Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:14-22
Memory Verse: “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:16
Introduction:
Hot or cold. Which are we? This is a question we should all honestly ask ourselves. Perhaps you make excuses for your lukewarmness. Maybe you declare how weary you are of welldoing. Have you ever considered that God is also weary—He is weary of seeing how little progress we have made toward becoming “Christ-like.”
What God asks of us is our “reasonable service.” He desires that we be faithful servants and stewards. When we find ourselves falling into lukewarmness it is important to consider what the outcome will be. If we do nothing about our condition, the consequences can be grave and can even jeopardize our salvation. We can balance on the fence between total commitment to God and compromise with the world. We can fool each other in this state and we can fool ourselves, but we can never fool God.
The following anecdote, although humorous, helps us see how we often are fooled into thinking we are doing so much for God, and yet we are not on fire for Him at all. God wants us to be HOT.
“There is a church which sends in its annual statistical statement, year after year, as follows:
-
- Number of members added by baptism……… 0
- Number of members added by letter…………. 0
- Number of members dismissed by letter……. 5
- Number of members who have died…………. 3
- Amount raised/or home missions………………. 0
- Amount raised for foreign missions…………… 0
Pray for us, brethren, that we continue faithful to the end.”
—Current Anecdotes
Lesson Questions:
- What does Jesus call those who are not active in the Kingdom? Revelation 3:15.
- What does God think about this condition? Revelation 3:16; 2 Peter 2:20-22.
- Can we sometimes deceive ourselves in thinking we are on fire for the Lord? Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75; Acts 9:1. (Note: Saul thought he was doing God’s will. In Acts 9:3-6, he realized he was not.)
- Why did the Lord say the Laodiceans were lukewarm? Revelation 3:17. Share some thoughts on these other warnings from the Bible: Deuteronomy 8:11-14; Matthew 7:21; 2 Timothy 3:5; James 4:4.
- What are some steps we should take to keep us on fire for God? Deuteronomy 4:9; Colossians 3:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-23; Philippians 4:5-9.
Question to consider: Am I on fire for God? Check these areas…daily prayer, Bible study, keeping the commandments, love of my fellow man, expounding God’s Word (witnessing), worship, giving to support the Gospel work?