1:5; 1 Tim. 1:12-14)  We should be fervent in prayer (Col. 4:12)  God hears (1 Pet. 3:12)  God cares (1 Pet. 5:7)  God cared enough to send His Son to die (John 3:16)  God will supply what is needed (Matt. 7:7-11)  God can accomplish great things through us (Eph. 3:20-21) 10/19/201517

 Loss of VIGOR  Loss of God’s VALUES 10/19/201518

 Laodicea valued the material instead of the spiritual (Rev. 3:17)  What matters to God is meeting man’s spiritual needs. (Rev. 3:17; Rom 7:24; 1 Cor. 15:19; Rom. 2:19)  When a church loses its values it no longer views sin as God does. (Ref. 1 Tim. 2:9-12; Matt. 6:33; Heb. 10:25; Eccl. 5:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:5; Gen. 2:24)  When a church loses its values it no longer sees success as God does. 10/19/201519

 Direct Command  Approved Example  Necessary Inference  SILENCE IS PROHIBITVE 10/19/201520

 Loss of VIGOR  Loss of God’s VALUES  Loss of God’s VISION 10/19/201521

 God’s church is to worship and glorify Him (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 13:15-16; Acts 20:7)  God’s church is to preach to the world and edify itself (Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 11:22, 23; 13:1- 4; Phil. 4:15-16; 1 Thess. 1:8; 2 Cor. 11:8)  God’s church is to engage in a limited amount of benevolent work (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-34; 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 5:16; Acts 11:27-30; Rom. 15:25-26; 2 Cor. 8-9) 10/19/201522

 Providing Recreation  Social Work  Relief of the World  Engage in Business  Secular Education  Politics 10/19/201523

 Loss of VIGOR  Loss of God’s VALUES  Loss of God’s VISION  Loss of VESTURE 10/19/201524

 Humility (1 Peter 5:5)  Properly Appreciate God (Romans 11:33-36)  Properly Value God’s Values  Then and Only Then Will We Have God’s VISION for Ourselves and the Local Church. 10/19/ Lukewarm behavior can close the door to a relationship with Christ and we don’t even realize it!