Lukewarm & Loving It - Francis Chan — From the Pulpit & Classic Sermons

Welcome to from the pulpit and classic sermons each week. We bring you a different message from some of history's greatest speakers in the Christian faith and powerful sermons for modern preachers, too.

This week we have Francis Chan with his message lukewarm and loving it, you know.

The Strangeness of Lukewarm Christian Living

Sometimes we'll look at another place and we'll go that's weird that they live that way. No, it's weird that we live this way. We're the weird ones. You know you guys some of you could probably go. Oh, it's weird.

Our pastor's Chinese. No, it's weird that you're not. You Know sometimes it's like we get into this world. Where we just think I mean you guys are. You know, it's it's we get in this world where we just think gosh, you know, the way they live is so strange.

No, the way we live is so strange. I mean, isn't that crazy that if there were a hundred people in the room and you got your computer and your internet connection, you Know how they would just look at you like whoa.

You're one of the three people that has all of that. The $2 $2 a day over half of the world here's two dollars. Two dollars. I Show you something. Look at you. Did you see that? They just kind of go only that one dollar bill touched me.

Close it back. There's probably a couple more on the ground from the last two services. It's just. No one's reaching for it, you know, I'm gay. I guarantee you No one's gonna leave here today and call their friends go.

No way. Francis threw out two dollars but do you understand that the Majority the majority of the world would look at what I just did and think that is crazy. Most people would go. I can't believe he just did that.

And no one even reached for it. 53 out of a hundred live on that per day. Now maybe if I threw out two $100 bills, maybe someone might have reached out a hand. Because that's more like a day's wage for us, right?

You know $200 a day, you know, you make about four grand a month that that's about a day's wage. Now isn't that weird. I mean, how does that hit you to think that you make 100 times 100 100 times. The amount of what the average person on this planet makes.

That over half of the people you make a hundred times what they make. If you make four grand a month, I don't know if that's weird or it's weirder that you don't think you're rich. You know how everyone else in the world would look at this.

They would just go no way. Do you know how strange it is to the rest will imagine if you're one of those 53 out of the hundred and you look at some people that are making a hundred times what you make and You hear them complain about money.

You guys have you ever stopped to think how the rest of the world looks at us. We are so weird. We are so Filthy filthy filthy rich and yet most of you would say that you're not. And I'm hoping to change that today.

I'm hoping you can walk out of this room like I do and go man. I am just a loaded. I am just absolutely rich beyond imagination. You know because that's the way the rest of the world looks at me and we've got to accept it.

We're rich. That's my point. You don't like to think of yourself as rich, but you are so rich and Yet some of you would call yourself broke. And the rest of the world just look at you and go man. What an idiot.

You're stressed out about money you're stressed out about 30 years from now the point is you're rich. I'm rich and that Puts us at a very serious Disadvantage spiritually what the Bible says what Jesus says is You you you're rich, and that's a huge disadvantage for you.

Wealth as a Spiritual Disadvantage

Jesus says it is so hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. So we thought riches were this great advantage. Oh, it's so cool because look at all I have all those poor people over there, and Jesus goes ooh.

You're at such a disadvantage because you're rich it is so hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Now how hard it is? You know people have said you know Francis you're always talking about the poor over there and caring for them.

Don't you care about the people that are spiritually poor and I go yeah that that's why I'm in Simi Valley. Not only we're the richest people in the world, but you talk about security. Let's let's live in the safest city in the world, too.

Who do you think it's hard? Who do you think on this planet? I? Think the toughest people to reach are right here in this room the richest safest secure people on this planet. Jesus says in Luke chapter 18 where he says it's hard you guys we in this room.

We're at a serious disadvantage. Luke chapter 18 he talks to a person who has wealth talks to one of us. Luke 18 verse 18 a certain ruler asked him good teacher. What must I do to inherit eternal life, okay?

So there's this rich man who wanted to go to heaven right? That's us. That's why you're in this room, right? You're a rich person that wants to go to heaven. That's what we have in this room. That's what we have in the satellite room.

The satellite room we have rich people who want to go to heaven and they're always late for church. Kidding you guys. I know some of you guys go in there to make room here and thank you for that the rest of you.

