lukewarned

Don't Be Lukewarm,

Be Luke-Warned !!

Adapted from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

A Goodsoil Discipleship Lesson - Bro. A. Madonio

Lesson Introduction

What this lesson teaches:

* This lesson could be another lesson in obedience, as it pertains specifically to our Lord's commands regarding "bearing fruit" and witnessing.

* It is vital (eternally so !) that we understand the importance of NOT being a lukewarm Christian. Everything that title implies should be repulsive to you.

* This lesson points a very direct finger in the face of many Christians, and as such, it may be convictingly unpopular. Is that unfair? Better safe than sorry.

Scripture references used:

* Luke 12:47-48; 13:6, 9; 17:10, Romans 10:13-17; 12:11, James 5:12, John 15:2, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 John 1:6, Revelation 3:15-16.

Other scripture that may be helpful:

* John 13:1-17; 15:1-8, Matthew 25:14-30; 28:19, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Timothy 2:1, Ephesians 5:4, Proverbs 16:28, James 2:26

Discussion questions for study:

1. Did you read this lesson in preparation for this week's discussion?

2. Does Luke 13:6-9 hit you like a bucket of water in the face? What does it say to you? What is it telling you to do?

3. Do you feel, as Romans 12:11 says, "spiritually fervent" or is "slothful" more your style? Can you see how being "lukewarm" creeps into your life? Is the danger evident?

4. Have you ever thought that what you do for the Lord is "good enough", that you are meeting the minimum requirements? If you do (or did), does Luke 17:10 ("We are unworthy, . . . we have only done our duty.") send a spiritual shiver down your spine? It should.

5. In Romans 10 beginning with verse 13, do you understand Paul's progression from GO to PREACH to HEAR to BELIEVE to SALVATION?

6. Does becoming eternal firewood seem too radical of a concept? Do you see the sense in it? Is it scriptural? Explain.

7. Can you see why OBEDIENCE to His word is not a burden? Try it, you'll like it!

Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"

USE EM' OR LOSE EM':

You are reading this, it is assumed, because you are a Christian. Good! As such, you have a big job to do. Right now, smack in the midst of your life-long sanctification process, you should be endeavoring to be a "branch in the vine" (John 15:1-8). Your job as a branch in Jesus' vine is to "bear fruit" for God's Kingdom. What that means is that you have been blessed by your Creator with certain individual talents (It's true! You have! Read Matthew 25:14-23), as well as certain spiritual gifts (Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and Romans 12:6-8), that you should use to further the Kingdom of God (Read Matthew 25:24-30).

Sadly however, many Christians today (especially in America) are taking their lives far too casually. They seem to be, as Oswald Chambers puts it, spending far too much time tied to the dock.

Oswald Chambers - "If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the smooth waters just inside the harbor, full of delight, but always moored. If you do not cut the moorings, God will have to break them by a storm."

HEED THE LUKE-WARNING:

Beware! If you've done nothing to be a "servant" to others (John 13:1-17), if your unsaved friends or neighbors haven't been approached by you with some form of the gospel message (Matthew 28:19), if your close associates have never been asked if they have any needs that require prayer (1 Timothy 2:1), if you listen to coarse, dirty joking (Ephesians 5:4) or gossip (Proverbs 16:28) and complain constantly, then you are the one in danger and you need to stop being lukewarm and be LUKE-WARNED!

Never be lacking in zeal (KJV "Not slothful in business"),

but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Are you "spiritually fervent", or do you consider your self "slothful" in a spiritual sense?. If you're leaning towards slothful, then you may be in danger of being a lukewarm Christian.

Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.

Maybe you are of the opinion that living your Christian life on Sundays is adequate - "good enough". You may feel that attending church and tithing is all you are required to do to be "good enough". Obviously, doing "good" things is great - "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:26 - but is it "good enough"? Are "good enough" things all that God has equipped us for?

Circle one of these choices: NO or NO

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,

correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God

may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Could it possibly be true that God wants us to be the very best?

