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.

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Cold—psuchos—cold, chilled, or chilly.

Hot—zestos—to boil, be hot, fervent.

Lukewarm is neither cold or hot.

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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

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LUKEWARM in context spoke of more than just apathetic . Being

LUKEWARM meant being COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE.

Blindness (Rev. 3:17) Pride (Rev. 3:17)

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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)

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Blindness (Rev. 3:17) Pride (Rev. 3:17) Worldliness (Rev. 3:17) Failure to Properly Appreciate God (Rev.

3:18)

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BLINDNESS

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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)

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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?

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BLINDNESS PRIDE WORLDINESS

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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)

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BLINDNESS PRIDE WORLDINESS FAILURE TO APPRECIATE GOD AND

CHRIST

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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

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BLINDNESS PRIDE WORLDINESS FAILURE TO APPRECIATE GOD AND

CHRIST

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A burning heart (Luke 24:32) A cold heart (Matt. 24:12-13) A lukewarm heart (Rev. 3:16)

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Loss of VIGOR

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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)

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Loss of VIGOR Loss of God’s VALUES

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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.

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Direct Command Approved Example Necessary Inference SILENCE IS PROHIBITVE

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Loss of VIGOR Loss of God’s VALUES Loss of God’s VISION

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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)

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Providing Recreation

Social Work

Relief of the World

Engage in Business

Secular Education

Politics

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Loss of VIGOR Loss of God’s VALUES Loss of God’s VISION Loss of VESTURE

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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.

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Lukewarm behavior can close the door to a relationship with

Christ and we don’t even realize it!