You're just late. Luke 18. Here's here's a rich young ruler comes to God and comes to Jesus good teacher. What must I do to inherit eternal life? Verse 19. Why do you call me good Jesus answered? No one's good except God alone.

You know the commandments don't commit adultery. Don't murder. Don't steal. Don't give false testimony. Honor your father mother. Verse 21. All these I've kept since I was a boy. When Jesus heard this he said to him you still lack one thing sell everything you have and give to the poor and You will have treasure in heaven then come follow me.

When he heard this he became very sad because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God? Indeed, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Those who heard this asked who then can be saved and Jesus replied what's impossible with man is possible with God. God tells this rich man. Just just tell everything you have give to the poor and the guy's like.

And he just went away sad. He couldn't do it. And Jesus goes off. It's so hard. It's so hard when you're rich Enter the kingdom of heaven because you actually think your riches are worth something. I'm like, I don't know if I could give them up because you just get so clouded.

It's so hard because it'd be easy for me to to cram a camel into the eye of a needle. Then it is to get a rich man into the kingdom of God, I mean, I've been studying this passage for 20 years. I mean, I've read this backwards for I've heard so many sermons on it explaining every piece of this or that.

After 20 years of studying I'm just going you know what I know what this means now I Finally figured out what Jesus was trying to say when he says it's hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. You see what Jesus was really trying to say was that it's hard for the rich To enter the kingdom of God.

I I'm convinced of that. You see we sometimes we we dissect the passage so much that we're just blinded to what it's obviously saying. He just look in the rich guy going man. It's so hard. Do you understand?

This is this is one of the hardest places in the world to tell people about Jesus. For them to get it. Because we're so rich and so comfortable. And he says it's impossible. He goes, you know what? It's impossible.

It's impossible for the rich to get into heaven. That's how hard it is. He goes but with God it is possible. It's impossible from a human level, but it can't happen. It can't happen. That's why I'm here.

I go. You know what? It's not going to be easy. It's not going to be probable. But by the power of God some of you could go to heaven. You see because he if you keep reading, you know, then the disciples go well we left everything verse 29 first verse 28.

We left all we had to follow you and Jesus says I tell you the truth. No one who's left his home wife brothers sisters Parents children for the sake of the kingdom will fail to receive many times as much in this age and in the age to come.

Zacchaeus and the Joy of Surrender

You keep reading. Jesus predicts his death and he he gives a blind beggar his sight and then in chapter 19 What happens he'd look at the story very important. Chapter 19 verse 1 Jesus entered Jericho and he's passing through and a man.

Was there by the name of Zacchaeus? He was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was it being a short man. He couldn't because of the crowd so he ran ahead. Climbed up a sycamore fig tree to see him since Jesus was coming that way remember the story and.

Then when Jesus reached his spot he looked up and said to him Zacchaeus come down immediately. I must stay at your house today. So he came down at once. Welcomed him gladly and all the people saw this and began to mutter.

He's gone to be the guest of a sinner. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord look Lord. Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor and if I've cheated anybody out of anything I will pay back.

Four times the amount Jesus said to him. Today Salvation has come to this house. So here's a wealthy man and what happened that day salvation. What happened that day the impossible a rich man? Jumped out of a tree and said Here take my money here half goes to the poor and the rest of it.

Who did I rip off here four times whatever I ripped you up? I don't care about money anymore. Jesus just invited me in. Jesus wants to dine with me. Look Lord, you know what? I don't care because I found this treasure now.

So all my other stuff. It doesn't matter. I give it all away and Jesus. Okay, he got it. See I told you the rich can enter the kingdom of heaven. It's it's near impossible. But with God all things are possible and it happens salvation has come to this house you see.

The kingdom of heaven is not like the rich young ruler who said man. I got my wealth. He's telling me to give it to the poor. I Don't know man. He went away sad. The kingdom of heaven is about a little man who jumps out of a tree and goes man.

I don't care about my stuff. What is the kingdom of heaven like the kingdom of heaven is like a man who finds a treasure in a field, right? And and he sees this treasure it's so great that he covers it back up and he goes man.

