:: Pretense of Passion? ::

Are we passionate or are we pretending? - Revelation 3:14 - 22

"These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 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. You say, "I am rich; I have acquires wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rice; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So ne earmest, and repent. Here I am! i stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, i will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. he who had an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Do I want to be where Jesus is? If he was alive where would he be and where would he go?
"As long as I show up and suit up it doesn't matter how I play the game." Would you if you were a maple leafs goalie? A heart surgeon? A christian?

"Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously are rarely considered. That's for the radicals who are unbalanced and who go overboard. Most of us want a balanced life that we can control that is safe and that does involve suffering. As I see it a lukewarm christian is an oxymoron...they are not seen in heaven." - Francis Chan, Crazy Love, pg.68

What would Jesus say?

1. What is the difference between a PRETENDER and a PASSIONATE follower? v.14-15

LETS COMPARE.....

A. PRETENDERS (lukewarm)
-attend church regularly
-give money to church and other charities
-want to be saved from consequences from their sin.
-agree evangelism and discipleship are central
-gauge their spirituality by compating to the secualr world
-serve God to a point
-agree prayer is vital
-study scripture
-focused on goals, joys, treasures of the world
-fight for particular worship forms and ministry traditions they like
-agree that tough decisions must be made
-thankful for luxuries
-do what is necessary to avoid feeling guilty
-continually preocupied with playing it safe
-put confidence in profession and in attendance
-live by sight
-no different from the typical unbeliever

B. PASSIONATE followers (hot)
-serve church regularly
-sacrifice money to the church and other charities
-want to be saved from their sin
-make evangelism and discipleship central
-gauge their spirituality by comparing to the sacred world
-serve God with reckless abandon
-live a life of prayer
-obey scripture
-focused on goals, joys, treasures of heaven
-fight for deeper relationship with the one we worship and for ministry
-make the tough decisions and side with whats right
-investing in luxuries for the kingdom
-do what is possible to please God
-view disobedience to God as the only real risk
-work out their salvation in fear and trembling
-live by faith
-stand out as bright

2, What does jesus tell the PRETENDER? v. 16-19

A. Get REAL!
B. Get SERIOUS!

*Are we prusuing the things of God?

3. What does Jesus promise the PASSIONATE? v.20-22

A. RELATIONSHIP!
B.POWER!