Be Radically Abnormal

The Bible shows us that as the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness God fed them daily with manna from heaven. He gave them enough that was sufficient for their need. He is an almighty God, he could have dumped massive amounts of any sort of food, and made it last forever but he didn’t. God wants us to depend on him and him alone for our sustenance. He IS our daily bread. Our manna sent from heaven to sustain us until we reach the promised land. When we stockpile other things to sustain us it divides our attention and gives a false sense of comfort in temporal things.

This is why lukewarm Christianity is so dangerous and displeases the Lord.

When you are lukewarm you are neither hot for Christ nor cold towards Christ – you are comfortable just being warm for Christ. You are comfortable in the temporary material world basing your security on your own wealth and success. In Revelation 3:14-22 the Lord rebukes Laodicea, urging them to come wholeheartedly to him. He reminds them that he alone is the source of everlasting wealth – the riches that do not rust or rot and the kind the moth cannot eat. He wants to cleanse them and clothe them in his righteousness and heal their spiritual blindness. He despises their tepid nature, and he makes this clear. He rejects them by saying he will spit them out of his mouth.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Mathew 6:19-21

If the world can’t see that you are a Christian – how much more clearly can our omniscient Father in Heaven see your unwillingness to dedicate your whole self to him? He sees our hearts clearly. You can either be of the Word (hot) or of the World (cold) but the Lord despises when we try to mix the two together and make our own hybrid religion of self sufficiency that forsakes our need for God’s Lordship in our lives.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” – 1 John 2:15-17

Lukewarm Christian Characteristics….

1. They only come to God when they have a problem.

2. Their Christianity is what can God do for me? How can He make my life better?

3. They don’t obey the Word of God and even try to twist Scripture to justify sin. They call obeying the Bible legalism or radical.

4. They think they are Christians because they do good deeds or go to church. They live like devils 6 days a week and are holy on Sunday.

5. They compromise with the world because it’s the most popular choice.

6. They only want to be Christian because they are afraid of hell.

7. They have no repentance. They are not truly sorry for their sins nor do they want to change.

8. They think they’re saved because they compare themselves to others around them.

9. They never or rarely share their faith.

10. They care more of what others think rather than the Lord.

11. They don’t have new desires for Christ and never did.

12. They are not willing to make sacrifices. If they do make sacrifices it will be close to nothing and it won’t affect them at all.

13. They love to say things like do not judge.

*** Legalism and greasy grace are both unbiblical false doctrines. As Christians we should follow the Lord with a willing heart that is repentant when we sin. We should not take Gods Holy Grace for a license to sin nor pick up the yoke of the law of self righteousness and self justification. Both are biblically admonished. We must live as true followers of Christ, with one goal, to be more Christ like in all ways. Each day allowing the Holy Spirit to guide, convict, and edify us.

This admonishment of the Church of Laodicea is a staunch reminder of God’s disdain for lukewarm Christianity….

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:14-22 NIV

Heavenly Father refresh, renew and rekindle my passion to you! Convict my heart to repent of any sin that separates me from you, draw me closer oh Lord! Let me live to praise thee in all that I do and say! Amen!

List of Lukewarm Christian Characteristics shared from :

http://biblereasons.com/lukewarm-christians/

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*** I recommend the Interlinear Hebrew Greek English Bible for an accurate study of scriptures. Also available in a 4 Volume Set (larger print than single volume) Interlinear Hebrew Greek English 4 Volume Set

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