Let me just get rid of everything else I have because I want that field so badly. He doesn't have to sit there and think about it. Go man. I don't know if it's worth it. It says with great joy. You found you get it.

You see that the treasure is that great that I don't even have to think. This isn't compared. This isn't a let me weigh it out. What's more valuable with great joy. Let me just sell everything I have and get this field with great joy.

I I don't do you ever picture that he is slowly climbing down the tree and going. All right, I guess I'll give some to the poor. I feel kind of guilty about it anyways. Or if I ripped you off, I'll pay you back.

He's that you just picture this little Dane DeVito guy going. Oh, you know just jumping and here's all my money. You know, here you go. And and anyone I ripped off if I don't care cuz I've got God. It's like this treasure.

That was so great. See, but that's so rare. You see because money does weird things to people. It just does. I've heard people say that many times. Haven't you heard that here a statement we use that statement man money does weird things to people.

One statement I have yet to hear in my lifetime. Money has done weird things to me. It's always someone else, huh. You guys money has done weird things to us. Money has done very weird things to us. Accept it.

False Security and the Wealthy Church

See Jesus says the thing with money is it gives you this this false sense of security. You start feeling safer the more you have. Rather than finding your security in God. The more you have the less you're inclined to believe that your needs are.

Jesus wrote these seven letters to the churches in the book of Revelation. He writes to these seven churches and one of them was a pretty wealthy one. And when I read the letter, I just go wow, that's America.

This is a letter to the church in America. It freaks me out how similar it is. I know exactly what I'm talking about the church in Laodicea in Revelation chapter 3 verse 14. It's it's it's crazy when you read this you go man, that's so us and That's scary because it's not a nice letter.

He says in Revelation 3 verse 14 He says to the angel of the church and Laodicea right? These are the words of the Amen the faithful and true witness the ruler of God's creation verse 15. I know your deeds that you're neither cold nor hot.

I Wish you're either one or the other. So because you're lukewarm neither hot nor cold. I'm about to spit you out of my mouth. I'm not again I'm not going to go deep into the Geography and tell you about the history of this and because I think sometimes we miss the point of passage By getting too into the details and that's especially true in this passage.

It's simple. Jesus says to this church, you're not hot. You're not cold. You're just kind of lukewarm. Just kind of casual about me. I feel like just spitting you out of my mouth. You make me gag. It's it's not like a hot cup of coffee.

It's not like a iced mocha. You're just like this lukewarm coffee. I sip it by accident. Just oh, that's disgusting. He goes. That's what I think of your church. Because you're not fired up about me. You're not on fire.

You're lukewarm and A lot of it is because they're rich. You see it in the next verse verse 17. He says you say I'm rich. I've acquired wealth. I don't need a thing. Something guys. I don't need a crutch.

I'm doing fine. He goes, but you don't realize that you're wretched pitiful poor blind naked. I Counsel you to buy from me gold or find in the fire so you can become rich and white clothes to wear so you can cover Your shameful nakedness and salve to put on your eyes so you can see See this church.

They were kind of laid-back about God because they didn't feel like oh, I'm depending on God. God Give me this day my daily bread. That's not us the last time you're like Oh God. Give me something to eat today.

No, it's like I don't really need God for my food. I really need God for my home. I don't really need God to give me money for the rest because I got my whole retirement set up. And I've got money to leave for my kids, so they don't even have to depend on God.

I mean none of us really need to depend on him for daily necessities. He goes it creates this sense of security to suddenly you feel like you're not a needy person. Because no one on the right mind would look at you and say wow you're needy those people in Simi Valley.

They're so needy. And God says they don't get it. They really are the needy ones. They're actually ones that in my eyes are wretched pitiful poor blind naked. It's disgusting. Because of their view of me because they're not on fire.

The Danger of Loving Lukewarmness

To be on fire for God right now. See my concern is that some of you in this room many of you I'm not judging. I'm just saying that you would probably say it about yourself that you're lukewarm. If I were to ask you okay, are you on fire for God right now?

Are you lukewarm? I think a lot of you would say you're lukewarm. What concerns me more than the fact that you're lukewarm is that some of you would say yeah, I am lukewarm. And then you'll walk out the door and you'll do nothing about it.

