Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Last week we observed the lukewarm or backsliding church.

This week the Lord has lain on my heart to speak about our church triumphing in every conceivable way, regardless of how impossible things might seem in the natural to us, we need to be careful to not sell God short.

He knows exactly how to get us from where we are to where He has planned for us to be.

The move of God is coming, seeds have been and are continuing to be planted.

The Holy Spirit is working behind the scenes doing those miraculous things that need to take place for the culture in our community to shift so that the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ can reach even the hardest hearts.

In a series of messages to the 7 churches in the Book of Revelation this is the last church addressed by Jesus, and out of all of them it is the worst church.

One would think that Jesus would commend them but He does not commend Laodicea at all.

This is the one church about which He has nothing good to say.

Imagine a church that may as well not exist—a church that has nothing good within its 4 walls whatsoever—a church that does no good at all outside it's 4 walls.

What was it that made the church so bad?

So useless and worthless?

My Brothers and Sisters it was Lukewarmness, which means that the church was indifferent, complacent, lethargic, self-satisfied, half-hearted, and neutral.

The church and its believers were only half-way committed to Christ, only half-hearted in their worship and service for Him.

The old song of the Church that got people excited because they felt the urgency of a right relationship with Jesus Christ was, "Lord I'm running trying to make a Hundred, 99 in a half won't do, it won't do Lord it won't do Lord 99 in a half won't do."

While their are some in the church who are lukewarm and half-committed believers.

There are also in the Church some who are really hot and on fire for God that is, they are really committed the Lord.

As Jesus sends out this message to the "Angel of the House" or Pastor , who is the one that is ultimately responsible for the state of this church.

One would expect that the minister would be the first to heed the warning from Jesus about being Lukewarm and then articulate that message to the people.

One of the reasons why we have so many problems in the Church today is because we have to many leaders in the Pulpit who are not allowing themselves to be accountable to God and not only that but we have too many in the Pulpit who are Un Repentant of the things that they have not done where the Church is concerned and I will explain myself.

It is the Leader who is held accountable by God for the indifference and complacency of any believer especially those in whom he/she has spiritual oversight.God expects us as leaders as the set man or set woman of the house to arouse ourselves and repent because in order to bring a spirit of revival or keep your church on fire you have to be on fire yourself.

In the meantime we need to be reminded of what the Lord considers victory in comparison to what we call victory.

We should, of course, absolutely celebrate every victory that God has given us.

Yet walking in and maintaining a victorious spirit seem to be elusive for some folks.

The goal is for us to stand together in victory, to lift up the hands of the weary, to exhort and bring comfort to one another in a world otherwise bent on isolation.

We cannot arouse our members or other believers and lead them to repentance and whole-hearted commitment if we are not ourselves committed to that which God has placed in our hands.

Recognize Our Need

I realize the majority of us here this morning have believed in and committed our lives to Jesus.

Our need for Jesus extends far beyond just salvation.

The Church today needs to get a renewed sight of Christ.

They need to refocus their attention upon Jesus Christ because the only way they will ever see God is to hear Jesus Christ.

If the church is looking at other things such as—depending upon the rituals of baptism, church membership, ordinances, services, ceremonies, fellowship, and worship attendance to make them acceptable to God—then the church is missing Jesus.

Truth

Truth-

As we come to our text Jesus - The Amen say's I'm about to close my message out to this last church and make this declaration or statement of truth.

After all He is the Amen, the declaration, the guarantee of the truth not only that but He is also the "faithful and true witness."

He is faithful to God the Father and He bears a true witness to God the Father.

The truth is in Christ.

He is the truth.

you cannot know the truth without Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul said that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.

The first thing Jesus say's in verse 15 " I Have A Complaint"

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." (KJV)

This is serious, even critical, for the judgment that Christ pronounces upon the lukewarm church and believer is terrible.We need to think about how lukewarmness affects the church and its members.

To make sense of anything in this world you need Jesus.

Your pursuit of the truth ends with Jesus, there is no life without Him.

To live is Christ, eternal life is through Him.

1.

A lukewarm church is only half-committed to Christ.

In addition to stressing Christ, it stresses ritual, ceremony, and programs as a way to become acceptable and to please God.

And it's a wonder why there is no Fire in these Churches.

Life

If you are hearing this you are alive, and some today think that Jesus Christ has nothing to do with it.

However, the life you have now was given to you, and it is destined to end.

The life that comes through Jesus Christ has no end.

If you enjoy life and want it to continue then you need Jesus Christ.

There is no life without him.

To live is Christ.

Eternal life is through him

Romans

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" ().

Death

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" ().

2. A lukewarm church is only half-committed to proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

None of us escapes death.

The science we have about death tells us we are all dying a little bit each day.There is no science that describes what happens after you die.

There is revelation from God who sees the invisible, lives in the immaterial, and knows what happens in secret.

In resurrection Jesus Christ defeated death for any man to follow after.

Death did not hold him and today he offers this power to all who believe him.

Daily life and regeneration is promised to those who live in Christ Jesus.

Sin

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?

He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also" ().

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" ().

Everyone sins, including the most self-righteous religionists and church-goers.

Without Christ what becomes of our sins?

They must be accounted for, and without Christ they are all accounted to you.

The judgment has already been made against you, and your sentencing day will arrive when you die.

We need the man Christ Jesus to atone for our sins.

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We need Jesus Christ the Son of God to mediate between God and us.

3. A lukewarm church is only half-committed to teaching the Word of God.

We need Jesus Christ the Son of God to mediate between God and us ().

Through Christ’s blood, we have forgiveness.

We need Jesus Christ as long as sin is still present, or else it would be unrighteous to forgive anyone for sins.

Through Christ’s blood, we have forgiveness.

We need Jesus Christ as long as sin is still present, or else it would be unrighteous to forgive anyone for sins.

Through Christ’s blood, we have forgiveness.

We need Jesus Christ as long as sin is still present, or else it would be unrighteous to forgive anyone for sins.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" ().

Peace

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" ().

Peace is allusive in this world where we toil to provide what we need, and there are constantly others who are trying to take what we have.

We can have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

4. A lukewarm church is only half-committed to evangelism.

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We can also have the peace of God work in us through the Lord Jesus Christ ().

Peace is something every man desires, and yet few have consistently without Christ.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" ().