Lukewarm Christians are born again, but they have not left the world and are not devoted to God. The Lord prefers that we choose to be sinners or holy.

Created: Monday, January 8, 2024

Lukewarm Christians: 4 Helpful Changes That Make God Happy

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: Revelation 3:15-16. Bible lesson background Revelation 3:14-22: The church at Laodicea had problems unlike the others:
1. Their wealth gave them a false sense of security.
2. They were blind to their true condition.
3. So to make God happy, they must repent.
4. God is patiently waiting for His children to let Him in. Therefore, He is standing at the door.
After all, God warns us to listen to what the Spirit says to the church.

Revelation 3:15-16 [read Revelation 3:14-22 (15-16)]: I know about your deeds, that you are neither [spiritually] cold nor hot. I wish you were [either] cold or hot. 16 But since you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you out of my mouth. (AUV); KJV: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold^G5593 nor hot^G2200: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm^G5513, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Zestos – hot: G2200 ζεστός zestos (ze-stos’) adj. boiling hot, hot; metaphorically^*, of fervor^** of mind and zeal; ^* when you make a statement that isn’t entirely correct or true to show the seriousness of the issue. ^** enthusiasm, passion, zeal, or any feeling or desire that causes one to do something.
Chliaros – lukewarm: G5513 χλιαρός chliaros (chliy-a-ros’) adj. metaphorically, of the condition of a soul wretchedly fluctuating between a torpor (lack of care or interest) and a fervor (implies a warm and steady emotion) of love.
Psuchros – cold: G5593 ψυχρός psuchros (psï-chros’) adj. cold i. e. sluggish, inert, in mind. Of one destitute of warm Christian faith and the desire for holiness.

The Laodicean problem

The Laodiceans were the only church that Jesus criticized. Coke says, “Spiritually, they are have-nothings.” So, lukewarm Christians are spiritually dead; ‘faith without works is dead’ [James 2:20 and 26].
Revelation 3:17 [read Revelation 3:14-22 (17)]: After all, you say, ‘I’m rich, and I’ve grown wealthy, and I don’t need a thing.’ You don’t realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. (CEB); KJV: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Wretched [pathetic] – G5005 ταλαίπωρος talaiporos (ta-lai’-pō-ros) adj. enduring toils and troubles; afflicted. Extreme misery or unhappiness, either from want or sorrow; as the wretchedness of poor mendicants (beggar).
Miserable – G1652 ἐλεεινός eleeinos (e-le-ei-nos’) adj. to be pitied, miserable. Great unhappiness; extreme pain of body or mind.
Poor – G4434 πτωχός ptochos (ptō-chos’) adj. destitute of wealth, influence, position, honors; lowly, afflicted.
Blind [they do not see their own sins] – G5185 τυφλός tuphlos (tï-flos’) adj. mentally blind.
Naked [without hope and in great need; destitute of true holiness] – G1131 γυμνός gumnos (ǰ ïm-nos’) adj. unclad, without clothing. Guilty and exposed to divine wrath.

You cannot serve God and the world

Matthew 6:24 [read Matthew 6:24; compare Joshua 24:15]: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]. (AMP); KJV: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.; G3126 μαμμωνᾶς mammonas (mam-mō-nas’) aram. riches, money, possessions, property. a Semitic term for “the treasure a person trusts in”.

God’s Word, like a burning fire

Jeremiah 20:9 [read Jeremiah 20:7-18 (9)]: Sometimes I say to myself, “I will forget about him. I will not speak anymore in his name.” But when I say that, his message is like a fire burning inside me! It feels like it is burning deep in my bones! I get tired of trying to hold his message inside. And finally, I am not able to hold it in. (ERV); KJV: Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

HOT – On fire for God

Luke 24:32 [read 28-35 (32); Romans 12:11]: They said to each other, “It felt like a fire burning in [Didn’t our hearts burn within…?] us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained [opened] the Scriptures to us.” (EXB); KJV: And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Stir up the gift of the Holy Spirit

2 Timothy 1:6 [read 2 Timothy 1:3-7 (6)]: This is why I remind you to help God’s gift grow, just as a small spark grows into a fire. God put his gift in you when I placed my hands on you. (NIRV); KJV: Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

COLD – Falling away from the truth

Matthew 24:12 [read Matthew 24:3-14 (12)]: There will be more and more evil in the world. So most people will stop showing their love for each other. (ICB); KJV: And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.; True love for God and others is lost through false teachings and wicked lifestyles. A focus on oneself and desires is what causes love to grow cold.

‘I advise you to buy from me‘

Revelation 3:18 [read Revelation 3:14-22 (18)]: Therefore, I advise you to buy from me gold purified in fire so you may be rich, white clothes to wear so your shameful nakedness won’t show, and ointment to put on your eyes so you may see. (ISV); KJV: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Gold tried in the fire

Faith buys us our eternal heritage.
1 Peter 1:7 [read 1 Peter 1:3-12 (7)]: These tests have come to prove your faith and to show that it is good. Gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire. Your faith is worth much more than gold and it must be tested also. Then your faith will bring thanks and shining-greatness and honor to Jesus Christ when He comes again. (NLV); KJV: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:; Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible: As the purity of gold is brought forth by intense heat, so the reality and purity of our faith are revealed as a result of the fiery trials we face.

White clothing

The marriage of the Lamb; the bride’s attire.
Revelation 19:8 [read Revelation 19:1-10 (8)]: She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white—for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God’s holy people). (AMPC); KJV: And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Ointment for your eyes

Ephesians 1:18 [read Ephesians 1:15-23 (18)]: Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance. (VOICE); KJV: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

4 Helpful Changes That Make God Happy

This is sound advice to lukewarm Christians.

1. Repent

Revelation 3:19 [read Revelation 3:14-22 (19)]: Those I love I correct and discipline. So be really sincere, and repent. (FBV); KJV: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Romans 12:11 (TLB)

2. God is waiting; let Him in!

Revelation 3:20 [read Revelation 3:14-22 (20)]: I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in, and will feast with them (restore them), and they will feast with me. (OEBus); KJV: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

3. Show your faith

James 2:17-18 [read James 2:14-26 (17-18)]: So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead. 18 But someone will say, “One person has faith, another has actions.” My answer is, “Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions.” (GNT); KJV: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

4. Get closer to [get right with] God

James 4:8 [read James 4:1-10 (8)]: Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests [You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time], and purify your [unfaithful] hearts [of your spiritual adultery]. (AMPC); KJV: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Overcomers choose holiness and are victorious

Revelation 3:20-21 [read Revelation 3:14-22 (20-21)]: “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. (NLT); KJV: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

By faith

1 John 5:4-5 [read 1 John 5:4-5 (4-5)]: Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. 5 No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God. (CEV); KJV: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

People whose pastor is a false teacher risk becoming lukewarm Christians. Since your faith is a result of hearing the Word of God [Romans 10:17]. But if you do not hear the truth, then you risk backsliding. So I encourage you to make the changes discussed in this lesson and make God happy! Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