“For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17 NIV
Christ has no condemnation for His Church but He has much to complain about. He says in Rev. 3:15-17, “ 15-17"I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless. “
Our churches today are largely in a “lukewarm” condition. There is very little a lukewarm hearted church can do spiritually. Lukewarm churches are no threat to the kingdom of Satan. Whereby they will not make a difference in their community, city or region, there may be events or activities going on but there is an absence of ‘spiritual fire.’
Revival may be threatened but instead of waiting upon the Holy Spirit for His power we get a forced worship service and soul winning is for bragging. It’s a time to pat ourselves on the back for the number of sinners we’ve “won” to Christ.
We are offered a warm fuzzy feeling, a few tears and drama to convince us that we are in the presence of God. We are in the presence of a spirit but it is NOT the Holy Spirit!
These spirits are called familiar and religious spirits. These demonic spirits have taken over and hold many churches captive!
How does a church become lukewarm? Self-Deception!
People follow man instead of Jesus. People put their faith and trust in man, NOT God’s word! People do not question man’s control, opinions or actions. They believe if the ‘man’ acts spiritual he must be who he says he is! Self-Deception!
Christ sees so many churches today that have spiritual poverty in their hearts. These churches produce lukewarm Christians, aka: Show Christians, who have no true repentance in their heart. They still talk, live, dress, and act like the world.
Show Christians have more world in them than Jesus; they are self-deceived. They carry their bibles to church and display an academy award act of Christianity all the while hiding their worldliness, addictions, jealousy, pride, hatefulness, control, lovelessness, haughtiness, lust, greed, and etc. You know the type; they talk the talk, look and act pious but once leaving the church they don’t walk the walk.
Show-Christians like to fit in both worlds….they have one foot in the church and the other foot in the world. They want to be liked by everyone. NO separation of the church and the world.
We all know that going to church does not make us a Christian.
We do know that right? Our bodies may be in church but where is our heart?
What is the spiritual temperature of our heart?
CHANGE--- TURN----and REPENT!
“ 11-14But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!” Romans 3: 11-14 The Message Bible
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