Fueling Passion: Overcoming Spiritual Lukewarmness

Devotional

Day 1: The Danger of Lukewarm Faith

Just as a Yeti tumbler keeps whatever is poured into it at the same temperature, our spiritual lives reflect what we pour into them—if we fill ourselves with passion for God, that passion will be poured out to others, but if we become lukewarm, our faith loses its power to refresh or restore. Jesus warns the church at Laodicea that being neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm, is so distasteful that He will spit them out of His mouth, showing that half-hearted devotion is not what He desires from His people. Lukewarmness is marked by indifference, lack of zeal, and half-heartedness, and it deceives us into thinking we are okay when we are actually far from the vibrant relationship God wants with us. The call is to examine our spiritual temperature and refuse to settle for a faith that is just “room temperature,” but instead to pursue a passionate, wholehearted relationship with God. [12:08]

Revelation 3:14-16 (ESV)
“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. “‘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.’”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you’ve settled for “just enough” in your relationship with God? What would it look like to turn up the heat in that area this week?

Day 2: Wholehearted Love for God

God’s desire is not for a half-hearted or lukewarm relationship, but for us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength—just as He has loved us with everything He has. Jesus reminds us that the greatest commandment is to love God with our entire being, and anything less is a poor response to the sacrificial love He demonstrated for us on the cross. This kind of love is passionate, all-in, and refuses to be satisfied with minimal devotion; it is a call to return to the fervor and zeal we may have once had, and to let that love fuel every part of our lives. When we love God wholeheartedly, our lives become a testimony of His love and power to those around us. [06:30]

Mark 12:30 (ESV)
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Reflection: In what practical way can you show God today that you love Him with your whole heart, not just with words but with action?

Day 3: Never Be Lacking in Zeal

We are called to maintain spiritual fervor and never be lacking in zeal, even when life is difficult or we feel indifferent. Passion for God is not something that happens by accident; it requires intentionality, effort, and a willingness to “pull up to the spiritual gas pump” and get refueled. The Apostle Paul’s instruction is clear: there are no exceptions or excuses for losing our zeal, and when we feel ourselves cooling off, we must stir ourselves up in faith and pursue God with renewed energy. This is not about hype, but about a deep, Holy Spirit-driven passion that overflows into every area of our lives, from worship to service to daily living. [08:05]

Romans 12:11 (ESV)
“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

Reflection: When was the last time you intentionally stirred up your passion for God? What is one thing you can do today to rekindle your spiritual fervor?

Day 4: Intimacy Over Activity

It is possible to be busy with good works and church activities, yet miss the heart of what God desires: a close, intimate relationship with Him. Jesus warns that many will point to their works—prophesying, casting out demons, performing miracles—but He will say, “I never knew you,” because what matters most is not what we do for Him, but whether we truly know Him and walk in relationship with Him. Serving God is important, but it must never become a substitute for spending time with Him, listening to His voice, and letting Him shape our hearts. God looks beyond our outward actions and sees the true state of our hearts, longing for us to open the door and invite Him into every part of our lives. [22:25]

Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Reflection: Are there ways you’ve been substituting activity for intimacy with God? How can you make space today to simply be with Him and listen for His voice?

Day 5: Continual Dependence and Daily Overcoming

A passionate, victorious Christian life is marked by continual dependence on Jesus as our true source and a daily commitment to overcome anything that would hinder our relationship with Him. The church at Laodicea was warned not to rely on their own success or self-sufficiency, but to come to Jesus for everything they need—faith refined by fire, pure garments, and spiritual sight. This requires true repentance, a willingness to change direction, and a humble acknowledgment that we need God just as much today as we ever have. Each day brings new challenges—pride, apathy, distractions—but as we overcome these by God’s grace, we are invited to sit with Christ in victory, living above our circumstances and walking in the fullness of His presence. [41:42]

James 4:6-8 (ESV)
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Reflection: What is one area where pride, self-sufficiency, or distraction has crept in? How can you humble yourself and draw near to God in that area today?

Sermon Summary

The Yeti tumbler is a great illustration for our spiritual lives: whatever is poured in, is what comes out, and it stays at the same temperature. The question is, what are we pouring into our lives, and what are we pouring ourselves into? Are we keeping our relationship with God hot, or have we settled for lukewarm? God desires that what comes out of us—our words, actions, and influence—matches the spiritual temperature He desires: passionate, wholehearted, and full of life. Too often, we struggle to maintain that spiritual fervor, and it’s easy to slip into indifference, especially when life gets busy or comfortable.