What concerns me the most is That some of you are lukewarm, you know, you're lukewarm, but you want to be lukewarm. You've planned your life out this way. You you've got enough God in your life. It's not like you don't you don't want to be on fire.

I Mean I look at the majority of the American church. They don't want to be on fire. They want a little bit of God. Of course, they want God. I want a little bit of God. I mean, it's good. It's good for my kids.

It's good to give them a little bit of morals. It's good to you know, learn to give a little bit here and there serve a little bit. But I've got enough of God. I don't have enough money. I don't got enough stuff.

I don't got a big enough house. I need more of that. But I think I've got enough God in my life right now. And it's crazy. Not only are you lukewarm, but that's the goal. You're lukewarm and you're loving it and you hate for anyone to challenge you to be on fire for God.

So we're content here. It's the craziest thing. Do you understand this passage? What is lukewarm equal? Spit out. Well, what does spit out mean? I mean, you know, can you explain that? I Need to. What do you want?

I mean, it's this idea of spit out and people have asked well, does it necessarily mean that if I'm lukewarm? Then I'm going to hell. Because if you're spit out of his mouth, can you be spit out of his mouth and still be saved?

And I'm going well, you read it. Look at the words. Okay, you're wretched. Pitiful poor. Blind are these words that you normally use for a believer? I Was blind but now I'm blind. You know it. No. No, these are on but these are people who aren't safety because if you get it You won't be lukewarm.

This isn't about work salvation. It's not about okay if I work enough then I'm suddenly on fire. No, I'm saying if you get it the kingdom of heaven is a person goes. Whoa, you're kidding me. Okay here.

Here's everything. I'm getting this treasure here. It's not about a person going I don't know that's pretty good. That's pretty good, too I don't know what I want. There's God. There's the world. There's God.

There's I don't know God says Oh you you you make me want to gag. So so you're looking at me. Okay, the maker of the world and then you on this little planet. You're looking at this little house here in this little car and going man I don't know if I can give that up or retirement for a few years and You Comparing me the Creator the one who made the whole world who spoke it into existence and you're going.

Oh, I don't know if I can give out this little thing on this piece of dirt for him. He goes that makes me sick. You make me want to gag. I just want to spit you out of my mouth. See your riches have so blinded you that you think this stuff is good.

You don't see it as dung. It's a big pile of crap and you don't get it. You think it's actually good. It's all this great stuff. You've been blinded by it. He goes and that just makes me sick. God looks and he goes man.

You're comparing me to this. You're wondering if I'm valuable enough. Man, the kingdom of heaven is a guy that just goes. Duh, are you kidding me? Let me just sell everything. So about a guy that jumps out of the tree and goes forget it.

I can have God. He goes, but these people that are lukewarm that that's just repulsive. That's just sick to me. See my concern is that people will see themselves as lukewarm because we do this in church all the time.

Yeah I'm lukewarm and Then ten minutes later. You're gonna forget about it and move on in life and I just go. What else is there to think about. Okay, so so you understand what lukewarm is. So you're gonna be spit out of the mouth of God you you just go.

Okay. I go man. You shouldn't do anything until you figure out How to be on fire for God you should be down on your face. You shouldn't eat again. Until you come before God and just fast and pray God get me on fire.

I'm not on fire. You got to get me on fire for you. I want to be in love with you. I got to see how valuable you are compared to all this other junk, you know, get me here. That should be all you care about.

Don't go to work tomorrow if you're lukewarm. Man, sell your house. Just move live in the do whatever it takes. You can't end your life lukewarm. Do you get that? I Mean why why are Jesus words so strong?

He says in the next verse verse 19, why does he say it so harshly. Verse 19 those whom I love I Rebuke and discipline so be earnest and repent. Why is God saying I love you. I don't want to spit you out of my mouth you understand I Love you, and that's why I'm speaking so harshly.

I'm rebuking you he goes and I'll discipline you too. I'll have things happen in your life to get your attention. Because you're lukewarm. And if you end this way, I'm just gonna spit you out of my mouth because that's disgusting.

