Revelations 3:15-16 - Lit!

 

Revelations 3:15-16

 

NKJV

“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. 

 

NLT

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 

 

Laodicea has the unfortunate distinction of being the only church which receives no positive commentary, whatsoever. Sardis barely earned a hollow reference to a good reputation. Laodicea is charged with being spiritually inert: lukewarm, rather than either hot or cold. This evokes the disgusting sensation of room-temperature water in one's mouth. Jesus heavily criticized this church for being arrogant and apathetic. Rather than being spiritually passionate, they are passive. Instead of being cold, meaning they are more likely to respond to the gospel, they are just familiar enough with God to brush Him off. Jesus still offers a chance for repentance—but He describes Himself as "outside", knocking at the door and expecting them to answer. (Bibleref.net)

 

This morning it was 21 degrees, with a wind chill that put it at 5, at my house. I’ve been in colder places, but it’s been a while. I forget what the cold feels like…it’s been a while since I’ve been in this kind of cold. It got me to thinking about my relationship with the Lord. Man, I always want to be white hot for the Lord, but I’ve been guilty of letting the world wear me down sometimes. And it’s during those times I’ve been a little lukewarm. And to be honest, a “little” lukewarm is a bit like “just a little pregnant”. You are or you aren’t!

 

Spurgeon said, “If you really are God’s people, then serve him with all your might; but if Baal be your god, then serve him. If the flesh be worth pleasing, then serve the flesh; but if God be Lord paramount, then cleave to him.” 

 

There is no middle ground; no fence sitting.  The devil owns the fence, let’s always remember that. Because if we’re sitting on the fence, then we’re lukewarm. And if we’re lukewarm…Jesus said He would vomit us out of his mouth.

 

If you’ve ever vomited (I know, gross subject), then you know once you’ve started…it’s all got to come out. There’s no shutting it off or slowing down. When Jesus vomits us from His mouth, we are out! Completely out!

 

Let’s not be cold or lukewarm, because those get us into the same place. Let’s be hot; on fire; or as I heard a young lady say this weekend, “Keep the fire lit!”

 

Lit,

Pastor Cory

Mathew 6:9-13 - Prayer and Practice

Mathew 6:9-13

 

NKJV

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

 

NLT

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

 

Is prayer difficult? I remember my old friend who was an English teacher. She always said such eloquent prayers. She said more, and more correct, words in her prayers than I said all day most of the time. It was so intimidating! Unfortunately, it also led me to think that I had to pray like that; that my cry to the Lord had to sound the same as hers.

 

To be clear, that’s foolishness. Prayer is not meant to be difficult or uncomfortable. We make it that way because we sometimes think that we must speak well to be heard by God. In these verses Jesus gives an outline, explaining the right attitudes and components of prayer. It begins by addressing God as Father, declaring His holiness, and asking Him to accomplish His plans on earth. Then Jesus models requests for daily food, forgiveness of sin, and deliverance from temptation and evil. Seems simple enough, doesn’t it?

 

So don’t make your praying difficult. Speak to God like you would speak to a friend. If you struggle with prayer, then use the PRAY acronym to start with:

 

Praise – Worship Him. Acknowledge the greatness of God (You can do this thru music or words)

Repent – Confess your sins and ask for forgiveness.

Ask – what are your specific needs and desires? For your church, others, and yourself.

Yield – Surrender control and submit yourself to God.

 

Praying doesn’t have to be hard; it just needs to be often. Will you start today? As my friend Pastor Jack says, “you need the practice and I need the prayers”.

 

Praying,

Pastor Cory

 

Galatians 6:7-8 - Love One Kernel

Galatians 6:7-8

 

NKJV

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

NLT

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.  Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

 

“Those who insist on trying to be made righteous before God by the effort of their flesh in following the law will harvest "corruption" or death. In a similar way, those who plant only the seeds of their own sinful desires will also harvest death. Only those who plant God's Spirit, by faith in Christ, will harvest eternal life” – Bibleref.net

 

Up in western Canada they have these huge wheat fields.  Literally section upon section upon sections of wheat. They produce 12% of the world’s wheat. They plant (sow) these huge fields because they expect a big return. In these fields they plant one seed in each little hole they make in the ground (to be clear…they have huge planters that plant hundreds of seeds at a time…But only one per little hole) and that seed produces a plant that has multiple kernels on it.

 

So, here’s the math:

1) Wheat plants, on average, develop about five heads.

2) Each head, on average, develops about 22 kernels.

3) There are an average of 16,000 kernels per pound (727 plants)

 

To me, the lesson here is that what we do and say matters. What we sow in our lives matters. We can affect so many lives with what we pour into others. If we just use the math above, if we pour into and pray for one person; that could possibly affect 700 other lives in the ripple effect. Conversely, if we have a bad experience with one person; that same ripple effect can happen in the wrong direction.

 

I used to tell the students that I taught that all our actions have consequences, good or bad. God will not be mocked. He is just and fair, make no mistake. If we start running down a road that God has told us not to be on…and we get on it anyway…God will let us roll and face the consequences of our actions. And quite possibly we will have a ripple affect that affects others.

 

What we say and do matters…live like it! Pick one person to be kind to today.

 

Love one kernel,

cej