Sometime – Part Time – Full Time Christian
Revelations 3:14-19
14 Write to Laodicea, to the Angel of the church. God’s Yes, the Faithful and Accurate Witness, the First of God’s creation, says:
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.
18 "Here’s what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire. Then you’ll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You’ve gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.
19 "The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!
One of the most frightening group of verses in the Bible are found in Rev 3:14-19, when Christ is talking to the Church of Laodicea.
He is addressing the people of a city known for its wealth. But despite its financial prosperity, it was spiritually impoverished. He says to the people "You are neither cold nor hot.” I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of My mouth. For you say ’I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."
What’s frightening about this statement is that a lot of people in this world who call themselves Christians are lukewarm. They fall into the category of sometime or part time Christian. Yes we might go to church on Sundays, make an appearance, and think to ourselves, hey, I don’t sell drugs, I haven’t killed anybody, I never robbed a bank, I even give to charities. But the real question is, have I given my self completely to God? Am I a sometime, part time or full time Christian.
If you will allow me, I will break this thing down even further.
Let’s first of all consider what lukewarm is. Not hot and not cold, not even warm, just a little past cool. When you cook food, you have to apply heat. Imagine what fried chicken would taste like if we cooked it in lukewarm grease. It would be something that wouldn’t reach the mouth to throw up! Well when we are not committed to God, and live according to what we think rather than how He commands, we fall into the same trap that the church of Laodicea fell into.
We are going to break this thing down into three categories. The truth be known, we could actually add two more categories…”all of the above, or none of the above”, but that is another sermon!
We are going to begin with sometime Christian!
A sometime Christian would be a fair-weather Christian. A Christian of convenience. Goes to church every Sunday but never applies what is learned. Content is saying “I go to church,” but refuses to read the word of God, to pray on a continuous basic, do anything that may take away from his or her normal schedule. But in Matthew 23:4 describes them to a “t”… Matthew 23:4 “ They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them”
These sometime Christians can recite what has been preached to them, but are unwilling to apply it to their own lives, but they can tell you how your life should be led. “Girl if I were you I would do it this way…. “Man if you asked me I would work it that way….” But if you ask what are they going to do…. Well the response is usually “I don’t know, or nothing right now, or I’m not ready yet….. etc….” But the word of God does not support this mindset, in fact the text for today gives us an understanding just how distasteful it is to God that we do not give Him our all.
For those who had an opportunity to attend, we just concluded our study on the importance of worship. So many people believe worship are the slow songs we hate to sing on Sunday morning. Others have the mindset that it is going to church on Sunday morning. But worship is a way of life that brings glory and honor to God. Worship is being obedient to God when it is uncomfortable. Worship is praising God when things are not going right. Worship is finding good in a situation and refraining from grumbling and mumbling about what ain’t right…. Because if the truth be known, stuff ain’t right because of something we did or didn’t do!
But in order to elevate from a sometime Christian, we must be willing to enter into the holy of holies and spend time with a holy God. Hebrews 10:19-22:
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
A true worship! This is not something exclusively for Sunday morning. This is not some ritual that becomes tedious as time goes by. This is the real deal, coming each day with a level of expectancy. Expecting God to move. Expecting God to act. Expecting God to make a way. Expecting God to bless. Expecting God to do something. But a sometime Christian has no level of expectancy, because they have no connection to God, just a knowledge that there is one.
The second addressing point – Part time Christian.
Now they are a little better than a sometime Christian. There is a level of prayer time. There is some bible time here there and somewhere. However, a part time Christian picks and chooses what they will or will not do for God. I will go to bible study, but I won’t fast. I’ll fast, but I’m not reading the word on a daily basis. I’ll read the word everyday, but I’m not going to accept my call. I’ll get to church every Sunday, but I won’t be on time. I’ll be on time, but I’m not doing all that praise and worship cause it don’t take all that. I’ll do praise and worship, but I won’t testify, cuz everybody don’t need to know my business. Part time Christian, only willing to do it part of the way. But Isaiah 29:13 states
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men
When we simply honor God with our words, “I believe – I trust – I know God will make a way” but our actions give indication that we really don’t He is not pleased…we are still lukewarm….we are still nasty….. we are still like bile in the bowels of the belly of God.
