And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know thy works, that you are neither cold nor hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:14-16
Continuing to read to the end of the third chapter of Revelations we see a pretty accurate picture of today's average American church. Jesus speaking says because you say I am rich and increased in goods, I have need of nothing. Jesus says because of the abundance of your material possessions you can't see how spiritually destitute you have become. He said you have become blind to the fact that you have lost your fire and the Greek word for spue ( em-eh'-o ) translates "to vomit" means Jesus says you losing your fire makes me want to puke! Are you as fanatical about Jesus as when you were first saved? Sadly too many have become too educated and sophisticated to get excited about the goodness of God.
Fire is seen to represent the POWER, the PRESENCE and the PURITY of God. In Genesis 3:24 a flaming sword blocks entrance to the garden. In Exodus 3: 2-10 God appears to Moses in a fiery burning bush that is not consumed. In Exodus 13:21 the pillar of fire warms and leads the Israelites in the desert. In Leviticus 6:13 God orders a perpetual fire on the alter to denote His presence.
Read 1 Kings Chapter 18. Because of the terribly wicked reign of King Ahab and his wicked heathen queen Jezebel there is a three year drought in Israel and the prophets of God are blamed and being systematically slaughtered. At Gods leading prophet Elijah challenges Baals prophets to a showdown on Mt. Carmel. " let the God that answers by fire be worshiped as the true God' Baals prophets call on their God all day long with no result. Elijah calls on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel and He answers with fire. Both Deuteronomy and Hebrews declare "Our God is a consuming fire" Fire thus can be representative of the POWER, the PRESENCE, and the PURITY of God. I don't know about you but I want MORE of ALL these in my life.
Losing the Fire: Two of the things I have found that quench the fire of God in our lives are pity and plenty. Joyce Meyer says " you can be pitiful or you can be powerful but you can't be pitiful and powerful at the same time." After Elijah's great victory at Carmel he runs in fear from Jezebel and gets tired running and sits down under a juniper tree and throws himself a little pity party. I'll tell you a little secret I know from experience. If you want to have company in your pity party don't invite God! While full of compassion He will show up and end your party by revealing the WAY OUT of your dilemma. You might as well just skip the pity party and keep believing and confessing greater is He that is in me; and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Swing out over hell, spit in the devils face, and challenge him to take his best shot. cause your God is a consuming fire. Revelations says we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. We can't go under for going over!! Well I've preached ME happy! Then on the other side of the coin or the ditch on the other side of the straight and narrow road are those who lose their fire because of "plenty". Back to our beginning text Revelation 3 verse 17. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I council thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich;..... Spiritual things are more important than physical. The older I get the more I realize how short life here in the flesh is and how long eternity will be. 2nd Cor.4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. Physical things are temporary and subject to change. God surely is not opposed to you having "things" He just doesn't want the "things" having you. America today in general, not totally, but generally is a nation obsessed with the "things" of life. We should have learned, through recent events, that the stock market, the money markets, retirement plan promises, government promises, etc. etc. are subject to change and to let us down. Now the economy is slowly recovering again and God is put back into the co-pilot seat again for the umpteenth time. I've yet to see a hearse pulling a u-haul (think about it!) A rich man once died and someone at the funeral asked me, "How much do you think he left?" I calmly turned and said "all of it" Kathryn Kullman said " One short life will soon be past, only things done for Christ will last." I would rather be on fire for Jesus and lead one child to Christ than own half the world with a string on it. Who knows that kid could be the next Kenneth Hagin or Joyce Meyer! We need to get our priorities straight and settle down for the battle at hand, and fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life, and let the stuff take care of itself! Did I hear an amen out there?
In conclusion, Hebrews 12:1-2 says "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus, The author and finisher of our faith....." It's time to cast off the works of darkness, to renounce the hidden things, to repent of ungodliness, to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us. It's time to put aside the cares of this world, the lust for riches, and the lust for other "things" and no longer be just a church goer. It's time to be on FIRE for God, and be filled with His zeal. Pursue what God wants you to do. Pursue serving the Lord. Don't be satisfied any longer just to live and make a living, Don't just float through life letting circumstance and the tide of life control you. Stir up the gift of God on the inside of you, stoke the fire inside of you and be bold and bravely proclaim you are proud to be identified with Christ ,proud to be identified with the Holy Spirit, and proud to be identified with the Word. I am looking for revival and my advise to you is get in, get out, or get run over. God bless you friends and " stay on fire for the Lord" the benefits are out of this world! Yours, In Him, Jim
Volume 1 number 2 October 2003. All rights reserved but share this all you want
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WORLD For JESUS