First Word for June 2024
I have just returned from a trip to Brazil with Carlito Paes and thousands of leaders from many other countries. One of the challenges of flying through the night and arriving the next morning is that (in addition to being sleep deprived) sometimes there isn't enough time for a shower. This was the case both in going to the conference and arriving back to Lifehouse on Sunday morning. Sorry to all those I hugged Sunday morning!
When the time finally came, I enjoyed a shower for a few minutes longer than normal and was so refreshed. As the very hot water poured over me, I was reminded of the words to the lukewarm church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:15, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
The deeds of the white-hot believer will benefit and refresh the world and reflect the spiritual passion of a transformed life. Lukewarm lives are without that burning fire of the Spirit and are not helpful to others and can even be harmful.
John Piper said regarding the lukewarm, “These are souls with just enough heat to feel comfortable in church, just enough fear not to hurl themselves into gross immorality, just enough guilt to open the Bible every once in a while, just enough need to pray on especially hard days. They don’t give up on Jesus, but they don’t give him much of themselves either. They attempt to stay Christian enough to avoid hell, but spend most of their time, money, and attention trying to find some heaven here on earth.”
You may not remember the moment the fire lessened in your heart. Sometimes it is a gradual sense of settling, or maybe a tiredness that seems to justify complacency, or sometimes a wound from a spiritual battle that seems to say, “Be cautious and careful and attentive to yourself.” Verse 17 indicates the main cause of being lukewarm is a sense of self-reliance instead of realizing our desperate need of God and His help: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
The good news is that Jesus is pursuing the lukewarm. Verse 20 states, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
God has called and commissioned us to great and awesome things. To make a difference in this world. Time is short. May we see our desperate need and invite Jesus into our hearts, and may our lives bring refreshing as we burn hot with the Spirit’s fire. I love how my friend Carlito often says “Let’s go, JP.” I want to say to everyone at Lifehouse...Let’s Go!
- John Privett
