From Lukewarm to Lit: Understanding What It Means to Be Sold Out for Christ

We're continuing our series "Revive the Fire: From Lukewarm to Lit," examining what it means to be truly on fire for God versus settling for a comfortable middle ground in our faith. Today, we'll explore the difference between being sold out for Christ, being lukewarm, and being completely cold toward spiritual things.

The Danger of Lukewarm Christianity

Our key scripture remains Revelation 3:15-16: "I know your works, that you are neither hot nor cold. I 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."
The Greek word Jesus uses for "vomit" is strong - it means to forcefully spew out. This reveals how seriously God takes our spiritual temperature. When examining this passage, we need to apply it personally rather than thinking it's about "the church" in general. The church is made up of individuals - you and me.

What Does It Mean to Be "Sold Out" for Christ?

Being "hot" or "sold out" for Christ means you have surrendered every area of your life to Jesus as Lord. There are no compartments of your life that Jesus doesn't have access to. A sold-out Christian is someone who:

• Has surrendered every area of their life to Jesus
• Is willing to sacrifice anything for the Kingdom at any time
• Lives in radical obedience to Christ regardless of what society accepts
• Accepts God's Word as the final authority in all matters

Historical examples include the early apostles who were willing to die for their faith, missionaries who sacrifice comfort for the gospel, and believers who choose integrity even when it costs them financially.

What Does Being "Cold" Look Like?

Being "cold" means someone has completely rejected Christianity and Christian values. This includes:

• Living in open rebellion against Christ
• Pursuing worldly pleasures without restraint
• Making no pretense of following Christ
• Experiencing the natural consequences of sin

The Dangerous Middle Ground: Lukewarm Christianity

The most dangerous position is being lukewarm - neither fully committed nor fully rejecting Christ. Lukewarm Christians:

• Never fully sell out because they won't pay the price of complete surrender
• Never fully reject Christianity because they maintain enough religion to feel safe
• Create a false sense of spiritual security
• Provide themselves enough religion to quiet their conscience
• Avoid the conviction that might lead to genuine transformation

How Does This Play Out in Real Life?

Let's look at some practical examples of how these three positions manifest in everyday situations:

When Facing a Moral Decision:

- Sold Out Christian: "I will do what's right regardless of the cost."
- Lukewarm Christian: "I'll do what's right as long as it's not too expensive or embarrassing."
- Cold Christian: "I will do whatever I want regardless of what is right."

In Financial Stewardship:

- Sold Out Christian: "Everything I have belongs to God. I am just a steward."
- Lukewarm Christian: "I will give God a reasonable percentage, but I deserve my comfort."
- Cold Christian: "My money is mine to spend how I want."

In Relationships:

- Sold Out Christian: "I will love and serve others sacrificially as Jesus did."
- Lukewarm Christian: "I'll be nice to people as long as they're nice to me."
- Cold Christian: "I will use people for my own benefit."

In Career Choices:

- Sold Out Christian: "God's will comes first, even if it means less money or status."
- Lukewarm Christian: "I will serve God as long as it doesn't hurt my career."
- Cold Christian: "I pursue success regardless of ethical concerns."

Why Is the Middle Ground Spiritually Dangerous?

The lukewarm position is particularly dangerous because:

• It creates a false sense of spiritual security that doesn't actually exist
• It provides just enough religion to quiet your conscience
• It avoids the conviction that might lead to genuine transformation
• It's unstable with no firm foundation to stand on during trials
• It's unproductive and produces no significant Kingdom fruit
• It creates a weak witness to unbelievers and fails to transform communities

The Battle Within Us

We all face an internal battle between our spirit and our fallen nature. Paul describes this beautifully in his letters. Most of the time, the steps we take appeal to our fallen nature rather than following the Holy Spirit's leading.
The first sign of deliverance is admitting there's something wrong. Many of us live in denial, thinking we're doing our best and God accepts that. But God is calling us to a higher standard.

Life Application

This week, I challenge you to:

• Take a deep, honest look at your spiritual temperature. Are you truly sold out for Christ, or have you settled for a comfortable middle ground?
• Identify one area of your life where you've been keeping God at arm's length. What would it look like to fully surrender that area to Him?
• Make a commitment to submit to God's Word as the final authority in your life, regardless of what society or your own desires might say.
• Ask God to ignite you with His fire. The only thing missing in many of our lives is the fire of God.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I creating a false sense of security by maintaining just enough religion to feel comfortable?
• What areas of my life have I compartmentalized and kept Jesus out of?
• If my faith were put to the test, would I stand firm or crumble?
• Does my life produce significant Kingdom fruit, or am I spiritually unproductive?

Remember, this isn't about feeling bad about being lukewarm. It's about recognizing where you are with God and understanding He's calling you to a higher calling. The same fire that ignited believers 2,000 years ago is available to you today.