Mar
26
Written by:
Bob Flynn
3/26/2009 3:23 PM
G5513 χλιαρός
chliarós; fem. chliará, neut. chliarón, adj. from chliaínō (n.f.), to warm, make warm. Lukewarm, tepid. In Revelation 3:16 the church at Laodicea is likened to lukewarm water, an emetic, something good for little more than inducing vomiting, and is censured for this blighted condition. God expresses His desire that they be cold or hot. This has been frequently misunderstood to mean that God would rather they hate Him or love Him than remain indifferent. However, it would be contradictory for God to rebuke the Laodiceans for not hating Him and to prefer that they recede from indifference to hatred. Rather, hot and cold represent beneficial qualities just as hot water soothes the body and cold water slakes one's thirst. God cannot find any redeeming feature in this church; it is spiritually bankrupt. (Complete Word Study Dictionary, General Editor: Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D.)
I once heard an experienced chef describe the best method for baking a turkey. He explained that the only sure way to determine when the turkey is properly cooked is to insert a cooking thermometer in the thigh. When the thermometer indicates 175 degrees, it’s done. He said, "you can cook it longer but it just dries out the meat, which is why we invented gravy." Jesus Christ is also concerned with the temperature of His Church:
“But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth!...I rebuke and punish all whom I love. Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins. Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they will eat with me” (Revelation 3:16, 19-21 TEV).
Bob Flynn, President/CEO
There are a great many bellwethers in the Christian Faith. Probably the strongest and most ignored is disobedience! According to Arthur W. Pink, in Practical Christianity, disobedience is a result of unbelief and "Scripture depicts unbelief as a virulent and violent principle of opposition to God." In fact unbelief and disobedience are so closely related (same Greek word) that the translators struggle as to which word to render in English.
"...and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief…" (Hebrews 4:6b KJV).
"...lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief" (Hebrews 4:11b KJV).
"...but to them that believed not?" (Hebrews 3:18b KJV).
"...but to those who were disobedient?" (Hebrews 3:18b NASB).
"...that, if any obey not the word…" (1 Peter 3:1b KJV).
"...if any of them do not believe the word…" (1 Peter 3:1b NIV).
"...them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17b KJV).
"...those who do not believe the Good News from God?" (1 Peter 4:17b TEV).
Therefore, in a coarse sense, the fact that I pray is NOT a sign of genuine belief (folks with prayer rugs pray) but the fact that I DO NOT pray is a sign of disobedience. The fact that I am a cheerful giver is NOT a sign of genuine belief (Bill Gates is a philanthropist) but the fact I DO NOT give is a sign of disobedience.
"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB).
"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NASB).
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him" (John 14:21 NASB).
Satan's plan is to deceive you into thinking you are saved when you are not, to deceive you into thinking you are walking in the light when you are not. Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer says, in his book Satan, "Satan’s ambition was not to become a fiend, but rather to become like the Most High. He will, therefore, strive for all that is moral and good: yet at the same time do all in his power to draw men from their natural reverence of God, that, in due time, they may acknowledge himself without fear." So stick the thermometer in our thigh. If it doesn't read "hot," fear not, that is why God extended His Grace!
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7-8 NASB).