Do-Over: From Indifferent to Inspired

Man who lost his job… wife had died… had to leave the daughter with a neighbor… Pastor offered money… but the man just wanted a job… Pastor Hank did the best he could to point him in the right direction and promised to pray for him

Mary came home… Pastor finished… talking over dinner about a man who showed up at the school

Next morning was one of those Sunday’s when the pews were full… most important people in town… the mayor, the doctor, business folks, Pastor Hank went on inspired with big words like propitiation, atonement, and missional living

After the choir was just standing to sing the closing selection when they young man stood up in the back

He began… I’m not drunk and I’m not crazy, and I am perfectly harmless, but if I die, as there is every likelihood I shall in a few days, I want the satisfaction of thinking that I said my say in a place like this, and before this sort of a crowd.”

Went on to explain his situation… no one in church moved… he wasn’t offensive.. .more like he was there to honestly get clarity.

3 days… no sympathy… not blaming anyone, just confused sitting here… what is meant by following Jesus. What do you mean when you sing “I’ll go with him, with him, all the way?” Suffering? Denying yourself? saving the lost?What do you mean by it?

In His Steps Chapter One

I see the ragged edge of things a good deal. I understand there are more than five hundred men in this city in my case. Most of them have families. My wife died four months ago. I’m glad she is out of trouble. My little girl is staying with a printer’s family until I find a job. Somehow I get puzzled when I see so many Christians living in luxury and singing ‘Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee,’ and remember how my wife died in a tenement in New York City, gasping for air and asking God to take the little girl too. Of course I don’t expect you people can prevent every one from dying of starvation, lack of proper nourishment and tenement air, but what does following Jesus mean? I understand that Christian people own a good many of the tenements. A member of a church was the owner of the one where my wife died, and I have wondered if following Jesus all the way was true in his case. I heard some people singing at a church prayer meeting the other night,

‘All for Jesus, all for Jesus,

All my being’s ransomed powers,

All my thoughts, and all my doings,

All my days, and all my hours.’

and I kept wondering as I sat on the steps outside just what they meant by it. It seems to me there’s an awful lot of trouble in the world that somehow wouldn’t exist if all the people who sing such songs went and lived them out. I suppose I don’t understand. But what would Jesus do? Is that what you mean by following His steps? It seems to me sometimes as if the people in the big churches had good clothes and nice houses to live in, and money to spend for luxuries, and could go away on summer vacations and all that, while the people outside the churches, thousands of them, I mean, die in tenements, and walk the streets for jobs, and never have a piano or a picture in the house, and grow up in misery and drunkenness and sin.”

At about that moment, the man collapsed… bumping against the altar.

For a moment, everyone froze, still processing what they had just seen. A couple of people scrambled to help the young man. Pastor Hank would take the man to his home.

Pastor Hank would spend the entire week with this young man, even though he was unconscious. Pastor and Mary cared for him. They were able to get word to his family and they were on their way.

Early the next Sunday, as Pastor Hank was getting up to put the finishing touches on his message for worship, the young man died.

Needless to say Pastor Hank was moved… he cast aside his notes and preached from the heart as he reflected on knowing this young man for a little over a week.

I closed, asking his church… what does it mean to follow Jesus?

Put out a challenge… that ever decision we make for a year would be made with faithful consideration of WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

After the choir sang their closing hymn, he invited all who felt the Spirit move to take the challenge, to stay after… half the church remained, including many who you would never think would have taken that step… the book goes on to explain how this year went in their town and church…

1896 Pastor, Charles Sheldon: In His Steps—More than 30 million

I wish this never happened in a church. But the reality is,with time, our tendency is to take things for granted. But every now and then, we get a wake up call… a break in the normal day to day life as we know it that pushes us to change…

We don’t like change.

That’s why we have to be pushed into it.

Do-Over: Inspired living…

Worship passionately, Love extravagantly, and Witness boldly.

That means we need to eliminate some things from our lives that have developed over time.

I’m talking about things we wouldn’t claim to have in our lives because they are so obviously out of character with how we understand the christiian life, but as we work through these, I bet one of them just might get to you… things like Spiritual Indifference, Hollow Worship, Hypocrisy, Pride

Spiritual indifference: apathy, disinterest, or lack of enthusiasm.... not being opposed to the things of faith… just not that into it… not willing to endure, persevere, withstand… Small group - eh. Church - eh. Generosity - eh. Serve on Sunday - eh. take part in a ministry - eh.