Circle one of these choices: YES or YES

We should again be Luke-warned about our self-righteous thoughts regarding Christian service. Often, when we feel we have done "good enough" in terms of our deeds, we have merely done the "minimum daily recommended requirements."

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say,

"We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty."

Here is the real danger and tragedy of being a lukewarm, Sunday-only, nominal, "good enough" Christian.

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" . . . Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:13-15, 17

Can you see the progression? Paul is telling us to go (be sent) and preach (witness) to those we encounter every day so they can hear and possibly believe and then call on the Lord (salvation) themselves!

If you insist on being lukewarm, then all those people that didn't hear the Word that you should have spoken to them will miss out on something that you were privy to. And if you refuse to be Luke-warned about this whole scenario, you may end up as eternal firewood. You see, you may consider yourself a "Christian", but you may fit into the following category;

If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down. Luke 13:9

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. John 15:2

Does that sound too severe? Too unfair? Do you think this is an overreaction to scripture? Maybe so. Is it worth the risk? You decide. All your choices are free-will choices, even the one that determines how your eternity will be spent. However, don't forget what Jesus said regarding the subject of being lukewarm.

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.

Jesus would prefer to have you turn a deaf ear to Him and completely reject Him rather than to hear, acknowledge, and subsequently scorn Him, preferring to live your life like a cheap imitation of our Lord, being just "lukewarm". Do you still disagree? He gives us another Luke-warning to teach us.

That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:47-48

Knowledge of the gospel message is being entrusted with "much" as described in Luke 12:48 above. If we have that knowledge, we are suddenly "doomed" to the requirements of possessing that knowledge. Doomed either to obey and receive an eternal reward, or to disobey (act just "lukewarm") and become eternal firewood. As in all cases of free-will with God, He believes in the fashionably popular notion of freedom of choice, but He has also spelled out the consequences to your choice.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. 2 John 1:6

Do you love your Lord? If so, you'll do what He says in His Word. If you disobey, the corollary is that you hate your Lord. Is this what you mean? If not, then take heed, and be "LUKE-WARNED", . . . . please don't be eternal firewood!




	Don't Be Lukewarm, Be Luke-Warned !! Adapted from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit A Goodsoil Discipleship Lesson - Bro. A. Madonio




Lesson Introduction What this lesson teaches: * This lesson could be another lesson in obedience, as it pertains specifically to our Lord's commands regarding "bearing fruit" and witnessing. * It is vital (eternally so !) that we understand the importance of NOT being a lukewarm Christian. Everything that title implies should be repulsive to you. * This lesson points a very direct finger in the face of many Christians, and as such, it may be convictingly unpopular. Is that unfair? Better safe than sorry. Scripture references used: * Luke 12:47-48; 13:6, 9; 17:10, Romans 10:13-17; 12:11, James 5:12, John 15:2, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 John 1:6, Revelation 3:15-16. Other scripture that may be helpful: * John 13:1-17; 15:1-8, Matthew 25:14-30; 28:19, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Timothy 2:1, Ephesians 5:4, Proverbs 16:28, James 2:26 Discussion questions for study: 1. Did you read this lesson in preparation for this week's discussion? 2. Does Luke 13:6-9 hit you like a bucket of water in the face? What does it say to you? What is it telling you to do? 3. Do you feel, as Romans 12:11 says, "spiritually fervent" or is "slothful" more your style? Can you see how being "lukewarm" creeps into your life? Is the danger evident? 4. Have you ever thought that what you do for the Lord is "good enough", that you are meeting the minimum requirements? If you do (or did), does Luke 17:10 ("We are unworthy, . . . we have only done our duty.") send a spiritual shiver down your spine? It should. 5. In Romans 10 beginning with verse 13, do you understand Paul's progression from GO to PREACH to HEAR to BELIEVE to SALVATION? 6. Does becoming eternal firewood seem too radical of a concept? Do you see the sense in it? Is it scriptural? Explain. 7. Can you see why OBEDIENCE to His word is not a burden? Try it, you'll like it!



Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" Luke 13:6-9 USE EM' OR LOSE EM': You are reading this, it is assumed, because you are a Christian. Good! As such, you have a big job to do. Right now, smack in the midst of your life-long sanctification process, you should be endeavoring to be a "branch in the vine" (John 15:1-8). Your job as a branch in Jesus' vine is to "bear fruit" for God's Kingdom. What that means is that you have been blessed by your Creator with certain individual talents (It's true! You have! Read Matthew 25:14-23), as well as certain spiritual gifts (Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and Romans 12:6-8), that you should use to further the Kingdom of God (Read Matthew 25:24-30). Sadly however, many Christians today (especially in America) are taking their lives far too casually. They seem to be, as Oswald Chambers puts it, spending far too much time tied to the dock. Oswald Chambers - "If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the smooth waters just inside the harbor, full of delight, but always moored. If you do not cut the moorings, God will have to break them by a storm." HEED THE LUKE-WARNING: Beware! If you've done nothing to be a "servant" to others (John 13:1-17), if your unsaved friends or neighbors haven't been approached by you with some form of the gospel message (Matthew 28:19), if your close associates have never been asked if they have any needs that require prayer (1 Timothy 2:1), if you listen to coarse, dirty joking (Ephesians 5:4) or gossip (Proverbs 16:28) and complain constantly, then you are the one in danger and you need to stop being lukewarm and be LUKE-WARNED! Never be lacking in zeal (KJV "Not slothful in business"), but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11 Are you "spiritually fervent", or do you consider your self "slothful" in a spiritual sense?. If you're leaning towards slothful, then you may be in danger of being a lukewarm Christian. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned. James 5:12 Maybe you are of the opinion that living your Christian life on Sundays is adequate - "good enough". You may feel that attending church and tithing is all you are required to do to be "good enough". Obviously, doing "good" things is great - "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:26 - but is it "good enough"? Are "good enough" things all that God has equipped us for? Circle one of these choices: NO or NO All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Could it possibly be true that God wants us to be the very best? Circle one of these choices: YES or YES We should again be Luke-warned about our self-righteous thoughts regarding Christian service. Often, when we feel we have done "good enough" in terms of our deeds, we have merely done the "minimum daily recommended requirements." So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty." Luke 17:10 FIREWOOD: Here is the real danger and tragedy of being a lukewarm, Sunday-only, nominal, "good enough" Christian. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" . . . Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:13-15, 17 Can you see the progression? Paul is telling us to go (be sent) and preach (witness) to those we encounter every day so they can hear and possibly believe and then call on the Lord (salvation) themselves! If you insist on being lukewarm, then all those people that didn't hear the Word that you should have spoken to them will miss out on something that you were privy to. And if you refuse to be Luke-warned about this whole scenario, you may end up as eternal firewood. You see, you may consider yourself a "Christian", but you may fit into the following category; If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down. Luke 13:9 and . . . He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. John 15:2 Does that sound too severe? Too unfair? Do you think this is an overreaction to scripture? Maybe so. Is it worth the risk? You decide. All your choices are free-will choices, even the one that determines how your eternity will be spent. However, don't forget what Jesus said regarding the subject of being lukewarm. 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. Revelation 3:15-16 Jesus would prefer to have you turn a deaf ear to Him and completely reject Him rather than to hear, acknowledge, and subsequently scorn Him, preferring to live your life like a cheap imitation of our Lord, being just "lukewarm". Do you still disagree? He gives us another Luke-warning to teach us. That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:47-48 Knowledge of the gospel message is being entrusted with "much" as described in Luke 12:48 above. If we have that knowledge, we are suddenly "doomed" to the requirements of possessing that knowledge. Doomed either to obey and receive an eternal reward, or to disobey (act just "lukewarm") and become eternal firewood. As in all cases of free-will with God, He believes in the fashionably popular notion of freedom of choice, but He has also spelled out the consequences to your choice. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. 2 John 1:6 Do you love your Lord? If so, you'll do what He says in His Word. If you disobey, the corollary is that you hate your Lord. Is this what you mean? If not, then take heed, and be "LUKE-WARNED", . . . . please don't be eternal firewood!

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