LUKEWARM!

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord. We thank God for another week. May He grant us the gift of rejoicing in our toil i.e. enjoy our work in Jesus name, amen (Ecclesiastes 5v19)

Primary Text

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.” Revelations 3v14-16 (KJV)

“Write to Laodicea, to the Angel of the church. God’s Yes, the Faithful and Accurate Witness, the First of God’s creation, says: I know you inside and out, and find little to My liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot – far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make Me want to vomit.” Revelations 3v14-16 (MSG)

Imagine a Christian who is hot for God. God knows they are hot. He approves of them. People know they are hot, don’t touch these ones. Imagine the people of faith who have gone on ahead of us. Recorded in Hebrews 11. The 4 Hebrew children – hot (preferring to die than bow down to any other but God); Abraham – hot (leaving his father’s house and land, giving up Isaac when asked); Joseph – hot (fled from his master’s wife’s seduction instead of offending God). Hot, hot, hot. They were men that were probably not without fault, but loved God and had faith in Him, believed Him and went the whole way with Him. Now imagine a Christian, who is cold, you may hardly even know they are believers. When situations come to try them, they may respond in the same vein as unbelievers. There will be no testimony that can be appropriated from their story. Lukewarm people – go either ways. You don’t really know where they stand. Almost like anything goes. As someone said, “oh, you’re a Christian” – that’s the kind of response that they might elicit. Which one are you – HOT, COLD, LUKEWARM? Brethren, we really cannot afford to stay on the fence anymore. If the Lord is God, then follow Him and walk with Him very well. 

Supplementary Texts

“How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.” Hebrews 11v32-38 (NLT)

Prayer

Father, I thank You so much for Your Word. Help me to be hot for You. Rekindle the flame in me. Let my love for Your increase. Fill me afresh with Your Spirit in Jesus name, amen.