It's repulsive to me. You make me gag when you when you question whether I'm worthy of Everything and you compare me to your stuff and your false security your idols. I was trying to think about this passage this week and say, okay.

How does this relate because I want everything to be about love your neighbor as yourself. How does this relate to that and Jesus. I tell you this because I love you and. So I said, okay. What what do I?

What am I supposed to say to Cornerstone Church was most loving thing? I could say to you this morning, and I thought long and hard about this. It's not going to sound pretty. But I believe it's the most loving thing I could say to you this morning.

The Warning of Judgment and Self-Examination

I have this haunting fear. That many of the people that attend Cornerstone Church. Even if you've been coming for years and you grew up in the church or whatever else. I Have this fear that some of you.

Possibly many many of you Are going to hell keeps me up at night. I read the Bible and I go man the kingdom of heaven's like a guy that just sold out. Is that what we have here some of you are. I know you are.

But I have this other fear of. Like people that like being lukewarm. And people that are there. Do you understand the reality of what I said? I'm talking about hell. Have you heard that word so many times that you just have grown numb to it eternal punishment?

It's like what in the world am I doing up here then? And again, I sure hope you don't see this as well. Francis up there judging the congregation saying he's saying I'm not saying that. I'm saying I'm willing to bet some of you would leave this room and say it about yourself that you are lukewarm.

Meaning you're going to be spit out of the mouth of God and cast into the fires of hell. That's all I'm saying is what you would say about yourself. And it blows me away that some of you you won't do anything you see because to me I just go.

Whatever God I got to get this right. Yes. Why do you think I left the church in June? You guys write these email. Oh because you're mad about this. No, I told you why I left because I wasn't sure about myself.

I don't even know if I'm a person that really wants the will of God. Sometimes I could call you. What do you think that suddenly? I'm just oblivious to all the riches and everything I get caught I get sucked in to Simi Valley of This comfort secure happy little Disneyland world we live in and I get attached thinking.

This is my home. This is the home and God just think come on. That's not your house Man I get sucked in by this awesome little family and how cute my kids are how much I love them and oh I couldn't bear to lose one.

You know, it's it's like no God and Again I had to go caught in my lukewarm. Am I a man that even wants your will. I've gotta be right about this Man and I've said God anything anything cuz I see the treasure now.

Just give me that give me that if you have to take everything else away, you know. What if you have to take with all my stuff, it's just stop if you need to take my family away. It's just a family I'm talking about God.

I Gotta have this and Sometimes I get clouded by the riches and the security that we have here and that's why God is gonna be hard for you. And I will do anything I will leave that that's what I'm hoping.

I just show I'm out of here if I can't pull it Off here. I'm leaving. Maybe I'm just not strong enough I'd love to think that I could be that man here that lives in this crazy rich safe Environment and still could care less about all that security and have my eyes focused on God.

That's what I want to be. I'd love to be that example here. But if I can't then I'm out of here. I I'll sell everything and just just live amongst the poor. Maybe I'm just not strong enough to really have my eyes on God here.

But I got to keep fixed on him. I got to be on fire. I'll do whatever I'll jump ship. I am NOT going down with the ship. You're saying wow, you're a terrible captain. I'm sorry as much as I love you. I love myself far more and I'm talking about my own salvation here.

And again, it's not about works. It's not about earning it. It's just you know, you ever you ever like when someone's struggling someone becomes a new believer and let's say their struggle is Is is drinking and you just say you know what?

Maybe you should just get out of the bar for a little while. Because maybe you're just not quite strong enough to handle it there, you know, and just not wise. You know, I've got a sickness and it's this it's called comfort.

Security riches and maybe I'm just not strong enough to handle it here in the safest city in America. You know and so maybe just not wise for me to be there. And so I got a I got to watch myself and go man if I can't do it because this is all that matters.

It's everything. I hope you're that serious about this. Jesus says in verse 20 next verse. He says here I am. I'm standing at the door and I'm knocking if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I'll come in and eat with him and he with me and then verse 21.

He says to him who overcomes I'll 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 has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Overcoming the World by Seeing Christ's Glory

See Jesus. Look I'm knocking on the door. He goes I'm saying this because I love you and I don't want to spit you out of my. I'm not gonna go. Please let me in. Let me in. I'm greater. These are greater riches.

