Level Up 2012 - The Wake Up Call

This week we embarked on a new journey as a church; a journey to “Level Up!” Now I don't want you to get the impression that I am not satisfied with our church – I think we have an awesome church! However, it is a fact that human beings have a tendency to fall into patterns, and if we aren’t careful we can allow our Christian life to fall into routine as well.

It might look something like this:  Wake up, do a devo, go to work, come home, have dinner, watch TV, play a little ball with the kids, maybe surf the internet (or the waves) some.  Then Sunday morning comes we go to church, sing a few songs, say a few amens, go grab some lunch, and do it all over again!

Now there is nothing wrong with having patterns:  Eating regular, exercise, sleep, praying, study & meditate, these are good patterns to develop in our life. But if we aren’t careful we can pattern ourselves right into mediocrity. 

One of my favorite passages is in Revelation chapters 2-3, where Jesus is assessing seven churches: The ‘loveless church’ of Ephesus, ‘persecuted church’ of Smyrna, ‘compromising church’ of Pergamos, the ‘corrupt church’ of Thyatira, the ‘dead church’ of Sardis, the ‘faithful church’ of Philly... (anyone from Philly?)

But interestingly Jesus reserves his harshest correction against the ‘lukewarm church’ of Laodicea:

These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. (Rev 3:14-16)

I think it’s interesting that there isn’t any blatant sin on the part of the this church, but because they are 'lukewarm,' Jesus says He will vomit them out of His mouth. Interesting term.  To vomit is the forceful expulsion of something from the body that is making the body sick. Apparently this church is comfortable, they have money, it probably looked like a great church from the outside.  Matter of fact, if a person went to that church they might think “this place is happening!”  But in fact Jesus says they are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” And the saddest part? They don't even know it! 

However Jesus’ final solution is not to vomit them, or expel them from the kingdom, but He urges them to repent!

I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. (Rev 3:17-19)

In a way, I can relate to how this church had become lukewarm.  We have such a blessed life here in the US.  For many of us times may be hard, but hard times for us is living like a king compared to the 80% of the world’s population that lives, literally, hand to mouth. Because of our ease of life, it is easy for us to fall into a pattern that can start looking like the church of Laodicea. We become self-focused, self-serving, and we might even forget that there is an entire world around us that will die and go to hell without Jesus Christ!

I for one do not believe that the church, the body of Christ, YOU AND ME, were ever intended to settle into an easy pattern. Our call is not to become relaxed and try and set up the best quality of life we can afford. Our call is to reach the world with the life-changing gospel message of Jesus Christ. To make disciples, raise up other believers who are equipped to do the same.

If you look at the early church in Jerusalem, man that church was on fire! After Jesus left they were spending time in prayer, the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were speaking and preaching with power and authority! People were getting saved in droves, and the church was growing every day.  The saints walked in the supernatural gifts; the sick were healed, lame men could walk again, blind men could see again, people lives were being changed! They were rocking the city of Jerusalem!   The gospel was changing how they lived, how they interacted, it changed the very social fabric of the community.  The church sold everything they didn't need, and brought it to the apostles to be used to spread the gospel. It was so viral that in Acts 17 when Paul and his outreach team came into Thessalonica, the leaders exclaimed, “They are turning the world upside down!” (Acts 17:6).

I believe part of my role as a pastor is to encourage the church to wake up, to rise up and live out our Christian life in the way that God intended it to be.  Yes, it may be a little crazy, a little radical, a little on the edge; it might even get a little weird! But I believe that we, like the early church, should have a vision for reaching our city, and even beyond with the life-changing gospel message of Jesus Christ.  I believe we are called to walk in the fullness of the incredible gift that God has given us: 

• Forgiveness of our sins
• Inclusion in the family of God
• Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit
• Equipped with unique spiritual gifts
• Given a call and a purpose for our time on this planet

That is the heart behind this series:  That we would look closely at the word of God, seek the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction, move in the power of the Holy Spirit, embrace the gifts He has given each of us, and live out our calling as a church and as individuals.

Stay tuned church, it’s just beginning!

Pastor Clay