Stand In Awe

Of God

“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you

are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:15-17)

Luke Warm?

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen,

the faithful and true witness, the beginning of

God's creation.” (Rev. 3:15-17)

See Jesus!

 Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of

Him. (Psalm 33:8)

God’s Awesome Nature And

Lukewarmness• The Creation: God Is Glorious! – The creation all around us constantly testifies to us about the

glory of God - God is awesome! (Psalm 19:1-6)– A glimpse into God’s glory through His creation (Gen. 1:1-31)

• His greatness is too great to fathom – See how vast the creation is! • God’s purpose surpasses our imagination – See His wisdom & design• God’s power is beyond comprehension – Spoke it all into existence!

– God saved the most glorious part for last… God created us in His own image and likeness (Gen. 1:26)

– Be amazed by God’s glory in His creation, but don’t forget that we are the apex of that glory! (Psalm 19:12-14) – Reflect

that glory by living in His image and pursuing His likeness!

God’s Awesome Nature And

Lukewarmness• Leviticus: God Is Holy! – Leviticus… Why? What’s the point? Why is God so concerned

with details? Doesn’t it seem quite meaningless? – Leviticus shows us that God is holy. Its instructions build an

appreciation of God’s holiness in men (Lev. 11:44-45)• Egypt had left a bad mark in their hearts and minds – See golden calf • Holiness: Separation, devotion, consecration, and purity (don’t do + do)• Leviticus 19:1-4 Be holy because God was holy… This issue of holiness

was about relationship and fellowship… people God could be with

– God’s commands were tied to their holiness. • Even giving was about learning “devoted to God” (Lev. 27:11, 28)• Learning what it meant to be pure, devotion, set apart, special, sacred

God’s Awesome Nature And

Lukewarmness• Leviticus: God Is Holy! – God was building an appreciation for “sanctuary” (Lev. 19:30)

• Tabernacle – More than a tent Gold, alter and laver, veils and separation, the people camping around the tabernacle

• God’s dwelling place among the people – This was God’s dwelling place… God was there… It had to be a special and set apart kind of place

• This was “My Sanctuary” – A place “holy devoted to God”• It wasn’t just about a tent… it was about what God wanted His people to

be for Him. They were His sanctuary. A people “Holy Devoted”

– God is Holy! If we want His fellowship & relationship, we must be passionate about holiness too… SANCTUARY! (I Pet.

2:4-10)

God’s Awesome Nature And

Lukewarmness• Job: God Is Powerful And Providing! – Place yourself in Job’s situation – Suddenly losing everything.

He perseveres and won’t give up on God (Job 1:21-22) but he oversteps the line in wanting to question God (23:1-7, 38:1-3)

– God’s first questions: Were you there when…? Have you…? Do you know…? Job is silent! (38:4-5, 12, 16, 34-35, etc)

– God’s second questions: Can you…? Job is overwhelmed by his inability to control God’s “pets” (Job 40:15, 24; 41:1-5)

– Job isn’t as much about human suffering as is it the nature of God. God is in control and does what is right! (Job 42:1-6)

God’s Awesome Nature And

Lukewarmness• Malachi: The Majesty Of God! – One of the first places lukewarmness manifests itself is in our

worship – no desire for it, no passion in it, finally we just quit– Malachi prophesied to a people whose lukewarmness in their

worship was dishonoring God (Mal 1:5-14)• Powerpacked words: Magnified! Great! Dreadful! Lord of Hosts!• Like Isaiah’s description of the majesty of God (Isaiah 6:1-3)• Their worship left a different description of God – One of commonness,

unholy, not very special at all. They treated some men better!• Worship was polluted, burdensome, not serious, weariness, half hearted,

and without any real sacrifice on their part… Just shut the doors!

– What does our worship reflect? How MAJESTIC is God in our sight? What are we saying about God? (Psalm 96:1-9)

God’s Awesome Nature And

Lukewarmness• The Throne Room of God: The Almighty God! – Imagine being in the presence of an important, famous, or

powerful person? The Whitehouse or Buckingham palace…

– John is given an even greater glimpse… He is given a tour of the palace of God – God’s throne room (Rev. 4:1-7)• John uses incredible imagery… normal words don’t reflect the splendor! • Notice how the word “AROUND” gets repeated… God’s throne is in the

center of everything… everything revolves around His throne• A timely message – So much was uncertain and unraveling for these

people… They could see the Almighty God ruling on His throne

– In God’s presence: Worship, singing, bowing, amazement– We live in the presence of God , but do we live out His presence? The

Almighty God is ruling, but is He ruling our lives? Is God at the center?