Who is Lukewarm?
“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)
No one ever thinks the harsh word of exhortation is for them… Surely, it is for some other person or some other church. But recently, my pastor spoke from the pulpit to our sincere and GOD-fearing church that we are luke warm.
And he is right. For if we do not fully surrender our lives, our prayers, our time, our hopes: to the fullness of GOD’s blessed Holy Spirit, then surely we are luke warm.
Where does the warmth come from?
Passion lies within us; the power and presence of Yehovah spring from the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to save sinners, but he left so that his Holy Spirit would come and indwell those same sinners who were repentant and faithful (John 14:25-27). Tongues of fire came upon those who were waiting for “something” to happen in the Upper Room after Jesus ascended to Heaven (see Acts 2:3).
The Presence of GOD
The Holy Spirit dwells within those who follow Jesus. But the Holy Spirit is not a passive “it”. He is a person, albeit without form, who is available to us to teach, comfort, convict, empower His children. He comes via His spirit to fill ours. As we surrender to the Father, He enables the Holy Spirit to fill us with His presence. It isn’t a one-off at Salvation. It isn’t once and only. But we need to keep going back to the Father for infilling, just as we need water to drink, food to eat, rest for revitalisation.
More of Him; less of me!
As I ask, yield, surrender, wait up on the LORD, He renews my strength (Isaiah 40:31) and fills me with His glorious, peaceful, and powerful presence.
But only if I allow will there be room for Him. So I rest in Him, I be still in Him, I trust in Him; I make time and space for Him.
Am I luke warm?
I don’t want to be luke warm. I would prefer to love Jesus and behave as though I do. So, I am choosing to move forward and I am choosing to take my call to speak to you dear reader:
May I encourage you to go beyond luke warm to hot for GOD’s Word, for His son and for His truth. The Holy Spirit will come as we submit fully to Him. Then, when we reach out to all those people who are within our sphere of influence, they will see a transformation; they will know that we take our faith very seriously, not only in word but also in deed.
We are called to fulfil our purpose in Christ Jesus — Messiah Yeshua. Hallelujah! But we cannot do it without Him, and so, as we rely on Him, so He will come.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26)
“Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:32)
“I indeed baptised you with water, but He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:8)
“… but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark 3:29)
“But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 13:11)
“John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptise you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16)
Amen.