Hot or Cold - Not Lukewarm.

I love to take long, hot showers. There is nothing better in life than a hot shower. I may be giving away too much information here, but I'm a morning shower person. I love standing under the pounding spray of hot water each morning because it completely awakens me and gets me ready for the day ahead. Did I note that I said hot water? However, lukewarm was the shower experience I had this morning. It was not cold or hot, just lukewarm. Despite how I turned the knob all the way to hot, it was lukewarm. While many say that it's best to shower in lukewarm water, I'm not a very big fan of lukewarm. This is how Jesus feels about some of us, and it’s annoying to Him when we are lukewarm. Just as I don't care for lukewarm water, Jesus is not pleased with lukewarm Christians'.  Just look at what God tells the Laodicean church. In Revelation 3:15 -16 he says, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

In Revelation 3:16, this verse addresses three different spiritual temperatures: hot, cold, and lukewarm. Question, when you hear the words hot, cold, or lukewarm --- where does your mind directly take you? So that we are all on the same page as we think about these three words, may I suggest that we use them as a means of examining our relationship with God. When it comes to our relationship with God our temperature matters to Jesus, and believe it or not, we fall into one of three categories…hot, cold or lukewarm. However, we never need to fall into the lukewarm category. According to Adrian Rogers "Lukewarmness is that state of being a little too cold to be hot and a little too hot to be cold; no fire, zeal or enthusiasm for the things of God."  In Christ’s letter to Laodicea, the Laodiceans were described as neither hot nor cold. They were described as lukewarm. If we are honest with ourselves, we must ask ourselves the question, "Am I hot, cold, or lukewarm?" Any one of us can be hot, cold or lukewarm on any given day, but Jesus would rather that we be either hot or cold (when it comes to our relationship with Him), but never lukewarm. If I can be honest, I know at times in my relationship with God I have felt completely lukewarm. During those periods, I don't feel like spending time in His Word, in prayer, or in worship. But that's when I have to ask God to reset my love and zeal for Him. I have to hit the restart button spiritually in my life. You see, the devil wants us to be lukewarm, and not spend too much time thinking about our relationship with God. But we must not let ourself get there, or let ourself become spiritually lukewarm, spiritually useless, indifferent toward God.

CONCLUSION
All of us have areas in our lives where we are lukewarm. But spiritually speaking, we must not allow our relationship with God to become lukewarm. God is not happy with lukewarm relationships. In fact, Jesus says in His revelation to the Apostle John precisely what He will do with lukewarm Christians: “So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). If this describes you, you don’t have to live as a Lukewarm Christian, you can make peace with Jesus. In Revelation 3:20, God tells us how to open ourselves up to Him: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” None of us are perfect, in fact we are far from it, but we must desire to be hot for Christ, and not be content with being lukewarm.

Ye Must Be Born Again! (John 3:1-7)

Most of us like to celebrate birthdays. Birthdays are important days although we don't like to be reminded of our age, some people celebrate two birthdays a year. That's the day they were born, and the day they were born again. On August 11, 1982 I was born to the proud parents of Albert and Vanessa Bender. I am thankful that God for that day. However, there's an even more significant date that I remember each year, the day that I was born again, on April 10, 2011. To the unsaved, being born again makes no sense, but that's because many people don't have a complete explanation of what it means to be “born-again.”

To understand what it means to be born-again, it is necessary to understand that there are two births. The first birth is the physical birth when you're born into this world from your parents. The second birth is a spiritual birth, which means to be born of the “Spirit”.

In Chapter 3 of John's Gospel, Jesus said “except a man be born again, he cannot SEE the Kingdom of heaven.” In verse 5, Jesus repeated his statement when he told Nicodemus, “You must be born again”. Initially Nicodemus thought that Jesus was talking about a second physical birth (John 3:4). Nicodemus, like most of us was trying to understand how a person go back into our mother's womb and start life all over again, or how can an adult can go back and be born all over again as a baby. But Jesus went out to make it plain that he was speaking of a second birth that was spiritual (John 3:5-13).  

 

What is it to be Born Again?

Being born again is explained by Jesus in that being born again is a new birth. He also called it being saved. Jesus also explained the second birth by saying that the natural birth brings us into the world as a natural person. However, when a person Believe (Hebrews 11:6), Confess Christ (Romans 10:10), Repent of Sin (Acts 2:38), Be Baptized for Remission of Sin (Mark 16:16)  in the name of Jesus --- the Holy Spirit enters that person, and he experiences a spiritual birth. This spiritual birth changes the person on the inside so that it is just like starting a whole new life. Paul said that this spiritual birth makes us become a new person. Ezekiel 36:25-27 prophesied of this spiritual rebirth by saying: A "new heart" and "new spirit" is the promise of spiritual regeneration. "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances".

