Author: Ray Lane

This Sunday, we continue our series on “The Last Instructions of Jesus” with the 7th and final letter, the letter to the lukewarm church. There will be powerful insights, and I truly think EVERY Christian should be there or at least check it out online. There are some things I will share that will blow you away because they blew me away when I first realized the depth of what I was reading. In these letters, we see all the types of Christians and people that we meet. And here, in the final letter, we get to the lukewarm Christian. Possibly the toughest to point out because they look like good Christians. Yet they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Lukewarm Christians hurt the flock, which is why Jesus says he will “vomit them out of His mouth” Revelation 3:16.

Among other things, we will discuss the danger of wealth and pride. One of the downsides of a church that preaches Success theology (that Jesus will help you become successful and live your best life now) is that those who have money equate their success with proof of their godliness. The thought that creeps in is, “God is blessing me, so I must be doing things right.” And the problem is, they become prideful and hard to reach. Their success is proof, in their minds and the church affirms it more often than not, of their godliness. The lukewarm Christian looks good, gives money, is loved and respected, and has all the outward trappings of a saint. But is actually living a life that is all about them-Jesus is their co-pilot; they are the pilot. And that is a bad place to be. If wealth equates to godliness, then the Apostle Paul would have been a billionaire, but he wasn’t. He had precious little earthly wealth. Success is NOT proof of godliness. That doesn’t mean you can’t be rich and still be godly, but it is VERY hard. Jesus said it was easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get to heaven.

That is harsh, but the more I learn, the more I see Jesus was right. Wealthy people are revered, almost worshiped, and that leads to pride very easily. It leads to a form of godliness, you look good, but are devoid of the power. Jesus says to this church, to these Christians, “I stand at the door and knock” Revelation 3:20. Why is Jesus having to knock to get into this group of Christians’ hearts? Why is He outside? Because if we are not careful, the busyness of life, the endless distractions, the drive to keep up with the Joneses, to have things (pushed by ads every second), will cause us to stay too busy and distracted to let Jesus in. To spend time with Him. The power of a Christian’s life is Jesus. YOU MUST spend time with Him EVERY day. Not just a song in the car, but opening that Bible, reading what it has for you that day, and spending time in prayer with Jesus. If you want true power, if you want TRUE success, which is never measured by money, then spend more time with Jesus each day. He truly is the answer.

Pastor Brian

P.S. This Sunday, we continue our series on “The Last Instructions of Jesus Before He Returns” with the seventh letter, the Lukewarm Church. Come in and find out how to have a better relationship with Jesus Christ. It is NOT work, but a relationship. Let’s get YOUR relationship thriving! If Jesus Christ is coming soon…WHY NOT GET READY?! There is NO downside. Please join us this week…we will have coffee and donuts for you! Be there or be square! 900 Cripple Creek Drive, Lawrenceville, GA. If you can’t make it, check out the sermon on Monday on our website, www.thegreatawarenesschurch.org. 

All the sermons in this series are up there. Enjoy!

Also, my book is finally out, “The Last Instructions of Jesus (Before He Comes Again)”. You can click on this link to order or go online to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. It is a deep dive into Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus’ last words before He comes again. If you have been following our sermons, you are getting a gist of the book, but this book expands and develops these thoughts. Order today, I truly believe it is a book that will grow your faith and relationship with Jesus. So click on the link below and get yours today!

https://www.westbowpress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/867418-the-last-instructions-of-jesus

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“My sheep hear My voice, and I KNOW them and they FOLLOW Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27-28

This verse is often used to support the fact that once you are saved, you are always saved. But we need to look carefully at the conditions…. We must hear His voice AND follow Him, and He needs to KNOW us. The key to Heaven and an abundant life is a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ. Over and over again in Scripture, Jesus warns that in that day, at that final hour, many will come to Him, saying Lord, Lord, and He will tell them, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” 

Many claim that those people whom He says it to were never really Christians, but Revelation 3:5 warns us that He can blot them out of the Book of Life if He does not know them. WOW! That is Jesus speaking, not me. This was a direct letter from Jesus, given to John in a vision, while He was on Patmos in prison. Here He is warning the “Dead Church”, Christians who do not know Him. Christians who said a prayer years ago that was void of repentance, or who got sprinkled at birth, and who are living their lives NOT for Jesus, but for themselves. If you have been taught by “success theology” that God’s purpose is to make you happy, then it is likely you are not fully living for the Lord. When we see God as a cosmic Santa Claus and the church as His elves to help us live our best life now, when the focus is us- instead of Jesus, we are in danger of missing the boat.

God’s purpose is our HOLINESS, not our happiness. He wants to grow us to be more like Jesus. He wants us to have a relationship where we are one with God and the body. The image often used in Scripture is of a marriage, with Christ as the groom and us as the bride. So I ask you, how is your relationship with God? Is it full of trust and love and honesty? Or is it more about what is in it for you? Join us THIS Sunday at 10:30 as we explore what a healthy relationship with Jesus looks like. It is going to be awesome! 10:30 AM, Eastern Standard Time at 900 Cripple Creek Drive, Lawrenceville. Or online at our YouTube channel @thegreatawarenesschurch. If you tried to log on last week and it messed up, try again this week! Hopefully, we have worked out the bugs. Don’t miss this week’s message!!

Pastor Brian

P.S. This Sunday, we continue our series on “The Last Instructions of Jesus” with the fifth letter to the Dead Church. Come in and discover how to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. It is NOT work, but a relationship. Let’s get YOUR relationship thriving! If Jesus Christ is coming soon…WHY NOT GET READY?! There is NO downside. Please join us this week…We will have coffee and donuts for you! Be there or be square…

900 Cripple Creek Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30043. See you there!

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