Not new our generation. WE saw it in Pastor Hank’s Church. We can assume that it was a problem in the author’s church.

WE know it was a problem for JOhn Wesley… that was the whole reason for his starting the Methodist movement.

In fact, the problem goes all the way back to the start of the church.

In the book of Rev, Jesus included a message to 7 churches. Now these were 7 real churches, but they also represent a bunch of others. We are going to look at these 7 churches to learn from them as we begin this new season of life for our church… in a do-over. we are going to see the things that Jesus would warn us about and i pray we can take seriously as we begin a new season of church.

So I’m starting at the end… the 7th church. It’s in Rev 3:14-22

Rev 3 14

Revelation 3:14 NIV

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

Laodicea: wealthy city, medicine, education, trade… 3-4 decades before Revelation written the city had been destroyed by an earthquake. But sparing no expense, they rebuilt the city… and they did more than rebuild.

They were one of the first “build back better”.

Theaters, Stadium, Lavish public baths, Shopping centers. (Vegas, Dubai)

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Everything was great in their do-over except one thing… they were like Rock Hall… Their water system was full of problems.

Number one problem was that they didn’t have enough local water. Wells were really deep. Too deep for ancients to dig.

Instead of building the city closer to sufficient water… they were smart enough to figure things out… they just built where they had always been… no need for change… but as the city grew, what water they had proved to be insufficient.

They had to pipe water in from other cities, 2 in particular: Colossae or Hireapolis

10 miles - Colossae cold (Mountain),

6 miles - Hireapolis—Hot Springs.

Both had purpose—Cool and refreshing—Hot—Medicinal.

By the time the water got Laodicea—Dirty, Tepid—Lukewarm.

Jesus used this reality to describe the church there as well.

Revelation 3:15–16 NIV

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

You are Stale, you are bland. Jesus is saying you have lost what made you unique as my church. You have allowed your surroundings to change you rather than you changing your environment.

Doesn’t just Break my heart—Turn my stomach—Spit you out.

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For JW… this drove him to start a renewal movement in the CoE. He saw the church as going through the motions without any real passion… conviction of sin… compulsion to reach the lost… They came to church, yet were spiritually indifferent.

So… this is something we need to be aware of… and if any way possible avoid in our lives… what causes it?

Root causes of spiritual indifference:

There are many causes of spiritual indifference… but let’s just look at a couple of them.

The first one is something that our culture teaches us is to be applauded… it’s something our nation really encourages.

Root causes of spiritual indifference: Self-Sufficiency

For the church in L. they had all they needed.. .people came to them… they were the destination, they always had been.

I’m good: Coffee, iPhone, Amazon Prime

Revelation 3:17 NIV

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

You have worldly wealth—Spiritually bankrupt.

Lives are full of stuff—Empty of meaning.

It’s not real self sufficiency… it’s perceived.

We start to believe we can rely solely on our own abilities and resources. This leads us to a mindset that we are actually self-sustaining… we don’t reeeallllllyyyy need help or guidance from others, even God himself.

God wouldn’t expect us to rebuild the city closer to a better water supply… we’ll just bring the water to us.

Self - Sufficiency is one cause of spiritual indifference, another is

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Root causes of spiritual indifference: Distractions of this world

Just this morning… praying and reading through … distracted by a thought about one of our horses… wasting time scrolling on the internet...

Jesus told a parable of how a farmer planted seeds and some of the seeds never produced fruit because of the weeds that are allowed to grow up with the crop actually begin to choke out the spiritual fruit.

Mark 4:19 NIV

19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

It’s not hating the things of God… it’s not doing the wrong things… It’s not that we don’t want to be a part of his mission… but we get distracted… we have Bills to pay. Places to be. People to meet.

Dishes—Laundry—Kids to practice—Oil change—PTA.

Focus on everything… focused on nothing.

No only do we have so much to do…

But there is Sooo much that needs to be done…

Save the unborn. Improve our schools. Rebuild our town.

WE don’t have what we need… overwhelmed

“Feeling numb isn’t the absence of feeling—but the sensation of feeling too much at once.”

This is where a little bit of Jesus—proves to be a problem. Because we think that a little Jesus will be just enough but all a little Jesus does is make us think we are going to feel better about things… only to discover Not so much…

Problem with root causes… important to know and understand… but they are under the surface… How do you know if this is a Spiritual indifference is a problem for you? How dose spiritual indifference present itself?