 

CONCLUSION

The greatest gift that I ever got was when I received the gift of salvation years ago on April 10, 2011. That’s when I was born for the second time! Today I celebrate my second birth, the day I believed, confessed Christ, repented of my sins, baptized in the name of JESUS and received the Holy Spirit. If you want to know more about what I am talking about I would be happy to share with you how you can know for sure that you are a child of God. Remember, every one of us has a birthday because we all have experienced a physical birth. But there’s another birth we all can experience! Jesus talked about the need for each of us to have a “spiritual” birth. He said “You must be born again” (John 3:1-7). Jesus said this new birth is necessary in order to enter heaven. Have you been born again, my friend?

“Don’t Be A Stumbling Block”

But he turned and said to Peter,

"Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." (Matthew 16:23)

What Jesus said must have shocked Peter. He said, “Get behind Me, Satan!” --- But why does Jesus say, “Get behind Me, Satan!” Or, why do you think Jesus called Peter Satan? Jesus called Peter "Satan" because Peter was trying to hinder what Jesus came to do. Because of this, Jesus refers to Peter as Satan, the stumbling block (Matthew 16:23).  

Life is full of stumbling blocks, and they come in varying forms! But, just exactly what is a "stumbling block?" --- A "stumbling block is a cause of stumbling, and the cause could be something or someone that trips us up and gets us off the path. It is not a sin in itself, but something that leads us to sin. Biblically, its anything that lead a Christian brother or sister astray, into sin, or cause that person to fall away from the truth. Although we don’t want to be the stumbling block, and we don’t want them in our life, it’s a given that at sometime in our life, we will come upon many stumbling blocks. However, it's bad enough to stumble over a stumbling block, but it's a worse thing to be the stumbling block over which others stumble. 

However, Jesus warns us that stumbling blocks occur all the time. Woe to the world for stumbling blocks! For it is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes (Matthew 18:7). Truth is, everyone of us can and will cause others to stumble. We might know that we cause someone to stumble, and we might not. But as Christians, we ought not to be a stumbling block to our brother or sister in Christ, to ourselves in our walk of faith with God, and to the world, those around us who are looking on, seeing our conduct and manner of life - we could be a stumbling block to them trusting Christ. In Matthew 18:8-9 Jesus tells us what to do in order to not become a stumbling block,

"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be cast into the eternal fire." Matthew 18:8-9.

CONCLUSION 

Stumbling blocks are inevitable, however, we can and we must avoid being the cause of stumbling to our brother, our self, and to the world. Our attitudes, words, and/or our actions ought not to be stumbling blocks to our brother, our self, or to the world. John also encourages us in 1 John 2:10  by saying, "anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble." We as Christians are personally responsible for our Christian influence. We are either a STEPPING STONE that are leading others to Christ or a STUMBLING BLOCK that are leading people away from Christ. Matthew 18:6-9 mentions that we should in no way be a STUMBLING BLOCK to anyone. Let us be STEPPING STONES! By trusting in God, by following Jesus, we can be stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks. Ask yourself, would Jesus say to you as He said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan?" Let us not be used by Satan by doing nothing, by living for ourself, or by being a stumbling blocks to others.

"These things I have spoken to you, that you may be kept from stumbling (John 16:1).

Conviction yes....Condemnation no!

Are you a Christian struggling with condemnation? Well I have some good news for you! Romans, the eighth chapter begins with one of the greatest promises in all the Bible. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." --- If you have ever struggled with guilt and condemnation as I have, the above verse is for you as much as it is for me. This verse should be a great comfort and assurance to all of us who have experienced the pain of guilt and condemnation after we have sinned. 

 
Now please understand that by that statement Jesus is condoning sin because if there's one thing we know is NOT the will of God, it is sin --- and no matter how much we believe and try to obey, we sin. But we also shouldn't see it as and excuse to cover over our sins and not take ownership or responsibility for the things we have done. But, as Christians, there are two feelings we can experience after we’ve sinned: conviction and condemnation. But, there is a BIG difference between condemnation and conviction. Conviction is from God. Condemnation, on the other hand comes from Satan. Conviction is something God brings to lead us to repentance and change, and condemnation is something Satan uses to deceive, discourage and destroy us. As a Christian, I have struggled with condemnation, guilt and shame in my life...and though we are commanded not to sin, it is not uncommon for us to feel guilty after we've sinned. From my own experiences, I was harder on myself than anyone else ever could be, and Satan would inspire feelings of condemnation and guilt by whispering something like, “You aren’t good enough! You're a mess! You're a failure! You are hopeless! You’ll never change!” ... But, I have learned from a great deal of personal experience that God is not a condemning God! Ever. AND, one question we must learn to ask is: If God does not condemn us, as promised in Verse 1, why do we condemn ourselves or let others condemn us? God’s Word proclaims.....