We don’t have the option of picking and choosing when our walk is with God. We don’t have the option of serving God today and not serving Him tomorrow – because the word says….Choose ye this day, whom you will serve….but as for me and my house I will serve the Lord! It’s not a multiple choice…you either trust God or your don’t. You either believe that he will take care of you, or you don’t. You either believe he is in control or you don’t! But the bottom line is that a part time Christian is still a half time believer, and a half time believer cannot reap the total package of benefits God has in store.
Full time Christian
Matthew 4:19 Jesus says “Follow me and I will make you fishermen of men…” or better yet… Follow me and I will make you into what you ought to be! A full time Christian spends less time looking at what they can see, and more time clinging to what God said would be. This is backed up by John 14:1 – let not your heart be troubled, Trust in God and trust in me” --- don’t worry about it, I’ve got this, it’s handled because you trust me. Don’t stress about it, don’t fret about it, I’ve got this, it’s handled – because you trust me…. Don’t lay awake at night, stop calling Jack, Joe and Jimmy, I’ve got this – it’s handled – because you trust me!….. There are perks to being full time!
Compare it to a part time worker. Part time workers don’t have health insurance, they don’t get vacation days, there is no retirement package, and they are the first let go. Full time workers can get cars, bonuses, vacations, sick leave, health insurance, life insurance, some get corner offices. Because they have given themselves totally to the position. Those fulltime employees who abuse their benefits, who don’t show up to work, who call off excessively, get fired. A full time Christian is not one who only does what is convenient and comfortable, they have given themselves completely to God. Committed to do the will of God.
A full time Christian understands Romans 12:1 and present themselves as a living sacrifice, willing to go above and beyond what others see as the normal, because they understand that God will give great rewards to those who are true to their purpose.
God has promised abundance to those who are faithful in all things Matthew 5:12: Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
God promises to take care of those who don’t allow other’s actions to cause them to act negatively
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing
Full time – not sometime
Full time – not half time
Full time - not part time
Full time Christian
Trusting in God even when things seem impossible
Trusting in God even when there seems to be no way
Serving God even when you wish you were doing other things
Praising God even when your soul is weary
Blessing God even when folk around you are trying to tear you down
Praying and trusting God even when your bills far surpass your personal resources
Because you have indeed come to understand that God is not a man so He cannot lie!
Full time Christians know to
Read the Word
Pray the Word
Rejoice in the Word
Apply the word
Because there is power in the word!
No longer looking at things as difficult – but understanding that if God said it would be, then He will make it so. He told you to start a business, He will give you resources, but you got to learn to wait on Him and be of good courage (that means without doubt) and He will renew your strength…….
He told you to pray over your children – not give up on them because they seem to far gone….then do just that ….. tell God – I cast my cares upon you God….. be my ram…..
He told you He would fix your marriage – than stop listening to other folk – cause haters hate to see happiness – instead say – God what you put together – nobody else can break apart!
He told you to step out and work your ministry – so stop making excuses and saying I will tomorrow – cause tomorrow is not promised – instead say Here I am God, everything I am and even everything I’m not, I give myself to you completely…now work in me and through me to make this thing come to pass.
We should be full time, because God is full time to us. He loves us full time. He cares for us full time. He provides for us full time. He does this even when we don’t do…. He made a plan for us that would give us full time help. He sent His only begotten son to die for us so we would be saved full time from the gates of hell. He gave us full time help when He empowered us with the Holy Ghost that came to comfort and empower. He gave us full time help when He said when you fall down I will help you get back up again….. so why would we want to be anything but full time. Don’t want to be vomit… don’t want God to spew us out….. We want God to embrace us --- so give up being the mounds and almond joy Christian…. But be like snickers – more than a snack…. But the whole meal!