There are three kinds of people in any church: those who are red hot for God, those who are cold and disconnected, and those who are lukewarm—present, but lacking passion. Lukewarmness is dangerous because it deceives us into thinking we’re okay when we’re actually far from the wholehearted devotion God desires. Jesus’ words to the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3 are a wake-up call: He wants us to be either hot (restorative, healing) or cold (refreshing), not lukewarm, which is distasteful to Him. The Laodiceans’ problem was not a lack of activity—they were busy and successful—but a lack of intimacy and dependence on God. Their affluence led to self-sufficiency, and their works became a substitute for real relationship.

God is not impressed by our busyness or outward service if our hearts are far from Him. He wants us to recognize our need for Him every day, to repent of our indifference, and to pursue a close, intimate relationship with Him. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, longing to restore fellowship with us. Overcoming lukewarmness requires daily effort: humbling ourselves, acknowledging our dependence, and intentionally fueling our passion for God. When we do, we become people who carry His life and power, able to refresh and restore others. Let’s not settle for “just enough” in our spiritual lives—let’s be “over-engineered” in our devotion, pouring ourselves fully into God so that what comes out of us is exactly what He desires.

Key Takeaways

1. The spiritual temperature of our lives is determined by what we pour into ourselves and what we pour ourselves into. If we fill our lives with the things of God—His Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship—our hearts will remain hot and passionate. But if we neglect these things, we risk becoming lukewarm, offering God and others something less than what He desires. [01:24]
2. Lukewarmness is not just a lack of activity, but a lack of intimacy and dependence on God. It’s possible to be busy serving, even doing good works, and still be spiritually indifferent. God is far more concerned with the state of our hearts and our relationship with Him than with our outward performance. [21:04]
3. True repentance is more than feeling sorry; it’s a decisive turning away from indifference and half-heartedness, and a return to wholehearted devotion. Repentance is the doorway to renewed intimacy with God, and it requires us to be honest about our spiritual condition and willing to change direction. [37:17]
4. Jesus stands at the door of our lives, longing for restored fellowship and intimacy. He is not content to be on the outside looking in; He wants to sit down with us, share life, and be at the center of everything we do. Our busyness and distractions can crowd Him out, but He patiently knocks, inviting us to let Him back in. [39:30]
5. Overcoming lukewarmness is a daily battle against pride, self-sufficiency, and apathy. We must continually humble ourselves, acknowledge our need for God, and intentionally pursue Him. When we do, we experience the victory and authority that comes from sitting with Christ, and our lives become a source of refreshing and restoration to others. [41:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - The Yeti Illustration: What’s Poured In Comes Out
[01:24] - What Are You Pouring Into Your Life?
[02:47] - The Struggle to Stay Hot for God
[04:14] - Three Spiritual Temperatures: Hot, Cold, Lukewarm
[08:05] - God’s Expectation: Wholehearted Love
[09:51] - The Danger of Room Temperature Faith
[12:08] - Jesus’ Letters to the Churches in Revelation
[14:28] - Personal Testimony: Staying Hot Over the Years
[17:15] - Lampstands and the Church’s Influence
[18:35] - Leadership and Spiritual Responsibility
[20:10] - Jesus’ Warning to Laodicea
[24:50] - The Historical Context of Laodicea’s Water
[27:12] - Losing the Ability to Refresh and Restore
[29:47] - The Call to Be Continually Filled
[31:20] - Recognizing Our Ongoing Need for God
[34:48] - The Cost of Intimacy: Buying from Jesus
[36:09] - Repentance and Real Change
[39:30] - Jesus Knocking: Restoring Fellowship
[41:42] - Daily Overcoming: Pride, Apathy, and Self-Sufficiency
[43:34] - Living Above Circumstances
[44:43] - Over-Engineered Devotion
[47:53] - Prayer for Renewal and Passion
[49:14] - Commitment to Wholehearted Love

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Revelation 3:14-22 (ESV) — > “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.
> “‘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. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
> Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Romans 12:11 (ESV) — > “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

Observation Questions

According to Revelation 3:15-16, what does Jesus say about being “lukewarm,” and how does He respond to it?
In the sermon, what were the three “spiritual temperatures” described, and what do they represent? [04:14]
What does Jesus offer to those who “open the door” to Him in Revelation 3:20?
According to Romans 12:11, what are believers instructed to never lack, and what should they keep doing?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus say He would rather the church be “hot or cold” instead of “lukewarm”? What do “hot” and “cold” symbolize in the context of the Laodicean church? [27:12]
The sermon mentions that the Laodiceans’ problem wasn’t a lack of activity, but a lack of intimacy and dependence on God. Why is it possible to be busy serving God and still be spiritually lukewarm? [21:04]
What does it mean to “buy gold refined by fire” and “white garments” from Jesus, and why can’t these things be bought with money? [34:48]
How does Jesus’ act of standing at the door and knocking (Revelation 3:20) relate to our daily relationship with Him? [39:30]

