Lukewarm? Dead? No way! The last thing I want someone saying about me is that I'm lukewarm or dead when it comes to my walk with the Lord. That's exactly what is said to the church in Sardis, "you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead" and the church in Laodicea, "because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." Ouch!
So let's think a little bit about our walks. What does or should an "on fire" or "alive" walk for the Lord look like? Do you know someone like this (or maybe you're one)? What are they doing that demonstrates their love and dedication to the Lord? Tami W.
P.S. Thought you might like to see these cool stickers (see the picture in today's blog) that the staff at Back to the Bible put in their office windows, car windows, doors, you name it to help remind us to be on fire in our walk.
Can an " on fire" approach not be one of a more internalized demonstration of Gods recognition by His daily aknowledgment in various situations we incure whether they are easy or difficult situations? I think at times its easier to do more outwardly reflections of our " fire" and I question my intent at times with these. Does not the Holy Spirit help us with our ability to make daily expression of this "on fire" approach both inwardly and outwardly?
An "on fire" or "alive" Christian is someone who mentions God in every conversation of their life. I'm in college now but I remember Lorraine. She was an "alive" Christian. In class discussions, she never feared or hesiated to mention God. Lorraine neither offended or watered down the word of God. She had guts even in a room of atheists and agnostics.
I think a hint as to what it means to be lukewarm is found in v.17: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing." I think when one becomes complacent or comfortable in one's walk is when we need to wake up. God talks about sending discipline to allow someone to go through the fire in order to find out the true meaning of being rich.
The other verse that caught my attention is v.20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door..." The traditional way we hear this used is that it is directed to an unbeliever, but reading it in context, it's meant for the believer!
An "on fire" walk is one full of praise and thanksgiving. There's something about what praise that shifts things in the supernatural realm, moving you to naturally change your disposition. When we praise, the Bible says that the Lord comes to dwell in our midst. Knowing that fact alone, fires me up. Because even when I don't know what to do, I still know how to praise. Even when I don't know how to feel, I know how to praise. Even when I don't know what to think, I know how to praise. Knowing that God is everything I'm not keeps me fired up!
I pray for all of you as I type these words of comment and of reflection. I just finished the online survey that is on the Back to the Bible page. It is a tremendous survey to reflect and to search your heart. I hope that you all would accept the invitation to take the survey, for personal reasons. It allowed me to reflect and to gain an understanding of this passage. This is probably my life verse. I accepted Christ as my personal lord and savior July 18 of this year. I thought before that I was a "Christian" but I know now that I was truly "lukewarm". I would say that I was a Christian but I knew that I did not have him in my heart. David this comment is directed to you. Before I thought that I was on fire and that I would love to boast about my "faith" and tell others of the Word. I had a head knowledge of Christ but my heart was not in it. Now I realize that being on "fire" means that it comes from within and radiates out. If we have the Light of Jesus by the Holy Spirit there is no way that we cannot do otherwise. I pray for all of you and I pray for myself never to boast about being saved to others, but just living the life that God has set before us using the Holy Spirit to guide us. For it is not about us, it is for the glory of God the Father through the gift of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, by the Holy Spirit. Thank you Back to the Bible for your wonderful ministry. Tami I pray for you and your family, and thank you for the powered by Four ministry.
Hi: this is a true story. Our church made a missions trip from n/ca to Mexico. We were in a caravan of church vans, each team named their own team/van. One of the teams named their van "on fire for the Lord" At camp that first night,each team gave a little testimony along with their team name. When it came to the on fire for the Lord team, they explained that their van had caugth on fire and burned up on the trip down. They truley were on fire for the Lord! However, the Lord provided them with another van.(They changed their name) Praise God. Chris. just a little humor
I love the sticker. Where can I get one. I pray for all. Yes a wonderful Bible study. I want to be a radical on fire for God. I think sometimes I might be lukewarm. But Praise be to God through God's grace he helps me to realize I need to step it up. May I say Boast about the Lord Our God. Justin just change the thoughts and words to ministering to others your testimony.
For all those wondering about the Lukewarm stickers, we actually designed them for our staff and then had them printed at a local company. Tami W.