Detecting spiritual indifference.

1. We’re more concerned w/impressing people than living for God.

2 Timothy 3:2 Lovers of self

Jesus— Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all people speak well.

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2. We’re obsessed with life on earth rather than eternity.

What I have over what I’m called to do—

John 12:25 Loves world, love father not in.

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3. We rationalize sin and live without truly fearing God.

Romans 3 leaves no doubt that sin is a problem to all men… but they we explain our sin away… it’s not as bad as others—Not hurting anyone—One thing.

Say: Selfishness isn’t big. Everyone gossips. Only looking at porn. it’s not adultery, it’s an affair…

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4. We believe in Jesus, but we rarely share our faith.

Matthew 10:32 Jesus said if you testify about me before men, I’ll testify for you before the Father —But if you don’t… I won’t

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5. We only turn to God… only when we need him.

Rather than seeking him daily—We seek him when he benefits us.

I can tell you, as a father, I love my children. Especially now that they don’t call asking for stuff all the time… problem is they don’t call as much any more.

If I see that God has become a tool we use when we need—Not a God I fear and worship… I might be dealing with a case of spiritual indifference.

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6. We’re not much different from the world.

Watch same movies, Enjoy same music, Same morals.

Before long—Raise kids same way—$—Divorce as often.

To sum it all up… John gave a great warning.

1 John 2:15–17 (M:BCL)

15 Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. 16 Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. 17 The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—

Indifference doesn’t just break Jesus’ heart

Makes him want to vomit.

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So maybe one or two of those spoke to you… you thought yep, that’s me… what do we do?

How can we fan our spiritual flame?

Inspire your spiritual fire

Well, there are lots of things you can do… but you probably know most of these…

List: Word, Pray, Witness, Fellowship, Give, Worship, Turn from sins

and if you find yourself feeling somewhat uninspired you probably aren’t investing in them on a regular basis anyway

So what can you do?

One thing you can do starting today that will make a difference.

One thing we as a church can do that will make a difference in our approach to discipleship…

Do something every day that requires faith.

When relationship with your spouse starts getting old what do you do??? Spice it up… get some flowers, go on a vacation, put the kids to be early… live into the relationship.

We do things that put our attention on THEM

Same with our spiritual relationship… when we notice it getting too one sided we pay attention to the other even more. We do things that put our attention on HIM.

· Stand up for something even though I know I’m going to be mocked.

· Give when it’s a stretch for me to give—trust God.

· Apologize to someone—Forgive when you don’t feel it.

· Volunteer to pray out loud at next small group. (Go to small group)

· Reach out to someone that God put on my heart even though.

· Expose yourself to something that breaks your heart.

· Pray for something that’s impossible.

· Attempt something you could never do without God’s help.

Scripture teaches us that Without faith—Impossible to please God.

John Wesley wrote in “Thoughts Upon Methodism” :

I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.

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Lie most believe: Easier not to care. Better to not get involved.

Truth is, it’s better to hurt for a purpose than to live without one.

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If this message finds you saying I’m a believer— but over time I’ve become indifferent. If today you are Lukewarm.

I want to tell you that today is a day to be thankful

Jesus says in Rev 3 19

Revelation 3:19 NLT

19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

That’s what repentance is… it happens when we become aware of a problem in our lives that we turn from it… I don’t know who this is for today besides myself, but today is a day to turn from indifference and turn to inspiration.

To live an inspired life is a choice.

Everyday, choose to do something that requires faith

· Im going to live more concerned w/what God is calling you to— than what people might think about you.

· Suddenly you are living for what lasts—rather than for what doesn’t.

· Instead of rationalizing sin—Confessing—Holy—Power.

· You are bold in Spirit—People are amazed by your boldness.

· You turn to God when you need him—Daily—Moment by moment.

· You are different—you are a follower of Christ.

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Some of you here today came in not a Christian… maybe you looked the part, but it wasn’t real… But that verse in Rev 3:17 struck you…

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’

But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked…. Rev 3:17

It’s like the blinders have been taken off… you see youself for what you are

Not I a follower of X—Wretched. Pitiful. Poor. Blind. Naked.

Not changed by his love/grace.

Today is the day…

Jesus closes this section with a powerful verse that we will come back to again and again… but hear this today.

Revelation 3:20 NIV

20 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 that person, and they with me.