Just look at it. The other stuff is dumb. It's garbage compared to me. Trust me. It's so much better here. He goes not only if you overcome and by overcome. Overcome this lukewarm. You see the Bible says that there's this huge road that leads to destruction.

There's a huge lukewarm road that leads to destruction. It's broad. Everyone's going there because but there's a few people. Because there's also this narrow road and few people will find it very few that are rich very few from from Simi Valley.

Very few but they'll find it and they're gonna go against the flow. They're gonna find and if you're one of those that overcomes, you know, this flow that's going this direction. You're going no, I see the treasure.

I see Jesus. I'm gonna walk to that. I don't care if everyone's gone. I got the treasure in mind. I'm going toward that goes if you overcome he goes. I'll give you the right to sit on my throne with me.

You know, what's awesome about that is in the next verse in chapter 4. He said after this I looked up and I saw this door standing open in heaven. What does he see there? He sees the throne of God. We've talked about chapter 4 before remember John gets to go up there and see the throne.

Do you understand a picture? He goes I see this throne and there's this being sitting on it. He's glowing like diamonds and rubies. This is a person. It's God. He's glowing like diamonds and rubies. He's got lightning coming from his throne.

He's got these pillars of fire. There's this roaring thunder coming from this throne. There's this big sea of glass around the throne. There's these 24 men dressed in robes and they're just bowing down dropping their crowns before the throne.

There's these four living creatures with eyes all over their bodies and six wings looking at the throne screaming Holy, holy, holy. He says there's a hundred million angels all bowing down and worshiping at the throne and Jesus says if you overcome you can sit on that throne with me.

You can be on that throne if you overcome. If you can see that throne and go. Wow that or this little world down here. That's why God says you're gonna look at all of that and then just go. I don't know.

If that makes me sick. That just makes me sick. Makes me want to spit you out of my mouth and I will. Because you're trying to find this pleasure outside of me. You think these things compared to me? That's just repulsive.

I've shown you the throne. I'm saying you can sit there if you overcome. You can have me you can dine with me you can be with me you can have true riches. I'll clothe you in white robes. You you'll have it all and the Bible says if you get it.

You'll say I'll forget all this. I don't even care. It was reading Time magazine last week. Does God want you to be rich? Remember that if you saw Time magazines about all these televangelists gone? Oh God wants you to be rich.

Ah, you know riches are good. You know, you gotta strive for you say I'd given to me. I'm just going you know, if you've got the throne you've got God you won't care about the riches. It's not about being poor rich.

It's about I don't care. I don't even think about it. Yeah, if my riches are an obstacle to God that's all I care about. Why do I want anything else. What else do I desire on earth. It's all about the throne.

It's all about heaven. Are you an overcomer. Is that you have you overcome this world? Here's what I want you to do. Yeah, I don't want this to be me manipulating anyone. I want you to be alone with God this morning.

Prayer for Repentance and Spiritual Renewal

I Want to give you some time to pray to God. Because I am not accusing any of you. I say I get scared about this because I don't know but if you go well. You know just because I serve in a lukewarm way and I give in a lukewarm way and I pray in a lukewarm way.

It doesn't mean I'm lukewarm. All right, but you you just come before God and say God am I. Am I on fire for you? Do I really see how great it is to know you and the riches you you have for me? Or am I caught up in all this junk?

I'm give you some time of silence and here's some things. I want you to pray through. I want you to ask God first of all God revealed to me the areas in my life where I'm lukewarm. Can you pray that to God say God show me where I'm lukewarm.

You could probably pray that right? How about the second thing? Would you be willing to say God give me strength in the areas where I'm weak and I'm lukewarm. You want to pray that but here's the real question.

How about that third one? Are you willing to say God do whatever it takes? To get me on fire for you. Whatever that's a scary prayer God if you have to take everything I own away from me if that's holding me back God, please take it away.

Please please please please because I want you so badly God if it's if it's if it's loved ones. Please please please just I gotta be on fire for you. You want to pray that do you see the treasure? Is that great do some time?