Application Questions

The Yeti tumbler illustration asks, “What are you pouring into your life, and what are you pouring yourself into?” Take a moment to honestly assess: What are you currently filling your life with? Is it helping you stay spiritually “hot”? [01:24]
The sermon describes three types of people: hot, cold, and lukewarm. Which of these best describes your current spiritual temperature? What evidence do you see in your words, actions, or attitudes? [04:14]
The Laodiceans became self-sufficient and lost their dependence on God. Are there areas in your life where you’ve become self-reliant and stopped seeking God’s help? What would it look like to acknowledge your need for Him again? [31:20]
Jesus says, “Be zealous and repent.” Is there an area of indifference or half-heartedness in your walk with God that you need to turn away from? What practical step could you take this week to change direction? [37:17]
Jesus stands at the door and knocks, longing for restored fellowship. What are some distractions or busyness in your life that might be keeping Jesus “outside” instead of at the center? How can you intentionally “open the door” to Him this week? [39:30]
The sermon challenges us to be “over-engineered” in our devotion, not just doing the minimum. What is one way you could go “above and beyond” in your pursuit of God this month—whether in prayer, worship, serving, or relationships? [44:43]
Overcoming lukewarmness is a daily battle. What is one thing you can do each day to humble yourself, acknowledge your dependence on God, and fuel your passion for Him? [41:42]

Sermon Clips

``God says, I love you like that. I loved you with everything that was in me. Jesus loved you so much that that's what it's even called the passion of the Christ. He loved you so much that he suffered. Come on. The cat of nine tails, the beatings, the crown of thorns, the nails being driven through his hands and through his feet. He loved you so much when he could have called 10 ,000 angels down to deliver him from that. Come on. And get him free from that, that he hung there on the cross of Calvary for you and I, so that the price for our sins, the penalty for our sins could be paid, and we could receive forgiveness and be made right with God. Amen? How many know that's a lot of love? How dare us return to him anything less than a wholehearted devotion and love for him? [00:07:15] (49 seconds) #LoveBeyondMeasure

Passion drives us. Passion for Jesus. Passion for people. Come on. Passion for his church. In other words, we pour our heart into everything that we do. And yet I think many of us face the temptation of living out our spiritual lives more at room temperature. Amen? And can I tell you, there's a real danger of becoming lukewarm. And that danger is this, is that we have just enough heat in our relationship with God to deceive us into thinking we're okay. [00:10:24] (35 seconds) #PassionNotComfort

So you know what that tells me? It tells me just because you're involved in a church and maybe you're serving on the team, it doesn't necessarily mean that you're in a great place when it comes to your relationship with God. Amen? Amen? Because you may well be substituting your doing for building a great relationship with the Lord. Amen? [00:21:45] (21 seconds) #RelationshipOverRoutine

Jesus wants us to be both hot and cold. He wants us to be both refreshing, come on, and also have the ability to bring restoration and healing to the lives of people. That's what we're supposed to be. That's what he intends for his church to be like. But when we become lukewarm, when the works that are flowing from us are nothing more than lukewarm, the Lord says, I'm disgusted by that, and he vomits it out of his mouth. [00:28:11] (31 seconds) #HotAndHealing

Can I tell you, we need to always acknowledge the fact that while we're doing good, we still need God just as bad today as we needed Him the day we came and gave our lives to the Lord. And when I get up here, listen, I've been doing this for 50 years, but I'd never get up here. I've never gotten up here one time whenever I just said, I can do this now. I got this down. I can do this on my own. You know, I can do this. I've never done that one time. I always cry out with some desperation, God, if you don't anoint me, if you don't work through me today, if you don't make my words your word, my thoughts your thoughts, when I get up here, all it is going to be is dead man's bones, and it's not going to have any life. It's not going to have power. [00:32:35] (42 seconds) #DependOnGodDaily

Repentance is a great New Testament word. And it's an act that leads to us entering into everything else that God has for us. But it is, it's really the doorway to all that. If you don't repent, the door's shut, trust me. And repentance is an outward change of heart. Something is said, gets your attention, brings conviction. You realize it. You turn your heart and you turn and you go in a different direction. You turn 180 degrees and you go in a different direction. Instead of going the way you've been going, you go in the direction that God wants you to go in. [00:37:23] (34 seconds) #RepentanceOpensDoors

Can I submit to you the reason we're under the circumstances is because we're not overcoming the things that hinder and interfere with our relationship with God. Because if our relationship with God was everything that it ought to be to him who overcomes all those things, man, you'll sit with me on my throne and all those things will be under your feet and you'll live the life of victory that I've destined you to live in the first place. Amen. [00:44:07] (30 seconds) #OverengineerYourFaith

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