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death” Romans 8:1-2 NLT

As we see here, we all need to refuse to condemn ourselves because God says to every believer,---“there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  BUT, first, we as believers have to believe that what God says is true. If God says “there is now no condemnation,” then there is no condemnation. The work of the Holy Spirit is not to condemn us; but to convict us of sin. Conviction comes to a believer whose heart IS RIGHT, and has done wrong. They quickly turn and repent. Condemnation comes when a heart is NOT RIGHT. So if we are being drawn closer to God, we are feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit. John 16:8 tells us,

“And when he (Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”

Conclusion
As Christians we will sin, BUT, a real Christian doesn't want to sin! We may stumble, fall, trip, make a thousand mistakes, sin and we do, get off the path, go astray, have a thousand problems, but for the believer in Christ Jesus, there is NO CONDEMNATION because God has said it is so. “For those who are in Christ Jesus, now, today, not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, but NOW, there is no condemnation.” John 8:11 also says: "Neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." Let us remember, condemnation shows us the problem, but conviction shows us the answer!!! God's purpose for conviction is to draw us TOWARD Himself. On the contrary, Satan tries to condemn us in order to lure us AWAY FROM God.

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18) 

Overcoming Fear!

Fear. We all experience it from time to time; and I believe that every Christian, at one time or another has had an issue with fear. It is the single biggest problem that most of us face. Anyone who knows God knows fear means to be afraid). Some of our fears are obvious. Some of us have fear of failure, fear of not living up to some standard, fear of the future, fear of judgment, fear of criticism, fear of man, fear of everything.

I don't know about you, but I have fears to overcome; and when it comes to fears, I tend to avoid the situations or things I fear. But this doesn't help me overcome fear — in fact, it can be the reverse. But another fact we must consider is that fear is also a spiritual matter --- and the Bible has much to say about fear. But the biblical story of Gideon encourages those of us with fears that keep us up at night.

Scriptural example: Gideon

In the book of Judges, Gideon himself had some fear. Gideon as a fearful man hiding from the marauding Midianites in a wine press when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him. ¹¹ Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. ¹² And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”  Judges 6:11-12 (NKJV)
 
As we read about Gideon, we see that he himself had some fear. Gideon feared the Midianites. But God loved Gideon and saw he was fearful, but did not criticize him for his fear. God knew that Gideon was filled with fear because of the enemy. Fear is also one of the great enemies of God's work in our life. Fear is an enemy of faith. But in 2 Timothy 1:7 we read, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." From this verse, the word of God is saying that He has not given us a spirit of fear. If God has not given us a spirit of fear, then someone has. That is the enemy of God. But, later, Gideon finally overcame his fear, in part because he asked for signs that God was indeed speaking to him. Gideon overcame his fear by trusting in God. Gideon, who came from a place of great fear to become the deliverer of Israel. 
 
Conclusion
 

We all have fears. But God does not want us to live in fear. But those of us that live in fear, we can overcome our fears just as Gideon did. The way to overcome any fear is to place our full trust in God. God is worthy of our trust! The Bible is also full of "fear not's" spoken to those who will trust Him. God not only told Gideon to fear not, but he also told Abraham to fear not, for He the Lord, was His shield. God also told Moses to fear not; and He also told Joshua to fear not, but to have courage. Let me also say that God doesn't want us to fear everything, but He does wants us to fear the right things. Having a fear of God is a right thing! The fear of God is good. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10 NKJV).

A New Year, A New You!

At the beginning of a new year, many people all over the world will make New Year’s resolutions. Making New Year’s resolutions takes the New Year seriously as a new start. If you’re like most people, you’ve probably made a few resolutions for the new year. Perhaps, you'll quit smoking, stop drinking, manage money more wisely, spend more time with family, and lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating more healthily. For many of us, we also make spiritual resolutions like to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. While I believe New Year's resolutions are worth making because we all need change --- New Years Resolutions don't do any good if our source of strength is anything other than the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 4:6 declares

“It’s not by power, not by might, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty ”

Here we see it is through God’s Spirit that we are to accomplish our purposes and goals. Every year, probably since I was a teenager, I was determined to do better in the New Year --- to do something or to not do something. I can remember making a list and keeping them a few weeks into the calendar year and then abandoning them altogether. I then quickly realized it was a new year but it was the same old me ... but that was because the Holy Spirit wasn't live within me.

Conclusion
New Year's Resolutions are good things because with a new year come new resolutions to change and better ourselves. But, when we desire change, we have the perfect example to follow – Jesus. When we are ready to implement change we have His Son, His Word, and His Spirit! This is one reason why we need Jesus. When we put our lives into His hands, he comes to live within us by his Holy Spirit and begins to change us from within. He gives us a new desire to do what’s right, and a new power to carry it out. Romans 8:26 tells us, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness”. Last but not least, its important to make sure we invite God to help us change, because with His strength and power we can. Remember Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Jesus can make all things new within us - and continue His work of making all things new through us.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”