Sometime, Part Time Or Full Time Christian

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!